The spiritual watchThe spirituall vvatch

§. 70. Idleness therefore, it is both evil of it self; and it exposeth men to further evils. ^aSatan where he findeth ^bthe house vacant, that he had before quit, he doth easily make a reentry again. He doth as ^cthe Crab, that desirous to prey on the Oyster, but finding the fish enclosed and her self excluded with two such shells as all her power is not able to pierce, watcheth the time when she lieth bathing her self in the sun and gaping to take in some pleasant refreshing, while the winds are calm, and the waters still; then she slyly and suddenly casteth in some sandy grit that keepeth her two shells from closing again, and by that means cometh she to get in her cleyes, one after another, and so to prey upon the fish. In like manner doth Satan, where he desireth to seize upon the soul, but seeth some likelihood of resistance; he watcheth mens idle times, and when he findeth the heart vacant & the mind free from present employment, then is he busy to inject first idle and sandy thoughts, by which he maketh way for worse matters, and after wicked and noisome motions, by which he cometh many times ⟨p. 110⟩to take full seisin of the soul, and to work its utter ruin. In regard whereof it is no unnecessary counsel that one of the Ancients giveth, that ^dWe be always about some good business or other, that the Tempter whensoever he come, find us not unoccupied.

§. 70. Idlenesse therefore, it is both euill of it selfe; and it exposeth men to further euils. ^aSatan where he findeth ^bthe house vacant, that he had before quit, hee doth easily make a reentry againe. He doth as ^cthe Crab, that desirous to prey on the Oister, but finding the fish enclosed and her selfe excluded with two such shels as all her power is not able to pierce, watcheth the time when she lieth bathing her selfe in the sunne and gaping to take in some pleasant refreshing, while the windes are calme, and the waters still; then shee slily and suddenly casteth in some sandy grit that keepeth her two shels from closing againe, and by that meanes commeth she to get in her cleyes, one after another, and so to prey vpon the fish. In like manner doth Satan, where he desireth to seize vpon the soule, but seeth some likelihood of resistance; he watcheth mens idle times, and when he findeth the heart vacant & the minde free from present imployment, then is heé busie to iniect first idle and sandy thoughts, by which he maketh way for worse matters, and after wicked and noisome motions, by which he commeth many times