also, which have the first-fruits of the spirit, even we ourselves groan within ourselves, waiting for the adoption, to wit, the redemption of our body', and for Thy most earnestly wished for, and anxiously desired Coming. When wilt Thou come and comfort me, O Thou Who art my Light, my Hope?

How great

time.

O when will appear that day of eternity, in which we shall see that these single moments have fixed that eternity! when we shall greatly rejoice in Thee, though now for a season, if need be, we are in heaviness, that the trial of our faith, being much more precious than of gold that perisheth, might be found unto praise and honour and glory at the appearing of Jesus Christ. O how precious will our time then appear to have been with which eternity, and Thou Who art all Good, couldst be attained; how short the hour of our life, how brief our labour, how precious every fourth part of an hour, which now so often is lost in idleness, in wickedness, in foolish talk! A word passes away and cannot be again recalled, time passes the loss of away and cannot be again spent: nor does the foolish man observe what he is losing; we are at full liberty, says he, to talk and amuse ourselves for an hour :—alas, until that hour pass away which the compassion of thy Creator mercifully grants thee to practise repentance, to obtain pardon, to acquire grace, to purchase glory; till that time shall have gone by in which thou mayst propitiate the Divine mercy, mayst hasten to the society of Angels, mayst sigh after thy lost inheritance, mayst stir up the remissness of thy will, mayst weep over the wickedness thou hast done. To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the Heaven; now is the time for weeping, hereafter will be the time of laughing; now is the time of mourning, hereafter will be the time of dancing now is the time of war, hereafter will be the time of peace; now is the time to hate (for except a man hate his own life, he cannot be Thy disciple, O most lovely Jesus), but hereafter will be the time to love. Yea, the time is even now come, for Thy love goeth forth from the uttermost part of the Heaven, and there is no one who may hide himself from the heat thereof. Would that henceforth even for ever I might love Thee with my whole heart, and hate myself! Would that I might love nothing but Thee! Would that Thou wert All in All to me, and that I might praise Thy great Name for ever and ever. Amen.

RULES FOR KEEPING ACCOUNT OF TIME.

FIRST of all consider what are the most suitable times to thee for the affairs thou hast to do, but above all things for transacting the business Salvationour of thy salvation; and take diligent heed that thou bestow not the best of thy time on matters of no account, whilst thou art giving to prayer and

first care.

h Eccles. iii. 1.

How life

should be

the business of thy soul that time which is unsuitable for them. So, alas! do we see it daily happen, that the best part of life, the best part of the day, is given to the world and vanity; while an enfeebled body, and the more worthless times of old age are assigned to religion. Affairs of state are carried on in the flower of age, the business of the soul in life's decline. Which then is of the most importance to thee, to be saved, or to be a good citizen? Let each one, therefore, portion out for himself his years, his days, his hours; nor pass his life as mere chance directs, but according to a settled purpose. He is to be numbered amongst the idle and regulated. slothful who only does right when an opportunity for doing so offers itself. But time should be so divided, that first of all we attend to those things which are matters of bounden obligation; such as belong to our salvation, to the worship of God, to prayer, to Holy Communion, to pious reading, to examination of the conscience. Secondly, we should attend to those duties which are next to these in importance, such as those which belong to our station and duties in life, our trade and labour; for man is born to labour, as a bird for flying. Thirdly, to the concerns of our family. Fourthly, to proper recreation, for nothing is durable which hath not its returns of alternate rest.

Take

a

monthly account of time.

Secondly, you should take account of time spent month by month, and consider whether you could not lay it out in better occupation and more fruitful of good. For occupations are various, some are of the soul, such as prayer, different kinds of study, reading; others are of the body, such as the practice of mechanical arts, also riding, hunting, wrestling, and recreation; others consist in the management of domestic concerns, such as planting, building in moderation, repairs; others are state affairs; another there is which is the most weighty of all, Preparation and that is the preparation for death. For hither all things tend and must be directed, days, years, periods of time, and every action.

for death.

Ejaculations.

"Behold, now is the accepted time; behold, now is the day of salvation." “Let us cast off, therefore, the works of darkness." 2 Cor. vi. 2; Rom. xiii. 12.

“ Brethren, now it is high time to awake out of sleep, for now is our salvation nearer than when we believed." Rom. xiii. 11.

"Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with thy might; for there is no work, nor device, nor knowledge, nor wisdom, in the grave, whither thou goest." Eccles. ix. 10.

“I must work while it is day; the night cometh, when no man can work.” John ix. 4.

"Walk whilst ye have the light, lest darkness come upon you." John xii. 35.

IMAGE THE TENTH.

BEHOLD, I PRAY THEE, THE DANGERS THAT BESET THEE, AND FLEE TO

THE ASYLUM OF DEVOTION AND PRAYER.

Consider how the World (A), the Devil (B), and Sin (C), together with Death (D), are pursuing thee; and flee for refuge to the crucified Jesus (E), Who most lovingly inviteth all unto Him, saying, "Come unto Me all ye that travail and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” Betake thee also unto Prayer (F) and the presence of God, as an asylum and place of refuge. Thus did the great Antony (G) and very many other Saintly men triumph over their enemies with the arms of prayer. By the same did Moses (H) overcome the Amalekites. Imitate these, and with vast strides press thou forward unto Christ and the imitation of Him. For "whosoever shall call upon the Name of the Lord shall be saved.”