558 BAXTER'S FIFTY REASONS. nothing but a* grave ? If you could but keep that you have, I should not much wonder, that knowing so lit- tle of God, and another world, you look not much af- ter it ; but when you perceive death knocking at your doors, and seeing all your worldly comforts are packing up, arid hasting away, methinks, if you have your wit's sense about you, you should presently turn, and make sure of heaven, without any more delay. 31. Consider also, whether it be equal, that ye should delay your conversion; when you can seasonably dispatch your worldly business, and when your flesh would be pro- vided for, you can hearken to it without delay. You have wit enough to sow your seed in season, and will not de- lay it till the time of harvest you will reap your córn when it is ripe, and gather your fruit when it is ripe, without delay. You observe the seasons in the course of your labours, day by day, and year by year : you will not lie in bed, when you should be at your work, nor delay all night to go to your rest ; nor suffer your servants to delay your business : you will know your dinner -time, and supper-time day after day : if you be sick you will seek help without delay, lest your disease should grow to be incurable. And yet will you delay your conversion, and the making sure ofheaven ? Why, Sirs, shall these trifles be dóne without delay, and shall your salvation be put off? In the name of God, what do you think of? Do you imagine that you can better suffer hell -fire, than hunger, or nakedness ? Or that you can better bear the loss of everlasting joys, than the loss of your commodities and provisions in the world ? Sure if you believe the life to come you cannot think so. And can you have time for every thing except that one thing, which all the rest are merely to promote ; and in comparison of which they are all but dreams ? Can you have time to work, to plough, and sow, and reap, and cannot you have time to prepare for eternal life ? Why, Sirs, if you cannot find time yet to search your hearts, and turn to God, and prepare for death ; give over eating and drinking, and sleeping, and say, you cannot have time for these. You may as wisely say so for these smaller matters, as the greater.
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