A bubble, a shadow, a dream! – Thomas Brooks
“My life passes more swiftly than a runner. It flees away.” Job 9:25
TIME is a precious talent which we are accountable for.
Cato and other heathen held that account must be given, not only of our labor but also of our leisure. At the great day, it will appear that those who have spent their time in mourning over sin have done better than those who have spent their time in dancing; and those who have spent many days in pious humiliation better than those who have spent many days in idle recreations.
I have read of a devout man who, when he heard a clock strike, he would say, “Here is one more hour past, which I have to answer for!” Ah! as time is very precious so it is very short. Time is very swift; it is suddenly gone.
The ancients emblemed time with wings, as it were, not running but flying! Time is like the sun, which never stands still but is continually a-running his race. The sun did once stand still but time never did. Time is still running and flying! It is a bubble, a shadow, a dream!
Sirs! if the whole earth whereupon we tread were turned into a lump of gold it would not be able to purchase one minute of time! Oh! the regrettings of the damned for misspending precious time! Oh! what would they not give to be free, and to enjoy the means of grace one hour! Ah! with what attention, with what intention, with what trembling and melting of heart, with what hungering and thirsting would they hear the Word!
Time, says Bernard, would be a precious commodity in hell, and the selling of it most gainful, where for one day a man would give ten thousand worlds, if he had them.
Ah! as you love your precious immortal souls, as you would escape hell and come to heaven; as you would be happy in life and blessed in death, and glorious after death; don’t spend any more of your precious time in drinking and gabbing, in carding, dicing, and dancing! Don’t trifle away your time, because time is a talent that God will reckon with you for.
Ah! you may reckon upon years, many years yet to come; when possibly you have not so many hours to live! It may be this night you will have your final summons and then, in what a sad case will you be! Will you not wish that you had never been born?
Sirs! Time let slip cannot be recalled!