A26892:2189
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part 1 › Chapter 5 › The Directions contemplative for Redeeming Time.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
But thou wilt wish then, if thou understand thy self, that thou hadst never lost one minutes Time, and never known those sinful vanities and temptations which did occasion it. O spend thy Time as thou wouldst review it!
§. 12. Direct. 5. Go hear and mark how other men at Death do set by Time, and how they wish then 1that they had spent it. It is hardly possible for men in health, especially in prosperity and security, to Imagine how precious Time appeareth to an awakened dying man! Ask them then whether li•e be too long, and men have any Time to spare? Ask them then whether slugging or working, playing or praying be the better spending of our Time? Both Good and Bad, saints and sensualists, do use then to be high esteemers of Time. O then what would an ungodly unprepared sinner give, for some of the Time, which he used before as nothing worth: Then the most Holy servants of Christ are sensible how they sinned, in losing any of their Time! O then how earnestly do they wish, that they had made much of every minute? And they that did most for God and their souls, that they had done much more! Now if they were to pray over their prayers again, how earnestly would they beg! And how much more good would they do, if Time and talents were restored. I knew familiarly a most holy, grave and Reverend Divine, who was so affected with the words of a Godly woman, w•o at her death, did often and v••••m•ntly cry out, O Call Time again! O Call Time again! that the sense of it seemed to remain on his heart, and appear in his praying, preaching and conversation to his death. Now you have Time to cast away upon every nothing: But then you will say with David, P•alm 89. 47. Remember how short my Time is! And as Hagar sate down and wept when her water was spent, Gen. 21. 15, 16. So then you will lament when Time is gone or just at an end, that you set no more by it, while you had it? O sleepy sinner! Thy heart cannot now conceive how thou wilt set by Time, when thou hearest the Physician say, You are a dead man! and the Divine, say, you must prepare now for another world! When thy heart saith, All my days are gone! I must live on earth no more! all my preparing time is at end! Now what is undone must be undone for ever! O that thou hadst now but the esteem of Time, which thou wilt have then, or immediately