Now or never the holy, serious, diligent believer justified, encouraged, excited and directed, and…

And indeed no reason can show us the least probability of doing our work when our time is done that was given us to do it in. If it can be done, it must be, 1. by the recalling of our Time; 2. by the return of life; 3. or by opportunity in another life: But there is no hope of any of these.

And indeed no reason can shew us the least probability of doing our work when our time is done that was given us to do it in. If it can be done, it must be, 1. by the recalling of our Time; 2. by the return of life; 3. or by opportunity in another life: But there is no hope of any of these.

1. Who knoweth not that Time cannot be recalled? That which once Was, will be no more. Yesterday will never come again. To day is passing, and will not return. You may work while it is day: but when you have lost that day, it will not return for you to work in. While your candle burneth, you may make use of its light: but when it is done, it is too late to use it. No force of Medicine, no Orators elegant persuasions, no worldlings wealth, no Princes power, can call ⟨p. 7⟩back one day or hour of time. If they could, what endeavours would there be used, when extremity hath taught them to value what they now despise? what chaffering would there be at last, if time could be purchased, for any thing that man can give. Then Misers would bring out their wealth, and say, All this will I give for one days time of Repentance more: And Lords and Knights would lay down their Honours, and say, Take all, and let us be the basest Beggars, if we may but have one year of the Time that we misspent! Then Kings would lay down their Crowns, and say, Let us be equal with the lowest Subjects, so we may but have the Time again that we wasted in the Cares and Pleasures of the world. Kingdoms would then seem a contemptible price for the recovery of Time. The Time that is now idled & talked away: The Time that is now feasted and complemented away, that is unnecessarily sported & slept away; that is wickedly & presumptuously ⟨p. 8⟩sinned away; how precious will it one day seem to all? How happy a bargain would they think that they had made, if at the dearest rates they could redeem it? The profanest Mariner falls a praying, when he fears his Time is at an end. If importunity would then prevail, how earnestly would they pray for the recovery of time, that formerly derided praying, or minded it not, or could not have while, or mocked God with lip-service, and customary forms, & feigned words instead of praying? what a Liturgy would death teach the trifling Time despising Gallants, the idle, busy, dreaming-active, ambitious, covetous Lovers of this world, if time could be entreated to return! How passionately then would they roar out their requests! [O that we might once see the days of Hopes, and Means, and Mercy, which once we saw, and would not see!