Be sure to do what you 1do quickly, and throughly. Satan is so wise, that he knows his time is but short; and therefore lays about him with great 2wrath and fury. Oh, let us be so wise, as to know that our time is but short! God himself tells us, that it is so. Our time is a little 3spot of time, cut out between two Eternities; before, and after: then, ⟨p. 86⟩let us do our work quickly. We may be suddenly surprised, before we be aware: and, as the Tree falleth, so it lies; as a man lives, so he dies; as Death leaves us, so Judgement, and the second coming of Christ, shall find us. We should therefore (as the Apostle saith) work out our own salvation with fear, and 4trembling. Many men, when they come to die, are troubled about this: Oh, I have not done so; I should have done this and that, and have not; but I have done amiss, I have not throughly repented; something is not done, that should have ⟨p. 87⟩been; I have not made mine Evidences sound, I have not made my Calling 5and Election sure: Oh, my Conscience is troubled, and my soul cannot find that peace in God, &c. Oh, do you take warning by them, and now work out your salvation with fear, and trembling: and that upon this ground, because the time is short, and uncertain. Beloved, it is a great error in us; we think of reaping, as soon as we begin to sow; nay, we begin to sow then, when we should reap: Then we begin to think of God, and goodness, when we lye a dying: That should ⟨p. 88⟩be a time of reaping the comfort of all our former life, and to think of the time to come, with joy. Oh, what a comfortable thing would it be, if we can with S. Paul, look backward, and say; I have fought the good fight, I have 6finished my course, I have kept the Faith? &c. He looks back with comfort, and therefore he looks forward with comfort too: From henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the righteous Judge, shall give me at that day, &c. When a Christian man hath done the will of God, and looks back-ward, and ⟨p. 89⟩saith: I had a Race to run, and I have run it; I had a Faith to keep, and I have kept it; I had a fight to fight, and I have fought it: and then looks forward, and sees a Crown of eternal Glory before his eyes; what a comfort and ravishing joy will this afford? Whether he looks backward, or forward, all is glorious.
Be sure to doe what you 1doe quickly, and throughly. Satan is so wise, that hee knowes his time is but short; and therefore layes about him with great 2wrath and furie. Oh, let us be so wise, as to know that our time is but short! God himselfe tells us, that it is so. Our time is a little 3spot of time, cut out betweene two Eternities; before, and after: then, ⟨p. 86⟩let us doe our worke quickly. Wee may bee suddenly surprized, before wee be aware: and, as the Tree falleth, so it lyes; as a man lives, so hee dies; as Death leaves us, so Judgement, and the second comming of Christ, shall finde us. Wee should therefore (as the Apostle saith) worke out our owne salvation with feare, and 4trembling. Manie men, when they come to die, are troubled about this: Oh, I have not done so; I should have done this and that, and have not; but I have done amisse, I have not throughly repented; something is not done, that should have ⟨p. 87⟩beene; I have not made mine Evidences sound, I have not made my Calling 5and Election sure: Oh, my Conscience is troubled, and my soule cannot finde that peace in God, &c. Oh, doe you take warning by them, and now worke out your salvation with feare, and trembling: and that upon this ground, because the time is short, and uncertaine. Beloved, it is a great errour in us; wee thinke of reaping, as soone as wee begin to sowe; nay, wee begin to sowe then, when wee should reape: Then wee begin to thinke of God, and goodnesse, when wee lye a dying: That should ⟨p. 88⟩be a time of reaping the comfort of all our former life, and to thinke of the time to come, with joy. Oh, what a comfortable thing would it be, if wee can with S. Paul, looke backward, and say; I have fought the good fight, I have 6finished my course, I have kept the Faith? &c. Hee lookes backe with comfort, and therefore hee lookes forward with comfort too: From henceforth there is layd up for me a Crowne of Righteousnesse, which the Lord, the righteous Iudge, shall give me at that day, &c. When a Christian man hath done the will of God, and lookes back-ward, and
- 1Direct. 3.
- 2Rev. 12. 12.
- 31 Cor. 7. 29.
- 4Phil. 2. 12.
- 52 Pet. 1. 10.
- 62 Tim. 4. 7, 8.
