awarded him? Would he be embarrassed how to use it? Would he search for frivolous amusements to assist him to pass those precious moments which were left him to merit his pardon and deliverance? Would he not endeavour to profit by an interval so decisive with regard to his destiny? Would he not replace, by the anxiety, vivacity, and continuance of his exertions, what might be wanting from the brevity of the time allowed to him? Fools that we are! Our sentence is pronounced; our guilt renders our condemnation certain: we are left a single day to shun the evil, and to change the rigour of our eternal decree; and this only day, this rapid day, we indolently pass in occupations vain, slothful, and puerile.
This precious day is a burden to us, wearies us; we seek to abridge it; scarcely can we find amusements sufficient to fill the void; the evening arrives without our having made any other use of the day left to us than that of rendering ourselves still more worthy of the condemnation we had already merited. And, besides, my brethren, how do we know that the abuse of the day, left to us by the Almighty's goodness, will not oblige his justice to abridge and to cut off a portion of it? How many unexpected accidents may arrest us in a course so limited, and crop, in their fairest blossoms, the hopes of a longer life! How many sudden and astonishing deaths do we see; and generally the just punishment of the unworthy use they had made of life! What age has ever witnessed more of these melancholy examples? Formerly these accidents were rare and singular; at present they are events which happen every day. Whether it be, that our crimes have drawn down upon us this punishment; whether it be, that excesses unknown to our forefathers lead us to them; but at present they are the deaths most common and frequent. Number, if you can, those of your relations, friends, and connexions, whom a sudden death has surprised without preparation, repentance, or a moment allowed them to reflect upon themselves, upon that God whom they have offended, and upon those crimes which, far from detesting, they never had leisure sufficiently to be acquainted with.
Will you tell us, after this, that there are many spare moments in the day; that we must contrive to amuse ourselves some way or another?
There are many spare moments in the day! But your guilt consists in leaving them in that frightful void. The days of the upright are always full. Spare moments in the day! But are your duties always fulfilled? Are your houses regulated, your children instructed, the afflicted relieved, the poor visited, the works of piety accomplished? Time is short; your obligations so infinite; and you can still find so many spare moments in the day? My God! how many holy characters have in solitude complained that their days passed too rapidly away; have borrowed from the night what the brevity of the day had taken from their labours and zeal; have lamented, even in the calm and leisure of their solitude, that sufficient time remained not for them to publish thy praises and eternal
