A discourse concerning earthquakes. Occasioned by the earthquakes which were in New-England, in the…

IV. They that endeavour to recover Lost Time by a double Diligence, may be said to Redeem it. It is impossible for a man to Redeem or Recover lost Time in a Physical or Proper sense, but in a Moral sense, namely, when the consideration of his having lost so much of his Time formerly, makes him the more diligent for the future. Thus it was with the Blessed Apostle; he considered sadly that he had lost a great deal of Time whilst in his Unregenerate Estate, being Converted to Christ after the other Apostles; 1 Cor. 15. 8. Last of all He was seen of one, as one born out of due time. And then how did he be••ir himself? He laboured more abundantly than they all. Although' he did not Outlive all the other Apostles, yet he Out-did them all. It is supposed that he was Conver•ed when Twenty Five, and Martyred when he was Sixty One Years old. It may be questioned whether there was ever a man in the world that did so much service for Christ as Paul did, in the ⟨p. 97⟩space of Four & Thirty Years. The Children of Israel dispatched more way towards Canaan in the last year of their being in the Wilderness, than in almost Forty years before. Thus when Christians shall do more good in one year, than in many years before, they may be said to Redeem the Time. Men that are in a Journey, if they have loitered away some part of their time, will mend their pace that so they may come to the end of their Journey before Night overtakes them. Thus when Christians mend their pace, when they become more active for God, & more useful & fruitful than formerly, & ripen for Heaven going thither with a great & a swift pace, they Redeem the Time. It was said of the Angel in the Church of Thyatira, that his last works were more than his first, Rev. 2. 19. When it is thus with Christians, that their last works are their best works, and their last days are their best days, they are the men that will be found Redeeming the Time.

IV. They that ende•v•ur to recover Lost Time by a double Diligence, may be said to Redeem it. It is impossible for a man to Redeem or Recover lost Time in a Physical or Proper sense, but in a Moral sense, namely, when the consideration of his having lost so much of his Time formerly, makes him the more diligent for the future. Thus it was with the Blessed Apostle; he considered sadly that he had lost a great deal of Time whilt in his Unregenerate Estate, being Converted to Christ after the other Apostles;