A26892:2191
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.
And is it not a most incongruous thing to see the same persons, now idle and toy away their time, and perhaps think that they do no harm, who know that shortly they must cry to God, [O for a little more Time, Lord, to do the great work that's yet undone! A little more Time to make sure of my salvation]! May not God then tell you, you had Time till you knew not what to do with it! You had so much Time that you had many and many an hour to spare, for idleness and vanity and that which you were not ashamed to call Pastime▪
And is it not a most incongruous thing to see the same persons, now idle and toy away their time, and perhaps think that they do no harm, who know that shortly they must cry to God, [O for a little more Time, Lord, to do the great work thats yet undone! A little more Time to make sure of my salvation]! May not God then tell you, you had Time till you knew not what to do with it! You had so much Time that you had many and many an hour to spare, for idleness and vanity and that which you were not ashamed to call Pastime▪
§. 13. Direct. 6. Remember also that when Judgement comes, God will call you to account, both for 1every hour of your misspent Time, and for all the Good which you should have done in all that time, and did it not. If you must give account for every idle word, then sure for every idle hour: Matth. 12. 36. And if we must be judged according to all the talents we have received, and the improvement of them required of us, then certainly for so precious a talent as our Time. Mat. 25. And how should that man spend his Time that believeth he must give such account of all? Even to the most just and Holy God, who will judge all men according to their works; and cause them all to reap as they have sowed. O spend your Time as you would hear of it in Judgement.