Colossians 4:5

Walk in wisdom toward them that are without, redeeming the time.

Ver. 5. Walk in wisdom] Neither giving offence carelessly, nor taking offence causelessly.

Redeeming the time] Opportunities are headlong, and must be timously laid hold on, or all is lost. See Trapp on " Eph 5:16 " It is said of Hooper the martyr, that he was spare of diet, sparer of words, and sparest of time. Latimer rose usually at two of the clock in a morning to his study. Bradford slept not commonly more than four hours in the night, and in his bed, till sleep came, his book went not out of his hand. He counted that hour not well spent wherein he did not some good, either with his pen, tongue, or study. These worthies well weighed what a modern writer hath well observed, that they that lose time are the greatest losers and wastefullest prodigals. For of all other possessions two may be had together, but two moments of time (much less two opportunities of time) cannot be possessed together.