The Old Baptist Savors New Year's Wisdom from Jay of Bath

William Jay (1769-1853), for sixty-two years the pastor of the non-conformist congregation of Argyle Chapel in Bath, has been hailed as the greatest preacher that English Christianity ever produced (next to Spurgeon, of course). He is perhaps best known for his twin volumes of devotional works, Morning Exercises and Evening Exercises. In the former volume, within his meditation for January 1 in which he comments upon the text of Exodus 40:2, Jay makes the following observation about improving our walk with the Lord in the year to come:

"Finally, time - this short, this uncertain, this all-important time - upon every instant of which eternity depends, will not allow of our trifling away any of its moments. Resolve therefore to redeem it. Gather up its fragments, that nothing be lost. Especially rescue it from needless sleep; and if you have hitherto accustomed yourself to the shameful indulgence of lying late in bed, begin the new year with the habit of early rising; by which you will promote your health and improvement of every kind, and live much longer than others in the same number of days, and say, with David, 'My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O Lord; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up.'"

How appropriate these comments are for us who are inhabitants of a notoriously lazy age. May we honor God through a scrupulous stewardship of the time that God allots us in 2007!

Grace and peace.