Ignorantia scientifica. A brief essay on mans not knowing his time: the just inferences…

II WE must not know our Time; Then 'tis a Folly for us, to presume upon a Time, which our GOD has given us no Assurance of. Such is the Folly of them, who presume upon an Happy Time, while they make it a Time of Impiety, a Time of Impenitence, a Day of Provocation. O presumptuous ones, In all the word of GOD, where have you a promise of an Happy Time, for ungodly People, going on still in their Trespasses? Yea, such is the Folly of all, who presume that their Time will always be just what it is. For Men to Dream that all things will continue Long unaltered from what they are at this Time: Let me tell you, This. Dream is usually a very deadly Symptom. When Men are most Secure, and are Fearless of any Alteration upon their Circumstances; Then 'tis, that the Deadliest Alterations are most near unto them. An Old Man brags, he is as Well and Strong as he has been these Many Years; he hopes he shall yet see Many Years. He Dies this Year! Oh! Don't fall into a Dead Sleep of Security. 'Tis a tremendous ⟨p. 17⟩passage; [And mark what I tell you, There are whole Nations that will VERY QUICKLY have it fulfilled upon them!] 1 Thes. V. 3. When they say, peace and safety, then sudden destruction cometh. When and How is a Belshazzar taken off? Instead of a Foolish Security be evermore Suspicious, and still Suspect what may happen between the Cup and the Lip, and with an easy Frame of Mind Leave all in the Hand of a Glorious GOD ready to take any Cup that He shall order for you. Say with an easy Mind; I know not my Time; and I am content that I do not know it. But, O my God, I know in my Time nothing will befall me, but what thou orderest, and I cheerfully refer all to thy ordering! But I will go on, and charge this Folly upon all that presume on the Time to come. While Man knoweth not his Time, thou mayst O Man know so much of thy Time, That the Present Time is thy only Time. All Thy Time, is This Time. Do not Rely upon a To-Morrow, or upon, A more convenient Season, for any thing that thou art now to do for the Good of Thy self or Others O Do with thy might, what thy Hand find to do. For know this; Thou knowest of no other Time for the doing of it.

II WE must not know our Time; Then 'tis a Folly for us, to presume upon a Time, which our GOD has given us no Assurance of. Such is the Folly of them, who presume upon an Happy Time, while they make it a Time of Impiety, a Time of Impenitence, a Day of Provocation. O presumpteous ones, In all the word of GOD, where have you a promise of an Happy Time, for ungodly People, going on still in their Trespasses? Yea, such is the Folly of all, who presume that their Time will always be just what it is. For Men to Dream that all things will continue Long unaltered from what they are at this Time: Let me tell you, This. Dream is usually a very deadly Symptom. When Men are most Secure, and are Fearless of any Alteration upon their Circumstances; Then 'tis, that the Deadliest Alterations are most near unto them. An Old Man brags, he is as Well and Strong as he has been these Many Years; he hopes he shall yet see Many Years. He Dies this Year! Oh! Don't fall into a Dead Sleep of Security. 'Tis a tremendous