Grata brevitas. An essay made in a few words, to demonstrate that a few…

Ere I come to a more direct proof of that. I will first observe, an Intimation in the Text before us; That a Good Exhortation will sometimes go down the better, because there are but a Few words Employed upon it. Suffer the Exhortation, says the Apostle. One would think, it might have been said, Rejoice in the Exhortation; Rejoice that you Enjoy such an Exhortation. It seems, People ⟨p. 2⟩are most unreasonably indisposed unto what would be for their Good. Exhortations that have a Tendency to make them Good, and bring them to Eternal Good, such Exhortations are a Burden and a Grievance to them. Oh! the Folly, and Mischief of Sin! Original Sin, What a Depravation hast thou brought upon us! Our Apostle finds out an Argument why his Exhortation should be tolerable. But there seems to be a Satyr upon Sinful Mankind in the Argument. Says he; Tis but in Few words; Men begrudge the Time for long Exercises and Entertainments of Religion. Brave Husbands of their Time! Of their Time, Two or Three Hours at a Time, can go well enough to mere Impertinences; but One Hour in the Service of God; This is a Suffering. How many Hours of Useless Conversation with a Friend are well enough! But One Hour to converse with GOD; This is to Suffer Egregiously. An Hour or Two at the Table is well enough; A Quarter of an Hour in the Closet, This is an Hardship, and hardly to be Suffered. Rather a Thousand Days Elsewhere, than One in the Courts of the Lord; Notable Redeemers of Time indeed! Well, The affairs of Religion, are, it seems, to be Recommended unto the Children of Men, because they may be dispatched in a Few words in a very Little Time. I confess, I do not think, this is much for the Honour of the World!

Ere I come to a more direct proof of that. I will first observe, an Intimation in the Text before us; That a Good Exhortation will sometimes go down the better, because there are but a Few words Employ'd upon it. Suffer the Exhortation, says the Apostle. One would think, it might have been said, Rejoyce in the Exhortation; Rejoyce that you Enjoy such an Exhortation. It seems, People ⟨p. 2⟩are most unreasonably indisposed unto what would be for their Good. Exhortations that have a Tendency to make them Good, and bring them to Eternal Good, such Exhortations are a Burden and a Grievance to them. Oh! the Folly, and Mischief of Sin! Original Sin, What a Depravation hast thou brought upon us! Our Apostle finds out an Argument why his Exhortation should be tolerable. But there seems to be a Satyr upon Sinful Mankind in the Argument. Sayes he; Tis but in Few words; Men begrutch the Time for long Exercises and Entertainments of Religion. Brave Husbands of their Time! Of their Time, Two or Three Hours at a Time, can go well enough to meer Impertinencies; but One Hour in the Service of God; This is a Suffering. How many Hours of Ʋseless Conversation with a Friend are well enough! But One Hour to converse with GOD; This is to Suffer Egregiously. An Hour or Two at the Table is well enough; A Quarter of an Hour in the Closet, This is an Hardship, and hardly to be Suffered. Rather a Thousand Dayes Elsewhere, than One in the Courts of the Lord; Notable Redeemers of Time indeed! Well, The affairs of Religion, are, it seems, to be Recommended unto the Children of Men, because they may be dispatched in a Few words in a very Little Time. I confess, I do not think, this is much for the Honour of the World!