168 NOW OR NEVER. ing, and will not return. You may work while it is day; but when you have lost that day, it will not return for you to work in. While your candle burneth, you may make use of its Light; but when it is done, it is too late to use it. No force of medicine, no orator's elegant persuasions, no worldling's wealth, rl.o prince's power, can call back one day or hour of time. If they could, what endeavours would there be used, when extremity hath taught them to value what they now despise! What ,1:mrgaining would there be at last, if time could be purchased for any -thing that man can give. Then misers would bring out their wealth, and say, 'All this will I give for one day's time of repentance more.' And lords and knights would lay down their honours, and say, 'Take all, and let us be beggars, if we may have but one year of the time that we mispent.' Then kings would lay down their crowns, and say, ' Let us be equal with the lowest subjects, so we may but have the time again that we wasted in the cares and pleasures of the world.' Kingdoms would then seem a contemptible price for the recovery of tim& - The time that is now idled and talked away; the time that is now feasted and complimented away, that is unnecessarily sported and slept away; that is wickedly and presumptuously sinned away; how precious will it one day seem to all! How happy a bargain would they think they had made, if at the dearest rates they could redeem it? The profanest mariner falls a praying, when he fears his time is at an end. If importunity would then prevail, how earnestly would they pray for the recovery of time that formerly derided praying! What a liturgy would death teach the trifling timedespising gallants, the idle, busy, dreaming, active, ambitious, covetous lovers ofthis world, if time could be entreated to return! How passionately then would they pour out their requests! ' 0 that we might once see the days of hope, and means, and
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