Essex doue, presenting the vvorld vvith a fevv of her oliue branches: or, A taste of the workes of that reuerend, faithfull, iudicious, learned, and holy minister of the Word, Mr. Iohn Smith, late preacher of the Word at Clauering in Essex Deliuered in three seuerall treatises, viz. 1 His grounds of religion. 2 An exposition on the Lords Prayer. 3 A treatise of repentance.

Now there be diuers Reasons why this is so that Repentance must not be put off.

[ 1] First, Because the delaying and putting off of Repen∣tance is dangerous.

[ 2] Secondly, Because the true time of Repentance is, to begin as soone as wee can, and the sooner the better, a man cannot begin to repent him too soone of his sinnes, because hee cannot leaue and forsake his sinnes too soone, this is vrged by the wise man, Eccles. 12. 1. Remember thy Creator now in the dayes of thy youth, while the euill dayes come not, nor the yeares draw nigh, when thou shalt say, I haue no pleasure in them, For then wee will bee vnfit, and many inconueniences depend vpon decrepid∣nesse, for such may be the distemper of the bodie, that the minde will haue small rest, and lesse list to make a sa∣crifice. Therefore begin as soone as may bee in the youth and strength of thy body, and as Abraham rose vp ear∣ly in the morning to sacrifice vnto God, so rise thou vp

early, and begin betimes to repent thee of thy sinnes: taking home the Apostles exhortation, Heb. 3. 13. Whi∣lest it is called to day, if yee will heare his voice, harden not your hearts, &c. As a man that hath a long iourney to goe will rise vp early in the morning, and prepare himselfe, so must wee remember that wee haue a long iourney to goe when wee goe to Heauen, yea so long, as wee shall neuer returne againe, how had wee need then to prepare our selues to Repentance, and begin betimes, considering wee cannot come thither without it. But more distinctly,

Notes

• Eccles. 12. 1.
• Abraham rising.
• Heb. 3. 15.
• Long iourney.