For 1VI1at, and from what time tmtft be redeemed. jhaU be upon tbe mth. Prov. 27· I. Eoaj1 not thy felf of to morrow; for thoH b,noweft not J>hat. a day may bring forth. Gal. 6 ro. As we have therefore opportumt_)•, let us do good to all mtn; eJPeo.ally to 1hem who are of the boujhold of faith. Thefe are our fpecial feafons. . . . , §. 4 • To Redeem 1ime jUppn{eth J, That we know what w_e have to do ~1th T1me, and on w~at Wha~Re•. we ought to lay it out; and of how great worth the thmgs are for whtch we: rnufi _redeem tt: deemmg T1me 2 , That we highly value Time in order to this neceffary work. 3· That we arc fenilble ot the great~ fupporetb. nefs of our fin and loJi, in our negligent or wilful lofing fo much as we have done already. 4· That we know the pmicular fiafon of each duty. 5· And that we fet lefs by all that which we mull part with in our Redeeming time, than wt do by Time it feff, and its due ends : Or elfe we will not make the bargain. : ... §. 5 . And ., thefe five things are prefuppofcd, Co thcfe following are contained in our Rtdeeming Wh>rh'' con, 1'inie. 1· To Redeem 'lime is to fee that we cafi none of it away .in vain; but ufe every rninutt: ta!net • of it as a moll precious thing, and fpend it wholly in the way of duty. 2· That we be not ooly doing good, but doing the Bejl and Greatej1 Good which wtare able and have a call ro do. 3· That we do not only the Bejt things, but do them m the befi manner and m the greatcft mea{itre, and do as moch good as pollibly w<ean : 4· Thjt we watch for fpccial opportunities. 5· That we prefently take rhem when they fall, and improve them when we ta~e tbem. 6. That w~ part With all that is to be parted with, w {avt: our time.'?·. And rhat we forecaJl the pr~~enting of imp~diments, and _r~e removal of our clogs, and dte obtanung of all the Hdps to c:xpe.dmon and fuccdS m duty. Thts ts the true Rrdtemi~tg of our 7'imt. 9 6.The Ends and V{es wllich Timemull be Redeenrtd for a!c thefe. I. In general and ultimately, it T? wh~t Ufes: mull be all for GOd; T t10u5h ~tall imployed directly uprm God, in meditating of him, or praying ~~de m~ b~: to him; yet all rnufi be lllid oln\for him, immediately f)r medJ.ltely; that is, either in ferving him, c: ec:m ' or in preparing for is fervice; in mowing or in whetting, in traveUi,g or in baitinJ!, to fit us for travail: And io our ·nmeof f!eepand feeding and necdfiti recreatian is laid out for God. 2· Time mull be Kedeemed efpecially for works of Publicft bmejit: For the Church and State: for the fouls of many: efpccially by Magifirates and MinHh.rs, who have {pecial charge and opportunity: who mujf j}end and be j}ent for the peoples fokes, though rewarded with ingratitude and contempt, 2 Cor.t2• 14, IS· 3• For your own fouls, and your everlailing life: For fpeedy converfion with 4 out delay, if you be yet unconverted : For the killing of every foul-endangering fin, without delay ; For the exercife and jncrcafe of young and unconfirmed Grace, and the growth of knowledge; For the making fure our C~lling and Eleelion: And for the !luring up provifions of Faith, and hope, and lilVe, and comfot't agamll the hour of fulfcring and of deat~.We mull Redeem Time for the [OHIJ of every particular perfon, that we have opportunity to do good to: efpccially for chil. drcn and fervants and others whom God hath committed to our truft. 5· For the welltare of our own Bodies that they may be ferviccable to Out fouls. 6. And lallly tor the Bodily wellfare of orhers. And this is the order.in which thofe works lye,for which and in which our Timt mull be Redeemed. The Price that 1ime rnufi beRedeemedwith is, I· Above all, by our utmofi Diligence : That we be Frorrl wh:jc ftill doing, and put forth all our firength, and run as for our lives; and whatever our hand ihall find an~ :u_ whac to do, that we do it with our might, remembring that there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, bn~ d ~ufld nor wifdom in the grave whither we go, Eccl. 9· 1 o Our fluggifh eafe is an eafic price to be· puted e e c..emc: , with for precious Time. To Redeem it, is not to call back T1me paft; nor to flop Time in its hafiy paffage; nor w procure a long life on earth: but to {ave it, as it p:1ffeth, from being devourtd and loll, by fluggijhnefi and fin. 2· Time mull be Redeemed from the hands, and by"the lofs, of finful plea· fures, fports and revellings, and all that is of it felf, or by accident unlawful: frnm wantonnefs, and licentioufnefs and vanity, Kom. 13 . .l I, I2, 13, 14· Both thefe are fer cogerher. [And that Jtnowi~tg 'the Time, that: now it: Hhigh time to awak.f out of jlcep : for now iJ' our folvation nearer tban when we -believed: Thtnighti< far ffmt; tbt day i< at hand: let u<thereforecaft off the ,.,.~r,_s of d"kneji, a11d let m p11t 01J- the armiJUr of light : let Uf walJt honeftly M in the day, n"t: in ')'otiltg mtd dnenl{_ennefs; not ·in chambe~ingand wantonnefs; notin jlrife and envying; but put ye on the Lr!rd ]rfus Chr>ift, and mak,e not provifion for the flejh 10 fulfiO the lujls thereof.] 3· 'lime mull be Redeemed from things indifferent and lawfHl at another tilne, when things tleceJJary do require it. He rhat lhould fave mens lives, or quench a tir~ in his houfe, or provide for his family, or do his Maflers work, will not be ex~ <:ufcd if he negle& it, by faying that he was about an indifferent or a lawful bufinefs. Notural reil and fleep mufi be parted with for lime, when necdfary things require it. Paul Preached till midnight being to depart on the morrow, Afl. 20, 7· The Lamenting Church calling out for Prayer faith, -4rife: cry ot~t in-the night) in-,he begin~~ng of the watches pour out thy heart like water· before the face of the Lord, Lam. 2· 19· CleantiJel Lamp mull be ufed by. fi1ch, whofe Sun·light muft be otherwife (mployed. 4· 'lime mufi:be Redeemed from worldly bufinefs and commodity, when mauers of greater weight and coinmodity do r.equireit. Trades, and Plow, and protit rnufi fiand by, when God calls us (by ucceffity orotherwifeJ to greater things. Marthafhould not lo much as trouble her felf iri providing meat for Chrill and his followers to eat, when Chrill is offering her food for her foul, and fi1e fhould with Mary have been hearing at his feet, Lult, ro. 42· Worldlings are. thus called by him, lfa. 55• 1, 2, 3· H~, e~ery one that: ihirjftth, come ye to tbe water-- Wherefore Jo yott Jpenel yOHr money for that whJch J.1 mt bread ? ~nd your labour for that which [atU[}tth not l heark,pt di· ligtntly unto me, and eat ye th3< wbicb iJ good, and let your foul delight it filf in fatnifi.-- 5· Time mu~ beRedeemed trom fm.t~Uer Duties, which in their feafon mufi be done, as being no dutio, when they hmdcr Greater duty, wh1<h (ho"ld then take pla<e. It is a duty in its time and place to fhew
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