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

MAKE Ready for Changes of Every Sort. This do by getting into that posture of Mind, which is described so, Psal. CXII. 7. He shall ⟨p. 18⟩not be afraid of evil tidings; His Heart is fixed, trusting in the Lord.

BUT above all, Make Ready for that Greatest and Surest of all our Changes; The DEATH of which I may say, The Day is Near, it is near, and it hasteneth greatly! Indeed, for the animation of all PIETY, this Meditation, Man knows not his Time; Tis an Instrument of which I may say, There is none like it. How would it come like a Red-hot Stone from the Altar, to inflame our Devotions, if when we are going to Prayer, we should think, I know not my Time: This may be the last Time that ever I shall call upon GOD, before I am fetched away to appear before Him! What Salt would it season our Speech withal, if in our Conversation with our Friends we should think, I know not my Time: This may be the last Time of my Conversing with such as I am now talking to! At what a rate should we Sabbatize, if upon the Arrival of the Lords-Day, we should think, I know not my Time: This may be the last Lords Day that I shall see before my Dying Day! But the Grand concern of PIETY, is in that, Be Ye Ready. And, My Friends, That you may be Ready for the Death, whereof you do not know the Time, you do know, That you must begin Immediately to Live unto GOD. Your Immediate CONVERSION to GOD, This you do know, is absolutely Necessary; And your coming into His Covenant, by consenting that your Great SAVIOUR should fulfil for you and in you the Good pleasure of His Goodness. By this you make sure of Grace, and of Glory, and ⟨p. 19⟩of Every Good Thing: and you lay hold on Eternal Life. This you do know, That without this, you have the Wrath of GOD abiding on you; If you Die without this, you Die in your Sins; and you pass into a World which cannot be without a Shuddering Horror thought upon! People refuse to Turn to GOD, and Close with CHRIST, and Fly from SIN. They do it by Procrastinating; By putting off to Another Time. O the Frenzy of this Procrastination! Unadvised People, You know not your time. And therefore This you know; This Work must not be left undone until Another Time. If your Time should be done, before that Work be done, which must be done that you may be Reconciled unto GOD, O Miserable Ones, you Perish Wonderfully! O Miserable Ones, you fall into hands, which it is a fearful Thing to fall into!