Redeeming the Time - Thomas Brooks

"Redeeming the time, because the days are evil." Ephesians 5:16

"Time is the only thing," says Seneca, "that we can innocently be covetous of; and yet there is nothing of which many are more lavishly and profusely wasteful."

Chilo, one of the seven sages, being asked what was the hardest thing in the world to be done, answered, "To use and employ a man's time well."

"We trifle with that which is most precious, and throw away that which is our greatest interest to redeem."

Many Christian professors, instead of redeeming of precious time--do trifle and fool away much of their precious time at the mirror, the comb, the lute, the violin, the pipe, or at vain sports, and foolish pastimes, or by idle jestings, immoderate sleeping, and superfluous feasting. The best Christian is he who is the greatest monopolizer of time for private prayer.

That man is doubtless upon the brink of ruin, whose worldly business eats up all thoughts . . .
of God,
of Christ,
of heaven,
of eternity,
of his soul, and
of his soul concerns.

That man is lost, that man is cursed, who can find time for anything--but none to meet with God in his closet.

Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665