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without others we cannot live fo comfortably, or fo decently. But this is that we complain of, that the Custom of the World, and our own evil Habits, have introduced unreasonable and extravagant Expences of our Time upon thefe Things. Nature is certainly contented with a moderate Portion of Sleep; and Health will be as well, or better, preferv'd, though we do not fit Hours at Meals, or fo frequently engage ourselves in tippling and impertinent Converfation. A very little Time will serve to apparel us decently; and we may divert ourfelves, and enjoy our Friends, and perform the neceffary Civilities we are oblig'd to, without making it a fort of an Employment. In this therefore will confist a main Point of our good Husbandry as to our Time, viz. to cut off as much of it as we can from these kind of Things, to be employed in more ferious and profitable Ways.

3. And that indeed is the third and the highest Degree of redeeming our Time, viz. that we ftudy to improve all that Time we have gained to ourselves by the retrenching our fuperfluous Expences of it, to the best and nobleft Purposes we can put it

to.

And truly here lies our main Business, if we would effectually redeem the Time. We muft be careful not only to fpend it inno

cently,

cently, but also usefully, either to ourselyes or others, that being the great End our Time was given us for, and the great Bufinefs we have to purfue in this World. I confefs indeed fuch is the Infelicity of fome Perfons, that they know not well how to fpend a Day to good Purpofes. But for this they may thank either their bad Education, or their own Carelefsnefs. There is no Body, of what kind of Parts or Qualities foever, but is capable of becoming very useful, and, I may fay, excellent in fome Way or other, if either their Parents would look well to their Genius, and fuit their Education to it; or themselves, after they are come to Years of Difcretion, would obferve what they are fitted for, and lay out themselves accordingly.

To give particular Inftructions or Directions in this Matter that may reach every Body's Cafe, is more than I can do, or if I could do it, is more than I fhould have Time for now. But two general Points I may lay down, which I am fure all Persons, let them be of what Rank, or Degree, or Condition foever they will, are deeply concerned in.

(1.) The first is, that they mind ferioufly the Work of Religion, and the Worfhip of God. This is their greatest Concernment of all, fince both their Happiness in this Life and in the next depends upon it. So that they may be abfolutely certain, that

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what

whatever Time they beftow upon this Affair is well spent, and they will never repent it. Is it not infinitely fit and reasonable, that he who gave us all our Time, fhould have fome daily Portion of it devoted to him? Especially confidering that the Time thus improved, brings in both the greatest Pleasure, and Peace, and Profit, to ourselves that we can poffibly reap in any other Way of spending it. Let us all therefore at all Times be fure to attend to our fpiritual Concernments, whatever other Bufinefs we neglect. Let us take Time for Meditation, and examining the State of our Souls, and fixing our good Purpofes and Refolutions to ferve God faithfully all the Days of our Lives. Let us take Time for reading the Scriptures and other good Books, and informing ourselves in every Branch of our Duty, and the Motives and Encouragements we have to put it in Practice. Let us take Time for Devotion, for praifing God for his Mercies, for contemplating his Excellencies, for imploring his continual Grace and Affiftance, for expreffing Acts of Repentance for our paft Follies, and dedicating ourselves anew to our Maker. These are truly profitable and gainful Exercises, and fo much the more to be recommended, because they are natural and eafy Every one is capable of employing himself in thefe Things: They require no Learning, nor Skill, nor Parts, nothing in

the

the World but an honeft Heart.

Let every

one therefore, who would husband his Time well, fet out a conftant Portion of it to be fpent in these Works, either more or lefs, as his Condition and Way of Living is. The more Time he has at his Command, the greater Portion of it he ought to devote to pious Ufes. And if he have but little to fpare from his other neceffary Employments, yet let that little however be given to God, and the Concernments of the Soul.

(2.) But fecondly, Would we fpend our Time to the best Purpofe? Then let us be fure to mind our Callings; and that not only out of worldly Confiderations, (though those be very allowable Motives and Incitements to a Man's Diligence in any thing he undertakes) but alfo out of Confcience. For really to be induftrious in the Purfuit of our Vocations, not to be flothful in Bufinefs, is a Duty we owe to God as well as to ourselves; and the Neglect of it is a great Sin. A careful and laborious Profecution of a lawful Calling in an honeft Way, is not only a Means of thriving in the World, and a Means to fecure us from thofe Temptations to Vice and Wickedness to which flothful Perfons are expofed, but it is also an Act of Religion, and that which doth recommend us to God, and procure his Bleffing upon us. Nor doth this Point only concern Mechanicks and Tradefinen, or Magiftrates and thofe who are in any Office

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Office or fixed Employment, (all which have Callings properly fo ftiled) but also all other Men, of what Rank foever, tho', by reafon of their Quality and Estate, they fit fo loofe from the World, as not to be engaged in any particular Vocation. Yet thefe Men have their Callings too, which they are bound to attend. Befides the Offices and Duties of Religion which they, above all others, (as having the greatest Opportunities) are to charge themselves with the ftricteft Obfervance of, it is fit, nay it is neceffary, they fhould propose to themselves fome useful and commendable Defigns to purfue in the Course of their Lives, which is to be their Calling and Employment. They have great Advantages above other Men, both for the improving their Minds, and for the doing Good. in their Generation. And they may be affured thofe Talents, thofe Advantages, fhall one Day be feverely accounted for; and Woe be to them, if they have hid their Talent in a Napkin. They who have Wealth, or Power, or Intereft in the World, do much more influence the Affairs of the Publick, than meaner Perfons. And oftentimes, upon their Carriage and Behaviour, the Good of the whole Neighbourhood, and in Proportion the Fortune of the Kingdom, doth much depend; and therefore they are efpecially concerned to be careful and prudent in the Government of their Lives, and

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