CHAPTER LXXIX.

HOW THIS EXERCISE, AND ALL OTHER GOOD AND GODLY ACTIONS, OUGHT NOT TO BE DEFERRED.

FIRST, that time is a thing most precious.

Secondly, for that a man is not lord of the time, and it is therefore granted him of God to dispose well of it.

Thirdly, for that God doth take time from them that do neglect it.

Fourthly, for that we ought to labour in this and other holy exercises while we have time.

Fifthly, how we may proceed to redeem the time.

Of the first of these we are to consider first of all, that time is precious by that of the Angel, "Time shall be no more;" meaning a precious opportunity of providing for an estate to come; which also sheweth that God vouchsafeth us a great grace in granting us this time. King David was ever in fear of making less time in that he said, "Mine eyes prevent the night watches." "Arise, arise, quickly," saith St. Bernard, "O Christian, be ashamed that the sun should pre

1 Rev. x. 6.

y Psalm cxix. 125.

vent thee." The holy men of God, knowing how precious time was, and of such value that it could not be valued, did ever frugally spend the same. "O," saith St. Bernard, "what is more dear, more to be loved, more profitable than time? nothing more worthy, and yet nothing more contemned."

The days of salvation pass away, no man perceiving it; they fly away without hope of return. I beseech you, brethren, contemn not the time, or little hour which God hath given you to prepare. Everlasting glory is precious, that is precious a little whereof is worth great treasure of this nature is time. Of the second, that man is lord of the time, and that it is therefore granted him of God to dispose well of it. Concerning earthly possessions, we cannot call them properly ours, according to that of the Apostle, Deum tempus habemus, "while we have time." Now we are withal to consider that this momentum temporis, for it is but a moment compared to eternity, that it is, I say, momentum magni momenti, a moment of great moment," granted us not to be wasted in vain, much less in sinful delights. A man ought not to cast his temporal goods into the sea, but to spend them in all good and godly uses, answerable to that of the forenamed Apostle, proceeding

66

2 Ga!. vi. 10.

in this manner, "While we have time, let us do good."

The Prophet David saith, Dum hodie appellatur, "while it is called to-day." In the Gospel, the kingdom of Heaven is compared to certain who receive their master's treasures upon an account, and to occupy it until his coming. "The time," saith St. Jerome, "which is bestowed upon unprofitable or idle delights, is lost, and doth perish. as if it never had been." It is reported of Vespasian, that when he had passed a day without benefiting others, he would say to his friends, "Friends, I have lost a day." Wherefore seeing that time is granted us to dispose well of our future condition, let not any hour pass without fruit.

Of the third, to call to mind how God will take time from them that do neglect it, we have a manifest warrant by that in the Revelations, "If thou watch not, I will come upon thee as a thief"." Where God exhorteth, first, to watch; secondly, He threateneth surprising them that are slothful, and spoiling them of that which ought to be most precious, to wit, time; for time is, as it werę, treasure in the house of a sinner, which treasure, if we well preserve, we may make an happy merchandize for the world to come; and is also

likened to the bird, that at every flight loseth a feather.

Of the fourth, we may consider how we are to labour in this and other holy exercises, while we have time. "Whatsoever thy hand is able to do," saith the Wise Man, "do it instantly." Joseph, in the seven years of plenty, provided for the years of dearth; Noah built an ark while the weather was fair; the wise virgins provided oil before the market was done.

Of the fifth, we are last of all to consider how we may proceed to redeem the time. Time is said to be captive, when we use it contrary to the mind of the Giver; but it is redeemed or set at liberty when we use it to fulfil His will, and keep His commandments. The means of redeeming the time is laid down by that of the Apostle, "As men have given their members servants to unrighteousness, so let them give them to be servants of righteousness;" of evil, let them become good; of cruel, gentle; of negligent, watchful; in a word, to spend the rest of their lives as that they be pure and holy, that so at the last they may attain everlasting glory which God grant, for Christ's sake. Amen.

A BRIEF FORM OF COMMENDING ONESELF TO GOD.

Into the hands of Thine ineffable mercy, O Lord, I commend my soul, my body, my senses, my speech, my counsel, my wit, my thoughts, my works, and deeds; all the necessities of my soul and body, my coming in, my going forth, my faith and conversation, my course and end of my life, the day and hour of my departure, my death, my rest, my resurrection with Thy saints and elect for ever. Amen.

Lord grant me an hatred of evils past, a contempt of sinful delights present, a desire of true delights for the time to come grant me also, I beseech Thee, the removing of occasions of evil, the soundness of affection to refuse, and power to resist my ghostly enemy, that he never say, I have prevailed against him.

Omnipotent, and O merciful God, who didst add to the life of king Hezekiah fifteen years, when he prayed unto Thee weeping, grant me, Thy unworthy servant, so much space before the day of my death, that I may bewail all my sins, and by Thy grace attain remission of them, by Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

SIT LAUS DEO.