BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS. 551 his grace. But if you die in -your delays, in the twin- kling of an eye you will find yourselves utterly undone for ever. Now is there a hope of a change, but when delays have brought you to hell, there is no more change, nor any more hope. 17. Consider, that your very time which you lose by these delays, is an unconceivable loss. When time is gone what would you then give for one of those years, or days, or hours, which now you foolishly trifle away? O wretched sinners, are there so many thousand souls in hell, that would give a world if they had it, for one of your days, and yet can you afford to throw them away in worldliness, and sensuality, and loitering delays? I tell you, time is better worth than all the wealth and honours of the world. The day is coming when you will set by time ; when it is gone you will know what a blessing you made light of. But then all the world cannot call back one day or hour of this precious time, which you can sacrifice now to the service of your flesh, and cast away on unprofitable sinning. 18. Consider also, that God bath given you no time to spare. He bath not lent you one day nor hour, more than is needful for the work that you have to do; and therefore you have no reason to lose any by your delay. Do you imagine that God would give a man an hour's time for nothing; much less, for to abuse him, and serve his enemy. No, let me tell you, that if you make your best ofevery hour : if you should never lose a moment of your lives, you would find all little enough for the work you have to do. I know not how others think of time, but for my part I am forced daily to say, How swift, how short is time? and how great is our work : and when we have done our best, how slowly goeth it on ? O.. precious time ! what hearts have they, what lives do these men lead, that think. time long ? that have time to spare, and pass in idleness. 19. To convince you more; consider, I beseech you, the exceeding greatness of the work you have to do : and tell me then, whether it be time for you to delay ?
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