Vèr. i 9 ;2O.&c. =rath Chapter of St. M A ;r T FI E W. 99 places ; and it requireth fome time and pains to work upon each Soul of them ; for not one of thofe mutt perifb, a net. 3. 9: And after they are converted, there mutt be force time allowed to exercife their diligence : They mull have a day to work in 1ohn. 9. 4. and to try their Faith and Patience in : Rev. 6. ix: They fhould reft yet for a little feafon, untill tbeir fellow fervarits and their Brethren thàl fhould be kil- led as they were, fhould be fulfilled. A certain number are enrolled for Sufferings, as well as for. Heaven ; many . of which had not obtained their Crown ; as the High - prieft tarryed .within the Vail till his Miniftration ended: As long as there is need of.Chrilts Interceflion, he deferrs his fecond coming. (2.) On the wickeds part ; 'tis neceffary. they fhould have a time of Improve- ment, that they may be left without excufe ; Rom. 9. 2z. What if God,, wilá'ng to thew his wrath, and to make his power known, endured with much long- ftffering the vet: felt .of wrath fitted to defruclion. 'Tis for the glory of God, that he fhould take them when ripe : Then the Angel thrufs in his fickle, Rev. 14. 15. Therefore they have longer time of profpering in their finful wayes. . I. Let us not make an ill ufe of this, either to deny, or doubt of his Coming, as thofe, z Pet. 3. 3: or of flackentng, or putting off your Preparation, as the naugh- ty Servant, Mat. 48, 49. But let us wait with patience,' and holdout to the very;lait. Saul held out till Samuel was even- ready to come, and fo forced himfelf to offer Sacrifice, whereby he loft his Kingdom ; s Sam. 13. 8, 9. If he had flayed a little longer, Samuel bad come : So many grow -weary of doing and- fuflering, and mifèarry in the very Haven. We wait in ordinary things, lam. q. y, 8. Be pa- tient therefóre, Brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold the Husband -man wait- eth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long,patténce for it, until he receive the early and latter rain. Be ye alfo patient ; ftabhjb your hearts, for the coming of the Lord draveth nigh r His haftinefs cannot alter the feafons ; fo we in improving our Interefts-and employing our Talents, fhould not faint : Gal. 6.4. And be not weary in well doing,, for in due feafon we (hall reap if we faint not., 2. Let us fhame our felves, that having fo much time, we have done Jo little work. Our Mater hath tarryed 'long, and given us a large fpace of time wherein to employ our felves ; but what have we . done for his glory ? Alas ! either we do nihil altere, or male mere, or aliad mere; either we do nothing, or nothing to the puy- pofe, or that which is worfe than nothing ; which will undo us for ever. Oh what thoughts will we have of a carelefs and mifpent life, when we come to die ! Many do not think of the end of their Lives, till their lives be ended ; and then they moan and bewail themfelves when they lye a dying. Oh rather think of your Taft end, and great accóunt betimes : 'Tis lamentable to begin' to live when we mull die : ,uidam tune incipiat vivere cum defnendum eft ; they end their lives. be fore they begin to live. Therefore if hitherto you. have been. pleating. the flelb, idling°and wantoning away your precious time, fay, t Pet. 4. 3. Let the time paît fuffüe. I have been long enough difhonouting God, and deftroying my own foul ; hath my Marter tarryed fo long, and (hall I. (till abufe his patience ? This is art holy, and right ufe of this delay. ti 'Secondly, His Work, what he will do when he cometh : He reckoneth with nil Servants. Dolt. II. Thofe that have Talents, mutt look to reckon for them; For though he be- long firlt, yet at length the Lord cometh. (r.) Confider the certainty of this Account; his Wifdom, Ju(tice;' Goodnefs and Truth require it: His Wi /dome requireth it : for no wife man would put his Goods to truft, and never look after them more ; and (hall we imagine that the wife God would fend reafonable Creatures into the World, and furnish them with excel- lent Gifts and Endowments; and never confider how they imploy themfelves ? Is man Gods Servant ? then Certainly he is liable to an account : You had never come into the World, but for this bufinefs, to ferve and pleafe God. For God maketh nothing in vain, but all things for bimfelf,Prov. 16.4. And do you think that af- ter you are made for this end, you may live as you lift, and never be called to a reckoning ? So abfurd a thought cannot enter into the heart of a reafonable man. Eccl. I r. 9. Rejoyce O young man in thy youth, and let thy. heart cheer thee in the days Of thy youth, and walk in the wayes of thy heart, and in the fight of thine eyes : But 0 a know
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