Moses his choice with his eye fixed upon Heaven, discovering the happy condition of…

Certainly, did we know that our eternity depended upon this little uncertain time of our lives, we would not think sensual pleasures to be in season now; this time should be spent, in seeking to make our peace with God, to humble our souls, to get off the guilt of sin: this is a time of suing out our pardon, of mourning, of sorrow, and trouble of spirit, and not the time for jollity and fleshly delights. If a condemned man had two or three days granted him, that he might sue out his pardon, were that a time for pleasure? and sports? thus it is with thee, the sentence of death is upon thee, only a little uncertain time is granted thee to get a pardon; know then what is thy work thou hast to do, and apply thy self to it.

Certainly, did we know that our eternity depended upon this little uncertain time of our lives, we would not think sensual pleasures to be in season now; this time should be spent, in seeking to make our peace with God, to humble our souls, to get off the guilt of sin: this is a time of suing out our pardon, of mourning, of sorrow, and trouble of spirit, and not the time for jollity and fleshly delights. If a condemned man had two or three days granted him, that he might sue out his pardon, were that a time for pleasure? and sports? thus it is with thee, the sentence of death is upon thee, onely a little uncertain time is granted thee to get a pardon; know then what is thy work thou hast to do, and apply thy self to it.

And were it that thou hadst thy pleasure freely, it were another matter; but they must all be called for ¹again and thou must give a strict account for them all; Eccles. 11. 19. Rejoice O young man in thy youth, walk in the way of thy heart, and in the sight of thine eyes, live after thy lusts, and do what thou wilt; a thing that young men love as their lives: it is an Ironical confession: but remember withal, there must ⟨p. 129⟩be an account for these things; know then this is certain, it is no fancy, a conceit; know it, be throughly convinced of it, as a thing most certain: for all these things, there is not one merry meeting, not one hour spent in pleasure, yea, not one pleasurable act or thought, but an account must be given for it; God will bring thee, though thou be unwilling to come, yet thou canst not avoid it, God will bring thee to judgement. You think such delights as you have, are no such things as God takes notice of, they are but matters of sport; thou thinkest thou hast liberty in them, to do what thou listest, thou shalt never hear of them again; but assure your self, God will bring you to judgement, to be examined, condemned and punished. Of all men, voluptuous men least think of judgement, they put far from them the evil day,