1. More generally, Not asfools^ hut as wise.
S. More particularly. Redeeming the time.
3. The exhortation strongly inforced with a powerful motive. Because the days are evil.
Among these particulars, my discourse is principally concerned about the redemption of time, or opportunities, which in this life are graciously vouchsafed us, in order to that which is to come : And here it will be needful to enquire,
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1. What the apostle means by time. % What by the redemption of' time.
1. Time is taken more largely and strictly according to the double acceptation of the Hebrew word ny which signifies sometimes ^iw^, and sometimes occasion^ season^ or opportunity^ and accordingly is expressed by y^^ovog and xa/^o?, tempiis and tempestivitas : the latter is the word here used, and denotes the commodiousness and fitness of some parts of time above others, for the successful and prosperous management and accomphshment of our main and great business here, "which is to secure our interest in Christ, and glorify God in a course of fruitful obedience. For these great and weighty purposes our time is graciously lengthened out, and many fit opportunities presented us in the revolutions thereof.
2. By the redemptio7i of time *, we must understand the study, care, and diligence of Christians, at the rate of all possible pains, at the expence of all earthly pleasures, ease, and gratifications of the flesh, to rescue their precious seasons, both of salvation and service, out of the hands of temptations, which so commonly rob unwary souls of them. Satan trucks with us for our time, as we did at first with the silly Indians for their gold and diamonds, who were content to exchange them for glass-beads, and tinsel-toys. Many fair seasons are forced, or cheated out of our hands, by the importunity of earthly cares, or deceitfulness of sensual pleasures : at the expence and loss of these, we must redeem and rescue our time for higher and better uses and purposes. We must spend these hours in prayer, meditation, searching our hearts, mortifying our lusts, which others do, and our flesh fain would spend, in sen- sual pleasures and gratifications of the fleshly appetite. If ever we expect to win the port of glory, we must be as diligent and careful as seamen are, to lake every gale that blows, directly or obliquely, to set them forward in their voyage. The note from hence is this:
Doct. That the wisdom of a Christian is eminently discovered in saving and improving all opportunities in this world, Jbr that world which is to come.
God hangs the great things of eternity upon the small wires of times and seasons in this world : that may be done, or neglected in a day, which may be the ground- work of joy or sorrow to all et-ernity. There is a nick of opportunity which gives both success and facilitv to the great and weighty affairs of the soul as well as body : to come before it, is to seek the bird before it be hatched ;
* E|a70ga^o/x£vo/ rev y.ai^ov.
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and to come after it, is to seek it when it is fled. There is a two- fold season, or opportunity of salvation.
1. One was Clirist's season for the purchase of it.
2. The other is ours for the apphcation of it.
1. Christ had a season assigned him for the impetration and pur- chase of our salvation; so you hear his Father bespeaking him, Isa. xlix. 8. " Thus saith tlie Lord, in an acceptable time have I <' heard thee, and in the day of salvation have I helped thee," P"i nn, in tempore opportuno voluntatis^ vel placito. It was the wisdom of the Lord Jesus Christ to set in with the Father's time, to comply with his season : and it became a day of salvation, be- cause it was the acceptable time which Christ took for it.
2. Men have their seasons and opportunities for the application of Christ and his benefits, to their own souls: 2 Cor. vi. 1, 9.. " We then as workers together with God, beseech you also, that *' you receive not the grace of God in vain ; for he saith, T have " heard thee in a time accepted, and in the day of salvation have " I succoured thee. Behold, now is the accepted time, now is the *' day of salvation." He exhorts the Corinthians not to dally or trifle any longer in the great concerns of their salvation ; for now, saith he, is your day. Christ had his day to purchase it, and he procured a day also for you to apply it, and this is that day ; you enjoy it, you live under it : that golden day is now running : O ! see that you frustrate not the design thereof, by receiving the gos- pel-grace in vain.
Now two things concur to make a fit season of salvation to the souls of men.
1. The exteraal means and instruments.
2. The agency of the Spirit internally by, or with those external means.
1. Men have a season of salvation, when God sends the means and instruments of salvation among them. When the gospel is powerfully preached among a people, there is a door opened to them : 2 Cor. ii. 12. " When I came to Troas to preach the gos- *' pel, a door was opened to me of the Lord." God, as it were, unlocks the door of heaven by the preaching of the gospel : Souls liave then an opportunity to step in and be saved.
S. But yet it is not a wide and effectual door (as the apostle phrases it, 1 Cor. xvL 9.) till the Spirit of God joins with, and works upon the heart by those external means and instruments ; as the waters of the pool of Bethesda had no inherent senative virtue in them- selves, until the angel of the Lord descended and troubled them : but both together make a blessed season for the souls of men. Then he stands at the door, and knocks, by convictions and per- suasions, Rev. iii- 20. strives with men as he did with the old
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world by the ministry of Noah, Gen. vi. 3. Now the door of op- portunity is indeed opened : but this will not always last ; there is a time when the Spirit ceases to strive^ and when the door is shut, Luke xiii. 25.