The saints everlasting rest

Besides, there is a deal of knowledge to be got, for the guiding ourselves, for defending the truth, for the direction of others, and a deal of skill for the right managing of our parts: many ordinances are to be used, and duties to be performed, ordinary and extraordinary; every age, and year, and day, doth require fresh succession of duty; every place we come ⟨p. 141⟩in, every person we have to deal with, every change of our condition, doth still require the renewing our labour, and bringing duty along with it: wives, children, servants, neighbours, friends, enemies, all of them call for duty from us. and all this of great importance too; so that for the most, if we miscarry in it, it would prove our undoing.

Judge then yourselves, whether men that have so much business lying upon their hands, should not bestir them? And whether it be their wisdom either to delay, or to loiter?

3. Consider, our diligence should be quickened, because of the shortness and uncertainty of the time allotted us for the performing of all this work, and the many and great impediments which we meet with. Yet a few days, and we shall be here no more. Time passeth on: many diseases are ready to assault us; we that now are preaching, and hearing, and talking, and walking, must very shortly be carried, and laid in the dust, and there left to the worms in darkness and corruption; we are almost there already; it is but a few days, or months, or years, and what is that when once they are past? We know not whether we shall have another sermon, or sabbath, or hour. How then should those bestir them for their everlasting rest, who know they have so short a space for so great a work? Besides, every step in the way hath its difficulties; the gate is strait, and the way narrow: the righteous themselves are scarcely saved. Scandals and discouragements will be still cast before us; and can all these be overcome by slothful endeavours?