[ 947] To take Time, while time serves.
IT was a curious observation of Cardinal Bellarmine,* 1.1 when he had the full pro∣spect of the Sun going down, to try a conclusion of the quicknesse of its motion, took a Psalter into his hand: And before, saith he, I had twice read the 51 Psalm the whole body of the Sun was set, whereby he did ••onclude, that the Earth being twenty thousand thousand miles in compasse, the Sun must needs run in half a quarter of an hour, seven thou••and miles; and in the revolution of twenty four hours, six hundred seventy two thousand miles, a large progresse in so short a time.* 1.2 And herein, though the Cardinal's compute (as well as his doctrin in de∣bates Polemicall) doth very much fall short of truth; yet his experience in this, gives some proof of the extraordinary swiftnesse of the Suns motion. Is then the course of the Sun so swift? is time so passant? then let time be as pretious, lay hold up∣on all opportunity of doing good, labour while it is day for night will come, and time will be no more. The Sun was down, before the Cardinal could twice read the Psalm, Miserere mei Deus; and the light of thy life (such is the velocity thereof) may be put out, before thou canst say once, Lord be mercifull to me a sinner.