A65610:64
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.
The want of resolving the heart thus, causeth many to take liberty to their tongues, (and harmful liberty it is) and yet to think they have done no harm to themselves in so doing. And therefore the common excuse of such twattlers is this: I hope that it is no harm: yea, but what good was it? If it were not directed to some good, it hath done harm, for it hath broken Gods Commandment, and set thy self deeper in debt than thou wast before, thou hast one trespass more to answer for, before Gods Tribunal: no man shall ever avoid this puddle, that will not be persuaded it is a damnable sin to step into it. First then, labour to convince thine heart, and ⟨p. 31⟩frame thy practice to this rule in all speaking.
The want of resolving the heart thus, causeth many to take liberty to their tongues, (and harmful liberty it is) and yet to think they have done no harm to themselves in so doing. And therefore the common excuse of such twatlers is this: I hope that it is no harm: yea, but what good was it? If it were not directed to some good, it hath done harm, for it hath broken Gods Commandment, and set thy self deeper in debt than thou wast before, thou hast one trespass more to answer for, before Gods Tribunal: no man shall ever avoid this puddle, that will not be perswaded it is a damnable sin to step into it. First then, labour to convince thine heart, and ⟨p. 31⟩frame thy practice to this rule in all speaking.
Secondly, for honest comely mirth in speech, (besides that it must not relish of lust, nor savour of malice and profaneness, for then it is worse than idle words) it ought to be bounded with this rule; namely, that it be used as a means to quicken our selves or others against some natural heaviness or deadness, by which the heart is made unapt for better conference, and other exercises of more profitable use; and when this effect is brought to pass, that laughter hath scattered the mist of dullness from off the heart and mind (or if no such occasion be offered) then let mirth and natural laughter give place to his betters: otherwise coming into a continued custom, and shouldering out more needful communication, it takes the name and nature of jesting, and is a thing much unbeseeming the stayedness of a Christian. Thus the