484 Our longefl: Time too littlefor Repentance. Vpon theyVednefday after flumilitie a great helpe to the curingof a ficke foule. 4.Reg.f. Thetikeare Obedience & Faith fedneffe,which we mutt fowin our life time, that we may reap the fruit ofthem hereafter, Theywentfoorthweeping , fòwinginteares,butthey (hall return withivy; bearing (heaves in their bofome. Imrjlworke, &c. Good God What doth this import thee Itimporteth Manto lookevnto it. In that correfpondence which God holdswithMan,hee will thattheybee partnersand (hare gaines alike : andtherefore hee calls our good,his ; and his glorie, ours. Our SauiorChriff fullers death;&his death,is ourredemption. And therefore it is faid, it was meet that Chrifl fhould dye. Saint Paulpreacheth this DoEtrine,andgiuing theWorld to viiderftand thereof, hee difcouereth Chriftsglorie,vtteringthereupon,1 (hallPhew vntoyou,how fit itwas that hefhouldfiferfor myfake. Thenight commeth,when noman can winke,á c. Euerieone hathhis day, which is the period ofhis (owing fèafon, andof his labour;which done,hemayhaue thehappineffe to take his quiet ref} in the night.He that shall goe abouttomake ofnight,day , (hall find hee is much deceiued ; for, Thenight commeth when ,i mancan worke. That which importeth is,That while weehaue time,wedoe good : for to this end Timeis giuen vnto vs. And if the figge tree,becaufeit didnot bring foorth fruit in it's due time, was turfed byour Sauiour : what (hall become of the firmer that at no time brings foorth any fruit Saint Bernardmuch condem- neththofe men, which feekes after occafions for topaffe away the time, as to game, chat , read idle poems, andtell tales and lyes , toweareaway the time, leaf}otherwifeit fhould feeme tedious vntothem. The time whichGodgiues thee for Repentance,tocraue pardon forthy finnes,to fue for grace , and for to purchafeglorie,thou letft it runne onwithoutany fruit : farre better itwere for thee to redeeme this thy ill fpent time ; for hee that redeemeth histime byRe- pentance, redeemeth all fortes of time whatfoeuer , Euen the time thatis paft. For albeit, adproteritum non eft potencia, the time that is pallcan not berecalled, yet it is not to be vnderftood touching the timeofRepentance ; according to that fayingofSaint Paul, Redimentes tempos, &e. Redeeming the time,&c. Theprefent with good workes,thepat}with repentance,the future withperfeuerance, and a full purpofe of amendment of life. In a word, Repentance dotla not loofe one houre, nonot oneminute of time. The goodTheefe,in the very laf} houre,did repaireall the loft ycares of his life. Goe to the pooleofSiloam , &c. Firf} this blindman did herein thew agreat dealeofhumilitie, in that hewas not fcrupulous what they fhould fay of him that fhould fee him paffe through the citie withhis eyesfull ofdurt.For points of honour are oftentimes fcandalls to the Soule,andmake the infirmitie of the difeafe incurable. Naaman the Syrianfloodvpon point ofhonour, that Eli fha fhouldcome vnto him, and lay his handsvpon his leaprofie; Asalfo thathee Mould bid him towafhhimfelf in Iordan;wherat hewas very wroth,& refuted to come at him, faying inanger to Elifha's meffenger;Ifwe (hallcompare water withwater,Are not Abana,and Pharphar,riuers ofDamafcus,betterthanall the watersofIfiaelir May I not wathin themand becleane! Whichfaid, bee tur- ned andwent away ina rage. Saint Chryfoflornefaith, That the Pharifees didnot belecueinChrif}. What, faid theywith themfelues,(hallwebee fo refpeFleffe of our honour,asto fubieEt our felues w _h the vulgar to fo bafeamanas hee t Saulmade leIIèreckoning of lootingGod, than theworlds honour, Honora me corampopulo : So asSamuel would buthonour him beforethe people,comewhat would of the ref}, he did not greatly care. Secondly , He (hewed agreat deale ofObedience and Faith. Thewaters of Siloam
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