value of time

"...time is the most precious...to be far preferred before any, whatsoever is or can be conceived, yet not withstanding it of all things is least valued, yea and indeed to say more, despised, for it is reckoned as a thing of nothing, of no worth at all. There is not any who esteemeth it when he hath it....the blessed St. Laurence Justinian considering what time is, and of what value, breaketh forth into these words: Ah! who is there, who is capable? who is he, who can with full extent of spirit and understanding apprehend of what price, of what worth is time? Oh! what grace of delivery, what eloquence, what sweetly spun, or flowing speech of man can declare it....they who want time, and have it not...know it. Then would they truck all the possessions of the world, honors, dignities....corporal delights, and all that is under the sun, wherewith they are...pleased with, for one, one sole hours time, if possibly they might regain it, acquire it, possess it. For in this brief time, in this most short space, they might appease the divine Justice...they might escape the terrible, dreadful, and most direful doom of eternal loss, everlasting damnation, and hence might they merit...eternal bliss."

"The careless, unhappy, ah! unfortunate are those to whom the sun of mercy is set. And they are passed...without hope of any recovery, they are descended into the lake of misery, where is nothing but confusion and everlasting horror. And not without reason pardon is denied them...for when it was offered unto them, nay they did not once desire either to meditate, to consider, or know what time its worth was...what is there more precious than time? what is more excellent? what more dear? what of greater benefit? oh! what is there more beautiful, more beloved than time?"

from The Ransom of Time Being Captive by Andres de Soto