'Voices From The Past' Vol. 1 — May 7

In worldly concerns, men discern their opportunities, and are careful to improve them before they are past. The farmer is careful to plough his ground and sow his seed in the proper season. When the harvest is come, he will not sleep away the time, or the crop will soon be lost. How careful and eagle-eyed is the merchant to improve opportunities to enrich himself! How apt are men to be alarmed at the appearance of danger to their worldly estate! O how they stir themselves in such a case to avoid the threatened calamity! But if we consider how men generally conduct themselves in things on which their wellbeing infinitely more depends, how vast is the difference. In these things, how cold, lifeless, and negligent most are. How few among the multitudes are wise! What a need there is for a constant repetition of admonition and counsel, to keep the heart from falling asleep! How many objections are made! O how difficulties are magnified, and how soon is the mind discouraged! How unaware men are of the need to improve their time for their spiritual interest, and their welfare in another world! How hardly convinced are men of the uncertainty of life and its enjoyments! We have abundant instructions to lead and conduct us in the paths of righteousness. They are abundantly set before us in the Word of God. Scripture is adapted to the faculties of mankind, to greatly enlighten the mind. We have far greater means to assist us to be wise in eternal things than in temporal. If men do not have respect for eternal things as real, it cannot be for lack of sufficient evidence of their truth. It is an uncaring attitude of the importance of truth which is manifested by the clearest evidence.

Devotional Readings taken from Puritan Devotional Readings 'Voices From The Past Vol.1.'
Jonathan Edwards, Works, I:158-159
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