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World.

This is a Rule of Life which ISERM. have frequently recommended to you, and XVI. is of fuch wonderful Ufe, that I shall ever take Occafion to mention it; because, if it were duly and confcientiously practifed, it would be one of the best Catholicons for the Cure of all our fpiritual Maladies and Diseases.

Laftly, BEGIN and end all your Actions with fervent Prayers to God, that he would inlighten and inform your Underftandings in the Truth, that he would teach you your Duty, and enable you by his Grace to perform it; for, by Praying to God, we do not only incline God to give us his Help and Affistance, but we take the most effectual Means, to infuse and beget in our Souls thofe Qualities and Graces which we pray for.

I MIGHT fet down many more Rules of Practice, but would we but write these four in our Memories, and transcribe them into our Lives, we fhould foon find the bleffed Effects of them. But, alas! here it is we are wanting; we know our Duty, we have the Word of God continually founding in our Ears, but we will not obey it. And yet, if we do not thus walk circumspectly, we are taught in the Text, that we fhall walk, not as Wifemen, but as

Fools:

SERM. Fools: Whereas, by living thus circumfpect XVI. ly, we approve ourselves to be wife and understanding Perfons, Men who know where their true Intereft lies, and how to prosecute and obtain it. For certainly Religion is the moft proper Means to enable us to live happily in this Life; whilst it teacheth us to be content with our Lot and Portion in this World, gives us an Heart to take the Comfort of the good Things which we poffefs, frees us from those Things which four the Enjoyments of Life, and enables us to undergo the fevereft Afflictions which befall us with Comfort and Satisfaction: And as to another Life, no one will doubt, that Walking circumspectly, in the Ways of Virtue and Piety, is the only Method of preparing ourfelves for the Bleffednefs of Heaven. In a Word, fince it is the trueft Sign of Wisdom to pursue what tends to our real and lasting Happiness, let me exhort you in the Words of the Apostle, See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as Fools, but as wife.

SERMON

SERMON

XVII.

The Value and Use of Time.

EPHES. V. 16.

Redeeming the Time, because the Days

T

are evil.

HIS Epiftle was written to theSE RM. Inhabitants of Ephefus, the Me- XVII. tropolis of the Lydian and Pro

confular Afia; and fo by Confequence to all the other Cities of this Province: The chief Design of it seems to be, to inveigh against the Doctrines and Practices of the Gnoftic Heretics, who taught that, to avoid Perfecution, it was lawful for Christians to join with the Heathens in their idolatrous Worship; and, mistaking the Meaning and Latitude of Gofpel Liberty, indulged themselves in all Manner of Licentioufnefs and Debauchery. In Oppofition to these, the Apostle exhorts the Ephe

fans

Ephef. v.

15.

SERM. fians to live juft, fober, and righteous XVII. Lives, and to walk circumspectly: And whereas many of them had been drawn away through the Deceitfulness of Sin, and overcome by the Violence of the present Temptation, that therefore they ought to ufe the greater Diligence for the Future, and redeem the Time, because the Days are Evil.

Col. iv. 5.

THE Words in the Original are,

aɣo¬ ράζεσθαι τὸν καιρὸν, which import as inuch as Buying out and Gaining of Time,

and denote the Use of all lawful and prudential Means to preserve ourselves either from Danger, or the Sins of the Times we live in. So that Time is properly said to be redeemed, when we take Hold on all Opportunities to advance God's Glory, the Good of our Neighbour, and the Welfare of our own Souls, when we do not fuffer any Moment to be stolen from us, either by Sloth, Intemperance, or worldly Care; when the Confideration of the Time we have loft puts us upon Doubling our Diligence, and being more induftrious for the Time to come. And therefore, in another Place, we are bid to walk in Wisdom towards them which are without, redeeming the Time. For, when we fpend the Time, as we ought to do,

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we fhew a great deal of Wisdom and SERM. Forefight, and approve ourselves to be XVII. prudent confidering Perfons, looking back on that Time we have loft, and looking forwards towards thofe evil Days which are coming on: Redeeming the Time, becaufe the Days are Evil. From these Words,

I. I SHALL lay down the Reasons, why we ought to be fo careful to redeem Time. And,

II. FURNISH you with fome Directions for your Affiftance in the Practice of this Duty.

I. THE Reasons, why we ought to be fo careful to redeem Time, are these :

1. OUR Time is a Talent with which God has intrufted us.

2 FROM the Confideration of the Properties of Time, we shall be perfuaded to redeem it, for it is fhort, uncertain, and irrecoverable.

3. OUR eternal Welfare depends on the Improvement of it.

4. WHEN we come to die, we would give all the World, if we had it, for fome fmall Portion of that Time we so negligently fquander away.

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