Redeeming the time

(Thomas Brooks, "The Privy Key of Heaven" 1665)

"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.