Some important truths about conversion, delivered in sundry sermons, / by Increase Mather, D.D.…

3. Herein is implied, A willingness to part with those things that would hinder from receiving or doing good. The Greek word which is here used, signifieth to buy. Now in buying there is always a parting with something; as the Gospel speaketh of the wise Merchant, that he parted with all that ⟨p. 162⟩he had for the Pearl of great price; So it is in buying or redeeming time, there must be a parting with those things that would make a man lose his time. The Original word is a Metaphor taken from wise Merchants or Tradesmen, that prefer their profit above their ease and pleasure. So if a man would redeem time, he must forego those things which would hinder him from glorifying God, or that would keep him from promoting the eternal Salvation of his own Soul; yea, and he must be content to put himself to some trouble and disadvantage, that he may promote the Spiritual and Eternal Welfare of other mens Souls; and this is here intended by the Apostle, Walk in Wisdom towards them that are without, redeeming the time; as if he had said, take hold of opportunities to gain Infidels to Christ, though it should be to your own outward disadvantage; see that you do what you can to gain men to Christ, though you your selves should lose by it, as to temporal concerns.

4. When a man doth endeavour to make up his former losses and mispence of time by a diligent improvement of the present season, then he may be said to redeem time; when a man hath lived and spent his time unthriftily, but now he endeavours by double diligence to redeem, and, as it were, to buy back again the time that's past and lost; ⟨p. 163⟩when he is made sensible, that he hath done little for God in former times, and therefore endeavours to live much unto, and do much service for God in Christ now, then he redeems time. As the Children of Israel in the last year of their being in the Wilderness, dispatched more way than in forty years before. So when a man doth more for God now in one year, than he hath done in twenty or forty years before: We may say that, that man Redeemeth time.