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.

Prayer

Prayer teaches us our unworthiness, which is no
small blessing to such proud beings as we are.

True prayer is-
an inventory of needs,
a catalogue of necessities,
an exposure of secret wounds,
a revelation of hidden poverty.

While prayer is an application to divine wealth,
it is a confession of human emptiness.

I believe that the most healthy state of a Christian
is to be always empty, and always depending upon
the Lord for supplies; to be always poor in self and
rich in Jesus; weak as water personally, but mighty
through God to do great exploits; and hence the use
of prayer, because while it adores God, it lays the
creature where he should be, in the very dust.

Prayer....
clothes the believer with the attributes of Deity,
girds human weakness with divine strength,
turns human folly into heavenly wisdom, and gives
to troubled mortals the serenity of the immortal God.
I know not what prayer cannot do!

I thank you, great God, for the mercy-seat, a
choice gift of your marvellous loving-kindness.
Help us to use it aright!
-Spurgeon