Ephesians 5:16 Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. "We all complain," says the philosopher Seneca, "of the shortness of time; and yet we have more than we know what to do with. Our lives are spent either in doing nothing at all, or in doing nothing to the purpose, or in doing nothing that we ought to do. We are always complaining that our days are few, and acting as though there would be no end of them." Alfred the Great was one of the wisest, the best, and most beneficent monarchs that ever swayed the sceptre of this realm; and his example is highly memorable. Ever hour of his life had its peculiar allotted business. He divided the day and night into three portions of eight hours each; and though much afflicted with a very painful disorder, he assigned only eight hours to sleep, meals, and exercise; devoting the remaining sixteen, one half to reading, writing, and prayer, and the other to public business. So sensible was this great man that time was not a trifle to be dissipated, but a rich talent entrusted to him, for which he was accountable to the great Dispenser of it! We are told by historians that Queen Elizabeth, except when engaged by public or domestic affairs, and the exercises necessary for the preservation of her health and spirits, was always employed either in reading or writing; in translating from other authors, or in compositions of her own. Gassendi, the celebrated philosopher, was perhaps one of the hardest students that ever existed. He generally rose at three o'clock in the morning, and read or wrote till eleven, when he received the visits of his friends. He afterwards at twelve made a very slender dinner, at which he drank nothing but water, and sat down to his books again at three. There he remained till eight o'clock; and after having eaten a very light supper, he retired to bed at ten. Among the ancient Indians there were a set of men called gymnosophists, who had a great aversion to sloth and idleness. When the table were spread for their repasts, the assembling youths were asked by their masters in what useful task they had been employed from the hour of sunrise. One, perhaps, represented himself as having been an arbitrator, and succeeded by his prudent management in composing a difference between friends. A second had been paying obedience to his parent's commands. A third had made some discovery by his own application, or learned something by another's instruction. But he who had done nothing to deserve a dinner was turned out of doors without one, and obliged to work while the others enjoyed the fruits of their application. (Knowles.) Parallel Verses KJV: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil. |
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