So much time thrown away on these elegant trifles!
(John Angell James, "Female Piety; The Young Woman's Guide
through Life to Immortality", Chapter 5. Christian Zeal)
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"Redeeming the time, because
the days are evil." Eph. 5:16
There are three things which, if lost, can
never be recovered: time, the soul, and
an opportunity.
In order to be useful, it is necessary
to cultivate habits of order, punctuality,
and the right employment of time.
There is no doing good without
the proper use of time.
Two things cannot be done at once.
Benevolent service requires time.
And how much time is wasted, which
the miseries and needs of society require!
"Redeem the time!"
is a warning that should ever
be sounding in our ears!
We need time for the improvement
of our own souls--
and we need it for the good of others.
We can do much with a proper use of time--
and nothing without it. There is scarcely
anything to which the injunction of our LORD
more strictly applies than to time:
"Gather up the fragments that
nothing be lost." (John 6:12c)
Order redeems time, so does punctuality--
therefore order and punctuality are ways
of supplying the time necessary for
the exercise of deeds of mercy.
Redeem time from useless reading,
and other selfish entertainments--
and also from that excessive addictedness
to the worldly accomplishments of music,
arts, and fancy craft-works, which are so
characteristic of the present day. That some
portion of time may be given to these
things is admitted.
I am not for parting with the exquisite
polish which skill in these matters
imparts to female elegance. I love to
see the decorations of female mind
and manners.
Of this I may have to speak again
in a future chapter, and therefore
shall merely now enquire--
when the cries of misery are entering
into her ears, and the groans of creation
are arising all around her; when countless
millions abroad are living and dying without
the light of the gospel and the hope of salvation;
when at our own doors will be found so many
passing in ignorance and wickedness
to their eternal destinies--
is it humane for a Christian woman
to spend so much precious time
each day over her knitting, crotchet,
or embroidery work?
As she sits plying those needles,
and bringing out, it may be,
the tasteful design, hour after hour--
does she never hear the cry
of human woe,
"Come over and help us!"
(Acts 16:9c)
Does it never occur to her, how many
souls have gone into eternity unprepared
to meet their GOD, since she took her chair
and commenced her daily entertainment?
Or, even leaving out of view the employment
of her time for deeds of mercy to others;
is it not an afflicting sight to behold
so much time thrown away
on these elegant trifles, which
might be employed in cultivating
one's own mind and heart, by
reading useful Christian literature?
You cannot, systematically, do good
either to yourself or others, without
redeeming time for the purpose!
"So teach us to number our days aright,
that we may gain a heart of wisdom."
Psalm 90:12
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