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There was once a young shoemaker, who became so much interested in politics, that his shop was filled with loungers, talking, and discussing, and disputing about one thing and another from morning till night; and he found it often necessary to work till midnight to make up for the hours lost in talk during the day. One night, after his shutters were closed, and he was busy on his bench, a boy, passing along, lout his mouth to the keyhole, and mischievously piped out, "Shoemaker, shoemaker, work by night, and run about by day." "Had a pistol been fired off at my ear," he said, "I could not have been more startled. I dropped my work, saying to myself, 'True, true; but you never shall have that to say of me again.' I never forgot it. To me it was the voice of God, and it has been a word in season throughout my life. I learned from it not to leave till tomorrow the work of today, or to be idle when I ought to be working. From that time I turned over a new leaf." This shoemaker was Samuel Drew, who subsequently wrote on the "Immortality and Immateriality of the Soul." Wise investments: — From the year 218 to the year for ancient Rome the days were evil. A fierce and warlike invader was in the land; the army of the Commonwealth had been twice defeated by him with terrible loss; and, finally, there came a day in which the proud Roman people suffered the humiliation of seeing their very capital reduced to a state of siege. Hannibal's army lay encamped against it. Outside the walls, where the children had played and the citizens had lounged, foreign standards were waving in the breeze. On the very spot where, in days of security and peace, the busy fair had been held, and the gay booths had plied their brisk trade, foreign sentinels challenged the passer-by. It was while affairs were in this state that the Roman senate took a remarkable step. They put up to public auction a piece of ground outside the walls on which at that very moment the invading general's tent was standing, and the ground was forthwith purchased by a senator. Now you will see at once the wisdom of the senate's action. You will perceive that no more politic or statesmanlike stroke could have been played. For what would the immediate result of such action be? Why, to give heart and hope to every man, woman, and child within the city walls. Their leaders, the people would argue, were evidently but little disturbed by what had happened. Evidently they regarded Hannibal's action as mere bravado. The enemy would never set foot within the gates — very soon he would be compelled to raise the siege and retreat in haste. As a matter of fact, this is exactly what did happen. But why do I speak of it now, and what has all this to do with "redeeming the time"? Well, it furnishes us with a very good illustration of what the apostle means when he uses these words. For the expression, "redeeming the time," may more accurately be rendered, "buying up the opportunity, because the days are evil." Now this is just what the senate did. The opportunity (a very great opportunity) was in the hands of the foe. The prestige of the victor in two bloody engagements; of the besieger of a strong, proud city, was all on his side. Then, by a master stroke, the Roman Fathers "bought up the opportunity," so to speak, from Hannibal; wrested it out of his hands, and secured a moral victory.

(J. B.C. Murphy, B. A.)

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KJV: Redeeming the time, because the days are evil.

WEB: redeeming the time, because the days are evil.