1. That time must be redeemed, the very Heathens confirm it: 'Twas the saying of one Pittacus, one of the seven Wise-men, [Greek or Hebrew], know time; lose not a minute. Theophrastus had another saying near to this, Sumptus pretiosissimus tempus: time is of precious cost. Pliny seeing but his Nephew at leisure, taking some turns in his walk, was so very strict, that he tells him, Non licet has boras perdere, he should not lose so many precious hours. When Titus the Son of Vespasian who revenged, ⟨p. 2⟩Christ's blood on Jerusalem, returned victor to Rome, remembering one night that had done no good that day, he cried out to his friends, Hen perdidi diem! O alas, I have lost a day! Little do we think of losing time, and is not this our shame? If such men without God and Christ, without Law and Gospel, without all the promises of God and Christ in Law or Gospel, could say thus much, how may they rise up in judgment against many of us? But we cite not them, as though we stood in need of their learning;1 the Apostles themselves give it us in charge, walk in Wisdom towards them that are without, 2redeeming the time, and exhort one another while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. And again, while it is said to day, 3if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. And, pass the time of your sojourning here with fear, 4forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,—but with the precious blood of Christ. q. d. Christ redeemed you, and therefore you had need to redeem the time. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.—so that henceforth we should not serve sin. 5—or no longer should we live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.—Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not; as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. It is Hieroms saying upon these words, O how short is this race of my life? how short is this time now in hand? 6my studying, preaching, writing, correcting, reading, what it is but a gaining or a loosing of my time?
1. That time must be redeemed, the very Heathens confirm it: 'Twas the saying of one Pittacus, one of the seven Wise-men, 〈non-Latin alphabet〉, know time; lose not a minute. Theophrastus had another saying near to this, Sumptus pretiosissimus tempus: time is of pretious cost. Pliny seeing but his Nephew at leisure, taking some turnes in his walk, was so very strict, that he tells him, Non licet has boras perdere, he should not lose so many precious hours. When Titus the Son of Vespasian who revenged, ⟨p. 2⟩Christ's blood on Jerusalem, returned victor to Rome, remembring one night that had done no good that day, he cryed out to his friends, Hen perdidi diem! O alas, I have lost a day! Little do we think of losing time, and is not this our shame? If such men without God and Christ, without Law and Gospel, without all the promises of God and Christ in Law or Gospel, could say thus much, how may they rise up in judgment against many of us? But we cite not them, as though we stood in need of their learning;1 the Apostles themselves give it us in charge, walk in Wisedom towards them that are without, 2redeeming the time, and exhort one another while it is called to day, lest any of you be hardened through the deceitfulness of sin. And again, while it is said to day, 3if ye will hear his voice, harden not your hearts. And, pass the time of your sojourning here with fear, 4forasmuch as ye know that ye were not redeemed with corruptible things,—but with the pretious blood of Christ. q. d. Christ redeemed you, and therefore you had need to redeem the time. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles.—so that henceforth we should not serve sin. 5—or no longer should we live the rest of our time in the flesh to the lusts of men, but to the will of God.—Let us not be weary in well-doing, for in due season we shall reap if we faint not; as we have therefore opportunity, let us do good unto all men. It is Hieroms saying upon these words, O how short is this race of my life? how short is this time now in hand? 6my studying, preaching, writing, correcting, reading, what it is but a gaining or a loosing of my time?
- 1Col. 4.5.
- 2Heb. 3.13.15.
- 31 Pet. 1.17.18.
- 41 Pet. 4.3.
- 5Rom. 6.6, Gal. 10.9.6.
- 6Breve vitae Curriculum. &c. Jeron. l 3. Comment.
