_Direct._ VIII. Labour to go always furnished and well provided for the performance of every duty which may occur. As he that will not lose his time in preaching, must be well provided; so he that will not lose his time in solitariness, must be always furnished with matter for profitable meditation; and he that would redeem his time in company, must be always furnished with matter for profitable discourse: he that is full will be ready to pour out to others, and not be silent and lose his time for want of matter, or skill, or zeal; for in all these three your provision doth consist. An ignorant, empty person wants matter for his thoughts and words; an imprudent person wants skill to use it; a careless, cold, indifferent person, wants life to set his faculties on motion, and oil and poise to set the wheels of his soul and body a-going. Bethink you in the morning what company you are like to meet, and what occasions of duty you are like to have; and provide yourselves accordingly before you go, with matter and resolution. Besides the general preparative of habitual knowledge, charity, and zeal, which is the chief, you should also have your particular preparations for the duties of each day.[290] A workman that is strong and healthful, and hath all his tools in readiness and order, will do more in a day, than a sick man, or one that wanteth tools, or keeps them dull and unfit for use, will do in many. Psal. xxxvii. 30, 31, "The mouth of the righteous speaketh wisdom, and his tongue talketh of judgment;" and no wonder, when "The law of his God is in his heart: none of his steps shall slide." "Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaketh: a good man out of the good treasure of his heart, bringeth forth good things," Matt. xii. 34, 35. "Every scribe which is instructed to the kingdom of heaven, is like a man that is an householder, that bringeth forth out of his treasure things new and old," Matt. xiii. 52.
_Direct._ IX. Promise not long life to yourselves, but live as those that are always uncertain of another day, and certain to be shortly gone from hence. The groundless expectation of long life, is a very great hinderance to the redeeming of our time. Men will spend prodigally out of a full purse, who would be sparing if they knew they had but a little, or were like to come to want themselves. Young people, and healthful people, are under the greatest temptation to the loss of time. They are apt to think that they have time enough before them, and that though it is possible that they may die quickly, yet it is more likely that they shall live long: and so, putting the day of death far from them, they want all those awakenings, which the face of death doth bring to them that still expect it; and therefore want the wisdom, zeal, and diligence which are necessary to the redemption of their time. Pray therefore as Psal. xc. 12, "So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom." Dream not of rest and plenty for many years, when you have no promise to live till the next morning, Luke xii. 19, 20. When they perceive death is at hand and time is near an end, almost all men seem highly to esteem of time, and promise to spend it better if God would but try them once again. Do you therefore continually perceive that death is even at hand, and time near an end, and then it will make you continually more wise than death maketh the most; and to redeem your time as others purpose to redeem it when it is too late.
_Direct._ X. Sanctify all to God that you have and do, and let Holiness to the Lord be written upon all; whether you eat or drink, let it be intended and ordered ultimately to his glory. Make all your civil relations, possessions, and employments thus holy; designing them to the service and pleasing of God, and to the everlasting good of yourselves or others, and mixing holy meditation and prayer with them all in season.[291] And thus we are bid to "pray continually," and "in all things give thanks," 1 Thess. v. 17, 18. And "in all things to make known our requests to God, in prayer, supplication, and giving of thanks," Phil, iv. 6. And "all things are sanctified by the word and prayer." This sacred alchymy, that turneth all our conversation, and possessions, and actions into holy, is an excellent part of the art of redeeming time.