“From night to day, from day to night, The _dawning_ and the _dying_ light Lectures of heavenly wisdom read; With silent eloquence they raise Our thoughts to the Creator’s praise. And neither sound nor language need.” A force continually impressed by the supreme Being produces and preserves these different and useful motions, which measure out that portion of time assigned us, for the performance of his work, and the securing of our own salvation. We are directed in his word how to employ this important _talent_ lent to us; also warned to guard against a misapplication of it, and told that a day will come when we shall have to give an account of our stewardship. As _day_ is afforded for the management of those employments which could not be done in the night, how unwise would it be to postpone such concerns till the approach of darkness? So the short period of life is given us that we may “work out our own salvation.” We are favored with the light of Divine truth to illuminate our understandings; the operation of the Holy Spirit to influence our wills; and our pressing necessities should impel us to perform what God requires. The Greeks have two words for _time_, χρονος and καιρος: the former signifies time in general; and the latter that part of it which is proper for doing a thing--the present season in which any thing to be done may be done fitly and to advantage. Accordingly Solomon says, “To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under heaven.” What the apostle says to the Christians at Ephesus is equally applicable and interesting to persons in succeeding ages of the world; giving a view of the importance of time, and directing to a right improvement of it. “See that ye walk circumspectly, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, because the days are evil.” _Walking_, in the Scripture style, is a word frequently used to denote the whole course of a man’s life and conversation, including all his thoughts, words and actions. Walking _circumspectly_, ακριβως, signifies correctly, accurately, consistently, or perfectly. In another place the same word is rendered _diligently_. Herod said to the wise men come from the east, Go to Bethlehem, and search ακριβως, _diligently_, narrowly, for the young child Jesus. But the word _circumspect_ is from the Latin _circumspicio_, and signifies to look round about, on all hands, to be every way watchful, wary, and cautious, in order to avoid danger, discern enemies before they come too nigh, and secure a man’s interest by every possible and lawful means.[52]