Dlrel/.6. Dwr.2.8.1t.. Jer. S· 2.4. Ji'·lJ·>o. ~deeming Time. taken from thee : and graciOus company may be taken from thee. Hdps and means may be turned into hinderanccs and oppofition and firong temptations : And then you will find what it was ro negled: the feafon ! Or if you have the continuance of all hdps and me.ans, how know you rhat God will fer in by his grace, and blrfs them to you, and move your hearts ? He may refolve that if you refifi him now, his Spirit ChalHhivc with you no more ? If whiJe it is caUed, to day, Y·~u· will harden your hearts, he may refolve to leave you to the hardnefs of Pharaoh, and to get himfelf a name upon you, and ule you as vdfcls of wrath prepared by your neglect and obtlinacy for defiruetion- ~· 33• Dircd:. 6. Brthini you how •U the Creatures i(ecp their .proper feafonr, in the .fervict which God bath appointtd them for you. The Sun rifcth and fetterh in its feafon, and keepeth irs diary and annualcomfe; and miffeth not a minute. So do the mher Ccelefiial mmions. You have day and night, and feed time and harvefi, Surnriler and Winter, Spring and Fall, and all exatl!y in their feafons: Jer. 8. 7• ·Yea the Stor~in the HtavtnJ k,nowttb her appointed timt, and the Turtle and the Crane, and the Sw11Vow ob{trve tht timt of their c~ming: bwt mypeople k._now not the judgement of the Lord. Shall only man negled: his feafon ? Direl/. 7• . ~· 34· Direct. 7· Confider, h= yott k.,norr> and obfcrvetbe feafon for y "'""orldly labourr, andfoould younot much more do fo in greater tbing1 f You will not Plow when you ihould Reap; nor do the work of the Summer in the Winter; You will not lye in bed al! day, and go about your bufindS ia. the nighr. You wilt be inquifitivethatyourT!ay be skilful in the feafc)lls for your benetir or fJtCty in the world ; and ibould you not much more be fo for a beHer world ?Matth. 16. 3. 0yt hypoc 1 ·itu! luk. 20 , ze: yt can difctrn the face of tht skJe ! but can ye not difccrn the jigns of the timtJ f As at H,rvtll you look for rhefruit of your Land,fo dothGodin feafoncxpe{t fruit from you, Mark.,l2· 2· The godly are lik.e ~tree d 1'rre that's pl.mttd by ~tRiver! fide, r:chicb bringttb forth itt fruit in[ta[on, Pl3.1. 1 , 3• thall worldlings know their feafon, and !halt not we? ' Dircl/.8. 9. 35· DireCt. 8. Confider how vjgilantthe wic~d art to ~now a1td taJ?.! thrir fiafln to dr.~ evil ! And how much more:ibould we be fo in doing good. Seducers will take the opportunity to dective. The Thief and the 'Adulterer will take the ieafonof fccreGe and darkntfs : The Ambitious and Covetous will take the feafon fi>r profit and preferment : The Malicious watch their f..:a{ons of rtvengc:: ! And Hag. t . :.,).~ have we not more need and more encourJgement th1n they? ls it Time for them to be bUilding tneir own houfes, and growing great by covetoufnefs <lnd oppreffion, and is it not 7imt for you to be ho. nouring God, and providing fOr your cndlefs life? They can,ot Jlerp unlcfr they do Evil, Prov. 4· 16. and can you fieep fecun ly while your Time paffeth away and your work is undone? Direll. 9 • §.,36. Dired'. !)• Remember that tht Devil watclmb 1he [l4r.n uf Temptation to dt}lroy you: He prcvaileth much by tlking the time: when he feerh you dit3rmed, forgetting God, in f~:cure prolpc– rity, fittdl to hearken to his temptations: The fame temptations out of kafon, might noc prev•il. And will you let your enemy out do you ? DPr t1 . ~· 3 7 . Dircd'. 10. Confidcrbowtarncftyou aretr~itbGodiltyourmctffititJand dijlrefi, not only tort– .l Sl~.~J~~~. lieve and help you, but to do it. JPrtd~ly an_d in ~afln. You would rather have hint prev~nt th~ fc:afon, than to Jet it pafs. You are tmpauent ull dehverance come, and Cln hardly fiay the mne ull it be Pfa!. 70. 1· Ltv. 26 4• Jer, S·1+· ripe. whrn you are in pain and fick~efs, you would be de!~vcred f~edily: yo_u are ready to er)•, Hflw long Lord, huw long! And as DavuJ, Pfa). &02: r~•.'Th~ tJme, )'to3 tve{et tzme ~-comt: Pfal.4o. 17 • Mak,_e 110 t 011 g tarrJing 0 my G~d! It would not fat1she you tf God thould fay, 1w1ll eafc: you of your painthenextyear. Whythenfhouldyoune_glrdrheTimc of duty, alild ufe fo many dtl<:~ys with God ? He givcth you all your mercies in their feafon? why then do you not in fe1fon, give up your felves to his love,and fervice? when you havt: his promifc, rhat you fiult re,tp in dne fe4Un if J flN dJ notf•int, Gal. 6: 9· · Tir.J. ..
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