How Precious is Sabbath-Time

The following is from a meditation by John Willison titled Meditation IV. From Eph. vi. 16 [note: should read Eph. v. 16]. Redeem the Time., from Meditations for the Sabbath Day, published as an appendix to his Treatise Concerning the Sanctification of the Lord's Day.

Of all time Sabbath-time is the most precious and valuable; it being the time God has allotted and set apart for himself, and upon the improvement whereof the glory of God and salvation of our souls depend in a most peculiar manner; it being the day of special access to God, and of free commerce and correspondence between heaven and earth. It is heaven's weekly market day, or God's deal-day to the poor and needy; the day of access to God's presence-chamber. Time by some is compared to a gold ring, and the Sabbath to [a] sparkling diamond, which give it its lustre, and heightens its value. Wherefore, if we be wise, we will show a peculiar esteem for the Sabbath above all the days of the week; we will reckon every moment of Sabbath-time most precious, and desire that none of it may be mispent. What Christ said to his disciples concerning the loaves and fishes, the like he seems to speak to us concerning his holy day, "Gather up the fragments," gather up all the parcels, the spare hours and minutes of it; account them as precious as the goldsmith doth the smallest filing of his gold, and let nothing of Sabbath-time be lost.