A26915:445
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation…
Directions and persuasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.Directions and perswasions to a sound conversion for prevention of that deceit and damnation of souls, and of those scandals, heresies, and desperate apostasies that are the consequents of a counterfeit, or superficial change / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by A.M. for Nevil Simmons, 1658
Directions to Sinners that are purposed to Turn, and are under the… › Direction 11
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.
17. Consider, that your very time which you lose by these delays, is an unconceivable loss. When time is gone, what would you then give for one of those years, or days, or hours, which now you foolishly trifle away. O wretched sinners; are their so many thousand Sous in Hell, that would give a world if they had it, for one of your days; and yet can you afford to throw them away, in worldliness, and sensuality, and loitering delays. I tell you, Time is better worth, then all the wealth and honours of the world. The day is coming when you will set by time: When it is gone you will know what a blessing you made light of. But then all the world cannot call back one day or hour of this precious time, which you can sacrifice now to the service of your flesh, and cast away on unprofitable sinning.
17. Consider, that your very time which you lose by these delaies, is an unconceivable loss. When time is gone, what would you then give for one of those years, or daies, or hours, which now you foolishly trifle away. O wretched sinners; are their so many thousand Sous in Hell, that would give a world if they had it, for one of your daies; and yet can you afford to throw them away, in worldliness, and sensuality, and loitering delaies. I tell you, Time is better worth, then all the wealth and honours of the world. The day is coming when you will set by time: When it is gone you will know what a blessing you made light of. But then all the world cannot call back one day or hour of this precious time, which you can sacrifice now to the service of your flesh, and cast away on unprofitable sinning.
18. Consider also that God hath given ⟨p. 399⟩you no time to spare. He hath not lent you one day or hour, more then is needful for the work that you have to do: and therefore you have no reason to lose any by your delays. Do you imagine that God would give a man an hours time for nothing; much less, for to abuse him, and serve his enemy. No, let me tell you, that if you make your best of every hour; if you should never lose a minute of your lives, you would find all little enough for the work you have to do. I know not how others think of time, but for my part I am forced daily to say, How swift, how short is time? and how great is our work; and when we have done our best, how slowly goeth it on. O precious time what hearts have they, what lives do those men lead, that think time long? that have time to spare, and pass in idleness.