[We should consider what it is that has robbed us of our precious hours, and guard particularly against it. Has pleasure allured us by its charms ? We should renounce its gratifica- tions, as far as they interfere with our spiritual welfare. Has business too much occupied our time ? We should apportion to it what is necessary in our respective situations ; but not suffer it to supersede our religious exercises. And, if the duties of our calling are such as to leave but a contracted space for reading and prayer, we should be the more earnest in consecrating the whole of the Sabbath to the service of our God. Visiting and company are found in general to be among the chief destroyers of our time : against these we should resolutely set ourselves; that, if we cannot recover what is passed, we may at least prevent the depredations which we are but too likely to experience in future. From sleep too we should redeem all that has been allotted to mere indulgence, and all that nature does not require for the renovation of her strength. Our whole time is little enough for the concerns of our souls ; and therefore we should suffer as little of it as possible to run to waste, or to pass off in unproductive channels.]
To enforce the observance of this circumspection, the Apostle suggests,
III. Motives and inducements to maintain it —
He recommends it,
1. As a proof of wisdom —
[No greater folly can be conceived than for persons to be regardless of their eternal interests, and to trifle away that time which they ought to be employing in the concerns of their souls. It is true, that a circumspect walk, and a due improvement of time, are often called preciseness or en- thusiasm : but let those who know not the value of the soul, deride these things: still, in the judgment of every discerning person, to walk with the greatest possible care and exactness, is to " walk, not as fools, but as wise :" for " the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom ; and to depart from evil, that is under- standing C]
2. As a mean of safety —
[" The days" of the Apostles were " evil," on account of the persecutions that raged: for every person felt that all his comforts might be speedily withdrawn, and that he might soon fall a sacrifice to his profession. This therefore was urged as
s Job xxviii.v28.