174 Of ([{_edeemin,g 'lime ; What it ir. CHAP. V. ) : Se<theDire;,., b .S b 1• '])' I]' i; f d · f a; 00 , how to c-Urt er U ommate trt lOllS, JOY t Je next great· . Uttef 0 2::':dro'.:.';: to the right P''Jorma~JCe of * former. ·· · . cbip. 17. ;DireEJions for fl\_E'DBEMI'N.G or tvell impro'l!i1zg TIME. ~"· T I Z..q: J)firg Mans epp. ort~nity for alf,thofe works for whi.ch he !iveth, and which hi' Wta,tor ,ii.oth cxped:. frpiti him, and on which his endlcfs life dependeth, the– REbEEMING or tV'tll impioving of it, mull needs be of moll high importance tohim : And therefore it is well made by holy Paul the great mark to difiinguifh the Wife from fools: Ephc[. 5· 15, Jli. Set tben that ye wall( circumfpellly; not as faols, but as wife, Redeeminr tiJe time: So Col. 4· 5· I ilull therefore gtye you fpccial Directions for it, when l have twt opt n~..d the nature of th.t duty to you, and told you what is meant by 1ime, and what by~ deeming ir. Wl>m me&nt ~· •· Time in its moll common acception is taken generaJly for all that fpace of this prefent life by 1im~. which is our opportunity for all the wo 1 ks of life, and the meafure of them. 7'ime is often taken more 1\r'Ct'y, for fome [pecial Opportunity which is fitted to a fpecial work; which we call the fi•· [on or the jiHfj! time : In both the!e fenfcs Time mull be Redeemed. Wh:n 2 re the 9· 3• As every work;_ hath irs feafon which mull be taken, Ecclef. 3·1• So have rhe greatei works fpcci1l feafo'lls affigned us tOr God 3nd our fouls fome -JPtcial flafonJ bdides our common time. I· Some Times of duty. God hath fitted by Nawrt for his fervice. So the TimeofYotttb, and beultb, and 1\rength isfpecially fit fox holy work. z. Some Time is made fpecially fit by God! Inftitmi,n; As the LordtVay above all other daycs. 3· Some Time is made fit by GovtrnrrurJ appointment.: as the hour of publick Meeting for Gods Worfhip, and LeCtuxc-dayes ; and the hour for family-worfhip, which every Maller of a family may appoint to his own houfhold. 4· Some Time is made fit by the ttmper ofmens Bodies; The Morning hours are befi to mofi> and to forne rather the Evening; and to all, the Time when the Body is fxcef\ from pain and difabling weakneff"cs. 5· Some Tune is made tit by the courfe of our ntceffa)y natural or civil bufit~cfi ; as the day is fitter than the fleeping time of the night, and as that hour is the fittefi wherein our other imployments will leafi difiurb us. 6. Some Time is made fit by a Jpecial jhor.r of Mercy publici;. ox private; as whtn we dwell in godly families, amon~ the mofr q:e!"plaxy helpful company, under the rnoll'livdy excellent means, the faithfullell Pallors, the profitablefi Teachers, the bell Mafiers or Parents, and with faithful friends. 7• Some Time is tn1de fit by particular a[tJ of Providence: as a funeral Sermon at the death of anyne.u us; as tilt prefence of fame able Minifter or privareChrifiian, whofe company we cannot ordinarily have : or a fpccial lcifure, as the Eunuch had to read the Scripture in his Chariot, Atls 8. 8.,And fome Time is mlde fpecially tit by the fpecial worki11gs ofGods Spirit upon the heart; when he !"ore than ordinarily il– lurninateth, teacheth, quickneth,foftneth, hurnbleth, comforteth, excireth or confitrnerh. As T1rne in gmeral, fo fpecially thefe feafimJ mufi be particularly improved for their feveral wo~ks · we muft pke the Wind and Tide while we may have it, and be fur to llrike while the Iron is h .And feme TimeismadefitbyothersmceffitieJand thecaUufGod: As it is the Time to reliever epoor when they ask, or when they are rnon: in want; or to help our neighbour when it will do him mofi good : to vi fit the fick, the imprifimed and affiid:r:d in the needful feafon, Mauh. 2 5• Thus are the godly like Trees planted by the River fide, which bring forth fruit in their feafon, Pfal. l· 3• So to Jjuak.. in feafon to the ignorant or ungodly for their convcrfion, or to the forrowfql for their confo~ lation, lfo. 50. 4• 10. Our ownNeceffity alfo makcth our Jea[OnJ: So the 'Time of age and fick,ntft is made by neceffity the feafon ot our fpecial repentance and preparation for dea~h a~d JUdgement; 1 I. Theprefent Time is commonly made our feafon, through the uncertainty ot a fitter or of any more: Prov. 3· 27. IJI#hhold not Good from him to whom it i1 drtc, rvhw it il in tbt power of t/Jy hand to do it: Say not. unto t.hy neighbour, Go and coJne agaitt, to morrow I n'iU give, when thou bt~jf it ly :bee; Ecdef. 11. 2· Give a portwn to [even, and alfo to eigbt, for tbou Fnow(/l not what evil jhaU
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