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

On the other side, a man is sometimes pressed with a sore cross and affliction that pincheth his Soul, here is a very fit occasion of humbling ones self, and examining ones heart: for in these afflictions God calls to humiliation for the most part, which duty being performed, after, a man may rejoice in his afflictions, but whilst the burden of the cross is heavy, here is a notable means to ⟨p. 72⟩•urther one in the work of humiliation; and if one can take the time when God smites, he may (at least he ought) cause his heart to stoop before him with more ease, than when he was at more ease for his body. Again, sometimes a man hath a more inward stirring of his affections, which he cannot have at another time; this must be followed, greedily taken, sometimes at the Sermon, or upon some other occasion, a man hearing or thinking of his sin, and the punishment due thereunto, having a kind of pricking in his heart, and some touch of remorse within him, his conscience begins to tell him that all is not well, and he grows to some orderly conclusion; sure I will now be sorry for this fault, and amend it: now if one will follow this motion, and go after God when he calls (for this is one of his inward callings) ⟨p. 73⟩and not shoulder it out with fond mirth, but nourish it by a plain confession of his sin to God, and an hearty begging of grace and strength from him, to do that which he now sees he should do; this will come to godly sorrow, and so t• repentance: but else if he choke it and quench it, it will vanish, and the heart will be more hard frozen in the dregs of sin. So that if there be any, whose heart at this time at the speaking of these words, whose Soul smites him for his swearing, lying, Sabbath-breaking, whoredom, drunkenness, gaming, covetousness, railing, or the like sin; let him when he is gone out of the Church, cast himself down in the presence of God confess this is his sin or sins freely, without dissembling; labour to be more sorrowful for them than ever he was, and pray to God to pull him out of this mire. This if he do, ⟨p. 74⟩he shall take the time, he shall be a Convert, the Lord will receive him, as the unthrifty Prodigal Son was received, and by redeeming the time he shall find redemption to his soul.