Diseases of the soul a discourse divine, moral, and physical. By Tho. AdamsDiseases of the soule a discourse diuine, morall, and physicall. By Tho. Adams

Idleness, the Lethargy. Disease 5.

Idlenesse, the Lethargie. Disease 5.

Idleness in the soul is a dangerous disease as the Lethargy in the body. The very name of Lethargy speaks the nature: for it is compounded of [Greek or Hebrew] forgetfulness, and [Greek or Hebrew] slothful; and so consequently is defined to be a dull oblivion. The Idle man is a piece of base heavy earth, moulded with muddy and standing water. He lies in bed the former half of the day, devising excuses to prevent the afternoons labour. He cannot endure to do any thing by himself, that may be done by Attorney. He forestalls persuasion inducing him to any work, by forecasting the unprofitableness: he holds business mans cruellest enemy, and a monstrous devourer of time. His body is so swollen with lazy humours, that he moves like a tun upon two pottle pots. He is tempted to covetise, for no other reason, but to be able to keep servants; whom he ⟨p. 21⟩will rather trust, then step out to oversee. Neither summer nor winter scape the blame of his laziness: in the one it is too hot, in the other too cold to work. Summer hath days too long, winter nights too cold; he must needs help the one with a nap at noon, the other with a good fire. He was very fit to be a Monk: spare him an early mass, and he will accept it: yet howsoever, he will rather venture the censure, then forsake a lazy calling.

IDlenesse in the soule is a dangerous disease as the Lethargie in the body. The very name of Lethargie speakes the nature: for it is compounded of 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 forgetfulnesse, and 〈non-Latin alphabet〉 slothfull; and so consequently is defined to be a dul obliuion. The Idle man is a piece of base heauy earth, moulded with muddy and standing water. Hee lyes in bed the former halfe of the day, deuising excuses to preuent the afternoones labour. Hee cannot endure to doe any thing by himselfe, that may be done by Attourney. Hee forestalls perswasion inducing him to any worke, by forecasting the vnprofitablenesse: he holds businesse mans cruellest enemie, and a monstrous deuourer of time. His body is so swolne with lazy humours, that he moues like a tunne vpon two pottle pots. Hee is tempted to couetice, for no other reason, but to bee able to keepe seruants; whom hee