Selected quad for the lemma: christian_n

Word A	Word B	Word C	Word D	Occurrence	Frequency Band	MI	MI Band	Prominent
christian_n	day_n	time_n	week_n	2,302	5	9.6378	5	true

Text snippets containing the quad

ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A65610	The redemption of time, or, A sermon containing very good remedies for them that have mis-spent their time shewing how they should redeem it comfortably / by William Whately ... ; now published for general good by Richard Baxter.	Whately, William, 1583-1639.; Baxter, Richard, 1615-1691.	1673 (1673)	Wing W1590; ESTC R38583	45,467	132

or reprehension too precise or strict grant me but this resonable request and I have my end Live in the World but with a soul that is awake that soberly considereth what haste Time maketh and how quickly thy glass will be run out how fast death is coming and how soon it will be with thee What a work it is to get a carnal unprepared soul to be renewed and made holy and fitted for another world What a terrible thing it will be to lie on a death-bed with a guilty Conscience unready to die and utterly uncertain whither thou must next go and where thou must abide for ever Foresee but what use of thy present times will be most pleasing or displeasing to thy thoughts at last and spend it now but as thou wilt wish thou hadst spent it and value it but as it is valued by all when it is gone Use it but as true Reason telleth thee will make most to thy endless happiness and as is most agreeable to the ends of thy Creation and Redemption and as beseemeth that man who soberly and often thinketh what it is to be either in Heaven or Hell for ever and to have no more but this present short uncertain life to decide that question which must be thy lot and to make all the preparation that ever must be made for an endless life I say do but thus lay out thy Ti●e as Reason should command a Reasonable creature and I desire no more I have warned thee in the words of truth and faithfulness The Lord give thee a heart to take this warning Thy compassionate Monitor Rich. Baxter Sept. 23. 1667. THE REDEMPTION OF TIME Ephes. 5.16 Redeem the Time because the dayes are evil WHilest I bethought my self of a portion of holy Writ to treat upon that might hold some agreement with the present season this short sentence offered it self unto my mind At the first I rejected it as impertinent but after a second and more serious view methought it was the most fit Scripture that I could make choice of on this occasion for howbeit it hath pleased the common sort of men to stile these festival dayes with the name of good times yet by reason of the gross abusage to which the corruption of men hath made them subject they may very well receive an alteration of their title and in a quite contrary phrase be termed evil dayes yea and that in the highest degree of all the worst of dayes Now in this time wherein time is so lavishly mis-spent I hope it cannot seem unconvenient or untimely to give a brief exhortation concerning the right use of Time These words which I have read lead us into that path being part of an exhortation begun in the former verse There in general he had exhorted them to be most strictly carefull of their wayes and to direct their course of life in such respective sort as they might deserve the name of wise not unwise men commending herein unto them and us that very strictness and preciseness wherewith the world hath now long since pickt a quarrel and fallen out And because this was but a general rule he seconds it with some particulars by which we may be led on to the like instances in other matters The first of these specials is placed in the well disposing o● Time in this verse Where having set down the duty of Christians in this behalf he backs it with a reason which in it self and to a spiritual understanding is most sound and firm but to the carnal judgement of a carnal man is void of all soundness and reason The duty is to buy out the Time to traffique with it as men do with wares and when it is in other mens hands as I may say to give something yea any thing that we may get it into our own hands for good uses He means that we should use our greatest care and diligence even that which we would employ in matters most nearly concerning us to win all the time we possibly can for the duties of Religion and Godliness His argument to confirm this exhortation is taken from the contrary if we look on it with a carnal eye it will seem inconsequent halting and not able to bear up the Conclusion it is because the days are evil that is the customs and manners of the greatest part of men that live are wicked and lewd Now because the number and rout of the world is so strongly bent to all manner of ungodliness as that they have even tainted the time itself and corrupted the very dayes the Apostle would therefore have the Ephesians and all other Christians so much the more industrious to take all seasons and occasions for the bettering of themselves Because other men are naught and stark naught therefore ought faithful Christians to be good and very good and to turn all opportunities to this end and use that they may be furtherances to make them good The world would have framed a more crooked conclusion from this ground and have said Because men are so generally and extremely bad for that is noted in saying the days are evil we must therefore needs strain courtesie a little and not be too strict lest we should be over much different from other men and incur the by-name of Singularists But the Apostle telleth us that because the waves of men are excessively disordered and full of naughtiness we should bestow so much the more pains that we might not be carried down the violent stream and deluge o● unsanctified living and unto this intent should earnestly watch and diligently take all good occasions of getting and doing good You see in part the meaning of this short sentence which containeth a few words indeed but is stuft full of worthy matter which according as my weakness can attain I shall strive to spread before your eyes unfolding it in such manner as that you may perceive the things that lay therein closely wrapped up before Doct. The point which the words offer to our consideration at the first sight is this That all Christians ought to be very good husbands for their time Good hours and opportunities are merchandize of the highest rate price and whosoever will have his soul thrive must not suffer any of these bargains of Time to pass him but must buy up and buy out all the minutes thereof No man of trade can be more careful to chaffer and deal in the most gainful things that pertain to his occupation than we should be to deal in this ware of Time wherein every Christian is or should be a well taught and practised dealer As such kind of men if they can either make mony themselves or borrow it of their friends yea or else such is the greediness of men take it up of the Usurer will not let slip any commodity wherein they have skill and are perswaded that it will bring in large profit within a short time of return so should every good

literally understood Therefore brethren there is none but may see a fault in himself in these respects some or all of them and happy is he that resolves to mend it Therefore if you will take good counsel do thus when you come home Think alas if time must be reckoned for and should be redeemed how far am I behind hand with God that what for sleep what for play what for idle babling what for vain thoughts and excessive worldliness I cannot make a good account of the fortieth yea of the hundredth part of my time And then grieve because thou hast been such an unthrift of time and now begin carefully to spare before all be gone But now here is a reproof more sharp for some others that are not willing to hear of that ear Tell them they must not spend a whole day or a whole night in playing and sporting What not at Christmas say they why you are too precise well but yet vouchsafe to consider a little what God speaks Thou sayest this is too much preciseness and so saith the world but the Apostle bids to walk precisely or warily redeeming the time and he that will take time to card or dice and to use lawful recreations immoderately I mean so as to be at his play the greater part of the day and it may be some if not the most of the night too shall pay full dearly for it either he must repent and undo this with much grief and sorrow of heart or else he must smart for it hereafter worse in Hell I would not deal over sharply with thee but take Gods loving admonition and let him have one tenth part of the four and twenty hours yea more a good deal than so now that thou hast more leisure than ordinary And here is yet a kind of people that are to be rigorously handled such as are all gamesters that spend no one hour waking but upon pleasure the world calls them scatter-goods and the Lord will call them scatter-hours that do mispend both goods and hours Such let them think of themselves how the● will as do make gaming the greatest part if not all of their occupation must be content to hear that they have no portion in Heaven as they can keep no portion in earth How can one have treasure in Heaven that never laid up any there If God hate a gamester so that he will not give him good clothes to his back now he had ●reamed tha● he shall be clothed with ●●g● he will much less afford him a seat in Heaven And howsoever for a time they ruffle it out and be clad better than their more laborious neighbours yet this trade will surely undo them for they have brought this peril upon themselves that either God must not be true or they must not be rich he must forfeit his truth or they their goods besides their name and soul wherefore let such as have hitherto given their days to such an unsanctified and inordinate course surcease from the practice of their lewdness and both in conscience for their souls sake in discretion for their goods sake resolve to become better husbands of time lest their gaming on earth bring beggary to their latter days and damnation to their souls for ever Lastly Let all good Christians be admonished to make precious account of their time and with much carefulness to take the seasons and opportunities of God according as they have heard it is their duty Christians either indeed purpose to learn or make a shew of such a purpose when they come to Church Ah that we might all learn this thrift and practise it as we have heard begin to day and hold on still Now is a time of remembring the most admirable work of Christs incarnation when he was made flesh of the Virgin to purge us from sin and save us from wrath by the shedding of his blood and sufferings which he endured in his flesh Give not all ah why should we give any of it this time to play chiefly to bezeling surfetting or wantonness but take some space to consider of the greatness of this benefit and to be thankful proportionably thereunto I would I might hope to prevail with any by this exhortation but howsoever it is needful to be spoken that none may have occasion to pretend ignorance You see or might see your duties in this behalf and in practising the same shall find the benefit of it But fools will scorn admonition and those that have accustomed themselves to lust will not be entreated to pull their necks from out their hard yoke and to serve a better Master nay so foolish are a number that they think to do Christ great honour in spending the day whereon they imagine that he was born and some few that follow it in more than ordinary riot and sinful excess as though he were a God that loved iniquity and were delighted with drinking and swilling and gaming and swearing and surfetting and all disorder but those that know Christ know full well that he is not pleased with such pranks Wherefore if we will spend a day to Christ spend it more religiously and soberly than all other days not more prophanely and luxuriously We should neither forget his birth but when we observe some special time of remembring it shew that we remember his goodness by doing good more honour to his name not by committing more rebellion against him And to conclude as at this time so at all times let all men that would have their souls well furnished with inward substance play the good husbands in taking time and opportunity Whensoever we find any fit occasion of getting or doing good in our selves or others let it not slip but lay hold upon it and use it It is joyful to th●nk if we could think of it seriously what commodity this thrift would bring how much knowledge and godliness might he get that would keep his tongue and heart carefully to good matters What a large treasure of good works might he have that would be ready whensoever his neighbours necessity called for help to stretch our his hand for his relief And when he saw him fit for an admonition would wisely bestow it upon him How full of grace should his old age and sickness be that would give his health to God and his first years to the service of his soul How great acquaintance might he get in the palace of Wisdom that would come to her at her first call and enter so soon as the doors were set open How many sins might a man leave and how much power should he get over all sin that when his heart smites him would turn to God by prayer and confession What great grace would affliction bring if a man would settle himself to humiliation and gage his heart in time of affliction How much thankfulness might he have that would lift up his heart to God in the fruition of blessing How many fervent prayers might he store up in heaven that would not fore-slow time when he feels his desires earnest how comfortably might he weep over Christ and how plenti●ully that would take the tide of tears and turn all pensiveness to this use and how many sweet and chearful Psalms might a Christian sing if he would turn all his mirth into a Psalm and offer it up to God O what a large encrease of grace would this care bring how should his souls thrive that would be thus husbandly Surely as the common speech hath commended a little land well tilled before much more ground that is carelesly dressed so the weaker means with this care would be more available to enrich the heart than are the strongest without it It is not the greatness of ones living that makes one rich but the good employing and wary husbanding of it so it is not the greatness of the means but the diligent redeeming of time to make use of the means that makes the soul wealthy But if great means joyn with great care the encrease will be so much the more large as a large living with good husbandry But alas hence comes it that some in the store of all good means of salvation are very beggars and bankrups because of their negligence to take the time and fit season They let pass all good opportunities and care not for any occasion for the soul and how can their soul thrive Wherefore let every true-hearted Christian learn this wisdom and practise it as ever he desires to store his soul with that wealth which will make him glorious in the eyes of God and much set by even in heaven among the Angels And thus much for this time and this duty of redeeming the time FINIS

company whatever be the matter in hand except it be of absolute necessity let him leave it off and betake him to his Chamber or some secret place let him fall on his knees now let him open his mouth and acknowledge his sins against himself giving vent to his grief and turning all to godly sorrow whatsoever the occasion was at first Thus if any body do his repentance shall receive a notable encrease but if he pass it over his heart will not answer his desire another time Further more sometimes a mans heart is earnestly moved with some hungry desire to enjoy some grace of God and great longing after some Christian vertue Now let him in the heat and flame of his desire address himself to prayer then one shall send up such piercing cries and give such a loud knock against the gates of Christs mercy that he cannot choose but hear and send one back wi●h an Alms as it were thus he redeems the time But else his desires will be so cold and chill at another time that he shall scarce thrust a Petition out of his lips and then these drop down at his feet and do him little good And thus in every other through the turning of our affections we must follow Gods Spirit yea or nature when it leads us wisely turning all to spiritual uses And thus you may perceive what it is to redeem the time and how it may be attained Now let us come to some brief Application of the Point Vse First this Point thus explained meets with a number of imperfections even in the best and him that is most careful of his ways of which we are now to take notice and purpose amendment if we have not hitherto considered of them For this is a fault to which a man even in a good measure spiritual is subject for want of redeeming the time that he comes to that lazy pass now and then as he hath nothing to do nothing whereabout to settle himself It is a carnal unsettledness in a Christian to be so negligent of his time as that he should have any minute of time which he knows not how to bestow upon some good and profitable use The Lord offers such a multitude of occasions to do and receive good that if we could with wisdom take them there is no hour passeth us in which we might not do or get some good And if there be nothing else yet this is something whereabout he hath good occasion to be busied even to fall out with himself because he hath nothing I mean he sees nothing that he hath to do Sometimes if men see their servants standing idle and unbusied they can ask them with a kind of indignation What can you find nothing to do And sure the Lord might come with this question divers times to us and say as it is in this Parable Why stand you all the day idle asking whether the World were so empty of occasions and our selves so perfectly well as that we can find nothing to do But there is no hour passeth us which we should not find fit for some good thing if we could catch the opportunity before it be turned and did not harm our selves for want of diligent redeeming the time Yet there are other faults of which Christians are to be warned as to begin with the last first How many be there that are so stuffed with worldly businesses and yet are greedy of more as that they cannot find leisure one hour in a day nay scarce in a week to bestow upon rea●ing praying meditating or conferring Yea as though time were made for nothing but to seek wealth and transitory things so it is the chiefest of their care It appears that such labour not for conscience but for gain because they cannot break off ordinary labours so long as well to perform ordinary duties of Religion Many may say with grief enough if they did well that their hands are so full of the world as that they can scarce through the week take the Bible into their hands to read any thing therein unless perhaps it be in the Church at some publick meeting Thus men which are born to a better inheritance are content to w●ar out themselves in the earth as if they were to perish in the earth with other baser creatures Here is one fault to be amended then let no Christian bestow so much time in the world as that he cannot find sufficient to seek Heaven and the things thereof Then for the matter of sports methings some Christians should even shrink before the word of reproof comes to them when they may think of so many hours spent such a day at bowls so many it may be the next day in shooting so many the third day in shovel-boord or the like exercises haply in themselves not unlawful and when they come to reckoning for religious exercises the count comes in very slowly but the minutes or quarte●s some half quarter of an hour or thereabouts bestowed such a day in praying alone and some three or four days after about a quarter of an hour in reading and it may be the next week some half quarter more in meditation and thus if the expences of time were written in our debt-books as they be in Gods we might even blush to read so many Items for pleasure and sport and scarce one or two in a side for private religious exercises Then for our words may we not hang down our heads with shame to think that God made our tongues and we speak scarce one word in an hundred to his glory Idle words even many of those whom we are to regard as Christians count them no faults neither come to rep●n● for them it was but a word out of the way say they But this power to speak being a gift peculiar to men above all beasts ought to be more preciously regarded than that it should be abused for base trifles Then for idle thoughts who makes question of them almost Alas we do not remember that God hath searching eyes and fierce which pierce into the depth of ones soul. We dream that thoughts are not so much and spare our selves in our unthriftiness when we should deal more religiously with our selves Lastly some might be reproved for too long lying in bed and spending more hours in slugging or sleeping ●han health and strength doth require many perhaps will think that it is left to their own pleasure and that the Preacher is too busie if he take upon him to teach them when to rise as though it were no fault to over-sleep themselves Indeed some old and sickly mens bodies must take it when they may but for the greatest part of men if they knew what good the first half hour of the early morning spent in religious exercises would bring them they would not love sleep so well as for it to neglect them It is well said He that seeks me early shall find me and it well may be