Present occasion of Time to be made use of. [ 1291]
THe Sun by its annual Revolution,* 1.1 makes the day and the year: The Moon by her ••unary course, draws up the Months and quarters: The Pleiades and Hyades, make the Seasons of the years, and the Dog-star brings in the heat of the Summer: And all of these do labour by their ordinary passages, to shew us that Orient Ovall,* 1.2 that precious Pantaur, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 the present occasion of Time, this very moment which is yet ours, and ought to be made use of accordingly; extream sottishnesse were it therefore to defer the practise of Wisdom till the next op∣portunity, and to procrastinate Repe••tance upon the groundless hope of a few un∣certain dayes;* 1.3 yet for our comfort, there▪ is this priviledge in the Nature of Time, that though that which is past cannot be recalled again, yet it may be redeemed by the double diligence of the wise, Ephes. 6. 15. Hence it is that the penitent Re∣deemer of Time, may be lively set out in Medea, with two contrary affections appear∣ing in his face; on the one side sorrow for the lamentable losse of that occasion which is past, and on the other side, joy for the Redemption of opportunity present.