and labour in our callings, by reason of our sports and recreations, it is a sign we bave too much let loose the reins to pleasure ; for pleasure was appointed to make us better, not worse, more cheerful in the duties of our callings ; but now it proveth a clog and a snare.
[4.] Then is sobriety to interpose when our pleasure doth cheat us of opportunity of retirement and religious privacy with God and our- selves. Certainly it is a duty to maintain a constant converse with God : Job xxii. 21, ' Acquaint thyself with him, and be at peace.' He delights to speak with his creatures, and be familiar with them. This is that which is called communion with God, a constant correspondency that is kept up between God and the soul. Now, Avill a man rob God ? This is strange and monstrous. Well, then, when ease and pleasure will not give way for communion with God, and stops the voice of conscience when it pleads for God, then it is naught. And so for privacy with ourselves ; it is a duty to commune with our own hearts : Ps. iv. 4, ' Commune with your own heart upon your bed, and be still.' We and our hearts should be often together. Now carnal men give themselves up to pleasure because they cannot endure soli- tariness and self-conversing ; they are loath to look into themselves ; like a mill, when it wants corn, it will grind upon itself; they shall be forced to speak to themselves, which they cannot endure. Now pleasures are unlawful when they use them against holy soliloquies, and as a remedy against conscience ; as Saul would drive away his evil spirit by David's music. This is a great sin : Amos vi. 3, ' They put far from them the evil day ; ' and ver. 6, ' They drink wine iu bowls, but remember not the afflictions of Joseph.' Men beguile their consciences by turning from pleasure to pleasure, and so put off suing out a pardon, the sense of their sins, and humbling themselves before God, and making their peace with God. This is the work of your lives. Therefore when business, entertainments, sports, and pleasures take up your time, and will not allow you to be solitary, and you and your hearts be together, you sin against God : Job xxi. 13, * They spend their days in wealth, and in a moment go down to the grave.' It is dangerous to employ your whole time in mirth, and in visits, and in company, that should be spent in examining your hearts, humbling your souls and seeking the face of Gcd ; so that your hearts grow dead and barren.
Helps to sobriety are two — to consider the preciousness of time, and the vileness and danger of pleasure.
First, The preciousness of time; that will appear in sundry con- siderations.
1. Time is short. We have a great deal of work to do, and but little time ; therefore we should redeem it from pleasure, and rather encroach upon our recreation, and spend it in matters that most con- cern us. All complain of the shortness of time, and yet every one hath more time than he useth well. We should rather complain of the loss of time than of the shortness of time ; as Seneca said, Non occepimus hrevem vitam, sed fecimus ; nee inopes tem'poris, sedprodigi sumus — We make our lives far more short than otherwise they would be ; and we do not want time, but waste it. We spend it freely upon mirth and vain pleasures, as if we had more than we could well tell
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what to do withal. Life is short, and yet we throw it away, as if we had not such great work to do as to mortify corruptions and to make our peace with God , as if that eternity which cannot be exhausted in our thoughts did not depend upon this moment. When men are writing of a sermon, and have but little paper left, tUey write close. Oh ! consider, our work lies upon our hands, and therefore the acts of duty should be more close and thick. The sun is even going down ; we know not how soon day may be over.
2. Too much time hath been spent already ; so will all the godly- wise judge : 1 Peter iv. 3, ' For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the gentiles ; ' Rom. xiii. 12, ' The night is far spent, the day is at hand ; ' and there is but little left to express your love and thankfulness in glorifying God. Our infancy was spent in ease, and youth in sin, and age in business. Certainly that part of your lives was merely lost which was spent in an unre- generate condition. Saith Austin, Perdit qiiod vivit, qui te non diligit — He loseth that time which he lives that doth not love the Lord. Properly we are not said to live till we live in Christ. A man may be long at sea, tossed to and fro upon the waves, and yet be but little from his port, and cannot be said to have made a long voyage ; so a man may abide long in the world, but cannot be said to live long, if he doth not live in Christ. Reflect this truth upon thy heart. Alas ! my life hitherto hath been a death rather than a life, useless, and lost to all spiritual purposes ; and shall I still waste my time, and spend my days in ease and idleness ? Travellers that have tarried long in their inn mend their pace, and ride as much in an hour as before they did in many ; so we have staid too long ; oh ! let us now mend our pace. Say, I have lived thus long vainly, sinfully, carnally, in an earthly manner ; T have little thought of God, and treasuring up for heaven, or providing for my latter end. Oh ! how rich might I have been if I had been a good merchant for my soul ! How am I now outstripped by many my equals, my youngers in age, but seniors in grace ! They are in Christ before me. Oh ! why doth God spare me, but to recover that which is lost ?