A fourth volume containing one hundred and fifty sermons on several texts of Scripture…

1. Time is short. We have a great deal of Work to do, and but little Time; therefore we should redeem it from Pleasure, and rather encroach upon our Recreation, and spend it in Matters that most concern us. All complain of the shortness of Time, and yet every one hath more Time than he useth well. We should rather complain of the Loss of Time, than of the Shortness of Time; as Seneca said, Non accepimus brevem vitam, sed fecimus; nec inopes Temporis, sed prodigi sumus: We make our Lives far more short than otherwise they would be; and we do not want Time, but waste it. We spend it freely upon Mirth and vain Pleasures, as if we had more than we could well tell what to do withal. Life is short, and yet we throw it away, as if we had not such great work to do, as to mortify Corruptions, and to make our Peace with God; as if that Eternity, which cannot be exhausted in our Thoughts, did not depend upon this Moment. When Men are writing of a Sermon, and have but little Paper left, they write close. O consider, our Work lies upon our Hands; and therefore the Acts of Duty should be more close and thick: The Sun is even going down; we know not how soon Day may be over.

1. Time is short. We have a great deal of Work to do, and but little Time; therefore we should redeem it from Pleasure, and rather incroach upon our Recreation, and spend it in Matters that most concern us. All complain of the shortness of Time, and yet every one hath more Time than he useth well. We should rather complain of the Loss of Time, than of the Shortness of Time; as Seneca said, Non accepimus brevem vitam, sed fecimus; nec inopes Temporis, sed prodigi sumus: We make our Lives far more short than otherwise they would be; and we do not want Time, but waste it. We spend it freely upon Mirth and vain Pleasures, as if we had more than we could well tell what to do withal. Life is short, and yet we throw it away, as if we had not such great work to do, as to mortify Corruptions, and to make our Peace with God; as if that Eternity, which cannot be exhausted in our Thoughts, did not depend upon this Moment. When Men are writing of a Sermon, and have but little Paper left, they write close. O consider, our Work lies upon our Hands; and therefore the Acts of Duty should be more close and thick: The Sun is even going down; we know not how soon Day may be over.