Serm. XLI. Religion, ourfill and great Concernment. 287 Cary, ànd we miferable and undone if we have them not. And therefore not to diffemble in the Matter, the Difficulties of Religion are confiderable ; but then they are much greater at firft, and will every Day abate and grow lets, and the Work by, degrees will become carte, and turn into Pleafure and Delight ; a Plea fure fo great, as none knows but he that hath it ; and he that hath it, would not exchange it for all the fenfual Pleafures and Enjoymentsof this World. Secondly, Others pretend want of Time for the minding of' fo great a Work. And'risvery true, that all Perfons have not equal ,leifure for this purpofe ; fome toe much more ftraitned than others, and more takenup with the neceffary Cares of this Life : But God hath put no Man upon this hard neceffity, that tor want of Time he (hall be forced to neglect his Body and his. Health, his Family and Eltate, to fave his Soul. And yet if any Man were brought to this diftrefs, it were well worth his while to fecure hisEternal Salvation, tho' it were with the negle&and lofs of all other things. But thofe who are molt ftraitned for Time, have fo much as is abfolutely neceffary : for there is a confiderable part of Reli- gion which does not require Time, but Refolution and Care : Not to commit Sin, not to break theLaws of God, not to be Intemperate, to make no provifon for the Flefh, tofulfil the Luth thereof, does not fpend time, but Eaves it for better Purpofes ; fo that every Man hath time not to do that which he ought not to do : And forthepofitive Part of Religion, whether it confifts in the Exercife of our Minds, or in the external Alas of Religion , no Man is fo diftreft, but he hath time to thinkof Heaven, and Eternity ; time to love God, to efteemhim, an d delight in him above all things. And this a Man may dovery frequently, and ve- ry acceptably, while he is labouring and travelling about his worldly Affairs, while his Hand is upon the Plow, his Heart may be with God ; and while he converfethhere upon Earth, his Thoughts and Affe&ions may be in Heaven. Every Man hath time tó pray to God every Day, for his Mercy and Forgivenefs, for his Grace and Aft:fiance, for his Prefervation and Support, and to thankhim heartily for all his Bleffings and Benefits. And a little time ferioufly employed in this kind, would have the fame acceptance with God, as the more folemn and longer Devotions of thofe who have more léifure and opportunities for them. To be Pure we haveall of us time to ferveGod upon his own Day, and to em- ploy it wholly in, the ExerciCes of Piety, and in the Care and Confideraílon of our Souls. But this, when all is (aid, is the Cafe but of very few ; molt of us have no colour for this Complaint ; non inopes temperi:, fed prodigi fumes, (as Seneca fays) " we are not Poor, but Prodigal of our time, and laví(h it away profufe- " ly upon Folly and Vanity. Our Vices and Lufts, our Pleafures and Diverfi- ions, confume and divert thofeprecious Hours, which fhould be imployed to thefe better purpofes; nay many times Time oppreffeth us, and is a burthen to us, and lies upon our Hands, and we know not how to get rid of it ; and yet we chufe rather tolet it run walte, than to beftow it upon Religion, and the Care of our Souls; infomuch that I fear this will be the Conditionofmany,' that when they were at a lofs what to do with their Time, and knew not how to (pend it, they would not lay it out upon that which was belt and molt neceffary for this fure- ly is the very heft ufe that can be made of Time, to prepare and provide for Eternity. Thirdly, Others pretend it will be time enough to mind thefe things hereafter. But this (as bad Excufes feldom hang together, and agree with one another) di- relycontradi &s the former pretence, which fuppofeth fo much Time neceffary, and more than many have to fpare; and yet now they would make us believe that a very little time will fuffice for this Work, and that it may be done at any time, even juft when we are going out of this World. But this of all other, is the ftrangelt Interpretation offeeling the Kingdom of God, and his Righteouf- nefsfirft, toput it off to the very laft. This furely is a greater Error on the other hand, to think that the Bufinefs of Religion is fo quickly to be difpatched, and that the great Work of our Lives can be crowded into fo narrow a corner of it, that the time of Sicknefs and Old-age, nay, the Hour of Death, well em- ploy'd
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