ON THE Right Employment of Time, SELECTED FROM THE WRITINGS OF THE EMINENT AND PIOUS CHIEF JUSTICE HALE. No. 16. NEW-YORK: TO BE HAD AT THE BOOKSTORE OF MAHLON DAY, ........ On the Right Employment of Time. My time is part of that talent, which my Maker nath put into my hand, and for which he will at the great day demand an account; and if I have spent chat talent in unprofitable employments, or in less profitable than I should, my arrear is so much the greater. If I have consumed my time, in studying my preferment, honour, or wealth, in this world; in studying how to please myself with vain and unnecessary recreations; in unlawful or excessive pleasures; in unlawful or immoderate curiosities; which I might better have spent in the study of the mystery of Christ, or the conformity unto that will and testament he left me, or improving my interest in him, I have lost my talent of time, and opportunity; for which I am accountable, as mispent.* The consideration of our latter end, is a great motive and means to put us upon the profitable improvement of our time. best and most There are cer * "Of the Knowledge of Christ crucified." Contemplations, p. 46. tain civil and natural actions of our liv Almighty hath indulged and allowed to deed commanded us with moderation to competent supplies of our own natures tion and sobriety; the provisions for our lations, and dependences, without cov anxiety; the diligent and faithful walkin ings, and discharge thereof. But the other businesses of greater importance, w attainable without injuring ourselves in mon concerns of our lives: namely, ou of God, of his will, and of the doctrine and of the demption by Christ; our repentance o making and keeping our peace with God ing ourselves with him; living to his glor as in his presence; praying to him; lea pend upon him; rejoicing in him; walki unto him. These, and such like as the great business and end of our lives, for w joy them in this world; and these fit and for that which is to come. And the co that our lives are short and uncertain, and will sooner or later come, puts us upon tion and practice to do this our great w is called to-day; that we loiter not awa and neglect our task and work, while we and opportunity, lest the night overtake u done in order to the common necessities of our es and callings. It is not these that disable us and b us of our time; but the thieves that rob us of ar time, and our one thing necessary, are neglience, excess of pleasure, immoderate cares for ealth, honour, and grandeur; excessive eating and rinking, curiosity, idleness: and then, when sickess comes, and death comes, and God Almighty alls upon us to give up the account of our stewardhip, we are all in confusion, our business is not half one; it may be, not begun; and yet our lamp is ut; our day is spent; night hath overtaken us; and what we do is with much trouble, perplexity, and exation; and possibly our soul takes its flight beore we can finish it.* Most certainly, the wise consideration of our latter end, and the employing of ourselves, on that account upon that one thing necessary, render the life [so spent] the most contenting and comfortable life in the world. For, as a man that is aforehand in the world, hath a much more quiet life in order to extermals, than he that is behindhand; so a man that hath made his peace with his Maker through Christ Jesus, hath done a great part of the chief business of his life, and is ready, upon all occasions, for all conditions, whereunto the Divine Providence shall assign him, whether of life or death, of health or sickness, of poverty or riches; he is as it were afore *" Of the consideration of our latter end." Ibid. p. 4. |