A guide to godliness or a Treatise of a Christian life showing the dutiesA guide to godlynesse or a Treatise of a Christian life shewing the duties

Fourthly, let us consider, that we are not ordinarily thrust into such straights, but that if we will, we may easily find some convenient time for both sorts of duties; those which are religious belonging to Gods service, and those which are civill, about our ordinary callings. Neither is there any vocation so laborious, which if it be wisely followed, will not afford some fit time for holy exercises. For tell me, thou who complainest of thy little leisure, and thy short time for thy great employments, if thou be so niggardly thrifty in expending it, that thou hast none to spare from the works of thy calling to any other use or purpose; Doest thou not borrow from them, so much as would serve religious duties, not one hour in the four and twenty, to be divided between thy morning and evening devotions? Doest not thou, who complainest of this waste, in that time which is bestowed upon Christ and the duties of Gods service, spend much more upon thine own lusts and sinful pleasures, either in superfluous sleep, or complementall invitations or visitations, or in vain disports and unprofitable pastimes, or in fruitless, if not carnal & corrupt communication and idle chat, or sitting longer at thy meals then either health or profit, necessity or civility doth require? And is thine hap so hard, that thou art at liberty for all other purposes, and art only pinched in the straits of time, when thou shouldest spare a little for Gods service, and the eternal well-fare of thy precious soul? Surely if this be thy case, thy state is miserable; for he that wanteth time for Gods service, will also want it for his own salvation. He that can find no time for the Lords work, shall never have time to receive his wages. He that can find no leisure to enrich his soul with spiritual grace, shall thereby also lose the opportunity of attaining unto heavenly glory. Do not then for shame abuse thy self any longer with so vain an excuse, as though thou couldest find in thine heart to be godly and religious, if thou couldest find any time