Not to admit of delayes in Religious performances [ 1733]
EXcellent is that comparison of St. Ambrose;* 1.1 If (saith he) I should offer thee gold, thou wouldst not say, I will come to morrow and fetch it, but thou wilt be sure to take it out of hand; yet Redemptio animae promittitur, nemo festinat; the Re∣demption of our pretious Souls more worth then thousands of gold and silver is daily offered,* 1.2 and no man hastneth to lay hold thereon: How true may this speech of the Father be returned upon the cunctators, such as procrastinate in the matters of Religion; For Earthly things no Man will take time till to morrow, but is very hot in the pursuit, never resting till he have one way or other com∣passed them; yet for spirituall things, such as accompany salvation, most Mens states are Weak, and like Men ready to break are taking order for two, three, four, six Monthes time, and so as far from making satisfaction as ever.