A Christian Directory

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?