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

But alas, how do the common sort of men bewray their monstrous folly in this behalf? What more common than that sottish and brutish speech, at least such ignorant and profane thoughts, men will repent when they be old, and cry God mercy when they feel themselves sick, and amend all when they be ready to go out of the world? and foolish man, thou knowest not whether thou shalt die suddenly, whether thou shalt have thy wits and senses, or whether thou shalt have power of heart to make the least colour of repentance in those extremities. How many have died suddenly? how many sottishly? and yet how do men, for all these warnings, defer the best business, namely, the work of repentance and turning to God, (which will require the whole strength of the soul) to the worst ⟨p. 64⟩and most crazy time of sickness or old age? As if a prisoner, at what time a man was offering him a pardon, and calling upon him to take it, some good space before the Assizes, should say, Nay, let me alone, I will not look after my pardon, till immediately before I am to come before the Judge: this were a most fond part, especially if it were so, that the thief knew not whether the next day should be the day of his arraignment or no: so the case stands betwixt the Lord and us. If any man therefore hath been so little careful of his own eternal good, as to put off repentance and conversion till that dead time, or doth foster any such harmful conceit in his heart, let him now cast it out, and now that he hath his health and strength, upon better deliberation take in hand this work.

But alas, how do the common sort of men bewray their monstrous folly in this behalf? What more common than that sottish and bruitish speech, at least such ignorant and profane thoughts, men will repent when they be old, and cry God mercy when they feel themselves sick, and amend all when they be ready to go out of the world? and foolish man, thou knowest not whether thou shalt die suddenly, whether thou shalt have thy wits and senses, or whether thou shalt have power of heart to make the least colour of repentance in those extremities. How many have died suddenly? how many sottishly? and yet how do men, for all these warnings, defer the best business, namely, the work of repentance and turning to God, (which will require the whole strength of the soul) to the worst ⟨p. 64⟩and most crasie time of sickness or old age? As if a prisoner, at what time a man was offering him a pardon, and calling upon him to take it, some good space before the Assizes, should say, Nay, let me alone, I will not look after my pardon, till immediately before I am to come before the Judge: this were a most fond part, especially if it were so, that the thief knew not whether the next day should be the day of his arraignment or no: so the case stands betwixt the Lord and us. If any man therefore hath been so little careful of his own eternal good, as to put off repentance and conversion till that dead time, or doth foster any such harmful conceit in his heart, let him now cast it out, and now that he hath his health and strength, upon better deliberation take in hand this work.