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The Scriptures are full of striking figures respecting time. Its swiftness is compared to the passage of a bird through the air, the keel of a ship through the sea, and as an arrow shot from a bow. Its value is declared because soon time will be no longer. What is passed is gone for ever. The whole world cannot purchase one moment's time. Its immense worth is further seen in the small portion allotted to us. "Behold thou hast made my days as an handbreadth, and my years are as nothing before thee."*"The days of our years are threescore years and ten.Ӡ "As for man his days are as the grass, as the flower of the field so he flourisheth."+

* Ps. xxxix. 52.

+ Ps. xc. 10.

Ps. ciii. 13.

Time is the most important thing a man can possess, because he is a probationer for eternity; and on his right improvement of it depends his future happiness. If we trifle with it we do our souls irreparable injury, for there is no repentance in the grave, whither we are all hastening. As time leaves us, so eternity will find us. Time is the opportunity given, to serve God, and prepare for heaven. "Now is the accepted time, now is the day of salvation." "Redeem time because the days are evil." "Work while it is called day lest the hour come when no man can work.” "The night is far spent, the day is at hand." "Soon time will be no longer."

How necessary, therefore, that we occupy ourselves continually upon this solemn subject. Our constant prayer

should be, "so teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom."* Time improved is eternity secured; but unfortunately man seldom cares about either. He acts as though time were a bauble, given him to play with as he pleases; whereas it is an invaluable jewel, which ought to be improved at any rate, and with the greatest sacrifices.

"Time flies, death urges, knells call, heav'n invites,

Hell threatens, all exert, in effort all.
Moments seize: a moment we may wish
When worlds want wealth to buy."

Oh! may all think of these things, for "we know not what a day, or an hour may bring forth." The uncertainty of time should make us watchful; the * Ps. xc. 12.

value of it should make us concerned ; and the issue of it should make us prepared. Those who spend their time in the service of God will hereafter rejoice "with joy unspeakable, and full of glory." It matters but little what their situations or circumstances are in this world, so long as they are living for eternity; sooner or later they must bid time an eternal farewell, and oh! what a glorious privilege to be ready to depart.

When time ends with the majority, it is the commencement of everlasting sorrow, but with a few it is the beginning of never-ending blessedness. Oh! let us then employ our precious moments so that we may at last receive the glorious reward of the good servant, who wisely improved the talents committed to his charge. When done

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with time may a gracious God receive us into his kingdom, where there is fulness of joy, and place us on his right hand, where there are pleasures for

evermore!

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