Page:Duty of redeeming the time in evil days, illustrated and enforced.pdf/7

Rh David's practice, Psalm cxix. 136. "Rivers of waters run down mine eyes; because they keep not thy law.” It is very natural for the children of God, when they see their father remarkably dishonoured, that their hearts stir within them, as was the case of Paul, when he was at Athens, and "saw the city wholly given to idolatry," Acts xvii. 16. Remarkable is the story of the dumb son of Crœsus, king of Lydia, who, seeing a soldier, when his father's capital city, Sardis, was taken by Cyrus the Persian, ready to give the king, who he did not know, a stroke upon the head with his scimitar, made such a violent effort and struggle, out of fear and tenderness for the life of his father, that he broke the strings of his tongue, and cried out "Soldier, spare the life of Croesus." The further others go from him, they will endeavour to draw the nearer to him. At such a time there is a special call from Heaven, saying, " Who is on my side?" And when the honour of God so lies at stake, in the conspiracy of a generation against it, it is sad for men to be asleep, nay, it is high time to awake.

5. Because as redeeming of time is always seasonable, so it is in a special manner seasonable when the days are evil. There is a peculiar beauty in it to be best when others are worst, to be awake when the virgins round about are slumbering and sleeping. God takes special notice of such ; as in the case of Noah, of whom it is said, Genesis vi. 9. "Noah was a just man, and perfect in his generations, and Noah walked with God;" and also in the case of Lot, of whom the apostle Peter says, 2 Epist. ii. 7, 8. "God delivered just Lot, vexed with the filthy conversation of the wicked: for that righteous man dwelling among them, in seeing and hearing, vexed his righteous soul from day to day, with their unlawful deeds." Redeem time in these evil days, so shall ye outshoot Satan in his own bow, and turn the cannon upon him, who endeavours to carry you away with the stream. To take occasion from good to do evil is devilish, but to take occasion from evil to do good is divine.

6th. Because mens' own interest lies in it. They that are awake in a way of duty while others sleep shall rest in a way of privilege when the peace of others shall be broken, Hab. ii. 16.———" I trembled in myself, that I