Jesus, how he said, It is more blessed to give than to receive." This was the practice of him who was in "labours most abundant;" and such is the genius of every man who upon principles of conscience, reason, and honour, is industrious. Of him it may be said, as of Solomon's good housewife, "She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands; she is like the merchant's ship, she bringeth her food from afar; she looketh well to her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness."

Sloth is a base quality, the argument of a mind wretchedly degenerate and mean; which is content to grovel in a despicable state; which aimeth at no worthy thing, nor pursueth any thing in a laudable way; which disposeth a man to live gratis (precariously) and ingratefully on the public stock, as an insignificant cypher among men, as a burthen of the earth, as a wen of any society; sucking aliment from it, but yielding no benefit or ornament thereto.

8. Industry is a fence to innocence and virtue; a bar to all kind of sin and vice, guarding the avenues of our heart, keeping off the occasions and temptations to vicious practice. When a man is engaged in honest employment, and seriously intent thereon, his mind is prepossessed and filled, so that there is no room or vacancy for ill thoughts, or base designs, to creep in; his senses do not lie open to ensnaring objects; he wants leisure and opportunity of granting audience to the solicitations of sinful pleasure; the Devil can hardly find advantage of tempting him, at least many devils cannot get access to him, according to that observation in Cassian, "A working monk is assaulted by one devil, but an idle one is spoiled by numberless bad spirits." The case of men ordinarily is like to that of Ægysthus: rather than do nothing, he was ready to do ill; he not having business to employ his thoughts, wanton desires did insinuate themselves

into his heart, and transported him to that disastrous wickedness, which supplied matter to so many tragedies; and the like instance the sacred history suggested in king David, who, "walking," it is said, "on the roof of his house," his mind then roving, and being untacked from honest cares, that temptation seized on him, whereby he was plunged into that woful misdemeanour, which did create to him so much sorrow, did make such a spot in his life, and leave such a blur on his memory; whence yet we may draw some benefit, taking it as a profitable document and warning, how idleness doth expose the best men to danger.

Idleness is indeed the nursery of sins, which as naturally grow up therein as weeds in a neglected field, or insects in a standing puddle; "Idleness teacheth much evil." It is the general trap, whereby every tempter assayeth to catch our soul: for the mind being loose from care, Satan is ready to step in with his

suggestions, the world presenteth its allurements, fleshly desires rise up; proud, froward, wanton cogitations slip in; ill company doth entice, ill example is regarded, every temptation doth object and impress itself with great advantage and force; men in such a case being apt to close and comply with temptations, even to divert their minds, and entertain themselves, to cure their listlessness, to pass their time, committing sin for want of better occupation. Hence, in places where there is least work, the worst sins do most prevail; and idleness therefore was by the Prophet reckoned one of the three great sins of Sodom, parents of the rest: "Behold," saith Ezekiel, "this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her :" hence it seldom doth happen in any way of life, that a sluggard and a rake-hell do not go together; or that he who is idle, is not also dissolute.

9. Particularly industry doth prevent the sins of vain curiosity, pragmaticalness, troublesome impertinency, and the like pests of common life, into which persons not diligently following their own business, will assuredly fall. " We hear," saith St. Paul to the Thessalonians, "that there are some who walk among you disorderly; working not at all, but are busy-bodies," (working nothing, but over-working). It is no wonder, if they did "not work at all," that they should "walk disorderly;" or that quite neglecting their own concerns, they should over-work, or be too busy in matters not belonging to them, intruding themselves into the affairs of their neighbours for there is a natural connection between these things, since every man must be thinking, must be doing, must be saying somewhat, to spend his leisure, to uphold conversation, to please himself, and gratify others, to appear somebody among his companions; to avoid the