Page:Duty of redeeming the time in evil days, illustrated and enforced.pdf/4

4 have done, and what we have had opportunity to have done! Have we not slipt many precious occasions that might have been improved for the honour of God? Has not a vain world often cheated us and spiritual slothfulness cast us into a deep sleep, and an inactive frame and disposition, while fair and promising occasions have slipt through our fingers?

(4.) Has any one of us got that victory over our corruptions, or made such advances in holiness of heart and life, as are answerable to the time that we have had under the means of grace? Have we grown up in grace, answerable to the years of our standing in the Lord's vineyard?

(5.) Are ye provided for a time of trial, and furnished for a wilderness-journey? If not, surely it is neither for want of warning, nor want of time and opportunity; but by mispending of time. A day of common calamity seems to be making haste upon us; but are our chambers of protection provided by us to enter into' A darkness, a mist is arisen in the way to Zion; are you so acquainted with the way in the clear day, as to be capable to know the road even in a mist?

(6.) Lastly, Are your evidences for heaven clear? We know not how soon we are to pass off into another world; but, alas! it is to be feared, that many have no evidences at all for a better world, and that such as have, theirs are very dark. These things may suffice to convince of mispending of time; the redeeming of which imports a conviction of.

2d. To redeem time, imports activity and application to our great work which we have to do in the world. Thus we find the spouse setting herself to redeem time, Cant. iii. 1, 2. " By night on my bed I sought him whom my soul loveth : I sought him but I found him not. I will rise now, and go about the city in the streets, and in the broad ways I will seek him whom my soul loveth” We must at length bestir ourselves, shake off sloth, be denied to our carnal ease, and ply our work in good earnest. Merchants who through their own slothfulness have missed their market at a time, will do so that they may get their loss made up: and Christians must do so too, who