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gion, and make your whole life to be an unintermitted life of religion and duty to God. For this habit of piety in your soul will not only not lie sleeping and inactive, but, almost in every hour of the day, will put forth actual exertings of itself, in applications of short occasional prayers, thanksgiving, dependence-resort, unto that God that is always near you, and lodgeth, in a manner, in your heart, by his fear, and love, and habitual religion towards him. And by this means you do effectually, and in the best and readiest manner imaginable, doubly redeem your time: (1.) In the lawful exercise of those natural and civil concerns which are not only permitted, but, in a great measure enjoined, by Almighty God. (2.) At the same time, exercising the acts of religious duties, observance and veneration unto Almighty God, by perpetuated, or, at least, frequently reiterated, though short, acts of devotion to him. And this is the great art of Christian chymistry to convert those acts, that are materially natural or civil, into acts truly and formally religious; whereby the whole course of this life is both truly and interpretatively a service to Almighty God, and an uninterrupted state of religion; which is the best, and noblest, and most universal redemption of the time.

11. Be very careful to prefer those actions of your life that most concern you: be sure to do them chiefly, to do them most. Let those things that are of less moment give place to those things that are of the greatest moment. Every man, of the most ordinary prudence, having many things to do, will be

sure to be doing of that, first and chiefly, which most concerns him, and which, being omitted, and possibly wholly disappointed, might occasion his most irreparable loss. We have, it is true, many things to be done in this life; Ars longa, vita brevis; and we have seasons and opportunities for them: but of these " many things," some are barely conveniences for this life; some, though they seem more necessary, yet, still they rise no higher, nor look no farther, nor serve no longer, but only for the meridian of this life, and are of no possible use in the next moment after death. The pleasures, the profits, the honours, the most florid accommodations of great human learning, stately houses and palaces, goodly possessions, greatest honours, highest reputation, deepest policy-they are fitted only to this life: when death comes, they are insignificant pitiful things, and serve for nothing at all, the very next moment after death: nay, the diseases and pains, and languishings, that are the præludia of death, render them perfectly vain, if not vexatious and torturing. But, there are certain businesses, that are not only excellently useful in this life, but such as abide by us in sickness, in death; nay, go along with us, with singular comfort, into the next life; and never leave us; but fix us in an eternal state of rest and happiness; such as may be, with much ease, acquired in the times of health and life, but very difficult to be attained in the time of sickness and the hour of death, but never to be forgotten after death; such as are of that necessity, that, in com

parison of them, all other things are impertinent and vain, if not desperately noxious and hurtful. There is no necessity for me to be rich, and to be great in the world, to have such a title of honour, such a place of dignity or profit, to leave such an inheritance or titular dignity to my son, or to have so many thousand pounds in my inventory, when I die. But there are certain matters of absolute necessity to me, such as, if I am without, I am undone and lost; and yet such as, if not attained here, in this life, can never be attained and, therefore, as it concerns me in the highest degree to attain them, so it concerns me in the highest degree to attain them in this life, and to take all opportunities imaginable in order thereunto, and to redeem every minute of time for that purpose, lest I should be for ever disappointed; and not be like the foolish virgins, to be getting of oil when the door is ready to be shut; and with the truant scholar, to trifle away my time allotted me for my lesson, and then to begin to learn it when my master calls for me to repeat it. And those businesses are such as these:→ ·

The knowledge of Christ Jesus, and Him crucified; the attainment of faith in God, through him; the acquaintance of myself with the will of God; the comporting of myself with that will; the exercise of true and serious repentance, for sins past; the steady resolution of obedience to his will, for the time to come; the attaining of the pardon of my sins, and peace with God, through Christ our Lord; the subduing of my lusts and corruptions; the conformation of my will

and life to the holy will of God and the perfect pattern of holiness, Christ Jesus; the working out of my salvation with fear and trembling; the giving all diligence to make my calling and election sure; the fitting and purging of myself, to be a vessel of glory and immortality, and fitted for the use of my Great Lord and Master; the casting myself into such a frame and posture of mind and life, that I may be fitted and ready to die, and give up my account to my Lord with peace and cheerfulness and comfort; so that, if I should, either by the hand of some disease or casualty, or other providence, receive this solemn message, Set thine house in order, for thou shalt die, I might receive it with as much readiness, willingness, and cheerfulness, as a faithful and diligent servant would receive this command from his master: "You must take such a journey for me to-morrow.'

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These, and such like businesses as these, besides the constant tenor of a just, virtuous, and pious life, are the most important businesses of a Christian. First, Such as are of absolute necessity to him: he may not, he cannot be without them. Secondly, Such as cannot be done elsewhere than in this life: this world is the great laboratory for perfecting of souls for the next. If they are not done here, they cease to be done for ever: death shuts the door, and everlastingly seals us up in that state it finds us in. Thirdly, And every season of this life is not, at least, so suitable for it: sickness and pain, and wearisome and froward old age, have business enough, of them

selves, to entertain us; and any man, that hath had experience of either, will find he hath enough to do, to bear them, or to struggle with them. And, Fourthly, We know not whether the grace and opportunities, that God hath lent us, and we have neglected in our lives, shall ever be afforded again to us in the times of our sicknesses, or upon our deathbeds: but, little portions of time, in our lives and healths, are furnished with thousands of invitations and golden opportunities for these great works. Let us, therefore, redeem those portions of time that our life and health lend us, for this great and one thing necessary.

I come to the reasons why we ought thus to redeem our time; which may be these:

1. Our time is a talent, put into our hands by the Great Lord of the whole family of heaven and earth, and such whereof we are to give an account, when our Master calls: and it will be a lamentable account, when it shall consist only of such items as these: Item, So much of it spent in plays, and taverns, and gaming. Item, So much of it spent in sleeping, eating, drinking. Item, So much spent in recreations and pastimes. Item, So much spent in getting wealth and honour, &c. And, there remains so much, which was spent in doing nothing.

2. Our time is a universal talent, that every man, that lives to discretion, hath. Every man hath not a talent of learning, or of wealth, or honour, or subtilty

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