The redemption of time, or, A sermon containing very good remedies for them that…

Whosoever lives under the preaching of the Gospel, hath this privilege annexed to the outward teaching, that if he will but strive and pray to God, to give him strength to repent and […] his ways and turn to him, God will (upon his promise) hear his prayers and assist him: but when the Gospel is gone, then the da•• is past, a man may call and not be heard, and cry and not be regarded. So then every man redeems th•s season of the Gospel, when he gi•es himself to consider seriously of those ••ults which he finds in himself, and hears sharply reproved in the Word, and hereupon resolves to forsake them, and doth not only his own b•st endeavour, but earnestly call upon God for his hel•, without which his power is bu• weakness ••d ineffectual▪ when he doth also duly ponder upon the holy Commandments that he hears preached, and those exhortations that are daily ⟨p. 57⟩sounded in his ears to move him to do such duties as God requires, and hereupon concludes with himself to set about this work, and craves the strength of God to bear him through in the same. And when he doth advisedly think of the promises that are generally proclaimed, and labours to get some assurance that he is such a one to whom the right of these promises appertain: thus doing, I say, one redeems the time wisely, and makes his advantage of the Gospel while it continues, which is a thing that all men should do: but so rare in the world, as that it is wonder the Lord hath so patiently continued his loving voice, when men scoff at it and will not hear. The Lord hath and doth send his Prophets amongst us, as he did among the Jews, rising up early, and sending them, which with all earnestness do proclaim the dangerous event that shall follow upon profaneness, neglect, ⟨p. 58⟩and contempt of Gods word, breaking of his Sabbath, railing, wrathfulness, whoredom, wantonness, covetousness, thieving, oppressing, slandering, lying, and such like: yet how many run on in these evils presumptuously, rushing like the horse into the battle, with an unreasonable boldness, Not fearing any danger, and shutting their ears against these reproofs, as the deaf-Adder doth, that they may not be moved by them to amendment: ah, how contrary is this to redeeming the time? If any man have hitherto lost the season, let him now grow wise, and even at this time turn to God, and beg power to forsake these sins.