Redeeming the time a sermon preached at Preston in Lancashire, January 4th, 1657 at…

6. The Scriptures speak of a remarkable set time of grace, a time of visitation, Luke 19.44. a time of Salvation, 2 Cor, 6.2. a time whilst God may be found, Psal. 32.6. a time when he holds out the Golden Sceptre. Esther. 5.2. a time wherein the Fountain runneth, and the spirit proclameth, Ho, every on that thirsteth come ye to the Waters, Isa. 55.1. Thus Jerusalem had her time; and all the several Churches in Asia had their time; and now England, Scotland, and Ireland have their time; and if we mis-improve this time, and walk unworthy of this grace and Gospel of Christ, this time will have an end,¹ this Sun will go down at Noon, and set upon our heads. This ⟨p. 7⟩day, if you will hear my voice harden not your hearts, said God to Israel; but they hardened their hearts, and therefore God sware to them in his wrath that they should never enter into his rest. If it be so with us as it was with Israel in the wilderness, we do not know but this very day the Lord may clap an Oath upon our heads, that we shall never enter into his rest. Oh then that we would learn of the Ant, that gathereth her meat in the Summer time! Oh that while we have this time of grace, we would redeem the time in praying, reading, hearing, meditating, and treasuring up the things belonging to our peace! This time is a set-time that hastens away: and we cannot with Joshua, bid the Sun stand still. O then let us say, This is our time, and therefore what we will do for our Souls, we will do it now. Surely better it is to redeem it now, than to wish in pain and torment for the time again when it is past redemption.

6. The Scriptures speak of a remarkable set time of grace, a time of visitation, Luke 19.44. a time of Salvation, 2 Cor, 6.2. a time whilest God may be found,