certified where the boundaries lay?-or be fpeculative enough to know how far we may go with fafety?-I answer, there are very few who are not cafuifts enough to make a right judgment in this point.-For fince one principal reafon, why God may be fuppofed to allow pleasure in this world, feems to be for the refreshment and recruit of our fouls and bodies, which, like clocks, must be wound up at certain intervals,-every man underftands fo much of the frame and mechanifm of himself, to know how and when to unbend himfelf with fuch relaxations as are neceffary to regain his natural vigour and chearfulness, without which it is impoffible he fhould either be in a difpofition or capacity to discharge the feveral duties of his life.-Here then the partition becomes visible. Whenever we pay this tribute to our appetites, any further than is fufficient for the purposes for which it was firft granted,—the action proportionably lofes fome fhare of its innocence. The furplufage of what is unneceffarily spent on fuch occafions, is fo much of the little portion of our time negligently fquandered, which, in prudence, we should apply better; because it was allotted us for more important uses, and a different account will be required of it at our hands hereafter. For this reafon, does it not evidently follow, that many actions and pursuits, which are irreproachable in their own natures, may be rendered blameable and vicious, from this fingle confideration, "That they have made us wafteful of the moments of this fhort and uncertain fragment of life, which should be almost one of our laft prodigalities, fince of them all the leaft retrievable."-Yet how often is diverfion, instead of amufement and relaxation, made the art and business of life itself?Look round,-what policy and contrivance is every day put in practice, for pre-engaging every day in the week, and parcelling out every hour of the day for one idleness or another, -for doing nothing,-or fomething worfe than nothing; and that with so much ingenuity, as fcarce to leave a minute upon their hands to reproach them.-Tho' we all complain of the fhortnefs of life,-yet how many people feem quite overstocked with the days and hours of it, and are continually fending out into the highways and streets of the city for guests to come and take it off their hands. -If fome of the more distressful objects of this kind were to fit down, and write a bill of their time, tho' partial as that of the unjust steward, when they found in reality that the whole fum of it, for many years, amounted to little more than this, that they had rofe up to eat,-to drink,—to play,—and had laid down again, merely because they were fit for nothing else: -when they looked back and beheld this fair fpace, capable of fuch heavenly improvements, -all scrauled over and defaced with a fucceffion of fo many unmeaning ciphers,-good God!-how would they be afhamed and confounded at the account! With what reflections will they be able to fupport themselves in the decline of life fo miferably caft away,-fhould it happen, as it fometimes does,-that they have stood idle even unto the eleventh hour.-We have not always power, and are not always in a temper, to impofe upon ourselves.-When the edge of appetite is worn down, and the fpirits of youthful days are cooled, which hurried us on in a circle of pleasure and impertinence, then rea fon and reflection will have the weight which they deferve;-afflictions, or the bed of ficknefs, will fupply the place of confcience ;-and if they should fail,-old age will overtake us at last, and shew us the past pursuits of life,— and force us to look upon them in their true point of view. If there is any thing more to caft a cloud upon fo melancholy a profpect as this fhews us, it is furely the difficulty and hazard of having all the work of the day to perform in the last hour;-of making an atonement to God, when we have no facrifice to offer him, but the dregs and infirmities of thofe days, when we could have no pleasure in them. How far God may be pleased to accept fuch late and imperfect fervices, are beyond the intention of this discourse.—Whatever stress fome may lay upon it,-a death-bed repentance is but a weak and flender plank to truft our all upon.-Such as it is;-to that, and God's infinite mercies, we commit them, who will not employ that time and opportunity he has given to provide a better security. That we may all make a right use of the time allotted us, -God grant through the merits of his Son Jefus Chrift. Amen. |