(and it follows) for it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do. What a connection is there? If God work the will and the deed, what need I work at all? Nay, the connection is thus, Do you work out your salvation with fear and trembling, take all opportunities you can, let the fear of God be upon you, so as to omit no opportunity, for you do absolutely depend upon God, that if he doth withdraw himself from you, you are undone for ever, for you can do nothing of your selves, for it is God that worketh the Will and the Deed. 1As if we should say to a Mariner, Be careful, take your wind and sail, for all your Voyage depends upon God, if you neglect your opportunity you are gone. It is time for the youngest of all to seek the Lord, As soon as ever you begin to have the dawning of reason it is time for you then to seek the Lord, Oh! that you did but know your time. Oh! but what time is it for old ones, for those that have neglected seeking the Lord the most part of their lives; Is it not high time for you to seek the Lord, who have spent so much of the time of your lives in vanity and folly as you have done? The remainer of the time you have is uncertain, and yet suppose you should have so long a time as in the course of nature you are like to live, yet many of you cannot have so much time to seek the Lord as you have had in departing from God, you cannot have so much time to honour God as you have had to dishonour him: and therefore is it not time for you to seek the Lord? I remember it is said of Themistocles, that he died about an hundred and seven years of age,2 and when he was to die, he was grieved upon this ground, Now I am to die (saith he) when I begin to be wise. And certainly it cannot but be a grief to a man or woman, though they should be godly, to think, Why through Gods mercy, the Lord hath begun to work Grace (I hope) in my heart, yea, but as soon as I begin to know God, and have any heart to serve him in this world, I must be taken out of this world: ⟨p. 477⟩It was a proverbial speech once,3 Weighty things to morrow: you shall find it in Plutarchs lives. Oh! take heed this proverb be not fulfilled concerning you, Weighty things to morrow, take weighty things, things of infinite consequence while you have time, Let weighty things be regarded then.
(and it follows) for it is God that worketh in you, both to will and to do. What a connexion is there? If God work the will and the deed, what need I work at all? Nay, the connexion is thus, Do you work out your salvation with fear and trembling, take all opportunities you can, let the fear of God be upon you, so as to omit no opportunity, for you do absolutely depend upon God, that if he doth withdraw himself from you, you are undone for ever, for you can do nothing of your selves, for it is God that worketh the Will and the Deed. 1As if we should say to a Marriner, Be careful, take your wind and sail, for al your Voyage depends upon God, if you neglect your opportunity you are gone. It is time for the youngest of all to seek the Lord, As soon as ever you begin to have the dawning of reason it is time for you then to seek the Lord, Oh! that you did but know your time. Oh! but what time is it for old ones, for those that have neglected seeking the Lord the most part of their lives; Is it not high time for you to seek the Lord, who have spent so much of the time of your lives in vanity and folly as you have done? The remainer of the time you have is uncertain, and yet suppose you should have so long a time as in the course of nature you are like to live, yet many of you cannot have so much time to seek the Lord as you have had in departing from God, you cannot have so much time to honor God as you have had to dishonor him: and therefore is it not time for you to seek the Lord? I remember it is said of Themistocles, that he died about an hundred and seven years of age,2 and when he was to die, he was grieved upon this ground, Now I am to die (saith he) when I begin to be wise. And certainly it cannot but be a grief to a man or woman, though they should be godly, to think, Why through Gods mercy, the Lord hath begun to work Grace (I hope) in my heart, yea, but assoon as I begin to know God, and have any heart to serve him in this world, I must be taken out of this world: ⟨p. 477⟩It was a proverbial speech once,3 Weighty things to morrow: you shall find it in Plutarchs lives. Oh! take heed this proverb be not fulfill'd concerning you, Weighty things to morrow, take weighty things, things of infinite consequence while you have time, Let weighty things be regarded then.
- 1illustrated by a simile▪
- 2Themistocles saying at his death.
- 3Graviora eras. Plut.
