a 539 CHARACTER OF A SOUND, XL. 1. A Christian indeed is one that highly valueth time he.abhorreth idleness, and all diversions, which would rob him of his time and hinder him'from his work. He knoweth howmuch work he bath to do, and of what unspeakable consequence, to his soul, (if not also to others.). He knoweth that he bath a soul to saye or lose ; a heaven to win ; a hell to escape; a death and judg- ment to prépare for ; many a sin tp mortify, and many graces to get, and exercises and increase ; and many enemies and tempta- tions to overcome ; and that'he shall never have more time of trial ; but what is nowundone, must be undone forever. He' knoweth how short and hasty tithe is, and also bow uncertain ; and how short many hundred years is to prepare for an everlasting state, if all were spent in greatest diligence ; and therefore he wondereth at those miserable souls, that have tithe to spare; and waste in those fooleries whichthey call pastimes, even instag-plays, cards, and dice, and long and tedious feastings; delights, compliments, idleness, and over-long or needless visits or recreations. He mar- veleth at the distraction or sottishness of those,persòns that can play, and prate, and loiter, and. feast away precious hours, as if their poor, unprepared souls had nothing to do, while they stand at the yery brink of a dreadful eternity, and are so fearfully unready as they are. He taketh that person who would cheat him of his time, by any of these forenamed baits, to be worse to him than a thief that yvould take his purse from him by the highway. O pre- cious time ! how highly Both hé value it, when he thinks of his everlasting state, and thinks what haste his death -is making, and 'what reckoning he must'make for everymoment; what abundance of ,work bath he for every hour, which he is grieved that he cannot do! He bath acalling to follow, and he bath a heart to search, and watch, and study ; and a God to seek and faithfully serve ; and many to do gold to; and abundance of particular duties to perform, in order to every one of these. But, alas ! time doth maajte such haste away, that many things areJeft undone, and he is afraid lest death will find him very much behindhand ; and therefore Tie is up and doing, as one that hath.use for every 'minute ; and -wor'keth while it is day, because he knoweth that the night is coming when none can work ; John ix. 4. Redeeming -time is much of hit wisdom and his work; Eph. v. 16. Col. iv. P. He had rather labor in the house of correction' than live the swinish life of idle and voluptuous gentlemen; or beggars, that live to no higher end than to live, or to please their flesh; or to live as worldlings that lose all their lives in the service' of a perishing world. He know- eth how precious time will be, ere long, in the eyes of whose that nowmake light of it; and trifle it away ors a contemned thing, as if they had too, much.
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