A65610:88
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 last chief opportunity of getting good, is, when a man hath company, and is in the society of some godly wise man, able to give sound counsel and direction, able to answer all doubts, objections, and scruples of ones mind, now there is ⟨p. 66⟩a fit opportunity to grow in wisdom, to be resolved of all doubts, and to seek direction.
So then, a man ought not to suffer bashfulness, or other foolish matters to put by that good communication, whereby he might enrich his soul. It is a special favour of God, that any man can come where his servants are that have excellent gifts; and he doth deprive himself of much good, that will not seek to benefit himself by them. When the Woman of Samaria perceived Christ to be a Prophet, she proposed her doubt unto him, albeit he was a stranger. When John Baptist might be come to, the publicans and sinners came and asked what they should do. Whilst the Jailer had Paul in his keeping▪ he came to ask that needful question, What shall I do to be saved? So if there be any man whose heart is perplexed with some doubt, or over-burdened with some ⟨p. 67⟩temptation, or over-mastered by some sin, it is a part of ••od discretion for such a one to go and seek the advice of some able Christian or wise man, before that either himself be too far gone, or he want the opportunity of such a counsellor or helper. These be three special occasions of obtaining good to a man's own soul from things without him: In all which, to take the time is a most commendable point of wisdom, but to be negligent, is such folly as Solomon reproves, when he saith, That a fool hath a price in his hand to get wisdom, but he wants a heart. Oh that men would beware of this heartlessness, and take heed of losing their price, by which they might get wisdom. Now come to speak of the occasions of doing good, and these are either in others, or in themselves. First, in others, and that for their soul and body. Sometimes a man shall find a kind of tractableness ⟨p. 68⟩