Part 1 › Chapter 5 › Directions for REDEEMING or well improving TIME., A Christian Directory by Richard Baxter (1673) | AskReformation

Skip to content

:2173p. 275

§ 6. The Ends and Uses which Time must be Redeemed for are these. 1. In general and ultimately, it¹ must be all for God; Though not all employed directly upon God, in meditating of him, or praying to him; yet all must be laid out for him, immediately or mediately; that is, either in serving him, or in preparing for his service; in mowing or in whetting; in travelling or in baiting to fit us for travail: And so our time of sleep and feeding and needful recreation is laid out for God. 2. Time must be Redeemed especially for works of Public benefit: For the Church and State: for the souls of many: especially by Magistrates and Ministers, who have special charge and opportunity: who must spend and be spent for the peoples sakes, though rewarded with ingratitude and contempt, 2 Cor. 12. 14, 15. 3. For your own souls, and your everlasting life: For speedy conversion without delay, if you be yet unconverted: For the killing of every soul-endangering sin, without delay: For the exercise and increase of young and unconfirmed Grace, and the growth of knowledge; For the making sure our Calling and Election: And for the storing up provisions of Faith, and hope, and love, and comfort against the hour of suffering and of death. 4. We must Redeem Time for the souls of every particular person, that we have opportunity to do good to: especially for children and servants and others whom God hath committed to our trust. 5. For the welfare of our own Bodies that they may be serviceable to our souls. 6. And lastly for the Bodily welfare of others. And this is the order in which those works lye, for which and in which our Time must be Redeemed.

§ 6. The Ends and Uses which Time must be Redeemed for are these. 1. In general and ultimately, it¹ must be all for God; Though not all imployed directly upon God, in meditating of him, or praying to him; yet all must be laid out for him, immediately or mediately; that is, either in serving him, or in preparing for his service; in mowing or in whetting; in travelling or in baiting to fit us for travail: And so our time of sleep and feeding and needful recreation is laid out for God. 2. Time must be Redeemed especially for works of Publick benefit: For the Church and State: for the souls of many: especially by Magistrates and Ministers, who have special charge and opportunity: who must spend and be spent for the peoples sakes, though rewarded with ingratitude and contempt, 2 Cor. 12. 14, 15. 3. For your own souls, and your everlasting life: For speedy conversion without delay, if you be yet unconverted: For the killing of every soul-endangering sin, without delay: For the exercise and increase of young and unconfirmed Grace, and the growth of knowledge; For the making sure our Calling and Election: And for the storing up provisions of Faith, and hope, and love, and comfort against the hour of suffering and of death. 4. We must Redeem Time for the souls of every particular person, that we have opportunity to do good to: especially for children and servants and others whom God hath committed to our trust. 5. For the wellfare of our own Bodies that they may be serviceable to our souls. 6. And lastly for the Bodily wellfare of others. And this is the order in which those works lye, for which and in which our Time must be Redeemed.

1To what Uses Time must be Redeemed.

:2174p. 275

The Price that Time must be Redeemed with is, 1. Above all, by our utmost Diligence: That we be¹ still doing, and put forth all our strength, and run as for our lives; and whatever our hand shall find to do, that we do it with our might, remembering that there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither we go, Eccl. 9. 10 Our sluggish ease is an easy price to be parted with for precious Time. To Redeem it, is not to call back Time past; nor to stop Time in its hasty passage; nor to procure a long life on earth: but to save it, as it passeth, from being devoured and lost, by sluggishness and sin. 2. Time must be Redeemed from the hands, and by the loss, of sinful pleasures, sports and revellings, and all that is of it self, or by accident unlawful: from wantonness, and licentiousness and vanity, Rom. 13. 11, 12, 13, 14. Both these are set together. [And that knowing the Time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed: The night is far spent; the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light: let us walk honestly as in the day, not in rioting and drunkenness; not in chambering and wantonness; not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Jesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfil the lusts thereof.] 3. Time must be Redeemed from things indifferent and lawful at another time, when things necessary do require it. He that should save mens lives, or quench a fire in his house, or provide for his family, or do his Masters work, will not be excused if he neglect it, by saying that he was about an indifferent or a lawful business. Natural rest and sleep must be parted with for Time, when necessary things require it. Paul Preached till midnight being to depart on the morrow, Act. 20. 7. The Lamenting Church calling out for Prayer saith, Arise: cry out in the night, in the beginning of the watches pour out thy heart like water before the fac• of the Lord, Lam. 2. 19. Cleanthes Lamp must be used by such, whose Sun-light must be otherwise employed. 4. Time must be Redeemed from worldly business and commodity, when matters of greater weight and commodity do require it. Trades, and Plough, and profit must stand by, when God calls us (by necessity or otherwise) to greater things.

The Price that Time must be Redeemed with is, 1. Above all, by our utmost Diligence: That we be¹ still doing, and put forth all our strength, and run as for our lives; and whatever our hand shall find to do, that we do it with our might, remembring that there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom in the grave whither we go, Eccl. 9. 10 Our sluggish ease is an easie price to be parted with for precious Time. To Redeem it, is not to call back Time past; nor to stop Time in its hasty passage; nor to procure a long life on earth: but to save it, as it passeth, from being devoured and lost, by sluggishness and sin. 2. Time must be Redeemed from the hands, and by the loss, of sinful pleasures, sports and revellings, and all that is of it self, or by accident unlawful: from wantonness, and licentiousness and vanity, Rom. 13. 11, 12, 13, 14. Both these are set together. [And that knowing the Time, that now it is high time to awake out of sleep: for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed: The night is far spent; the day is at hand: let us therefore cast off the works of darkness, and let us put on the armour of light: let us walk honestly as in the day, not in ryoting and drunkeness; not in chambering and wantonness; not in strife and envying; but put ye on the Lord Iesus Christ, and make not provision for the flesh to fulfill the lusts thereof.] 3. Time must be Redeemed from things indifferent and lawful at another time, when things necessary do require it. He that should save mens lives, or quench a fire in his house, or provide for his family, or do his Masters work, will not be excused if he neglect it, by saying that he was about an indifferent or a lawful business. Natural rest and sleep must be parted with for Time, when necessary things require it. Paul Preached till midnight being to depart on the morrow, Act. 20. 7. The Lamenting Church calling out for Prayer saith, Arise: cry out in the night, in the beginning of the watches pour out thy heart like water before the fac• of the Lord, Lam. 2. 19. Cleanthes Lamp must be used by such, whose Sun-light must be otherwise employed. 4. Time must be Redeemed from worldly business and commodity, when matters of greater weight and commodity do require it. Trades, and Plow, and profit must stand by, when God calls us (by necessity or otherwise) to greater things.

1From what and at what price it must be Redeemed.

:2175p. 275–276

Martha should not so much as trouble her self in providing meat for Christ and his followers to eat, when Christ is offering her food for her soul, and she should with Mary have been hearing at his feet, Luk. 10. 42. Worldlings are thus called by him, Isa. 55. 1, 2, 3. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the water—Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfieth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight it self in fatness.—5. Time must be Redeemed from smaller Duties, which in their season must be done, as being no duties, when they hinder Greater duty, which should then take place. It is a duty in its time and place to ⟨p. 276⟩show respect to neighbours and superiors, and to those about us, and to look to our family affairs: but not when we should be at Prayer to God, or when a Minister should be Preaching, or at his necessary studies: Private Prayer and Meditation and visiting the sick are duties: But not when we should be at Church, or about any greater duty which they hinder.

Martha should not so much as trouble her self in providing meat for Christ and his followers to eat, when Christ is offering her food for her soul, and she should with Mary have been hearing at his feet, Luk. 10. 42. Worldlings are thus called by him, Isa. 55. 1, 2, 3. Ho, every one that thirsteth, come ye to the water—Wherefore do you spend your money for that which is not bread? and your labour for that which satisfyeth not? hearken diligently unto me, and eat ye that which is good, and let your soul delight it self in fatness.—5. Time must be Redeemed from smaller Duties, which in their season must be done, as being no duties, when they hinder Greater duty, which should then take place. It is a duty in its time and place to ⟨p. 276⟩shew respect to neighbours and superiours, and to those about us, and to look to our family affairs: but not when we should be at Prayer to God, or when a Minister should be Preaching, or at his necessary studies: Private Prayer and Meditation and visiting the sick are duties: But not when we should be at Church, or about any greater duty which they hinder.

:2178p. 276

Is not such a man a Monster of stupidity? If you were asleep, or mad, it were the more excusable to be so senseless: But to do thus awake, and in your wits!—O where are the brains of those men, and of what metal are their hardened hearts made, that can idle and play away that Time, that little Time, that only Time, which is given them for the everlasting saving of their souls! Verily firs, if sin had not turned the ungodly part of the world into a Bedlam, where it is no wonder to see a man out of his wits, people would run out with wonder into the Streets to see such a monster as this, as they do to see mad men in the Country where they are rare; and they would call to one another, Come and see a man, that can trifle and sport away his Time, as he is going to Eternity, and is ready to enter into another world! Come and see a man that hath but a few days to win or lose his soul for ever in, and is playing it away at Cards and Dice, or wasting it in doing nothing? Come and see a man that hath hours to spare, and cast away upon trifles, with Heaven and Hell before his eyes. For thy souls sake, consider and tell thy self, If thy estate in the world did lye upon the spending of this day or week, or if thy life lay on it, so that thou must live or dye, or be poor or rich, sick or well as thou spendest it, wouldst thou then waste it in dressings, or complement, or play! and wouldst thou find any to spare upon impertinent triflings? Or rather wouldst thou not be up betime, and about thy business, and turn by thy games, and thy diverting company, and disappoint thy idle visitors, and let them find that thou art not to be spoken with, nor at leisure to do nothing, but wilt rather seem uncivil and morose, than be undone! And wouldst thou do thus for a transitory prosperity or life, and doth not life eternal require much more? will thy weighty business in the world resolve thee, to put by thy friends, thy play-fellows and sports, and to shake off thy idleness? and should not the business of thy salvation do it?

Is not such a man a Monster of stupidity? If you were asleep, or mad, it were the more excusable to be so sensless: But to do thus awake, and in your wits!—O where are the brains of those men, and of what metal are their hardened hearts made, that can idle and play away that Time, that little Time, that only Time, which is given them for the everlasting saving of their souls! Verily firs, if sin had not turned the ungodly part of the world into a Bedlam, where it is no wonder to see a man out of his wits, people would run out with wonder into the Streets to see such a monster as this, as they do to see mad men in the Country where they are rare; and they would call to one another, Come and see a man, that can trifle and sport away his Time, as he is going to Eternity, and is ready to enter into another world! Come and see a man that hath but a few dayes to win or lose his soul for ever in, and is playing it away at Cards and Dice, or wasting it in doing nothing? Come and see a man that hath hours to spare, and cast away upon trifles, with Heaven and Hell before his eyes. For thy souls sake, consider and tell thy self, If thy estate in the world did lye upon the spending of this day or week, or if thy life lay on it, so that thou must live or dye, or be poor or rich, sick or well as thou spendest it, wouldst thou then waste it in dressings, or complement, or play! and wouldst thou find any to spare upon impertinent triflings? Or rather wouldst thou not be up betime, and about thy business, and turn by thy games, and thy diverting company, and disappoint thy idle visiters, and let them find that thou art not to be spoken with, nor at leisure to do nothing, but wilt rather seem uncivil and morose, than be undone! And wouldst thou do thus for a transitory prosperity or life, and doth not life eternal require much more? will thy weighty business in the world resolve thee, to put by thy friends, thy play-fellows and sports, and to shake off thy idleness? and should not the business of thy salvation do it?

:2179p. 276–277

I would desire no more to confute the distracted Time-wasters, when they are disputing for their idle sports and vanities, and asking, what harm is in Cards and Dice, and stage-plays, or tedious feasts or complementing, adorning idleness, than if I could help them to one sight of Heaven and Hell, and make them well know what greater business they have to do, which is staying for them while they sleep or play. If I were just now in disputing the case with an idle Lady, or a sensual belly-slave or gamester, and he were asking me scornfully, what hurt is in all this? if one did but knock at his door and tell him, The King is at the door and calls for you, it would make him cast away his game and his dispute: Or if the house were on fire, or a Child fallen into fire or water, or Thieves breaking in upon them, it would make the Ladies cast by the other Lace or Ribbon? Or if there were but a good bargain or a Lordship to be got, they could be up and going, though sports and game and gaudery were cast off: And yet the foresight of Heaven and Hell, though one of them is even at the door, will not do as much with them: Because Heaven is as nothing to an unbeliever, or an inconsiderate senseless wretch; And as it is nothing to them when it should move them, it shall be nothing to them when they would enjoy it. Say not, Recreation must be used in its season: I know that necessary whetting is no letting: But God and thy own Conscience shall tell thee shortly, whether thy Recreation, feastings, long dressings, and ⟨p. 277⟩idleness, were a necessary whetting or refreshment of thy Body to fit it for that work which thou wast born and livest for; or whether they were the Pastimes of a voluptuous fleshly brute, that lived in these pleasures for the love of pleasure. Verily if I looked but on this one unreasonable sin of Time-wasting, it would help me to understand the meaning of Luk. 15. 17. [Greek or Hebrew], that the Prodigal is said to Come to himself; and that conversion is the bringing a man to his wits.

I would desire no more to confute the distracted Time-wasters, when they are disputing for their idle sports and vanities, and asking, what harm is in Cards and Dice, and stage-plays, or tedious feasts or complementing, adorning idleness, than if I could help them to one sight of Heaven and Hell, and make them well know what greater business they have to do, which is staying for them while they sleep or play. If I were just now in disputing the case with an idle Lady, or a sensual belly-slave or gamester, and he were asking me scornfully, what hurt is in all this? if one did but knock at his door and tell him, The King is at the door and calls for you, it would make him cast away his game and his dispute: Or if the house were on fire, or a Child faln into fire or water, or Thieves breaking in upon them, it would make the Ladies cast by the other Lace or Ribband? Or if there were but a good bargain or a Lordship to be got, they could be up and going, though sports and game and gawdery were cast off: And yet the foresight of Heaven and Hell, though one of them is even at the door, will not do as much with them: Because Heaven is as nothing to an unbeliever, or an inconsiderate sensless wretch; And as it is nothing to them when it should move them, it shall be nothing to them when they would enjoy it. Say not, Recreation must be used in its season: I know that necessary whetting is no letting: But God and thy own Conscience shall tell thee shortly, whether thy Recreation, feastings, long dressings, and ⟨p. 277⟩idleness, were a necessary whetting or refreshment of thy Body to fit it for that work which thou wast born and livest for; or whether they were the Pastimes of a voluptuous fleshly bruit, that lived in these pleasures for the love of pleasure. Verily if I lookt but on this one unreasonable sin of Time-wasting, it would help me to understand the meaning of Luk. 15. 17. 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, that the Prodigal is said to Come to himself; and that conversion is the bringing a man to his wits.

:2180p. 277

§. 9. Direct. 2. Be not a stranger to the condition of thy own soul, but look home till thou art acquainted ¹what state it is in, and what it is in danger of, and what it wanteth, and how far thou art behind hand in thy provisions for immortality: and then be an idle Time-waster if thou canst. Could I but go down with thee into that dungeon Heart of thine, and show thee by the light of truth what is there! could I but let in one convincing beam from Heaven, which might fully show thee what a condition thou art in, and what thou hast to do with thy remaining Time, I should have no need to dispute thee out of thy childish fooleries, nor to bid thee, be up and doing for thy soul, no more than to bid thee stir if a Bear were at thy back, or the house in a flame about thy ears. Alas, our ordinary Timewasters are such, as are yet unconverted carnal wretches, and are all the while in the power of the Devil, who is the chief master of the sport, and the greatest gainer. They are such as are utter strangers to the regenerating sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost; and are yet unjustified, and under the guilt of all their sins, and certain to be with Devils in Hell for ever, if they die thus before they are converted! (This is true, sinner, and thou wilt shortly find it so, by grace or vengeance, though thy blind and hardened heart now rise against the mention of it)! And is this a case for a man to sit at cards and dice in, or to sport and swagger in? The Lord have mercy on thee, and open thy eyes before it is too late, or else thy Conscience will tell thee for ever in another manner than I am telling thee now, that thou hadst need to have better improved thy Time, and hadst greater things to have spent it in. What, for a man in thy case! in an unrenewed, unsanctified, unpardoned state, to be thus casting away that little Time, which all his hopes lie on? and in which, if ever, he must be recovered, and saved! O Lord, have mercy on such senseless souls, and bring them to themselves be fore it be too late! I tell thee man, an enlightened person that understandeth what it is, and hath escaped it, would not for all the Kingdoms of the world, be a week or a day in thy condition, for fear lest death cut off his hopes and shut him up in Hell that very day:

§. 9. Direct. 2. Be not a stranger to the condition of thy own soul, but look home till thou art acquainted ¹what state it is in, and what it is in danger of, and what it wanteth, and how far thou art behind hand in thy provisions for immortality: and then be an idle Time-waster if thou canst. Could I but go down with thee into that dungeon Heart of thine, and shew thee by the light of truth what is there! could I but let in one convincing beam from Heaven, which might fully shew thee what a condition thou art in, and what thou hast to do with thy remaining Time, I should have no need to dispute thee out of thy childish fooleries, nor to bid thee, be up and doing for thy soul, no more than to bid thee stir if a Bear were at thy back, or the house in a flame about thy ears. Alas, our ordinary Timewasters are such, as are yet unconverted carnal wretches, and are all the while in the power of the Devil, who is the chief master of the sport, and the greatest gainer. They are such as are utter strangers to the regenerating sanctifying work of the Holy Ghost; and are yet unjustified, and under the guilt of all their sins, and certain to be with Devils in Hell for ever, if they die thus before they are converted! (This is true, sinner, and thou wilt shortly find it so, by grace or vengeance, though thy blind and hardened heart now rise against the mention of it)! And is this a case for a man to sit at cards and dice in, or to sport and swagger in? The Lord have mercy on thee, and open thy eyes before it is too late, or else thy Conscience will tell thee for ever in another manner than I am telling thee now, that thou hadst need to have better improved thy Time, and hadst greater things to have spent it in. What, for a man in thy case! in an unrenewed, unsanctified, unpardoned state, to be thus casting away that little Time, which all his hopes lie on? and in which, if ever, he must be recovered, and saved! O Lord, have mercy on such sensless souls, and bring them to themselves be fore it be too late! I tell thee man, an enlightened person that understandeth what it is, and hath escaped it, would not for all the Kingdoms of the world, be a week or a day in thy condition, for fear lest death cut off his hopes and shut him up in Hell that very day:

1Direct. 2.

:2181p. 277

He durst not sleep quietly in thy condition a night, lest death should snatch him away to Hell, and canst thou sport and play in it, and live securely in a sensual course? O what a thing it is to be hoodwinked in misery, and to be led asleep to Hell? who could persuade men to live thus awake, and go dancing to Hell with their eyes open! O if we should but imagine a Peter or a Paul or any of the blessed, to be again brought into such a case as one of these unsanctified sinners, and yet to know what now they know! what would they do? would they feast, and game, and play and trifle away their time in it? or would they not rather suddenly bewail their former misspent time, and all their sins, and cry day and night to God for mercy, and fly to Christ, and spend all their time in Holiness and obedience to God! Alas poor sinner, do but look into thy heart, and see there what thou hast yet to do (of greater weight than trimming and playing): I almost tremble to think and write what a case thou art in, and what thou hast to do, while thou livest as if thou hadst Time to spare! If thou know not, I will tell thee, and the Lord make thee know it: Thou hast a hardened heart to be yet softened; and an unbelieving heart to be brought to a lively powerful Belief of the word of God and the unseen world: Thou hast an unholy Heart and life to be made Holy, if ever thou wilt see the face of God, Heb. 12. 14. Matth. 18. 3. Joh. 3. 3, 5, 6. Thou hast a Heart-full of sins to be mortified and subdued: and an unreformed life to be reformed: (And what abundance of particulars do these Generals contain!) Thou hast a pardon to procure through Jesus Christ, for all the sins that ever thou didst commit, and all the duties which ever thou didst omit: Thou hast an offended God to be reconciled to, and for thy estranged soul to know as thy Father in Jesus Christ! what abundance of Scripture truths hast thou to learn which thou art ignorant of? How many holy duties, as Prayer, Meditation, holy conference, &c. to learn which thou art unskilful in? and to perform when thou hast learned them? How many works of Justice and Charity to mens souls and bodies hast thou to do? How many needy ones to relieve as thou art able? and the sick to visit, and the naked to clothe, and the sad to comfort, and the ignorant to instruct, and the ungodly to exhort? Heb. 3. 13. Heb. 10. 25. Ephes. 4. 29.

He durst not sleep quietly in thy condition a night, lest death should snatch him away to Hell, and canst thou sport and play in it, and live securely in a sensual course? O what a thing it is to be hoodwinkt in misery, and to be led asleep to Hell? who could perswade men to live thus awake, and go dancing to Hell with their eyes open! O if we should but imagine a Peter or a Paul or any of the blessed, to be again brought into such a case as one of these unsanctified sinners, and yet to know what now they know! what would they do? would they feast, and game, and play and trifle away their time in it? or would they not rather suddenly bewail their former mispent time, and all their sins, and cry day and night to God for mercy, and fly to Christ, and spend all their time in Holiness and obedience to God! Alas poor sinner, do but look into thy heart, and see there what thou hast yet to do (of greater weight than trimming and playing): I almost tremble to think and write what a case thou art in, and what thou hast to do, while thou livest as if thou hadst Time to spare! If thou know not, I will tell thee, and the Lord make thee know it: Thou hast a hardened heart to be yet softened; and an unbelieving heart to be brought to a lively powerful Belief of the word of God and the unseen world: Thou hast an unholy Heart and life to be made Holy, if ever thou wilt see the face of God, Heb. 12. 14. Matth. 18. 3. Ioh. 3. 3, 5, 6. Thou hast a Heart-full of sins to be mortified and subdued: and an unreformed life to be reformed: (And what abundance of particulars do these Generals contain!) Thou hast a pardon to procure through Jesus Christ, for all the sins that ever thou didst commit, and all the duties which ever thou didst omit: Thou hast an offended God to be reconciled to, and for thy estranged soul to know as thy Father in Jesus Christ! what abundance of Scripture truths hast thou to learn which thou art ignorant of? How many holy duties, as Prayer, Meditation, holy conference, &c. to learn which thou art unskilful in? and to perform when thou hast learned them? How many works of Justice and Charity to mens souls and bodies hast thou to do? How many needy ones to relieve as thou art able? and the sick to visit, and the naked to cloath, and the sad to comfort, and the ignorant to instruct, and the ungodly to exhort? Heb. 3. 13. Heb. 10. 25. Ephes. 4. 29.

:2183p. 277–278

§. 10. Direct. 3. Remember how gainful the Redeeming of Time is, and how exceeding comfortable ¹in the review? In Merchandise, or any trading; in husbandry or any gaining course, we use to say of a man that hath grown rich by it, that he hath made use of his Time! But when Heaven, and communion with God in the way, and a life of holy strength and comfort, and a death full of joy and hope is to be the gain, how cheerfully should Time be Redeemed for these? If it be pleasant ⟨p. 278⟩for a man to find himself thrive and prosper in any rising or pleasing employment, How pleasant must it be continually to us, to find that in redeeming Time the work of God and our souls do prosper? Look back now on the Time that is past, and tell me which part is sweetest to thy thoughts! However it be now, I can tell thee, at death, it will be an unspeakable comfort, to look back on a well spent life; and to be able to say in humble sincerity, My time was not cast away on worldliness, ambition, idleness, or fleshly vanities or pleasures; but spent in the sincere and laborious service of my God, and making my calling and election sure, and doing all the good to mens souls and bodies that I could do in the world: It was entirely devoted to God and his Church and the good of others and my soul! What a joy is it when going out of the world, we can in our place and measure say with our blessed Lord and pattern, John 17. 4, 5. [I have Glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do: and now O Father, glorify me with thy self] Or as Paul, 1 Tim. 4. 6, 7, 8. [I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand: I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course: I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Judge shall give—] And 2 Cor. 1. 12. [For our rejoicing is this, the testimony of our Conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisdom, we have had our conversation in the world]: Its a great comfort in sickness to be able to say with Hezekiah, Isa▪ 38. 3. Remember now O Lord I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee, in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight: O Time well spent is a precious cordial to a soul that is going to its final sentence, and is making up its last and general accounts:

§. 10. Direct. 3. Remember how gainful the Redeeming of Time is, and how exceeding comfortable ¹in the review? In Merchandize, or any trading; in husbandry or any gaining course, we use to say of a man that hath grown rich by it, that he hath made use of his Time! But when Heaven, and communion with God in the way, and a life of holy strength and comfort, and a death full of joy and hope is to be the gain, how cheerfully should Time be Redeemed for these? If it be pleasant ⟨p. 278⟩for a man to find himself thrive and prosper in any rising or pleasing employment, How pleasant must it be continually to us, to find that in redeeming Time the work of God and our souls do prosper? Look back now on the Time that is past, and tell me which part is sweetest to thy thoughts! However it be now, I can tell thee, at death, it will be an unspeakable comfort, to look back on a well spent life; and to be able to say in humble sincerity, My time was not cast away on worldliness, ambition, idleness, or fleshly vanities or pleasures; but spent in the sincere and laborious service of my God, and making my calling and election sure, and doing all the good to mens souls and bodies that I could do in the world: It was entirely devoted to God and his Church and the good of others and my soul! What a joy is it when going out of the world, we can in our place and measure say with our blessed Lord and pattern, John 17. 4, 5. [I have Glorified thee on earth: I have finished the work which thou gavest me to do: and now O Father, glorifie me with thy self] Or as Paul, 1 Tim. 4. 6, 7, 8. [I am now ready to be offered, and the time of my departure is at hand: I have fought a good fight: I have finished my course: I have kept the faith: Henceforth there is laid up for me a Crown of Righteousness, which the Lord, the Righteous Iudge shall give—] And 2 Cor. 1. 12. [For our rejoycing is this, the testimony of our Conscience, that in simplicity and godly sincerity, not with fleshly wisd•m, we have had our conversation in the world]: Its a great comfort in sickness to be able to say with Hezekiah, Isa▪ 38. 3. Remember now O Lord I beseech thee, how I have walked before thee, in truth and with a perfect heart, and have done that which is good in thy sight: O Time well spent is a precious cordial to a soul that is going to its final sentence, and is making up its last and general accounts:

1Direct. 3.

:2185p. 278

§. 11. Direct. 4. Consider on the contrary how sad the review of ill spent time is, and how you will ¹wish you had spent it when it is gone. Hast thou now any comfort in looking back on thy despised hours? I will not so far wrong thy understanding, as to question whether thou know that thou must die. But thy sin alloweth me to ask thee, Whether at thy dying hour it will be any comfort to thee to remember thy pastimes? And whether it will then better please thee, to find upon thy account, so many hours spent in doing good to others, and so many in prayer, and studying the Scriptures and thy Heart, and in preparing for death and the life to come; so many in thy calling obediently managed in order to eternity; or to hear, so many hours spent in idleness, and so many in needless sports and plays, hawking and hunting, courting and wantonness, and so many in gathering and providing for the flesh, and so many in satisfying its greedy lusts. Which reckoning doth thy Conscience think would be most comfortable to thee at the last? I put it to thy own Conscience, if thou were to die to morrow, how thou wouldst spend this present day? Wouldst thou spend it in idleness and vain pastimes? Or if thou were to die this day, where wouldst thou be found, and about what exercises? Hadst thou rather death found thee in a Play-house, a Gaming-house, an A L E▪ house in thy fleshly jollity and pleasure? Or in a holy walking with thy God, and serious preparing for the life to come? Perhaps you'll say, that, If you had but a day to live, you would lay by the labours of your calling, and yet that doth not prove them sinful. But, I answer, There is a great difference between an evil, and a small unseasonable Good: If death found thee in thy honest calling, holily managed, Conscience would not trouble thee for it as a sin: And if thou rather choose to die in prayer, it is but to choose a greater duty in its season: But sure thou wouldst be loth on another account to be found in thy Time-was••ing pleasures! And Conscience, if thou have a Conscience, would make thee dr•ad it as a s•n: Thou wilt not wish at death that thou hadst never laboured in thy lawful calling, though thou wouldst be found in a more seasonable work:

§. 11. Direct. 4. Consider on the contrary how sad the review of ill spent time is, and how you will ¹wish you had spent it when it is gone. Hast thou now any comfort in looking back on thy despised hours? I will not so far wrong thy understanding, as to question whether thou know that thou must die. But thy sin alloweth me to ask thee, Whether at thy dying hour it will be any comfort to thee to remember thy pastimes? And whether it will then better please thee, to find upon thy account, so many hours spent in doing good to others, and so many in prayer, and studying the Scriptures and thy Heart, and in preparing for death and the life to come; so many in thy calling obediently managed in order to eternity; or to hear, so many hours spent in idleness, and so many in needless sports and plays, hawking and hunting, courting and wantonness, and so many in gathering and providing for the flesh, and so many in satisfying its greedy lusts. Which reckoning doth thy Conscience think would be most comfortable to thee at the last? I put it to thy own Conscience, if thou were to die to morrow, how thou wouldst spend this present day? Wouldst thou spend it in idleness and vain pastimes? Or if thou were to die this day, where wouldst thou be found, and about what exercises? Hadst thou rather death found thee in a Play-house, a Gaming-house, an A L E▪ house in thy fleshly jollity and pleasure? Or in a holy walking with thy God, and serious preparing for the life to come? Perhaps you'l say, that, If you had but a day to live, you would lay by the labours of your calling, and yet that doth not prove them sinful. But, I answer, There is a great difference between an evil, and a small unseasonable Good: If death found thee in thy honest calling, holily managed, Conscience would not trouble thee for it as a sin: And if thou rather choose to die in prayer, it is but to choose a greater duty in its season: But sure thou wouldst be loth on another account to be found in thy Time-was••ing pleasures! And Conscience, if thou have a Conscience, would make thee dr•ad it as a s•n: Thou wilt not wish at death that thou hadst never laboured in thy lawful calling, though thou wouldst be found in a more seasonable work:

1Direct. 4.