Sirs, I beseech you remember that it was Cato, a Heathen, that said, That 1account must be given, not only of our labour, but also of our leisure; and in affirming this, he affirms no more then what the Scripture speaks. But O what a sad account then have some to make? Well, as Cleopatra said to Mark Anthony, It is not for you to be fishing for Gudgeons, but for Towns, Forts, and Castles: So say I, Right Honourable, and Beloved, It is not for you to spend your time about poor low contemptible things, but about those high and noble things that make most for the interest of Christ, and the good of your Country. It was Titus, a Pagan Emperor, that uttered this memorable and praise-worthy Apothegm (Amici, diem perdidi,) my Friends, I have lost a day, when he had spent it in company without doing good. The Egyptians drew the Picture of Time with three Heads, to represent the three differences, The first of a greedy Wolf gaping, for time past, because it hath ravenously devoured even the memory ⟨image 9⟩of so many things past recalling: The second, of a crowned Lyon roaring, for time present; because it hath the principality of all action for which it calls aloud: The third, of a deceitful Dog fawning, for time to come; because it feeds fond men with many flattering hopes to their own undoing. I have read of a man, who upon his dying bed would have given a world for time, he still crying out day and night, call time again, call time again; So a great Lady of this land on her death bed cried out, time, time, a world of wealth for an inch of time. One Hermanus a great Courtier in the Kingdom of Bohemia, being at point of death, did most lamentably2 cry out, That he had spent more time in the Palace then in the Temple, and that he had added to the riotousness and vices of the Court, which he should have sought to have reformed, and so dyed to the horror of those that were about him. I have been the longer upon this, because I have been a sad Spectator of mens misspending their time, and trifling away golden opportunities, at Sea as well as at Land, and though I thus speak (knowing that this Treatise ⟨image 10⟩[…] ⟨image 10⟩[…] ⟨image 11⟩will come into other hands besides your own) yet I hope better things of 3you, to whom I dedicate it, even such as do accompany salvation.
Sirs, I beseech you remember that it was Cato, a Heathen, that said, That 1account must be given, not onely of our labor, but also of our leasure; and in affirming this, he affirms no more then what the Scripture speaks. But O what a sad account then have some to make? Well, as Cleopatra said to Mark Anthony, It is not for you to be fishing for Gugeons, but for Towns, Forts, and Castles: So say I, Right Honorable, and Beloved, It is not for you to spend your time about poor low contemptible things, but about those high and noble things that make most for the interest of Christ, and the good of your Countrey. It was Titus, a Pagan Emperor, that uttered this memorable and praise-worthy Apothegm (Amici, diem perdidi,) my Friends, I have lost a day, when he had spent it in company without doing good. The Egyptians drew the Picture of Time with three Heads, to represent the three differences, The first of a greedy Wolf gaping, for time past, because it hath ravenously devoured even the memory ⟨image 9⟩of so many things past recalling: The second, of a crowned Lyon roaring, for time present; because it hath the principality of all action for which it cals aloud: The third, of a deceitful Dog fawning, for time to come; because it feeds fond men with many flattering hopes to their own undoing. I have read of a man, who upon his dying bed would have given a world for time, he still crying out day and night, call time again, call time again; So a great Lady of this land on her death bed cryed out, time, time, a world of wealth for an inch of time. One Hermanus a great Courtier in the Kingdome of Bohemia, being at point of death, did most lamentably2 cry out, That he had spent more time in the Palace then in the Temple, and that he had added to the riotousness and vices of the Court, which he should have sought to have reformed, and so dyed to the horror of those that were about him. I have been the longer upon this, because I have been a sad Spactator of mens mispending their time, and trifling away golden opportunities, at Sea as well as at Land, and though I thus speak (knowing that this Treatise ⟨image 10⟩〈…〉 ⟨image 10⟩〈…〉 ⟨image 11⟩will come into other hands besides your own) yet I hope better things of
- 1Chilo one of the seven Sages being asked, What was the hardest thing in the world to be done? Answered, To use and employ a mans time well. Alexander the Great gave him a check, and not a reward, that boasted that he could throw a Pease at a great distance upon the point of a Needle. Ah how will God at last check those that spend their precious▪ time, as it were with throwing Pease upon the point of a Needle?Chilo one of the seven Sages being asked, What was the hardest thing in the world to be done? Answered, To use and imploy a mans time well. Alexander the Great gave him a check, and not a reward, that boasted that he could throw a Pease at a great distance upon the point of a Needle. Ah how will God at last check those that spend their precious▪ time, as it were with throwing Pease upon the point of a Needle?
- 2Lamacus a Commander said to his offending Souldier, non licet in bello bis peccare, no man must offend twice in war; So God sometimes will not suffer men again and again to neglect the day of grace.Lamacus a Commander said to his offending Souldier, non licet in bello bis peccare, no man must offend twice in war; So God sometimes wil not suffer men again and again to neglect the day of grace.
- 3Heb. 6. 8, 9.
