underâ—tanding shall have a naked ragged â—â—atter'd soul and that comes because he hath not used his time well by the right employment whereof he might have got wealth for his better part I mean unto his mind and heart A threed-bare heart needy of knowledge comes from a voluptuous life stuffed with pleasures And the Prophet Isaiah cries out Chap. 5.12 with a woful and a better cry against those which had the Timbrel the Pipe and the Harp in their feast but would not regard the work of the Lord all their dayes were taken up in eating and drinking in banqueting and feasting in good chear and merry-making so that there was no time to meditate and think on those afflictions whereby God did warn them to repentance and amendment which is most contrary to this duty of redeeming the time for all this time is even lost and cast away And had we no other prooâ— than our own experience in this behalf would it not manifestly convince that he which desires to redeem the time must flie these vain delights and sports For do we not plainly see what a canker it is in a number of mens lives when many days they bestow three or four hours together yea half the day if not the whole in Dicing Carding Bowling Shovel-board of the like idle if not wicked exercises doth not this waste and pour forth time over-lavishly Or can that man have so much rest and quiet or so much fitness and opportunity to do good to his soul as his wise care in cutting off these needless recreations or vexations rather would have afforded him For these vain pleasures are nâ—t alone mischievous hinderers of this thrift in â—hat they consume the very hours â—hemselves but as much or more also in that they dissettle the heart and pull the affections out of joynt so that a man is driven to take as much pains to set his heart to a good exercise as would well have dispatched the duty had he not been thus unfitted Now what a miserable loss is it when a man is robbed of his time and of his heart both at once and by both kept from reading praying mediâ—ating examining his heart or any such good exercise for his souls advantage Wherefore if any man would so prevent these vain and foolish sports that they should not spoil him of his heart and hours let him observe these two rules in his sports and then he shall do well in these respects First this being presupposed that he do not use any recreations but those which he can prove to be in themselves lawful First I say for the beginning of recreation let every man know that recreation must follow labour for the most part or 〈◊〉 at any time it go before it it must be very little only to fit one for labour The Lord allows a man no sportâ— though never so lawful in it self until such time as his body or mind do stand in need of it chiefly when they have been busied in some such honest affairs as by wearying them have made them unfit to further labour so that they must again be fitted thereâ—o by recreation Until pains-taking have made the body or mind not so well able to take pains there is no allowance ordinarily for râ—creation All our sports and recreations if we will use them well I speak of those which are lawful must be to our body or mind as the Mowers whetstone or rifle is to his Sythe to sharpen it when it grows dull He that when his Sythe is dulled will not upon a desire to do more work take time to whet it shall cut less and with more pain and more unhandsomely than he need â—o do so he that when his body or mind is tyred or heavy will not use some honest refreshing shall do less and with less dexterity than he might But on the other side if the Mower should do nothing from morning to noon or from noon to night but whet whet whet rubbing his Sythe he would both marr the Sythe and be counted an idle work-man also for losing his dayes work so he that will run after the most honest delights when neither the weariness of his body nor heaviness of mind requires the same but only upon a fond lust or longing after them shall in time destroy his wit and strength and in the mean seasâ—n marvellous unthriftily mis-spend his time Therefore let not a man begin the day with play though never so lawful unless his body 〈◊〉 mind require some necessary exercisâ— to make it more apt for his calling He that sets into the day sportingly shall be sure to go through it eithâ—â—â—umpishly or sinfully much more 〈◊〉 he spend all the day from morning to night in playing let it be never so much holy-day or have he what other excuse he will This rule is for beginning of sports The second is for the measure and continuance of them where this is a general and a firm direction that it is not lawful for a man in an ordâ—nary course to spend more time in any pastime upon any day than in religious exercises I mean chiefly private religious exercises I say it is utterly unlawful to bestow a larger time any day upon the most lawful delight than in private religious exercises or at least in a customable course so to do This is plainly proved by that which Christ speaks to 〈◊〉 saying Mat. 6.33 First seek â—he Kingdom of God and the righteousnâ—ss thereof You see here commanded to prefer the seeking of Heaâ—en before any othâ—r thing whatsoever â—o let that have the chief place in our souls and in our lives Now he that first seeks the Kingdom of Heaven cannot bestow more time in sports of any sort than in those things which do directly make for the obtaining of eternal life and that righteousness which will bring one thereunto such as are hearing and reading the Word praying meditating examining the heart conferring and the like And surely this is a most equal thing that the most needful duty should have the most time bestowed upon it Yea and it is a most easie rule to all sorts of men that have seasoned their hearts with the true fear of God For if a mans calling lye in bodily works then the very â—â—â—rcises of Religion are a refreshing to his body in that he doth for the space while they continue desist from his bodily labour and his calling affords sufficient stirring of the body for health so that if he be religiously minded and have indeed set his delight on God he may well give as much time to these actions as to any carnal sports But if any mans calling lye in study or such like labour of the mind first the change is a great refreshing and variety a delight and then there be religious exercises which will refresh the mind as well as any sports and for so much exercise as health requires it is not long in using because nature is
literally understood Therefore brethren there is none but may see a fault in himself in these respects some or all of them and happy is he that resolves to mend it Therefore if you will take good counsel do thus when you come home Think alas if time must be reckoned for and should be redeemed how far am I behind hand with God that what for sleep what for play what for idle babling what for vain thoughts and excessive worldliness I cannot make a good account of the fortieth yea of the hundredth part of my time And then grieve because thou hast been such an unthrift of time and now begin carefully to spare before all be gone But now here is a reproof more sharp for some others that are not willing to hear of that ear Tell them they must not spend a whole day or a whole night in playing and sporting What not at Christmas say they why you are too precise well but yet vouchsafe to consider a little what God speaks Thou sayest this is too much preciseness and so saith the world but the Apostle bids to walk precisely or warily redeeming the time and he that will take time to card or dice and to use lawful recreations immoderately I mean so as to be at his play the greater part of the day and it may be some if not the most of the night too shall pay full dearly for it either he must repent and undo this with much grief and sorrow of heart or else he must smart for it hereafter worse in Hell I would not deal over sharply with thee but take Gods loving admonition and let him have one tenth part of the four and twenty hours yea more a good deal than so now that thou hast more leisure than ordinary And here is yet a kind of people that are to be rigorously handled such as are all gamesters that spend no one hour waking but upon pleasure the world calls them scatter-goods and the Lord will call them scatter-hours that do mispend both goods and hours Such let them think of themselves how theâ— will as do make gaming the greatest part if not all of their occupation must be content to hear that they have no portion in Heaven as they can keep no portion in earth How can one have treasure in Heaven that never laid up any there If God hate a gamester so that he will not give him good clothes to his back now he had â—reamed thaâ— he shall be clothed with â—â—gâ— he will much less afford him a seat in Heaven And howsoever for a time they ruffle it out and be clad better than their more laborious neighbours yet this trade will surely undo them for they have brought this peril upon themselves that either God must not be true or they must not be rich he must forfeit his truth or they their goods besides their name and soul wherefore let such as have hitherto given their days to such an unsanctified and inordinate course surcease from the practice of their lewdness and both in conscience for their souls sake in discretion for their goods sake resolve to become better husbands of time lest their gaming on earth bring beggary to their latter days and damnation to their souls for ever Lastly Let all good Christians be admonished to make precious account of their time and with much carefulness to take the seasons and opportunities of God according as they have heard it is their duty Christians either indeed purpose to learn or make a shew of such a purpose when they come to Church Ah that we might all learn this thrift and practise it as we have heard begin to day and hold on still Now is a time of remembring the most admirable work of Christs incarnation when he was made flesh of the Virgin to purge us from sin and save us from wrath by the shedding of his blood and sufferings which he endured in his flesh Give not all ah why should we give any of it this time to play chiefly to bezeling surfetting or wantonness but take some space to consider of the greatness of this benefit and to be thankful proportionably thereunto I would I might hope to prevail with any by this exhortation but howsoever it is needful to be spoken that none may have occasion to pretend ignorance You see or might see your duties in this behalf and in practising the same shall find the benefit of it But fools will scorn admonition and those that have accustomed themselves to lust will not be entreated to pull their necks from out their hard yoke and to serve a better Master nay so foolish are a number that they think to do Christ great honour in spending the day whereon they imagine that he was born and some few that follow it in more than ordinary riot and sinful excess as though he were a God that loved iniquity and were delighted with drinking and swilling and gaming and swearing and surfetting and all disorder but those that know Christ know full well that he is not pleased with such pranks Wherefore if we will spend a day to Christ spend it more religiously and soberly than all other days not more prophanely and luxuriously We should neither forget his birth but when we observe some special time of remembring it shew that we remember his goodness by doing good more honour to his name not by committing more rebellion against him And to conclude as at this time so at all times let all men that would have their souls well furnished with inward substance play the good husbands in taking time and opportunity Whensoever we find any fit occasion of getting or doing good in our selves or others let it not slip but lay hold upon it and use it It is joyful to thâ—nk if we could think of it seriously what commodity this thrift would bring how much knowledge and godliness might he get that would keep his tongue and heart carefully to good matters What a large treasure of good works might he have that would be ready whensoever his neighbours necessity called for help to stretch our his hand for his relief And when he saw him fit for an admonition would wisely bestow it upon him How full of grace should his old age and sickness be that would give his health to God and his first years to the service of his soul How great acquaintance might he get in the palace of Wisdom that would come to her at her first call and enter so soon as the doors were set open How many sins might a man leave and how much power should he get over all sin that when his heart smites him would turn to God by prayer and confession What great grace would affliction bring if a man would settle himself to humiliation and gage his heart in time of affliction How much thankfulness might he have that would lift up his heart to God in the fruition of blessing How many fervent prayers might he store up in heaven that would not fore-slow time when he feels his desires earnest how comfortably might he weep over Christ and how plentiâ—ully that would take the tide of tears and turn all pensiveness to this use and how many sweet and chearful Psalms might a Christian sing if he would turn all his mirth into a Psalm and offer it up to God O what a large encrease of grace would this care bring how should his souls thrive that would be thus husbandly Surely as the common speech hath commended a little land well tilled before much more ground that is carelesly dressed so the weaker means with this care would be more available to enrich the heart than are the strongest without it It is not the greatness of ones living that makes one rich but the good employing and wary husbanding of it so it is not the greatness of the means but the diligent redeeming of time to make use of the means that makes the soul wealthy But if great means joyn with great care the encrease will be so much the more large as a large living with good husbandry But alas hence comes it that some in the store of all good means of salvation are very beggars and bankrups because of their negligence to take the time and fit season They let pass all good opportunities and care not for any occasion for the soul and how can their soul thrive Wherefore let every true-hearted Christian learn this wisdom and practise it as ever he desires to store his soul with that wealth which will make him glorious in the eyes of God and much set by even in heaven among the Angels And thus much for this time and this duty of redeeming the time FINIS
man use all diligence for diligence is in stead of mony here and care in stead of coin to gain every day every hour and every minute so much as may be possible from all unprofitable actions and over-worldly affairs to bestow the same on the duties of Religion and godliness This being such a parcel of ware as if it be wisely bestowed when it is heedfully gotten will come iâ— again with both hands full of profit for recompence of ones pains taken iâ— that behalf This self-same exhortaâ—tion this same Apostle delivers in sâ— many words unto the Colossians wheâ— he saith Walk wisely towards them that are without and redeem the time Col. 2 5. See how Paul an old beaten and experienced dealer in these matters for the soul doth neither forget nor neglect to teach his apprentices as I may call them the very secrets and mysteries of the trade of good living whereof this is one even the thrifty laying out and getting in of time which being repeated to the Colossians as well as delivered to these Ephesians comes with a double charge upon our minds to make us heedful in these bargains And that excellent petition of Moses the man of God doth mean nothing else but this when in other words he saith Teach me so to number my days that I â—ay apply my heart to wisdom Ps. 90. â—2 For he means that God would enable him with grace so seriously to consider of the shortness of this life and the transitoriness of this present world as that he might take all occasions and use all means to bend his heart to the seeking and obtaining of the true knowledge of God and himself and so the true fear of God which is the beginning of wisdom And the want of this husbandry Christ doth mournfully lament in the City of Ierusalem setting out unto us also the grievous and dismal effects and consequents of this heedlesness in regard of taking time and using the fit opportunity O saith he if thou hadst even known at the least in this thy day those things that pertain unto thy peace but now are they hid from thine eyes c. Luke 9.42 as if he had said Hitherto thou hast had the means to learn what made for thy good and what might have prevented thy ruine and if thou hadst but even at this last hour marked and considered them thou mightest have escaped these fearful judgements but now that thou hast been all this while wanting to God he will hereafter be wanting to thee thou shalt never have any true knowledge of these things nor ever avoid these miserable calamities Because they did not use time whilst time did serve to repent and turn to God therefore after it was too late God would not hear them nor help them They that refuse the good offer of a good bargain from God shall not have this bargain offered again at their pleasure yea God will not deal with them at their leisure that would not deal with him at his leisure And Wisdom in Solomon's wise book of Proverbs speaks to this effect of ungodly men Prov. 1.24 25 26 27. That when their misery comes she will laugh at them because when she gave her good instructions to prevent this misery they laughed at her The neglect of taking the fit time and occasion to follow Wisdom's wholesome counsel and to come when she calls plungeth scornful men into such a depth of misery as that there is no means of recovery For when wisdom laughes a man to scorn whither shall he repair for succour And to this intent of husbanding our time well notable is the saying of the same Apostle in another place bidding us whilst we have time do good to all Gal. 6.10 as much as if he had told us that time must so much the rather be bestowed in doing good and then it is redeemed because we have no such great store of it as we do foolishly imagine The vessel of time is not so full as most men dream nay it will soon come to the bottom 't is then wisdom to spare betime and not in the very dregs and lees All these places do in most plain manner confirm the point viz. that every Christian must be very saving and thrifty of his time that is must convert all occasions to the good of his soul and furthering of his reckoning not suffering by his will any hour or minute more than needs must to be laid out in any thing but matters that may fit him for a better life This is in truth to have ones conversation in Heaven when one upon the least occasion is ready to make one step further thitherwards when one gives all his time to God but so much as may be more especially to religious exercises and such things as do after a peculiar sort make for a better life not letting slip any means of furtherance that is offered him this way Now for your better direction in this saving thrift and for the more full understanding of this point and more â—â—sie practising of this needful duty â—â— purpose to stand some while in shewâ—â—g these two things First from that time is to be redeemed Secondly what the time is which must be redeemed For the first we must understand that there be five Hucksters of time very Cormorants and Ingrossers of this precious ware which betwixt them for the most part get up all the hours of mens lives not suffering the soul to enjoy so much as an hour for its own use upon the best occasion to benefit it self These thieves when I have told you their names I will discribe more at large They be 1. Vain sports 2. Vain speeches 3. Immoderate sleeping or sluggishness 4. Vain thoughts Lastly Immoderate following of worldly businesses and affairs Play â—watling sleeping foolish thinking excessive rooting in the earth Now for these fond sports amongst which I comprehend riotous feasting and belly-chear a companion 〈◊〉 gaming for the most part and alsâ— that trifling and womanish diseasâ— of curiousness in putting on apparel for these I say it is easie to provâ— that they do eat up these good hours which otherwise would much inrich the soul of man Solomon thâ— wisest of meer men that lived sinâ—â— Adam hath set it down as a suâ—â—â— rule that never fails scarce ever admits exception That he which loveâ— pastime shall be poor and he that loveâ— wine and oyl shall not be rich Prov. 21.17 If this saying be understooâ— only of the body it is most true for these things will make a man extremely reedy in the midst of largâ— possessions and plenteous revenues But if we apply it to the soul as see no cause why it may not be applied to both it is most universally true He that is so wedded to his pleasures and besotted upon vaiâ— â—elights as that the current of his â—â—fe is carried that way or else too â—reat a part of the stream is turned â—hither shall be destitute of
must find time for that whether it be reading praying or meditating by leaving undone for that space something that may be better spared And thus you have heard what be those special evils which lie in wait to cousen us of our good time and how they may be prevented And so the first part is handled namely from what Time is to be redeemâ—d Now follows to shew what it is that is to be redeemed and so you shall fully know wherein this duty consists Now by Time the Apostle means two things First the very passing away of hours and minutes the space and leisure of any thing and Secondly the good occasions or opportunities that fall out in this space For the word in the Original signifies not alone the very sliding of minutes but the space considered also with some special fitness that it hath for some good which we call the season of it Now for the first it shall not be needful to say any more being that every one knows that every thing must have some space wherein to be done And he that will avoid the five fore-named evils shall never want time or the space wherein to do or get good But for the occasions and fit opportunities that fall out now for this now for that in this space it is some more skill to find them out and make use of them Now these seasons are all of two sorts First such whereby a man may more easily get some good to himself Secondly such whereby a man may with more fitness and ease do some good Of the first sort namely seasonable opportunities to get good I will name three particulars which are most needful to be considered and by proportion of which any man may come to the knowledge of other like The first when God continues the Gospel offering daily the Word and Sacrament and calling to repentance and amendment of life this is the season of repenting this is the harvest wherein we may reap Christ if we be not negligent this is the acceptable year of the Lord in which one shall be received if he return Whilest Wisdom lifts up her voice whilest her messengers come daily to invite us whilest her gates stand open and her dinner stands ready drest whilest her message is done unto us all this time if a man will strive and endeavour to turn from his sin to leave his folly and forsake his scorning he shall be a welcome guest she will accept him help him and give him an encrease of grace till he become strong with her meaâ—s Whosoever lives under the preaching of the Gospel hath this priviledge annexâ—d to the outward teaching that if he will but strive and pray to God to give him strength to repenâ— and 〈◊〉 his waies and turn to him God will upon his promise hear his prayers and assist him but when the Gospel is gone then the daâ—â— is past a man may call and not be heard and cry and not be regarded So then every man redeâ—ms thâ—s season of the Gospel when he giâ—es himself to consider seriously of those â—â—ults which he finds in himselâ— and hears sharply reproved in the Word and hereupon resolves to forsake them and doth not only his own bâ—st endeavour but earnestly call upoâ— God for his helâ— withâ—uâ— which his pâ—wer is buâ— weakness â—â—d ineffectual when he doth also duly ponder upon the holy Commandments that he hears preached and those exhortations that are daily sounded in his ears to move him to do such duties as God requires and hereupon concludes with himself to set about this work and craves the strength of God to bear him through in the same And when he doth advisedly think of the promises that are generally proclaimed and labours to get some assurance that he is such a one to whom the right of these promises appertain thus doing I say one redeems the time wisely and makes his advantage of the Gospel while it continues which is a thing that all men should do but so rare in the world as that it is wonder the Lord hath so patiently continued his loving voice when men scoff at it and will not hear The Lord hath and doth send his Prophets amongst us as he did among the Jews rising up early and sending them which with all earnestness do proclaim the dangerous event that shall follow upon prophaneness neglect and contempt of Gods word breaking of his Sabbath rayling wrathfulness whoredom wantonness covetousness thieving oppressing slandring lying and such like yet how many run on in these evils presumptuously rushing like the horse into the battle with an unreasonable boldness Not fearing any danger and shutting their ears against these reproofs as the deaf-Adder doth that they may not be moved by them to amendment ah how contrary is this to redeeming the time If any man have hitherto lost the season let him now grow wise and even at this time turn to God and beg power to forsake these sins How often and how earnestly are men exhorted to all good works by the continual voice of God speaking unto them by his servants to read the word of God daily to pray privately to meditate upon the Word to watch over their dayes and to call themselves to a reckoning every day for the faults committed in the day yet who regards this voice who marks these exhortations where is one that hath enjoyned himself to some constancy in praying reading and the fore-named duties This is to sleep in harvest a most foolish practice and unwise wherefore whilest there is yet a little time left whilest we have the light let us walk in it that we be not overtaken with darkness He that hath not yet begun let him be sorry that he hath put it off so late and now set foot into these wayes of God whilest God sets out his Word as a candle to direct him and as his hand to lead him by The promises of God are in like sort published amongst us Happiness is held up as a reward of all true hearted Christians and the crown of life is proposed to those which are sound and faithful members of Jesus Christ. And yet as â—â—â—ugh all wâ—râ— sure to get it or it wâ—re not worth â—eekingâ—y any the most men slatter themselves in their sins and will nâ—â—ds promise these good things to themselves when they have no assurance or proof out of Gods word whereby to lay claim or title to them This is a grievous and a dangerous neglecting of time And if any have not yet made sure work this way let him even now set about it whilest the Word as a touch-stone is before him by which he may try himself and which will make him such a one as he should be if he will strive to follow it and pray for ability to be ruled by it So then whilest God holds out his benefits and stands with his arms open to accept us let us take his benefits and be perswaded to come
or reprehension too precise or strict grant me but this resonable request and I have my end Live in the World but with a soul that is awake that soberly considereth what haste Time maketh and how quickly thy glass will be run out how fast death is coming and how soon it will be with thee What a work it is to get a carnal unprepared soul to be renewed and made holy and fitted for another world What a terrible thing it will be to lie on a death-bed with a guilty Conscience unready to die and utterly uncertain whither thou must next go and where thou must abide for ever Foresee but what use of thy present times will be most pleasing or displeasing to thy thoughts at last and spend it now but as thou wilt wish thou hadst spent it and value it but as it is valued by all when it is gone Use it but as true Reason telleth thee will make most to thy endless happiness and as is most agreeable to the ends of thy Creation and Redemption and as beseemeth that man who soberly and often thinketh what it is to be either in Heaven or Hell for ever and to have no more but this present short uncertain life to decide that question which must be thy lot and to make all the preparation that ever must be made for an endless life I say do but thus lay out thy Tiâ—e as Reason should command a Reasonable creature and I desire no more I have warned thee in the words of truth and faithfulness The Lord give thee a heart to take this warning Thy compassionate Monitor Rich. Baxter Sept. 23. 1667. THE REDEMPTION OF TIME Ephes. 5.16 Redeem the Time because the dayes are evil WHilest I bethought my self of a portion of holy Writ to treat upon that might hold some agreement with the present season this short sentence offered it self unto my mind At the first I rejected it as impertinent but after a second and more serious view methought it was the most fit Scripture that I could make choice of on this occasion for howbeit it hath pleased the common sort of men to stile these festival dayes with the name of good times yet by reason of the gross abusage to which the corruption of men hath made them subject they may very well receive an alteration of their title and in a quite contrary phrase be termed evil dayes yea and that in the highest degree of all the worst of dayes Now in this time wherein time is so lavishly mis-spent I hope it cannot seem unconvenient or untimely to give a brief exhortation concerning the right use of Time These words which I have read lead us into that path being part of an exhortation begun in the former verse There in general he had exhorted them to be most strictly carefull of their wayes and to direct their course of life in such respective sort as they might deserve the name of wise not unwise men commending herein unto them and us that very strictness and preciseness wherewith the world hath now long since pickt a quarrel and fallen out And because this was but a general rule he seconds it with some particulars by which we may be led on to the like instances in other matters The first of these specials is placed in the well disposing oâ— Time in this verse Where having set down the duty of Christians in this behalf he backs it with a reason which in it self and to a spiritual understanding is most sound and firm but to the carnal judgement of a carnal man is void of all soundness and reason The duty is to buy out the Time to traffique with it as men do with wares and when it is in other mens hands as I may say to give something yea any thing that we may get it into our own hands for good uses He means that we should use our greatest care and diligence even that which we would employ in matters most nearly concerning us to win all the time we possibly can for the duties of Religion and Godliness His argument to confirm this exhortation is taken from the contrary if we look on it with a carnal eye it will seem inconsequent halting and not able to bear up the Conclusion it is because the days are evil that is the customs and manners of the greatest part of men that live are wicked and lewd Now because the number and rout of the world is so strongly bent to all manner of ungodliness as that they have even tainted the time itself and corrupted the very dayes the Apostle would therefore have the Ephesians and all other Christians so much the more industrious to take all seasons and occasions for the bettering of themselves Because other men are naught and stark naught therefore ought faithful Christians to be good and very good and to turn all opportunities to this end and use that they may be furtherances to make them good The world would have framed a more crooked conclusion from this ground and have said Because men are so generally and extremely bad for that is noted in saying the days are evil we must therefore needs strain courtesie a little and not be too strict lest we should be over much different from other men and incur the by-name of Singularists But the Apostle telleth us that because the waves of men are excessively disordered and full of naughtiness we should bestow so much the more pains that we might not be carried down the violent stream and deluge oâ— unsanctified living and unto this intent should earnestly watch and diligently take all good occasions of getting and doing good You see in part the meaning of this short sentence which containeth a few words indeed but is stuft full of worthy matter which according as my weakness can attain I shall strive to spread before your eyes unfolding it in such manner as that you may perceive the things that lay therein closely wrapped up before Doct. The point which the words offer to our consideration at the first sight is this That all Christians ought to be very good husbands for their time Good hours and opportunities are merchandize of the highest rate price and whosoever will have his soul thrive must not suffer any of these bargains of Time to pass him but must buy up and buy out all the minutes thereof No man of trade can be more careful to chaffer and deal in the most gainful things that pertain to his occupation than we should be to deal in this ware of Time wherein every Christian is or should be a well taught and practised dealer As such kind of men if they can either make mony themselves or borrow it of their friends yea or else such is the greediness of men take it up of the Usurer will not let slip any commodity wherein they have skill and are perswaded that it will bring in large profit within a short time of return so should every good