Direction 4

Direction. IV.

Let us discern our time, and let us improve the present time, to make our peace with the Eternal God.

Alas, all the sinful and woeful time of our unregenracy is lost time. One that was converted but about seven years before he died, ordered that epitaph to be inscribed on his grave, Here [illegible]es an aged man who died but seven years old. You do not live till you do repent, till you do believe.

Be sure, there is no duty so much incumbent on us, as that of turning from sin to God in Christ. Well, the great God has stated the present time for the doing of it. Tis the warning, the solemn warning of the Holy God to us (2 Corinthians 6:2): Behold, Now is the Accepted time, Now is the Day of Salvation. Let those that are not yet born-again, discern this their time. O you souls in peril, what is it that you resolve upon? Your time is today, today, if you will hear the voice of God. Let me say about this time, as Boaz about that land in Ruth (4:4), If you will redeem it, redeem it. O delay not; dally not, trifle not about this grand concern; do not say as the unhappy Felix did, I'll mind it at a more convenient season. No, no, discern it, that the most convenient season is just NOW. O that all unconverted men would consider the danger, the madness of their procrastinations. Tis said in Ecclesiastes 9:12, Man knows not his time. Man, discern your time as a flying time, and an uncertain time. A Jewish Rabbi gave that counsel to a scholar of his, Be sure you repent at least a day before you die. Truly, tis a fearful thing for a man when he comes to die, not to be able to say, Tis at least a day since that I made my peace with God. Well, who of us can say, that this day is not our last day? We cannot be sure that we repent a day before we die, unless we repent this very day. Suppose you were to suffer a horrible death in case you had not finished some notable undertaking before night. O how would every stroke of the clock strike to your very hearts within you! Behold O sinner, be amazed, stand astonished, and take the present time to get out of your present state. Tis possible you may be a dead man before tomorrow, tis possible this night your soul may be required. Horrid will your condition be, if this happen before your peace be made with God. There are graves in the burying-place shorter than the youngest of us all. You may conclude with saying as David to Jonathan, As the Lord lives, there is but a step between me and death. Therefore, let me conclude with saying as Michal to David, O save yourself tonight, for tomorrow you may be slain. Let no man repent too late, but let every man discern the time. Tis the sigh of our God over us, O that they understood! that they would consider their latter end!