SERMON IV. The Danger and mifchief of delaying Repentance. PSALM CXIX. 60. I made hafte, and delayed not to keep thy Commandments. Proceed to the Confiderations which yet remain to be spo ken to. 1. We may confider the causes of delay in this cafe (as in all cafes of moment) to be bad and unworthy of a Man: What can they be but either ftupidity, that we do not Agias φασις ἡ ἀναBoan. Simpl. not apprehend the importance of the affair; or improvidence that we do not attend to the danger of perfifting in fin; or negligence that we do not mind our concernments; or floth that keepeth us from rowfing and bestirring our felves in purfuance of what appeareth expedient; or faint-heartedness and cowardize, that we dare not attempt to cross our appetite, or our fancy; all which difpofitions are very base and fhamefull: It is the prerogative of Animal hoc pro- humane nature to be fagacious in vidum, fagax, Cic. de leg. 1. eftimating the worth, and proviCic. de offic. 1. dent in defcrying the confequences of things; whereas other creatures, by impulse of fence, do onely fix their regard on present appearances; which peculiar excellency by stupidity and improvidence we forfeit, degenerating into brutes; and negligence of that, which we difcern mainly to concern us is a quality fomewhat beneath thofe, depreffing us below beasts, which cannot be charged with fuch a fault; floth is no no less despicable, rendring a man fit for nothing; nor is there any thing commonly more reproachfull than want of courage: fo bad are the causes of delay. βαλλόμυΘ. 2. And the effects are no lefs unhappy, being disappointment, damage, trouble and forrow: As expedition (catching advantages and opportunities, keeping the spirit up in its heat and vigour, making forcible impreffions where-ever it lighteth, driving on the current of fuccefs) doth fubdue business, and atchieve great exploits (as by practifing his Motto, to defer nothing, A- Mnder avalexander did accomplish thofe migh- Successus urgers ty feats which make fuch a clatter fuos, inftare, in story; and Cæfar more by the &c. Luc. 1. rapid quicknefs and forwardness of undertaking, than by the greatness of courage, and skilfulness of conduct, did work out thofe enterprizes, which purchased to his Name fo much glory and re nown) fo delay and flowness do spoil all Ꮮ Plerifque in rebus tarditas & procraftinatio odiofa eft. Cic. Philip. 6. bufinéfs, business, do keep off success at distance from us, thereby opportunity is loft, and advantages flip away; our courage doth flag, and our fpirit languisheth; our endeavours strike faint Αιεὶ δ ̓ ἀμβολιεργὸς ἀνὴς έτησε πα λαίει. Hef Dum deliberamus quando in cipiendum eft, incipere jam fe rum eft. Quint. 12. 7. ly, and are easily repelled; whence disappointment neceffarily doth fpring, attended with vexation. 3. Again, we may confider, that to fet upon our duty is a great step toward the performance of it; if we can refolve well, and a little push forward, we are in a fair way to difpatch; to begin (they fay) is to have half done; to fet out, is a good part of the journey; Dimidium facti qui cæpit habet. Hor. Ep. 1. 2. Μόνον ἀρχὴν ἐπίθες πως egyuan, &c. Chryf. Tom. 6. Orat. p. 68. To Jugesés x Juomaristo rife betimes is oft και δυσκατόρθω τον τότο ἔς τὸ συνηθῆναι ἐπιβῆναι ἡ εἰσόδιο και 2.79. ner harder than to doe all the days work ; entring the Town, is almost the same with taking it; it is fo in all business, it is chiefly fo in moral practice: For if we can find in our hearts to take our leave of fin, if we can difengage habetur, ubi contigerit, volup 4. Again, we may confider, that our time it felf is a gift, or a talent committed to us, for the improvement whereof we are refponfible no less than for our Wealth, our Power, our Credit, our Parts, and other fuch advantages, wherewith for the ferving of God, and furthering our own falvation we are intrusted: To Eph. 5. 16. redeem the time is a Precept; and of Col. 4. 5. all Precepts the most neceflary to be obferved, for that without redeeming (that is embracing and well employing) time we can do nothing well; no good action can be |