Teach me so to number my daies that I may apply my heart to wisedome For he meanes that God would inable him with grace so sereously to consider of the shortnes of this life and the transitorinesse of this present world as that he might take all occasions and vse all meanes to bend his hart to the seeking and obtaining of the true knowledge of God and himselfe and so the true feare of God which is the beginning of wisdome And the want of this husbandry Christ doth mournfully lament in the citie of Ierusalem setting out vnto vs also the greeuous and dismall effects and consequents of this heedlesnesse in regard of taking time and vsing the fit opportunitie O saith hee if thou hadst euen knowen at the least in this thy day those things that pertaine vnto thy peace But now are they hid from thine eyes c. q.d. Hitherto thou hast had the meanes to learne what made for thy good and what might haue preuented thy ruine and if thou haddest but euen at this last houre marked and considered them thou mightest haue escaped these fearefull iudgements but now that thou hast beene all this while wanting to god he will hereafter be wanting to thee thou shalt neuer haue any true knowledge of these things nor euer auoid these miserable calamities Because they did not vse time whilst time did serue to repent and turne to God therefore after it was too late God would not heare them nor helpe them They that refuse the good offer of a good bargaine from God shal not haue this bargaine offred againe at their pleasure yea God will not deale with them at their leasure that would not deale with him at his leasure And wisdome in Salomons wise booke of Prouerbs speakes to this effect of vngodly men that when their miserie comes shee will laugh at them beecause when shee gaue her good instructions to preuent this misery they laughed at her The neglect of taking the fit time and occasion to follow wisdomes holesome counsell and come to her when she cals plungeth scornfull men into such a depth of misery as that there is no meanes of recouery For when wisdome laughes a man to scorn whither shall he repaire for succour And to this intent of husbanding our time well notable is the saying of the same Apostle in an other place bidding vs whilst we haue time doe good to all As much as if hee had told vs that time must so much the rather bee bestowed in doing good and then it is redeemed because we haue no such great store of it as we do foolishly imagine The vessel of time is not so full as most men dreame nay it will sone come to the bottome It is then wisedome to spare betime and not in the very dregs and lees All these places doe in most plaine manner confirme the point viz. that euery good Christian must be very sauing and thriftie of his time that is must conuert all occasions to the good of his soule and furthering of his reckoning not suffring by his will any houre or minute more then needes must to bee layd out in any thing but matters that may fit him for a better life This is in truth to haue ones conuersation in heauen when one vpon the least occasion is ready to make one step further thitherwards when one giues all his time to God but so much as may be more especially to religious exercises and such things as doe after a peculiar sort make for a better life not letting slip any meanes of furtherance that is offred him this way Now for your better direction in this sauing thrift and for the more full vnderstanding of this point and more easie practising of this needefull dutie I purpose to stand some while in shewing these two things First from what time is to be redeemed Secondly what the time is which must bee redeemed For the first we must vnderstand that there be fiue hucksters of time very cormorants and ingrosers of this precious ware which betwixt them for the most part get vp al the houres of mens liues not suffring the soule to enioy so much as an houre for it owne vse vpon the best occasion to benefit it selfe These theeues when I haue told you their names I will describe more at large They bee first vaine sports Secondly vaine speeches Thirdly immoderate sleeping or sluggishnes Fourthly vaine thoughts Lastly immoderate following of worldly businesse and affaires Play Twatling Sleeping foolish thinking excessiue rooting in the earth Now for these fond sports amōgst which I comprehēd riotous feasting belly-cheare a companion of gamming for the most part and also that tiffling and womannish disease of curiousnesse in putting on apparrell for these I say it is easie to proue that they do eat vp these good houres which otherwise would much inrich the soule of man Salomon the wisest of meer men that liued since Adam hath set it downe as a sure rule that neuer failes scarce euer admits exception That hee which loues pastime shall bee poore and he that loues wine and oyle shal not be rich If this saying be vnderstood onely of the body it is most true For these things will make a man extreemly needy in the midst of large possessions and plentious reuenues But if wee apply it to the soule as I see not cause why it may not be applyed to both it is most vniuersally true Hee that is so wedded to his pleasures and besotted vpon vaine delights as that the current of his life is carried that way or else too great a part of the streame is turned thither shal be destitute of vnderstanding shall haue a naked ragged tottred soule and that comes because hee hath not vsed his time well by the right imployment whereof he might haue got wealth for his better part I meane vnto his mind and heart A thread-bare heart needy of knowledge comes from a voluptuous life stuffed with pleasures And the Prophet Isaiah cries out with a wofull and a bitter cry against these which had the Timbrell the Pipe and the Harp in their feasts but would not regard the work of the Lord. All their daies were taken vp in eating drinking in banqueting and feasting in good cheer and merry making So that there was no time to meditate and thinke on these afflictions wherby God did warne them to repentance and amendment which is most contrary to this dutie of redeeming the time for all this time is euen lost and cast away And had wee no other proofe then our owne experience in this behalfe would it not manifestly conuince that he which desires to redeem the time must fly these vaine delights sports For do we not plainly see what a canker it is in a number of mens liues when many dayes they bestow three or foure houres together yea halfe the day if not the whole in dicing carding bowling shouell-bord or the like idle if
for the occasions fit oportunities that fall out now for this now for that in this space it is some more skill to finde them out and make vse of them Now these seasons are all of two sorts First such whereby a man may more easily get some good to himselfe Secondly such whereby a man may with more fitnes and ease doe some good Of the first sort namely seasonable opportunities to get good I will name three perticulars which are most needfull to bee considered and by proportion of which any man may come to the knowledge of other like The first when God continues the Gospell offring dayly the word and Sacraments calling to repentance and amendment of life This is the season of repenting this is the haruest wherein we may reape Christ if we be not negligent This is the acceptable yeer of the Lord in which one shall be receiued if hee returne Whilst wisdome lifts vp her voice whilst her messengers come daily to inuite vs whilst her gates stand open her dinner stands ready drest whilst her message is done vnto vs all this time if a man will striue and endeuour to turne from his sin to leaue his folly forsake his scorning hee shall bee a welcome guest she will accept him help him and giue him an increase of grace till he be become strong with her meates Whosoeuer liues vnder the preaching of the Gospell hath this priuiledge annexed to the outward teaching that if he will but striue and pray to God to giue him strength to repent and amend his waies and to turne to him God will vpon his promise heare his prayers and assist him but when the Gospell is gone then the date is past a man may call and not be heard and cry and not be regarded So then euery man redeemes this season of the Gospell when he giues himselfe to consider sereously of those faults which he findes in himselfe and heares sharply reproued in the word herevpon resolues to forsake them doth alone doe his owne best indeuour but earnestly cals vpon God for his help without which his power is but weaknesse ineffectuall when he doth also duely ponder vpon the holy commandements that he heares pressed those exhortations that are daily sounded in his eares to moue him to do such duties as god requires hereupon concludes with himselfe to set about this worke and craues the strength of God to beare him through in the same And when he doth aduisedly thinke of the promises that are generally proclaimed and labours to get some assurance that hee is such a one to whom the right of these promises appertaine Thus doing I say one redeemes the time wisely makes his aduantage of the Gospell while it continues which is a thing that all men should do but so rare in the world as that it is wonder the Lord hath so patiently continued his louing voice when men scoffe at it and will not heare The Lord hath and doth send his prophets amongst vs as he did among the Iewes rising vp early and sending them which with all earnestnesse doe proclaime the dangerous euent that shall follow vpon profanenesse neglect and contempt of Gods word breaking of his Sabboth railing wrathfulnesse whordome wantonnes couetousnesse the euing oppressing slandering lying and the like Yet how many run on in these euils presumtuously rushing like the horse into the battaile with an vnreasonable boldnesse not fearing any danger and shutting their eares against these reproofes as the deafe Adder doth that they may not be moued by them to amendment Ah how contrary is this to redeeming the time If any man haue hitherto lost the season let him now grow wise and euen at this time turne to God and beg power to forsake these sins How often how earnestly are men exhorted to all good works by the continuall voice of God speaking vnto thē by his seruants to read the word of God daily to pray priuately to meditate vpon the word to watch ouer their daies to cal themselues to a reckning euery day for the faults cōmitted in the day Yet who regards this voice who marks these exhortations wher is one that hath inioyned himself to some constancie in praying reading and the forenamed duties This is to sleep in haruest a most foolish practice vnwise wherfore whilst there is yet a little time left whilst wee haue the light let vs walke in it that we be not ouertaken with darknes He that hath not yet begun let him bee sorry that he hath put it off so late and now set foot into these waies of God whilst God sets out his word as a candle to direct him as his hand to lead him by The promises of God are in like sort published amongst vs. Happines is held vp as a reward of all true hearted christians and the crowne of life is proposed to those which are sound and faithfull members of Iesus Christ And yet as though all were sure to get it or it wer not worth seeking by any the most men flatter themselues in their sins and will needs promise these good things to themselues when they haue no assurāce or proofe out of gods word wherby to lay claim or title to them This is a greeuous a dāgerous neglecting of time And if any haue not yet made sure work this way let him euen now set about it whilst the world as a touchstone is before him by which he may try himselfe and which will make him such a one as he should be if he will striue to follow it and pray for abilitie to be ruled by it So then whilst God holds out his benefits and stands with his armes open to accept vs let vs take his benefis and be perswaded to come vnto him in good earnest let it be too late to trauaile when midnight shall come in stead of noone day This is the first and cheefest oportunitie of getting good namely to ioine with the gospell and follow it with our endeuours and praiers by which it shal be made effectuall vnto vs. The second opportunitie of getting good is in time of youth and health whilst the vigor strength of the body and mind is fit for labour and capable of instruction And Salomon in his booke of penance viz. Ecclesiastes bids remember the creatour in the dayes of youth beefore the euill daies come These daies of youth and health are good daies when hee which wil vse them hath his memory stedfast to call to minde his euill waies that he may bewaile them and to treasure vp good instructions promises that may guide and comfort him when the lims will ioyne with the mind and the mind hath the body as a fit instrumēt to seek the kingdome of heauen if a man will addresse himselfe vnto it but the dayes of old age and sicknes faile much of the commodious fitnes for good The memory is cracked the head and
world but the Apostle bids to walke precisely or warily redeeming the time And hee that will take time to card or dice and to vse lawfull recreations immoderately I meane 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 dearely for it Either he must repent vndo this with much greef and sorrow of heart or els he must smart for it hereafter worse in hell I would not deale ouer sharply with thee but take Gods louing admoniton and let him haue one tenth part of the foure twentie houres yea more a good deale then so now that thou hast more leasure then ordinarie And here is yet a kinde of people that are to be more rigorously handled such as are all gamesters that spend no one houre waking but vpon pleasure The world cals them scatter-goods and the Lord will call them scatter-houres that do misspend both goods houres Such let them think of themselues how they will as doe make gameing the greatest part if not all of their occupation must bee content to heare that they haue no portion in heauen as they can keepe no portion in earth How can one haue treasure in heauen that neuer laid vp any there If God hate a gamester so that he wil not giue him good cloths to his back now he hath threatned that he shall be clothed with rags he will much lesse afford them a seate in heauen And howsoeuer for a time they may ruffle it out be clad better then their more laborious neighbors yet this trade wil surely vndoe them For they haue brought this perill vpon thēselues that either God must not be true or they must not be rich he must for faite his truth or they their goods besides their name and soule wherefore let such as haue hitherto giuen their dayes to such an vnsanctified and inordinate course surcease from the practise of their lewdnes and both in conscience for their soules sake in discretiō for their goods sake resolue to become better husbands of time least their gameing on earth bring beggery to their latter dayes and damnation to their soules for euer Lastly let all good Christians be admonished to make precious account of their time and with much carefulnesse to take the seasons and opportunities of God according as they haue heard it is their dutie Christians either indeede purpose to learne or else make a shew of such a purpose when they come to church Ah that we might all learne this thrift and practise it as we haue 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 vs from sin and saue vs from wrath by the shedding of his bloud and suffrings which he endured in his flesh Giue not all ah why should we giue any of it this time to play cheefly to bezelling surpheting or wantonnes but take some space to consider of the greatnes of this benefite and to be thankfull proportionablie therunto I would I might hope to preuaile with any by this exhortation but howsoeuer it is needfull to be spoken that none may haue occasion to pretend ignorance you see or might see your duties in this beehalfe and in practising the same shall finde the benefite of it But fooles will scorne admonition and those that haue abandoned themselues to lust will not bee intreated to pull their necks from out their hard yoake and to serue a better Master Nay so foolish are a number that they thinke to doe Christ great honour in spending the day whereon they imagine that hee was borne and some few that follow it in more then ordinary riot and sinfull excesse as though hee were a God that loued iniquitie and were delighted with drinking and swilling and gameing and swearing and surpheting and all disorder But those that know Christ know full well that hee is not pleased with such pranks Wherefore if wee will spend a day to Christ spend it more religiously and soberly then all other dayes not more profanely and luxuriously Wee should neuer forget his birth but when wee obserue some speciall time of remembring it shew that wee remember his goodnesse 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 haue their soules well furnished with inward substance play the good husbands in taking time and opportunitie whensoeuer wee finde any fit occasion of getting or doing good in our selues or others let it not slip but lay hold vpon it and vse it It is ioyfull to thinke if wee could thinke of it seriously what commoditie this thrift would bring how much knowledge and godlinesse might hee get that would keepe his tongue and heart carefully to good matters What a large treasure of good workes might hee haue that would bee ready whensoeuer his neighbours necessitie called for helpe to stretch out his hand for his reliefe And when hee saw him fit for an admonition would wisely bestow it vpon him How full of grace should his old age and sicknesse bee that would giue his health to God and his first yeares to the seruice of his soule How great acquaintance might hee get in the pallace of wisedome that would come to her at her first call and enter so soone as the doores were set open How many sinnes might a man leaue and how much power should hee get ouer all sinne that when his heart smites him would turne to God by prayer and confession What great grace would affliction bring if a man would settle himselfe to humiliation and gaging his heart in time of affliction How much thankefulnesse might hee haue that would lift vp his heart to God in the fruition of euerie blessing How many feruent prayers might be store vp in heauen that would not fore-slow time when he feels his desires earnest How comfortably might wee weepe ouer Christ and how plentifully that would take the tyde of teares and turne all pensiuenesse to this vse And how many sweete and cheerefull Psames might a Christian sing if hee would turne all his mirth into a Psalme and offer it vp to God Oh what a large increase of grace would this care bring how should his soule thriue that would bee thus husbandly Surely as the common speech hath commēded a little land well tilled beefore much more ground that is careleslie dressed so the weaker meanes with this care would bee more auaileable to inrich the heart then are the strongest without it It is not the greatnesse of ones liuing that makes one rich but the good imploying and wary husbanding of it So it is not the greatnesse of the meanes but the diligent redeeming of time to make vse of the means that makes the soule wealthy But if great meanes ioyne with great care the increase will bee so much the more large as a large liuing with good husbandry But alasse hence comes it that some in the store of all good meanes of Saluation are very beggars and bankrupts because of their negligence to take the time and fit season They let passe all good opportunities and care not for any occasion for the soule and how can their soule thriue Wherefore let euery true hearted Christian learne this wisedome and practise it as euer hee desires to store his soule with that wealth which will make him glorious in the eyes of God and much set by euen in heauen among the Angels And thus much for this time and this dutie of redeeming the time FINIS Doctrine Col. 4.5 Psa 90 12. Luk. 19.42 Pro. 1.24.25.26 Gal. 6.10 Pro. 21.17 Isai 5.12 Mat. 6.33 Mat. 12.36 Eph. 5.4 Col. 4.5 Pro. 6.9.10.11 Pro. 26.14 Pro. 4.23 Mat. 22. Mat. 13. Mag. 1.23 Mat. 6.33 20. ver Eccles 12.1 Iames. 5.13 Vse
THE REDEMPTION of time or A SERMON containing very good remedies for them that haue mis-spent their time shewing how they should redeeme it comfortably By M.W. Master in Arts. ¶ PSAL. 90.12 Lord teach vs to number our dayes that wee may apply our hearts vnto wisdome LONDON ¶ Printed by T. E. for Thomas Man dwelling in Pater-noster-Row at the signe of the Talbot 1606. Ephes 5.16 Redeeme the time because the daies are euill WHilest I bethought my selfe of a portion of holy writ to treate vpon that might hold some agreement with the present season this short sentence offred it selfe vnto my minde At the first I reiected it as impertinent but after a second and more serious view me thought 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 festiuall daies with the name of good times yet by reason of the grose abusage to which the corruption of men hath made them subiect they may very well receiue an alteration of their title and in a quite contrary phrase be termed euill dayes yea and that in the highest degree of all the worst of dayes Now in this time wherein time is so lauishly mis-spent I hope it cannot seeme inconuenient or vntimely to giue a breefe exhortation concerning the right vse of time These words which I haue read lead vs into that path being part of an exhortation begun in the former verse There in generall hee had exhorted them to bee most strictly carefull of their wayes and to direct their course of life in such respectiue sort as they might deserue the name of wise not vnwise men commending herein vnto them and vs that very strictnesse and precisenesse wherewith the world hath now long since pickt a quarrell and falne out And beecause this was but a generall rule hee seconds it with some particulars by which wee may bee led on to the like instances in other matters The first of these specials is placed in the well disposing of time in this verse Where hauing set downe the duetie of Christians in this behalfe he backs it with a reason which in it selfe and to a spirituall vnderstanding is most sound and firme but to the carnall iudgement of a carnall man is void of all soundnesse and reason The dutie 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 giue something yea any thing that we may get it into our owne hands for good vses Hee meanes that we should vse our greatest care and diligence euen that which wee would imploy in matters most neerely concerning vs to win all the time wee possibly can for the duties of Religion and Godlinesse His argument to confirme this exhortation is taken from the contrary if wee looke on it with a carnall eye it will seeme in consequent halting and not able to beare vp the conclusion It is because the dayes are euill That is the customes and manners of the greatest part of men that liue are wicked and lewd Now beecause the number and route of the world is so strongly bent to all manner of vngodlinesse as that they haue euen tainted the time it selfe and corrupted the very dayes the Apostle would therefore haue the Ephesians and all other Christians so much the more industrious to take all seasons and occasions for the bettering of themselues Beecause other men are naught and starke naught therefore ought faithfull Christians to bee good and very good and to turne all opportunities to this ende and vse that they may bee furtherances to make them good The world would haue framed a more crooked conclusion from this ground and haue sayd because men are so generally and extreemely bad for that is noted in saying the dayes are euill wee must therefore needes straine curtesie a little and not bee too strict least we should be ouermuch different from other men and incurre the by-name of Singularists But the Apostle tels vs that because the vvaies of men are excessiuely disordered full of naughtinesse wee should bestow so much the more paines that we might not be caried downe the violent streame deluge of vnsanctified liuing vnto 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 indeede but is stuft full of worthy matter which according as my weakenesse can attaine I shall striue to spread beefore your eyes vnfolding it in such manner as that you may perceiue the things that lay therein closely wrapped vp before 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 houres opportunities are marchandize of the highest rate and price and whosoeuer will haue his soule thriue must not suffer any of these bargains of time to passe him but must buy vp buy out all the minutes therof No man of trade can be more carefull to chaffer deale in the most gainfull things that pertain to his occupation then we should be to deale in this ware of time wherein euery Christian is or should bee a well taught and practised dealer As such kinde of men if they can eyther make money themselues or borrow it of their friends yea or else such is the greedinesse of men take it vp of the Vsurer will not let slip any commoditie wherein they haue skill and are persvvaded that it wil bring in large profit within a short time of returne so should euery good man vse all diligence for diligence is in stead of mony here and care in stead in coine to gain euery day euery houre and euery minute so much as may be possible from al vnprofitable actions ouer-worldly affaires to beestow the same on the duties of Religion and godlinesse This being such a parcell of ware as if it be wisely bestowed when it is heedfully gotten will come in againe with both hands full of profit for recompence of ones paines taken in that behalfe This selfe same exhortation this same Apostle deliuers in so many words vnto the Collossians when he saith Walke wisely towards them that are without and redeeme the time See how Paul an old beaten and experienced dealer in these matters for the soule doth neither forget nor neglect to teach his apprentises as I may call them the very secrets misteries of the trade of good liuing wherof this is one euen the thriftie laying out and getting in of time which being repeted to the Collossians as wel as deliuered to these Ephesians comes with a double charge vpon our minds to make vs heedful in these bargaines And that excellent petition of Moses the man of God doth meane nothing else but this when in other words hee saith
not wicked exercises doth not this wast and poure forth time ouer lauishly Or can that man haue so much rest and quiet or so much fitnes opportunitie to do good to his soule as his wise care in cutting of these needlesse recreations or vexations rather would haue afforded him For these vaine pleasures are not alone mischeeuous hinderers of this thrift in that they consume the very houres thēselues but as much or more also in that they dissettle the heart and pull the affections out of ioynt so that a man is driuen to take as much paines to set his heart to a good exercise as would well haue dispatched the dutie had hee not beene thus vnfitted Now what a miserable losse is it when a man is robbed of his time and of his heart both at once And by both kept from reading praying meditating examining his heart or any such good exercise for his soules aduantage Wherfore if any man would so preuent these vaine foolish sports that they should not spoile him of his heart and houres let him obserue these two rules in his sports and then he shall doe well in these respects First this being presupposed that he doe not vse any recreations but those which he can proue to be in themselues lawfull first I say for the beginning of recreation let euery man know that recreation must follow labour for the most part or if at any time it goe before it it must be very little onely to fit one for labour The Lord allowes a man no sport though neuer so lawfull in it selfe vntill such time as his body or mind do stand in neede of it cheefly when they haue beene busied in some such honest affaires as by wearying them haue made them vnfit for further labour so that they must againe be fitted thereto by recreation Vntil paines-taking haue made the body or minde not so well able to take paines there is no allowance ordinarily for recreation All our sports and recreations if we wil vse them well I speake of those which are lawfull must bee to our body or minde as the mowers whet-stone or rifle is to his syth to sharpen it when it growes dull He that when his syth is dulled wil not vpon a desire to doe more worke take time to whet it shall cut lesse and with more paine more vnhandsomely then he need to doe so he that when his body or mind is tired or heauie will not vse some honest refreshing shall doe lesse and with lesse dexteritie then he might But on the other side if the mower should doe nothing from morning to noone or from noone to night but whet whet whet rubbing his syth he would both marre the syth and bee counted an idle worke-man also for loosing his dayes work so he that will run after the most honest delights when neither the wearinesse of his body nor heauines of his minde requires the same but onely vpon a fond lust or longing after them shall in time destroy his wit and strength and in the meane season maruailous vnthriftilie mis-spend his time Therefore let not a man beginne the day with play though neuer so lawfull vnlesse his body or minde require some necessarie exercise to make it more apt for his calling Hee that sets into the day sportingly shall bee sure to go through it either lumpishly or sinfully much more if he spend all the day from morning to night in playing let it be neuer so much holy day or haue he what other excuse he wil. This rule is for the beginning of sports The second is for the measure and continuance of them where this is a generall and a firme direction That it is not lawfull for a man in an ordinary course to spend more time in any pastime vpon any day then in religious exercises I meane cheefely priuate religious exercises I say it is vtterly vnlawfull to bestow a larger time any day vpon the most lawfull delight then in priuate religious exercises or at least in a customable course so to doe This is plainely proued by that which Christ speakes to vs saying First seeke the kingdome of God and the righteousnesse thereof You see here commanded to prefer the seeking of heauen before any other thing whatsoeuer to let that haue the cheef place in our soules and in our liues Now he that first seekes the kingdome of heauen cannot bestow more time in sports of any sort then in those things which doe directly make for the obtayning of eternall life and that righteousnesse which will bring one thereunto such as are hearing and reading the word praying meditating examining the heart conferring and the like And surely this is a most equall thing that the most needful duty should haue the most time bestowed vpon it Yea it is a most easie rule to all sorts of men that haue seasoned their hearts with the true feare of God For if a mans calling lye in bodily works then the very exercises of religion are a refreshing to his body in that he doth for the space while they continue desist from his bodily labour and his calling affords sufficient stirring of the body for health so that if he be religiously minded and haue indeed set his delight on God he may well giue as much time to these actions as to any carnall sports But if any mans calling lye in study or such like labour of the minde first the change is a great refreshing and varietie a delight and then there bee religious exercises which will refresh the minde as well as any sports and for so much exercise as health requires it is not long in vsing because nature is here as in other matters content with a little howsoeuer men seeke excuses by belying her so that at the least an equall portion of time must be allotted to God and religion as to sports and delights euen of students if they will first seek the kingdome of God Therefore let a man measure out the time of sporting and recreating himselfe by the time hee takes to pray to read to meditate to sing Psalmes to confer of good things or the like and know that he hath not libertie from God to imploy ordinarily so much time neuer to imploy one minute more in the most vnoffensiue sports then in these seruices of God Now let a man conforme himselfe to these two rules Begin not play till need of body or minde exact it Continue not sports longer then a man hath or shall continue some godly priuate exercise of religion and he shall saue his time well from this first theefe Now comes to bee considered the next spender or rather robber of time that is Idle twatling or babling And concerning this our Sauiour Christ deales plainely with vs saying That of euery idle word which men shall speak they shall giue account at the day of iudgement Think well of this sentence and lay vp euery word Thou must not alone
by idlenesse but it comes vpon him by some hand of God here is an obiect fit for mercy and here one may by seasonably liberal here is an altar offer the Sacrifice of almes vpon it which is a thing wherewith God is well pleased Some other time sparing may bee more fit but now is a season to be more free of gift and open handed There is an occasion of doing good offred in others wherein I haue named these two particulars that euery man might accordingly take notice of other like Thē there is also occasion of doing good offred in ones selfe whether by some outward thing that befals him or by some inward stirring of the minde and affections As outwardly when a time comes in wherin we haue receiued some more speciall benefit this should prouoke vs to more thankfulnes by remembrance of the benefit Thus this time of Christs natiuitie should if any way be celebrated that it might turne to an occasion of more hartie thanksgiuing more true obedience vnto Christ that gaue himself for our sins and tooke our nature vpon him that in it hee might beare our iniquities So when we be in the enioying of gods creatures whilst we be eating drinking or such like here is a speciall season to lift vp the heart to God to kindle a flame of praise by this fewell that our thanks might be so much the more earnest by how much we haue a more present feeling of Gods mercie and doe euen tast how good he is On the other side a man is somtimes pressed with a sore crosse affliction that pincheth his soule here is a very fit occasion of humbling ones selfe and examining ones heart For in these afflictions god cals to humiliation for the most part which dutie being performed after a man may reioyce in his affliction But whiles the burden of the crosse is heauie here is a notable meanes to further one in the work of humiliation and if one can take the time when God smites he may at least he ought cause his hart to stoup before him with more ease then when he was at more ease for his body Againe somtimes a man hath a more inward stirring of his affections which he cannot haue at an other time This must be followed greedily taken sometimes at the sermon or vpon some other occasion a man hearing or thinking of his sin and the punishment due thereunto haue a kind of pricking in his heart and some touch of remorse within him his consciēce begins to tel him that all is not well he growes to some orderly conclusion Sure I wil now be sorrie for this fault amend it Now if one will follow this motion go after god when he cals for this is one of his inward callings and not shoulder it out with fond mirth but nourish it by a plain confession of his sin to God an harty begging of grace strength from him to do that which he now sees he should doe this will come to godly sorrow and so to repentance but else if he choake it and quench it it will vanish and the hart will be more hard frozen in the dregs of sin So that if there be any whose heart at this time at the speaking of these words whose soule smites him for his swearing lying sabboth breaking whordome drūkennes gameming couetousnes railing or the like sin let him when he is gone out of the Chruch cast himselfe downe in the presence of God confesse this his sinne or sins freely without dissembling labour to be more sorrowfull for them then euer he was and pray to god to pull him out of this mire This if he doe he shall take the time he shall be a conuert the Lord will receiue him as the vnthriftie prodigall son was receiued by redeeming the time he shal find redemption to his soule But if hee despise this admoniton of God his soule shal be more seared then before his hart shall be deliuered to a greater of hardnes and sencelesnes then euer before so be further of from repentance life But alas the frantick dealing of men in this case is too palpable to be straunged at when Gods word strikes vpon them when they feele the keennesse of it when the threatnings haue cut so that they smart for it then they run to dicing carding drinking dancing c. as it wer of set purpose to driue away the spirit of God that was comming towards them to heale their soule None is so mad to take such courses for his body that whē he feels the sore to smart then to run frō the Phisition and couer it ouer with a clout or striue to forget it yet for their foules a number deale so sencelesly in this thing as much as in any other verifying that name which the holy Ghost hath giuen vnto him whē he termes mad men For it is a property peculiar to a mad man that feeling paine he will hate the Phisition run away from him that would help Oh that those of vs which haue hitherto beene so mad would returne now to our right minds to God to be healed Againe sometimes a mans heart is stirred vp with an inward and secret reioycing or gladnes Then saith S. Iames. If any man be merry let him sing Psalmes Now he shall do it with a cheerfull courage indeed And therefore Dauid would in such a case rise at midnight to sing a Psalme rather then hee would loose the season whē it would relish with him so well Sometimes also a man or a woman shall feele a secret pensiuenesse growing ouer his heart so that it euen melts as the ground that thawes after a frost he could euen weep abundantly teares offer themselues in a ful measure Here is an excellent occasion of renuing ones repentance Now whateuer be ones companie whateuer bee the matter in hand except it be of absolute necessitie let him leaue it of and betake him to his chamber or some secret now let him fall on his knees now let him opē his mouth and acknowledge his sins against himselfe giuing vent to his greefe and turning all to Godly sorrow whatsoeuer the occasion was at first Thus if any body doe his repentance shall receiue a notable encrease But if he passe it ouer his heart will not answere his desire an other time Furthermore sometimes a mans heart is earnestly moued with some hungry desire to inioy some grace of God and great longing after some christian vertue Now let him in the heat flame of his desire addresse himselfe to prayer Then one shall send vp such peircing cries and giue such aloud knock against the gates of Christs mercie that he can not chuse but heare and send one back with an almes as it were Thus hee redeems the time But else his desires will be so cold chil at an other time that he shall searce thrust a petition out of his