A65610:39
The redemption of time, or, A sermon containing very good remedies for them that…
The redemption of time, or, A sermon containing very good remedies for them that have mis-spent their time showing how they should redeem it comfortably / by William Whately ... ; now published for general good by Richard Baxter.The redemption of time, or, A sermon containing very good remedies for them that have mis-spent their time shewing how they should redeem it comfortably / by William Whately ... ; now published for general good by Richard Baxter.
London: printed for Francis Tyton, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
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.
Quest. 13. Is the Devil idle while you are idle? Night and day he is seeking to devour you: And will you, like the silly bird, sit chirping and singing in your wanton pleasures, when the Devils gun is ready to give fire at you? If you saw but how busy he is about you, and for what, you would be busier your selves for your own preservation, and less bu•ie in doing nothing than you are.
Quest. 13. Is the Devil idle while you are idle? Night and day he is seeking to devour you: And will you, like the silly bird, sit chirping and singing in your wanton pleasures, when the Devils gun is ready to give fire at you? If you saw but how busie he is about you, and for what, you would be busier your selves for your own preservation, and less bu•ie in doing nothing than you are.
Quest. 14. Do you really take Christ, and his Apostles and Saints, to be the fittest pattern for the spending of your time? If you do not, why do you usurp the name of Christians: Is he a Christian who would not live like Christians? or that taketh not Christ for his Master and Example? But if you say, Yea; I pray you then tell us how much Time Christ or any of his Apostles, did spend at cards, or dice, or stage-plays? how much •n curiosity about dressing and superfluous ornaments, about unnecessary pomp and courtship; how much in sluggishness, idleness and vain discourse? or how much in furnishing ⟨image 17⟩their bodies, their attendants, their habitations with matter of splendour and vain glory? Did they waste so much of the day, in nothings, and need-nots as our slothful sensual Gentry do? Or did they not rather spend their time in holy living and fervent praying, and in doing all the good they could to the souls and bodies of all about them? and in the labours of a lawful bodily employment? Write after this copy; rather than after that which is set by the sensual fools of the world, if you make any account of Gods acceptance! Do as the Saints did, if you will speed as they; or else for shame never honour their names and memorials to your own condemnation! If you will spend your Time as the flesh and the world teach you, rather than as Christ hath taught you, you must look for your payment from the flesh and the world. And why then in Baptism did you renounce them and vow to follow Christ? Be not deceived, God is not mocked, for whatsoever a man soweth, that shall be also reap; For he that soweth to his flesh, shall of the flesh reap corruption: but he that soweth to the spirit, shall of the spirit reap life everlasting,