for of all the outward blessings that God affords us, our time is incomparably the most precious and inestimable; and therefore, though he gives us his other blessings in great variety, and provides for us a plentiful choice of meats, drinks, and raiment, yet in the distribution of our time he seems to be more sparing and straithanded ; for he gives it not to us in rivers, but drop by drop, and minute after minute, so that we can never enjoy two moments together, but, whenever he gives us one, he always takes away another.