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ID	Title	Author	Corrected Date of Publication (TCP Date of Publication)	STC	Words	Pages
A02741	Tvvo treatises I. The purchase of Grace, shewing the excellency of Christ, and the graces of his spirit. II. The soules delight in Gods tabernacles, shewing the excellency of time, spent in duties of God's solemne service. Instances in the chiefe, viz. prayer, word, and sacraments. Motives and directions for right performance. Lastly, the chiefe usurpers of time discovered, with apt remedies against each of them. The contents of the booke are methodically exprest in the margent, which to the diligent reader may serve instead of a table. By William Harrison, Mr. of Arts, and minister of the Gospell at Canwicke neare Lincolne.	Harrison, William, minister at Canwick.	1639 (1639)	STC 12871; ESTC S103879	208,196	400

Sacrament is meant the very Body and Bloud of Christ which are verily and indeed taken and received of the faithfull in the Lords Supper And for the proofe of this we have the expresse words of our Saviour Take eate this is my Body So that herein Christ Iesus with all the merits of his Body and Bloud are offered unto us and bestowed really and effectually on all worthy receivers 2. By receiving of this Sacrament we joyntly professe our common interest in Christ and our communion with him and one with another and hereupon this Sacrament is fitly called the communion 1 Cor. 10. 16. 3. Hereby the promises of God and the merits of Christ are sealed up unto us So that hereby we come to have both Gods Hand Seale to assure us of the pardon of our sins and of eternall happinesse in which respect the Sacraments are called the Seales of righteousnesse Rom. 4. 11. Fourthly Hereby our corruptions are mortified and the graces of Gods Spirit greately augmented and confirmed in us These Ordinances through the speciall blessing of God doe nourish and feede our soules unto life eternall So that most true we shall finde that speech of our Saviour Ioh. 6. 55. For my Flesh is meate indeed and my Bloud is drinke indeed Yea ver 51. I am the living Bread which came downe from heaven if any man eat of this bread hee shall live for ever and the bread which I will give is my Flesh which I will give for the life of the world Only remember that all this must bee understood of spirituall eating as our Saviour Himselfe in the same place giveth us expresly to understand for when his grosse hearers made that carnall question saying How can this Man give us his flesh to eate verse 52. Our Saviour doth earnestly confirme it still ver 53. Except ye eate the Flesh of the Sonne of Man and drinke his Bloud you have no life in you c. Yea when many of the Disciples were offended and murmured at it see how he giveth them satisfaction ver 63. It is the Spirit that quickneth the flesh profiteth nothing the words which I speake unto you they are Spirit and they are life to shew that all this must be spiritually understood for the foode is spirituall and so of necessitie the eating and drinking must needs be So that this is enough to perswade us to value and highly to esteeme this Ordinance because therein Christ Iesus is verily and indeed taken and received to the eternall benefit and comfort of all worthy receivers an argument sufficient not only to perswade us to take all opportunities of receiving this Sacrament our selves but also to perswade others hereunto in regard of the great benefits that are here offered and exhibited to the soules of all worthy receivers Fifthly Hereby we have the commemoration of Christs death most lively and effectually represented unto us So that we may in this case use the benefit of our eyes to see the Bread broken and the Wine powred out to signifie the death of Christ and the shedding of his Bloud so that our hands do as it were handle the Word of life Christ as 1 Iohn 1. 1. The Word foundeth in our eare but in the Sacrament the same is most lively represented unto our eyes sc. the death of Christ So that as often as wee eate that bread and drinke that cup we shew the Lords death till he come faith the Apostle 1 Cor. 11. 26. Yea and this is a speciall end for which this Sacrament was ordained at the first Doe this in remembrance of me saith our Saviour Matth. 26. Yea the Sacraments are most lively representations of the sufferings of Christ as if therein Christ was really againe crucified before our eyes according to that speech of the Apostle to the Galathians chap. 3. 1. O foolish Galatians Who hath bewitched you that you should not obey the truth before whose eyes Iesus Christ was evidently set forth even crucified amongst you How was he crucified among them but only in the Word and Sacraments So that where the Word is faithfully preached and the Sacraments duly celebrated there is Iesus Christ so evidently set forth as if he was even crucified among that people Oh how this also should perswade us not only to serve God our selves but also to doe our best to perswade others to spend time in Gods service especially if we remember the Doctrine which is the ground of this whole discourse namely this that time spent in the duties of Gods service is absolutely and incomparably the best spent time then certainely we would easily be perswaded not only to spend much time in Gods service our selves but also earnestly to doe our best endeavour to cause others to doe the like especially 〈◊〉 ●amilies and those which are more especially committed unto our charge that so we may not only save our selves but also them that belong unto us 1 Tim. 4. 16. FINIS The context and coherence Division parts of the Text. Explication 3. Doct. 1. Doct. 2. Doct. 3. Doct. Doctrine 1. That Christ and the saving graces of his Spirit are fitly compared unto Gold tried in the fire Reason Precious like gold 2. Reason Fit to pay debts or keepe out of prison 3. Reason Because pure like gold 4. Reason Because fit for purchase 5. Reason In respect of beautie and ornament 6. Reason Of sweet smell Dulcis odor lu●●●●e re qualibet 7. Reason Vses 1. Instruction The worth and excellency of true grace Grace better then gold 1. Gold is fading and perishing but grace is permanent and lasting 2. Grace is able to help in the day of wrath Grace leadeth to glory 2. Instruct. Gracious Religious people most excellent 1. They come of excellent parentage The wicked children of wrath Are borne to a most excellent inheritance A most rare and excellent portion Have most excellent attendance 3. Instruct. To justifie the care paine to get grace Diligence to get true grace Be not discouraged by the opposition of wicked men Grace will bring joy comfort in death Vse 2. For Reprehension of such as neglect and despise the meanes to get grace Folly of such as neglect to get grace 2 Cor. 4. 3. Contempt of the means of grace a fearefull signe of perdition or reprobation 3. Vse Examination whether wee have true grace yea or no. Motive 1. Toperswade us to examine whether we have true grace sc. the difficulty All sorts of men apt to be deceived in judging in this case The wicked deceived Godly deceived in thinking he hath no grace when indeed hee hath Grace a Treasure hid in the field Much counterfeit grace in the world Melting the chiefe meanes to discerne which is the true gold Some kinde of Innocency without true grace 2. Motive The danger of being mistaken 3. Motive The possibilitie of prevailing notwithstanding the difficultie Reason Of the possibility of being assured that wee have true

Christ. First of the first of these sc. this That Christ Iesus and his merits together with the saving graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled unto gold yea gold tryed in the fire Hereupon it is that the Tabernacle and the Temple were both so adorned with gold because they were the Types of our Saviour and the graces of his Spirit Exod. 37. 6. 1 King 7. 48. There was the Table of gold and the Altar of gold and the Bowles and the Tongs and the Snuffers all of pure gold c. And why all this but to teach us that Christ and the graces of his Spirit are fitly resembled to gold Marke the answer of Christ's Spouse to the daughters of Jerusalem Cant. 5. when they asked What is thy beloved more than another beloved observe her answer Ver. 10. My beloved is white and ruddy the chiefest of tenne thousand Ver. 11. His head is as the most fine gold He is like unto most fine gold yea gold tryed in the fire So the Church cloathed with the merits of Christ and adorned with the graces of his Spirit is covered as it were with cloth of gold Vpon thy right hand did stand the Queene in gold of Ophyr saith the Text Psal. 45. 9. that is cloathed with Christ and the graces of his Spirit which are pure and precious like the gold of Ophyr And so againe Ver. 13. The Kings Daughter is all glorious within that is the Church is glorious in Gods account Her cloathing is of wrought gold this is very direct Now the Reasons of the poynt might be many I will but instance in some few of many Gold tryed in the fire is very precious of great worth and value so is Christ even in his lowest estate when he seemeth most despicable and worthles yet is he even then most precious disallowed indeed of men but chosen of God and precious sayth the Apostle 1 Pet. 2. 4. and v. 6. Behold I lay in Sion a chiefe corner stone elect and precious though the Jewish builders rejected this Stone yet was he exceeding precious in Gods account And as Christ himselfe is precious so are the graces of his Spirit such as wisdome and knowledge and faith and love c. these are precious jewels and therefore fitly resembled unto gold See what the holy Ghost sayth of Wisedome Pro. 3. 13 14. Happie is the man that findeth Wisdome and the man that getteth understanding for the merchandise thereof is better then the merchandise of silver and the gaine thereof is better then fine gold shee is more precious then Rubies c. See here the precious nature of spirituall and heavenly Wisdome The like may be said of faith and other graces Hence that phrase of precious faith To all that have obtained like precious faith with us sayth the Apostle 2 Pet. 1. 1. If you aske how precious this grace is He answereth That the tryall of our faith is much more precious then of gold that perisheth 1 Pet. 1. 7. Secondly Gold is of especiall use to pay debts to keepe or redeeme out of prison so are the merits and blood of Christ they redeeme us from hell and death yee are bought with a price sayth the Apostle 2 Cor. 6. 19 20. What price not silver and gold but with the precious blood of Christ as of a Lambe without spot 1 Pet. 1. 18 19. Of him are yee in Christ Jesus sayth the Apostle 1 Cor. 1. 30. Who of God is made unto us wisdome and righteousnesse and sanctification and redemption O golden Christ by the helpe of whose merits we pay the Debts which we owe to our heavenly Father yea by this gold are we redeemed and set at libertie from the prison of hell and from the bondage and slavery of sinne and Sathan Thirdly Gold tryed in the fire is very pure and cleane there is no drosse left in it so is Christ pure as well as precious so are the graces of Gods Spirit true grace is pure grace pure faith or faith unfained pure love without dissembling sincere or pure truth without hypocrisie 1 Tim. 1. 5. Now the end of the Commandement is charitie or love out of a pure heart and a good or pure conscience and faith unfained faith without mixture that is pure faith such faith and love are golden graces indeed Let love be without dissimulation sayth the Apostle Rom. 12. 9. there is pure love indeed it is an excellent place 1 Pet. 1. 22. Seeing that yee have purified your soules in obeying the truth through the Spirit unto unfained love of the brethren see that yee love one another with a pure heart fervently here is pure gold indeed wrought by the pure Spirit of God there is the Authour of it in obeying the truth there is the instrumentall meanes of it pure and unfained loue out of a pure heart there is the fruit of it Fourthly Gold tryed in the fire is fit for purchase it commandeth what the earth can affoord so doe Christ and his merits and graces they doe purchase Heaven for us Heaven is an inheritance and given freely in respect of any merits of ours but merited and purchased for us by Christ He is our great purchaser He purchaseth Heaven for us and in our name and is gone to take possession for us and to prepare a place for us there He purchased it for us by his merits hence that phrase Ephes. 1. 14. Vntill the Redemption of the purchased pessession sayth the Apostle And when he had purchased it for us He went to possesse it and prepare a place for us Joh. 16. 3. I goe to prepare a place for you So that a man interested in Christs merits and adorned with his graces is fit to make a purchase of Heaven So that Christ and his merits are in this respect also fitly resembled unto gold they make a golden purchase or purchase a golden place in Heaven for us Fifthly Gold is of an excellent use for ornament and beautie as well as for purchase and profit thus the Tabernacle and Temple were adorned with gold to make them glorious and beautifull so is the Church by the merits and graces of Christ become a glorious Church Psal. 45. 13. The Kings daughter is all glorious within How cometh that to passe Surely by the gold of Christs merits and graces for it followeth Her cloathing is of wrought gold there is her chiefe ornament so doe the graces of Gods Spirit they doe even adorne us in Gods account faith and love and meeknesse O woman great is thy faith Mat. 15. 28. there is her ornament I have not found so great faith no not in Israel sayth our Saviour Mat. 8. 10. there is the Centurions ornament so of Abraham faithfull Abraham a man strong in the faith and gave glory to God Rom. 4. 20. Golden Abraham there is his ornament Moses the meekest man upon earth Numb 12. 3. Now the man Moses was very meeke

such as love and make lyes These must stand without c. goe to hell with the devill and his Angels according to the prediction of Christ himselfe in Matthew 25. 41. Goe ye cursed into everlasting fire prepared for the Devill and his Angels Consider this all you that have spent more time in the devils service then in Gods yea all or the greatest part of thy life in the service of sinne and Sathan and little or no time at all in the service of God Almighty you that could finde in your hearts to say unto God Depart from us for wee desire no acquaintance with thy wayes He will pay you home one day in your owne coyne unlesse yee repent and send you packing to hell with a depart from me c. I know ye not ye workers of iniquity Matthew 7. 23. Yea when ye shall begin to claime acquaintance with God and cry Lord Lord c. Even then will Hee professe unto you I never knew you Depart from me ye that worke iniquity The sixth and the last sort are those that will neither spend time in Gods service themselves nor suffer others such as not only mispend their owne time but also hinder and discourage others from the well spending of theirs such as cry out what need so much preaching such running after Sermons c. like waggish and unhappy Schollers that will neither apply their bookes themselves nor suffer their fellowes but hinder and disturbe them by all meanes possible Here is just the Dogge in the manger These are Sathans Vicegerents even his Standard-bearers and Captaines chiefe factors for Hell These are they that will neither enter into the kingdome of heaven themselves nor suffer others but shut up the kingdome of God against them Matth. 23. 13. Consider now Is time spent in Gods service absolutely the best spent time How grosly and grievously are they to blame that not only despise the duties of Gods service themselves but also discourage others For the perfecting of this point give mee leave to shew you the wofull and fearefull estate of all such 1. They are guiltie of the bloud of their soules that perish by this meanes Now what a wofull estate is this that whereas a man is not able to answer one of a thousand in respect of his owne sinnes he should yet bee chargeable with the sinnes of others when he shall heare those poore soules curse him in hell and say O woe be to thee for thou art the cause of my damnation I had spent my time in Gods service had it not beene for thee O how this will gall thee and torment thee at that day such and such might have gone to heaven but for thy discouragements He verily dyeth in his iniquitie but his bloud will the Lord require at thy hands thou hast helped forward a soule to death and so art guilty of the bloud of soules 2. Consider the extent of this grievous sinne it reacheth up to the very heavens Every such person doth even become a fighter against God and taketh the devils part against Christ this soule is mine saith the LORD and I will save it nay saith the Devill this soule is mine and I will damne it Thus they strive and wrestle for the poore soule Christ by the meanes of grace to save it and Sathan by his temptations to damne it now the prophane person hee taketh Satans part and helpeth him against Christ and therefore is a direct fighter against God Excellent to this purpose is that speech of Gamaleel Acts 5. 39. when they were consulting how to suppresse the Apostles preaching of the Gospell Abstaine from these men and let them alone for if this counsell or this worke bee of men it will come to nought but if it be of God yee cannot overthrow it lest happily yee become even to fight against God He that fighteth against Gods ordinances doth even fight against God yea he that doth but murmure against these things his murmurings are against the Lord Exod. 16. 8. yea and he that doth set himselfe to persecute Gods people for this doth even persecute Christ himselfe as appeareth by that speech of Christ to Paul as he was going to Damascus with a Commission to persecute those Primitive Christians Iesus Christ strikes him downe to the earth and salutes him in these termes Acts 9. 4. Saul Saul why persecutest thou me I am Iesus of Nazareth whom thou persecutest Christ taketh that as done to him which is done to his members in this case yea he that doth but touch them in any kinde to hurt them toucheth the very Apple of GODS eye Oh that men would seriously consider the extent of their sin and how farre their rebellions doe reach in this case And therefore in the third place it must needs follow that the wrath of God is readie to seaze upon them to the uttermost yea the wrath of God already abideth on them although they perceive it not See a fearefull and terrible place of the Apostle to this purpose 1 Thes. 2. 14. Ye have suffered like things of your owne Country-men as they of the Iewes Why what had the Iewes done That the Apostle sheweth verse 15. Who both killed the Lord Iesus and their owne Prophets and have persecuted us and they please not God and are contrary to all men verse 16. forbidding us to speake to the Gentiles that they might be saved there is the very case that we have in hand they doe hinder as much as in them lyeth the salvation of others Now what is the fruit of all this that yee shall see in the later end of that verse To fill up their sinnes alway for the wrath of God is come upon them to the uttermost Oh the wofull estate of such the wrath of God is ready to seize upon them to the uttermost This is enough even to shake the hearts of all such as are guilty in this kinde Fourthly Because this is a fearefull signe of reprobation it is the very brand of a reprobate and hee that goeth on in this case without repentance hath great cause to feare this of himselfe That God hath forsaken him and given him up to his owne hearts lusts and into the hands of Sathan Two singular places of Scripture I will give you for this the one 2 Timothy 3. 8. As Iannes and Iambres withstoode Moses so doe these men resist the truth they will neither embrace it themselves nor suffer others what is the state of these men men of corrupt mindes reprobate concerning the faith The other place which I will commend to your consideration in this case is that of the Apostle Philippians 1. 28. And in nothing be terrifyed by your adversaries which is to them a token of perdition but to you of salvation and that of God Where wee may plainely see that as it is a token of salvation to be persecuted for righteousnesse sake so it is a

that he is of the true Religion among all the religions that are in the world Hence is that speech of our Saviour Ioh. 7. 16 17. My Doctrine is not mine but his that sent mee yea but how should a man know that that our Saviour sheweth Ver. 17. If any man will doe his will he shall know of the Doctrine whether it be of God or whether I speake of my selfe A most sweet and admirable benefit a constant and conscionable care to yeeld obedience to what we know is the best meanes to perfect and increase our knowledge This made David wiser then his enemies yea then the Ancient yea then his teachers because he was a constant practitioner of what he knew Psal. 119. 98 99. c. He that would be assured of the truth of his Religion let him be constant in the duties of Gods worship and service for this alone will doe it Hereupon it was that many poore silly men and women in Queene Mary's dayes sealed the truth with their blood when many great Schollers fell away Sixthly and lastly Constancy in the duties of Gods worship and service will affoord a man comfort in time of trouble yea in the houre of death this will make a man able to lift up his head with joy in that case as if his redemption drew nigh Psal. ●7 37. Marke the upright man and behold the just that is he that is constantly just and upright for the end of that man shall be peace sayth the Psalmist See an experiment of this in diverse examples 1. The example of Gods Church in great affliction and persecution Psal. 44. see their woefull miserie Ver. 13 14. c. Thou makest us a reproach to our neighbours a by-word a shaking of the head amongst the people My confusion is continually before me Ver. 15. All this is come upon us Ver. 17. Well what was it now that did affoord them comfort in this their extremitie Surely their constancie in Religion Ver. 17 18. Yet have wee not forgotten thee nor have dealt falsely in thy Covenant our heart is not turned backe neither have our steppes declined from thy way Yea though thou hast ●ore broken us in the place of Dragons and covered us with the shadow of death Ver. 19. So what was it that affoorded Iob such comfort in his extremities but his sinceritie and constancie Two excellent places we have for this the one in Job 27. 5. God forbid that I should justifie you sayth he to his friends Why not Were they not honest and religious men Yes surely they were gracious men and full of wisedome but yet Iob would not justifie them in that particular wherein they condemned him for an hypocrite they charged him with inconstancie and hypocrisie and that he would never yeeld unto Till I dye I will not remove my integritie from me my righteousnesse I hold fast and will not let it goe my heart shall not reproach me so long as I live This was the onely thing that did affoord him comfort in his great extremities and calamities and unjust censures of his friends he knew that he had beene sincere and constant in Gods service The other place for this purpose is Iob 23. when God hid himselfe from him that he could not see him Ver. 8 9. whether he went forward or backward on the right hand or on the left yet he could not finde God What was his comfort Yet when he hath tryed me I shall come out like gold I shall be the better for all this at last Ver. 10. Well how came he to be assured of this That yee shall see Ver. 11 12. My foote hath held his steps his way have I kept and not declined neither have I gone backe from the Commandement of his lippes I have esteemed the words of his lippes more then my necessary food Here was his comfort that he had beene constant in Gods service it was grounded upon the consideration of his perseverance The second particular example is that of David Psal. 18. when he was in many waters readie to be drowned environed with strong enemies Ver. 16 17. Now what was his comfort in these cases That yee shall see Ver. 21. For I have kept the wayes of the Lord and have not wickedly departed from my God Loe here what will affoord us comfort in our greatest miseries and extremities sc. Constancie in cleaving to God and a vigilant watchfull care not to depart from him All his judgements were before me and I did not put away his Statutes from me Ver. 22. I have beene constant in his service So that of Psal. 119. see what dangerous straites that good man was in Ver. 107. I am afflicted very much How much David My soule is continually in my hand I doe even daily cary my life in my hand there is but even a step betweene me and death Well how came that to passe The wicked have layd a snare for me sayth he Ver. 110. Well what was his comfort in all this his Staffe to uphold him in all these dangers Surely his constancie in Gods service I have sworne and will performe it that I will keepe thy righteous judgements V. 106. and Ver. 111 112. Thy Testimonies have I claimed as my heritage for ever for they are the rejoycing of my heart and I have inclined my heart to performe thy Statutes alwayes even unto the end Loe this will affoord us comfort in the greatest troubles that can befall us Yea this will affoord comfort and confidence even in death Though he kill me yet will I trust in him sayth Iob upon this ground Iob 13. 15. See an example of this in that good King Hezekiah What was his comfort when the Prophet brought him the message of death from the Lord Isa. 38. 3 Surely his constancie and sinceritie in the duties of Gods worship and service Remember now O Lord I beseech thee how I have walked before thee in truth and with a perfect heart and have done that which hath beene good in thy sight i.e. here is my chiefe comfort in this case So this made Paul thinke on death with comfort and rejoycing 2 Cor. 1. 12. So 2 Tim. 4. 7 8. The time of my departure is at hand and I am now readie to be offered sc. in sacrifice to God by death Now see the grounds of the Apostles comfort and confidence in that case I have fought a good fight I have finished my course I have kept the faith I have spent time in Gods service constantly henceforth there is layd up for me a crowne of Righteousnesse And thus you see at large the Vtilitie of the dutie which is the second Motive that may perswade us to be constant in the duties of Gods worship and service Thirdly The third and last Motive that may perswade us hereunto is drawne from the consideration of the necessitie of it It is not onely equall and profitable but exceeding necessary that we should be

and the betrothed Damosell cryed and there was none to save her So in this case when the Devill findeth us at some advantage and doth force us to some sinne yet if we struggle and cry out against him though he doe prevaile with us for the act yet in the Lords great mercy it is not imputed Let this encourage us to confesse our sins to God and cry out against our corruptions and judg● our selves for them Excellent to this purpose is that direction of one A man saith he must ever and anon be saying thus with himselfe Ah vile sinfull wretch and hate worthy creature that I am have I not sin●ned against God and mine owne soule i● such a passionatenesse in such wantonnesse in such injustice and the like Oh that I could even detest my selfe for this Who but a very beast or a foole would have beene so often and so grossely overtaken It is not possible to imagine unlesse one doe take experience of his owne practice how much the renewing of this holy anger against a mans selfe for his sinnes past will strengthen him against the same and abate the power of his corruptions And therefore saith hee put thy selfe often in minde of thy former sins being out of love and conceit with thy selfe saying Ah vile creature How could I finde in my heart to doe such things would any man have thought it possible for any creature from whom all reason and piety both were not ●anished to runne out into such words such deeds c. Thus hee piously and sweetely And surely if we would thus ●udge and condemne our selves we should not be judged of the Lord saith the Apo●tle 1 Cor. 11. ●2 An excellent direction and a most sure and speedy may to prevaile against our strongest lusts and most preva●ent corruptions if we can thus pray and ●ry out against them As the Lo●●●●●sisteth ●he p●ou● so He givet● grace to the humble The more we see and discerne our want of grace the more fit are wee to receive it Excellent to this purpose is that of another Gods grace is free hee looketh not at any ●hing in us in the bestowing of it What Doest thou thinke that thou art uncapable of grace because thou art unworthy of it This is a meere fallacy Doe not cast away thy confidence because thou seest not in thee that goodnesse which thou desirest It is some goodnes in thee to be bad enough in thine owne esteeme be but vile enough base enough bad enough and then thou art good enough to partake of grace thine emptinesse will make some way to fulnesse Thus he sweetely For this will make a man cry out for Gods gracious aide and assistance Helpe Lord for these lusts of mine like the sonnes of Zerviah are too hard for me This is the way to breake the heart of our lusts and to mortifie our earthly members that we shall never spend so much time in vicious courses as we have done Thus David cryed out against covetousnesse Psalme 119. 35. Encline my heart to thy Testimonies and not to covetousnesse He beggeth the Lord Chiefe Iustice his warrant to apprehend it as one doth wittily observe in that case And this is the third Remedy Fourthly and lastly If we would prevaile against sinne that we may not spend any time at all at least much lesse time in the service of it wee ●ust daily possesse and furnish our soulas with holy meditations 1. Consider the odious loathsome and filthy nature of sinne which in the booke of God is not only called filthy and that excrementally but it is even filthinesse it selfe 2 Cor. 7. 1. Having therefore these promises let us cleanse our selves from the filthinesse of the flesh and Spirit Yea Iames 1. 21. Let us lay aside all filthinesse and superfluitie of maliciousnesse and receive with meeknesse the ingrafted Word which is able to save your soules the word signifieth properly the filth that is under a mans naile Yea to shew the filthy nature of it it is compared to the Sowes wallowing in the mire and the vomit of a Dogge it is even the metaphor of the Holy Ghost 2 Peter 2. 22. How could we finde in our hearts to live in sinne and spend our time this way if we consider this 2. Not onely filthy but dangerous in many respects It bringeth body and soule and name and estate and all to ruine It is the losse of our very soules if we continue in it without repentance Luk. 12. 19. Thou foo●e this night shall they fetch away thy soule and then see what our Saviour inferreth from heaven Matthew 16. 26. For what is a man profited if hee shall gaine the whole world and loose his owne soule Thirdly Consider how odious to God his very soule abhorreth it as the greatest evill in the world It is the breach of his Law most contrary to his holy and purest nature It was the death of the Lord Iesus for he was delivered up for our sins Rom. 4. 25. It killed the Prince of life and pierced the heart and shed the bloud of Gods onely Sonne and therefore must needs be mortified and put to death Yea nothing will sooner doe it then these and such like meditations Now if we thus subdue and mortifie yea crucifie this notorious thiefe that thus robbeth God of his glory and man of Gods favour we shall be able to spend much time in Gods service This is the first mispender of precious time that must of necessitie be mortified and put to death Secondly Another great let or impediment that must be removed another great waster of time that must be speedily suppressed is immoderate or excessive sleeping and sluggishnesse This also is a most dangerous mispender of precious time although not so bad as the former Thus the Prophet Ionah mispent his time as he was in a Ship sayling to Tarshish when hee should have gone to Ninev●h He was fast asleepe in a very dangerous storme when he stood in more need to have been wrestleing with God by humble earnest and heartie prayer Ionah 1. 6. See how pathetically the Heathen Mariners awake him and rouse him up The Ship-master came to him saith the Text and said unto him What meanest thou ô sleeper Arise and call upon thy God if so bee that God will thinke upon us that we perish not i.e. Is this a fit time to sleepe when we are all ready to perish and be ready even every moment to bee swallowed up of the waves Oh therefore arise and bestirre thy selfe and call upon thy God and for shame learne to spend the time better then in sleeping especially in such and so great and apparent danger their being as it were but even a step betweene us and death Thus Salomon awaketh his fluggard Proverbs 6. 9 10. How long wilt thou sleepe ô sluggard When wilt thou arise out of thy sleepe Marke now the sluggards drousie slumbring senselesse answer