'T is now an accepted time a day of Salvation 2 Cor. 6. 2. A time to accept or a time to be accepted a golden and glorious time indeed Behold now there is a broad and clear way to the Mercy seat the flaming sword is gone the partition wall is down all Bars and Gates are removed an Act of indempnity is proclaim'd and there is a free admission for all to come and be saved pardons are ready Isa 55. 6 7. Isa 45. Sinners your dear Lord Jesus the great Peace-maker is now an impotant Suitor unto your perishing souls namely an inviting knocking waiting promising Christ Prov. 22. 9. 4. Isa 65. 2. Math. 11. 28. Rev. 3. 20. Cant. 5. 2. John 6. 36. The treasures of grace are opened and offered to sale upon easie terms without money and without price Isa 55. 1. Rev. 3. 17. O make speed and come make the purchase buy the pearl of price that 's better then Rubies and you shall have a treasure in heaven The favour of Gods precious blood white raiment tryed gold and the eternal life of your never dying souls is worth the having Consider also that now the Holy Ghost calls and offers his assistance to close the bargain to tye the marriage knot between Christ and Souls Heb. 3. If you lose this opportunity you may never have the like The Spirit and the Bride say come Rev. last 17. 5. The time of the Sabbath or Lords day must be redeemed we must have a specially care of sanctifying that day it being the Sabbath of the Lord our God This golden day from morning to night must be spent in the service and worship of our Lord either in publick private or secret duties and no part of it must be lost Take no liberty upon that day for frothy vain and unprofitable discourse or recreations or to ride buy sell or work This dreadful God provoking sin of Sabbath-breaking is a sin in fashion hundreds in this Nation serve the Devil more upon the Lords day then on other dayes Then men are at leisure to serve the Devil and satisfie their lusts to go to the Ale-house or to exercise themselves in sports and pastimes O that Magistrates Ministers Masters of Families and Parents would look to it Neh. 13. 17. The Lord of the Sabbath commandeth thee that thou and thy Son thy Daughter thy man servant and all within thy gate keep that day holy The Sabbath is called a holy convocation Lev. 23. 2. and the Lord of the day is an infinitely holy just and jealous God The Sabbath heretofore was called Regina dierum the Queen of days in the New Testament it is called the Lords day Rev. 1. 10. a day in which we commemorate the greatest mercy viz. the glorious Resurrection of our crucified Lord and that which the purest Christians in the purest times did carefully observe In the Primitive times a serious and strict observation of the Lords day was a trial or badge of Christianity When the question was propounded Servasti Dominicum hast thou kept the Lords day the answer was turn'd Christianus sum intermittare non possum I am a Christian and cannot intermit it It was a saying of an eminent Divine that he would judge of a mans Religion according to the reverence and care he had of keeping the Sabbath Christians you are to keep your Lords rest and perform the holy duties of his worship chearfully reverently spiritually Joh. 4. 24. If ever you think to celebrate an eternal Sabbath with God in glory be careful of this duty To enforce it consider 1. How strictly the holy God imposeth it and to what end it is Remember the Sabbath day to keep it Holy Exod. 20. 8. This blessed day for communion with God is to be premeditated upon before it cometh therefore in the evening before the Sabbath let all your necessary occasions be done up that you may have nothing but what becometh the work of that day Be like David's good man Ps 112. 5. ordering your affairs with discretion especially your Spiritual affairs If you expected the company of some worthy friend would you be found in a sluttish posture or sweeping and cleansing your houses on that day and all out of order On the Lords day you should vehemently expect the approach and presence of the King of glory therefore make all ready to entertain him 2. Remember the excellent Epithetes and Titles of this blessed day it is called a High day a Holy day the holy of the Lord honourable Isa 58. 13. Therefore let it be redeemed lose no more Sabbaths 3. Consider the blessings and soul benefits of that day if it be rightly observed It is your Lords Market day in the which you have the precious Oyl the Golden Mines and treasures of grace opened that day There are spiritual dainties for your hungry souls to which you are by Christ invited that day Isa 54. 1. The Holy Ghost doth breath and blow that day by the secret and sweet gales whereof Saints mount up toward Heaven The great God comes down and gracious souls ascend that day Rev. 1. 10. And the Eunuchs that keep Gods Sabbaths have the promise of a name in his house for ever Isa 56. 4 5. I might add the severe threatnings and Gods signal judgements upon the prophaners of the Sabbath or Lords day The man that was found gathering sticks upon the Sabbath by an immediate command from God was stoned to death Numb 15. 32 34 35 36. How time must be redeemed 1. By taking and improving all opportunities for the glorifying of God 2. By laying hold on the present time and now a day of grace for settling and securing your everlasting state 3. By improving the present means of grace for your speedy growth in grace 4. By doing all the good you can to others while you may 5. By labouring to keep up constant communion with God in holy duties 6. By improving every providence and outward cross for inward and spiritual advantages 7. By casting up your accounts every day that you may make even with God 8. By labouring to order every days work in reference to your last day that having finished you work you may be fit to leave this World 1. By taking and improving all occasions for the glorifying of God Dear Christians this is your Fathers business and the great Errand for which you had your being You were born and new born to serve the interest of the holy and blessed God in the World this is that glorious end for which you should spend your strength and time and lay out your selves to the very utmost That which is the chief end of your life viz. to display and propagate Gods glory in the World must not be neglected other things are infinitely inferiour and must be subordinated unto this For the thoughts and designs of serving the Interest of your Lord is that which you must be always driving on in this evil
is but a step between thee and an endless state and wilt thou not be more industrious for thy Soul and Heaven If a man were to run or wrestle for his Life or for a Crown or Kingdom how would he strain and strive and that with all his might If a man were to go over Sea for his life and had but one gale of wind in his Life-time would he come to the water-side and lose it If a Malefactor had but a day appointed him to sue out his pardon would he not improve it This is all our cases God hath given us but a day to work when the day is ended it will be night for ever Luk. 19. 19 42. John 9. 4. Now it may be Christ is at the door offering thee help open to him lest he withdraw and come no more It s probable the spirit of Life and Power striveth to turn thee to God O refuse not to comply with it lest the Spirit serve thee as Samuel did Saul that came no more to him 1 Sam. 15. 35. I shall conclude the Motives with the words of the Psalmist to day if you will hear his voice harden not your hearts left God swear in his wrath that you shall not enter into his rest Psal 91. 7. 11. Now if thou art resolved to put this duty into practice through the help of Heaven speedily and diligently observe these Directions Directions for the redeeming of Time 1. Take heed and beware of those things which rob you of your time 2. Labour to convince your selves of the worth of time and value it accordingly 3. Set apart a considerable portion of time for the most secret duties 4. Cast and compute your time 5. Maintain a holy fear upon thy heart of coming to the end of time before thy work be done Direct 1. First Take heed of those things which rob you of your time Now the thieves that will rob you of this exceeding rich Jewel are these six against which watch as for thy life 1. Vain Thoughts 2. Worldly Cares 3. Vnnecessary Visits 4. Vnprofitable Discourse 5. Excessive indulging of the outward man 6. Vnlawful or immoderate recreations 1. Vain Thoughts These are secret and subtile Thieves that insensibly rob us of our time every day and in every duty vain impertinent and wicked thoughts like Pharaoh's Frogs creep and crowd in upon us and thrust out good thoughts so that we cannot keep our mind steddy and compos'd Solomon saith Prov. 17. 24. The eyes of a fool are in the ends of the earth so are our thoughts gadding wandring up and down here and there and every where These evil thoughts spring and rise from within us as naturally as sparks from the fire Gen. 6. 5. Matth. 15. 19. Out of the heart proceedeth evil thoughts And they follow us continually into every place and in every service as the Birds on Abraham's Sacrifices which Abraham did drive away They must not Lodge Jerem. 4. 14. Though we cannot hinder the Fowls from flying in the Air or over our heads we may hinder them from pitching on our heads Holy David had vain thoughts but he hated them Psal 119. 113. There is not a minute but many thoughts pass from us as in a minute sands do in an Hour-glass Psal 94. 19. Christians consider how much of that time is lost which you spend in holy duties by vain thoughts when we should draw nigh to God our hearts by our thoughts steal away And there are but a few awakened tender spirits truly sensible of this intrinsical secret evil though much of a Christian's duty and the very inwards of Religion lies in observing the thoughts and in watching the heart Therefore above all keeping keep thy heart Prov. 4. 23. and take heed to thy spirit Mal. 2. 15 16. 2. Worldly Cares are great wasters of our precious time The most do mind Earthly things Phil. 3. 19. Men heads hearts and thoughts are so intent about the things that perish that they do hardly entertain a serious thought of God and Eternity all the day God is not in all their thoughts They that are the flesh do mind the things of the flesh Rom. 8. 5. and not only the children of this World but Professors themselves are so eager and vehement in the pursuit of this poor Earth that almost all their time and strength is spent about it And while men are so careful and solicious about many things and in a very crowd and hurry of business it is impossible for them to redeem time for God and their souls As soon as their eyes are open and the things of the World stand as so many Suitors to invite and draw them Some have their hearts so over-charged and surfeited with the Cares and fears of this evil world that their abundance will not suffer them to sleep Luke 21. 4. Eccles 5. 12. Now when it is thus Opportunities are lost Souls are neglected Holy duties omitted or if used they are very unsuccessful Ezek. 33. 31. Math. 13. 22. Therefore take heed of the world so great a devourer of our time 3. Vnnecessary visits are great wasters of our time of which you must take heed it being no mark of Godliness but the contrary The wise man speaking of the vicious and vertous Woman giveth them this different Character viz. the one her feet abideth not in her House Eccl. 7. 11. the other looketh well to the wayes of her houshold and eateth not the bread of idleness Prov. 31. 27. And we read of some that wandred about from house to house being idle Tatlers and busie-bodies speaking things which they ought not 1 Tim. 5. 13. How many do trifile away the time in going from house to house to whom it may be said as Pharaoh to the oppressed Israelites Ye are idle ye are idle Let that time you have to spare from your Calling and Families be spent in Reading Prayer or other Religious exercises and in all your Visits intend and design the doing of good or the receiving of good and not the passing away of this precious time When your friends or neighbours are sick and under the hand of God go to them and give them counsel for their souls Rom. 15. 2. 4. Vnprofitable Discourse robbeth us of much time Some employ their Tongues in telling fabulous or filthy stories others in discoursing of Parties and Opinions and in talking of the Faults and Miscarriages of other men Some about the Times and enquiring after News Thus did the men of Athens who spent their time in nothing else but either to tell or to hear some new thing Acts 17. 21. And the most when they come together pass away the time in discoursing of the World and the concerns of it But let Christians when they converse imitate their Lord the words that proceeded out of his mouth were gracious words Walk in wisdom toward them that art without redeeming the time Let your speech be always with Grace seasoned with Salt
and your dear never-dying souls bound fettered and chained in that direful painful prison of hell is matter of the greatest wonder in all the world Have you not cause to doubt that many of your neighbours relations and sinful companions accquaintance are gone down thither it may be some of those you least suspect And you know not how many are now in flames for the very same sins that you stand guilty of if not less sinners then your selves O admire and bless God with your whole souls that you are yet on this side the grave and not gone down into that place of torment you enjoy many opportunities for your souls and are still exhorted to part with sin to turn to God to accept of Christ to think of death and hell that so you might never see it or feel it for there is much more in the paines of hell and wrath of God then ever you heard or can imagine According to thy fear said Moses so is thy wrath Psal 90. 11. Poor sinners you are still the living Monuments of infinite kindness and therefore let not the living man complain Suppose you had dyed when death seemed neer when you were sick and weak ready to give up the ghost or when those many thousands dyed by the Plague or Sword in what a miserable condition had your souls been to be shut up with Devils and damned spirits in that Lake that burneth with fire and brimstone And will you still maintain your enmity encrease iniquity and even dare God to damn you Sinners are you not besides your selves yea stark mad to make God that should be your best friend your worst fo for if his anger be kindled but a little it will burn to the lowest hell and none can quench it or stand before it Can thine heart endure or thine hands be strong in the day that I shall deal with thee Ezek. 22. 14. Who can dwell with devouring fire who would saith the Lord set the bryars and thorns against me in battel I would go through them I would burn them up together Isa 27. 4. O when will you come to your selves and throw away your arms and consider your souls or will you not be saved when shall it once be why will you dye Let these cords of love draw you and cause you to say Behold we come unto thee for thou art the Lord our God Consider others dreadful ruine hath been your warning that are now lockt up in that dark dungeon and shall come up no more and whom the Devils are now tormenting the worm biting and the fire burning You are at present free from that boyling Chaldron and in the Land of the Living O praise praise the Lord for his long-suffering you being but as it were under a repreive O prize and improve your life and timely prepare for death for if thy life were ended thy soul seperated and not peace with God made thou wert an undone soul There 's no place for repentance in the Grave no Christ or pardon to be obtained in hell Bless God your glass runeth your Lamp burneth the day of grace is yet continued your dear Lord is upon the Mercy-seat therefore there is hope Vse 2. This justly reprehendeth all that flight or neglect this great duty but especially these three sorts neither of which do seriously consider their latter end Viz. 1. The insolent Atheistical Sensualists 2. The Ignorant and considerate 3. The Self confident presumptuous 1. It condemneth Atheistical sensualists that put the evil day far from them Amos 6. 3. and who drown or banish the awful thoughts of God Death and Eternity out of our minds and hearts They take the Timbrel and Harp and rejoyce at the sound of the Organ and say unto God depart from us for we desire not the knowledg of thy wayes Job 21. 12 24. God is not in all their thoughts Psal 10. 14. They are resolved for a short life and a merry what ever the dreadful issue They chant to the sound of the Viol and drink wine in bowls and eat the Lambs out of the flock and stretch themselves upon their Couches saying in their hearts as that wretch Luk. 12. 19. take thine ease eat drink and be merry they will satisfie their lusts injoy the pleasures of the flesh walk in the wayes of their heart and in the sight of their eyes and hereby they make the breach wider and themselves seven times more the children of the Devil though at last they sit down in everlasting sorrow Let us eat and drink for to morrow we dye You poor desperately deluded souls did you beleive what you have read and heard of the other world or what the Scripture of infalilble verity speaketh of the infinitely holy great and terrible God who will in no wise clear the guilty you would quickly change your Course did you now consider you must dye and be judged that in a very little time you which hear me this day must stand before the dreadful God would you sin so freely love the world so immoderately mock at a Deity jeer at serious piety neglect your Duty trifle away your time forget eternity and hazard those your precious souls as you have done and do Such Rake hels and devils incarnate the Apostle speaketh of 2 Pet. 3. 10. Know this first i. e. before the end of the world There shall come in the last dayes scoffers walking after their own lasts and saying where is the promise of his coming Nevertheless these Vipers vile miscreants and monsters in mens shape think that they are wise when indeed they have no understanding Wise they are but it is to do evil to cavil against the truth dispute against the life of holiness but to do good they have no knowledg Jer. 4. 22. This was Jerusalems great sin immediately before the fierce anger of the Lord came upon them and this is the sad and dreadful case of many yea thousands in the world and in these Nations notwithstanding all those awakening desolating providences and amazing spectacles of mortality their eyes have seen There are but a few that look upon themselves as concerned at all just like a company of simple sheep in a fat pasture The Butcher cometh and fetcheth one to Day another to morrow the rest feed on and take no notice of what is become of their lost companions 'T is as if a company of condemned persons reprievd for a time should be appointed to be executed one after another within the space of so many Dayes This Day the first in order is brought forth and executed the day following a second yet all the rest that are to take their turnes fall a Drinking Carding Singing Swearing and so continue to the very last until they be all Hang'd Dead and Damn'd We may compare this mad deluded world to a company of poor blind men dancing about the brink of a very dangerous deep pit but do not perceive it or see how