Eph. v. 15, 16. See then that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.
WHILE the Christian has so many corruptions within, and temptations without, he needs to be con- tinually urged to vigilance and activity in the con- cerns of his soul. It was to the saints at Ephesus, even to the most eminent amongst them, that St. Paul addressed the exhortation before us : in which we mav notice,
I. The duty of maintaining a circumspect walk —
We are evidently referred in the text to what had been spoken in the preceding context : from whence we are to gather the precise ideas which the Apostle comprehended in the terms, " Walk circumspectly."
We should walk,
1. As persons who enjoy the light —
[Those who walk in the dark, know not how to order their steps8: but they who walk in the noon-day, can see how and where to place their feet with accuracy and exactness b. Now we have the light of God's worde; and should therefore
a John xii. 35. b This is the more proper meaning of <k"pi/3w£.
c ver. 8, 13, 14.
carefully avoid setting our foot in a place where we are liable to slip, or contract defilement.]
2. As persons that are afraid of erring —
[We are ever in danger of being led astray by the ex- ample of those around us. But we should " call no man master ;" we should not follow St. Paul himself, any further than he followed Christ. If any should presume to vindicate what is contrary to the word of God, we should " take care not to be deceived" by their specious reasonings; and instead of being " partakers with them," we should " avoid all fellowship with their unfruitful works ;" yea, instead of conforming to them, we should "reprove themd."]
3. As persons that are anxious to please their God —
[Neither the opinions of others, nor selfish interests, are to regulate our conduct. We have but one inquiry to make, " What will please my God ? " That view, that desire, that purpose, must be the spring of our actions, whether in public or in private e. With a view to approve ourselves to him, we should as carefully inspect our motives and principles, our dis- positions and frames, as if we saw him immediately present, and observed his eye fixed upon our hearts.]
From this general view of the subject, we descend to notice,
II. An important instance, wherein, more especially, circumspection should be mentioned —
There is nothing wherein circumspection is more needful, than in the improvement of our time —
[It is lamentable to think how much time is lost for want of a due solicitude to " redeem " it. Even in relation to tem- poral concerns, there are very few who are good economists of their time. But, in reference to their eternal interests, men let ten thousand opportunities pass them unheeded, and unim- proved. Many have passed through half their lives, and not yet begun to seek the salvation of their souls. And of those who have not been altogether so careless, how many are there whose spiritual interests are at a very low ebb ! They have not sufficiently watched the lapse of time, or been duly im- pressed with a sense of its value : and hence, " when for the time they ought to be qualified for teachers, they still need to be taught the first principles of the oracles of Godf."]
We should therefore set ourselves instantly to " redeem the time" —
d ver. G, 7, 11. e ver. 10, 17. f Heb. v. 12.