must not so much as speak evil of dignities. He must, in all his passage through this world, keep his eye fixed upon the next; and bear with much here, rather than lose aught there. He must for himself, be content with such things as he hath; and to him that smiteth him on the right cheek he must turn the left also. He must seek justice for his neighbour's sake, and not revenge for his own; and must aim at the advancement of true liberty, not in order to raise himself the higher, but in the hope to make his fellow creatures the better. Thus will the Spirit of the Lord both promote true liberty, and keep it within due bounds. Thus the service of our heavenly Master will become security for obedience to our earthly one; according to the rule with which the apostle concludes his caution; "Fear God, honour the king." (1 Pet. 2. 17.)

SERMON XIII.

REDEEMING THE TIME.

EPHES. 5. 16.

Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

THE importance of redeeming the time is well understood in practice by all those who are much engaged in this world's business. They who have on their hands the affairs of trade, the management of farms, the care of extensive manufactures, these all well know the value of each passing minute. Whilst the most lowly labourer is best esteemed by his employer, and most prosperous also in his own circumstances, in proportion as he employs with diligence the hours allotted to his work. All these rejoice to have their time truly kept, accurately divided, and frequently and loudly

proclaimed, by that curious and complicated instrument which man's art has for these ends invented. Hence it is common to put up a clock in a church, as a place of eminence and common resort. And whilst all parties are aware of the many secular uses of their parish clock, the preacher may hence take occasion to insist on the Christian employment of each fleeting hour, to enforce that spiritual diligence and watchfulness, which St. Paul in the text calls " redeeming the time."

I. Now in these words we have a figure most expressive, both of the condition in which our hours by nature are, and of that in which by grace they should be. Time is represented as in captivity. We are bidden to redeem it as from bondage. Those hours which are given us for the trial of our hearts, for the exercise of our souls through grace unto salvation; those hours are too commonly enslaved to the pursuit of mere worldly objects. They are devoted to the service of Mammon, laden with the fetters of

tormenting care, dishonoured in the base indulgence of sensual pleasure, or in the vain pursuit of frivolous amusements. Such, I say, is the condition of our time by nature. Such is the way, in which day after day, month after month, year after year, pass away to many of us, out of that small number, which the utmost span of human life permits us at the longest to expect.

Here it is our proper business to prepare for eternal life. Here it is the right employment of our time to make ready for a state, where time shall be no longer. (See Rev. 10. 6.) Here, if we would duly use this precious gift, we should regard it as a friend that gives us leisure to repent, and opportunity to be accepted of God, through faith in Christ. This friend we should therefore earnestly desire to deliver from such irksome bondage. This gift we should endeavour to improve, whilst yet it remains in our possession. For time, we cannot fail to know, is one of the things which " perish with the using." (Col. 2. 22.) The present is all

that we can call our own.

how soon is it the past!

And even this, Let us improve

it by spending it with a sense of its being a charge committed to us from on high. Let us redeem it, by using it, as it comes, for its proper end; setting it free from the abuse of mere earthly occupation, into the liberty of that spiritual life, to which it is our privilege to be called. And here we should observe what a peculiar solemnity is attached to this word redeem, by its having been used in Scripture to signify the great act of our deliverance from sin and death. God is said to have "redeemed" his people. (Luke 1. 68.) And in Christ we are said to have "redemption through his blood." (Col. 1. 14.) And can we, the redeemed, also redeem? Is there any point in which we, unprofitable servants, may imitate the pattern and share in the work of our heavenly Lord? Is there any thing that we can set at liberty? Any thing which we may bring from neglect to honourable use, and make to redound to the glory of God? Yes. It is written