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

Use. First, this Point thus explained, meets with a number of imperfections even in the best, and him that is most careful of his ways; of which we are now to take notice, and purpose amendment, if we have not hitherto considered of them. For this is a fault to which a man (even in a good measure spiritual) is subject, for want of redeeming the time, that he comes to that lazy pass now and then, as he hath nothing to do, nothing whereabout to settle himself. It is a carnal unsettledness in a Christian to be so negligent of his time, as that he should have any minute of time, which he knows not how to bestow upon some good ⟨p. 79⟩and profitable use. The Lord offers such a multitude of occasions to do and receive good, that if we could with wisdom take them, there is no hour passeth us, in which we might not do or get some good. And if there be nothing else, yet this is something whereabout he hath good occasion to be busied, even to fall out with himself, because he hath nothing (I mean, he sees nothing that he hath to do.) Sometimes, if men see their servants standing idle and unbusied, they can ask them with a kind of indignation, What, can you find nothing to do? And sure the Lord might come with this question divers times to us, and say, as it is in this Parable. Why stand you all the day idle? asking whether the World were so empty of occasions, and our selves so perfectly well, as that we can find nothing to do? But there is no ⟨p. 80⟩hour passeth us, which we should not find fit for some good thing, if we could catch the opportunity before it be turned, and did not harm our selves for want of diligent redeeming the time.

Vse. First, this Point thus explained, meets with a number of imperfections even in the best, and him that is most careful of his ways; of which we are now to take notice, and purpose amendment, if we have not hitherto considered of them. For this is a fault to which a man (even in a good measure spiritual) is subject, for want of redeeming the time, that he comes to that lazy pass now and then, as he hath nothing to do, nothing whereabout to settle himself. It is a carnal unsettledness in a Christian to be so negligent of his time, as that he should have any minute of time, which he knows not how to bestow upon some good ⟨p. 79⟩