The second tome of homilies of such matters as were promised, and entitled in…The second tome of homilees of such matters as were promised, and intituled in…

Saint Paul hearing that among the ¹Thessalonians there were certain that lived dissolutely & out of order, that is to say, which did not work, but were busybodies, not getting their own living with their own travail, but eating other mens bread of free cost, did command the said Thessalonians, not only to withdraw them selves, and abstain from the familiar company of such inordinate persons, but also that if there were any such among them that would not labour, the same should not eat, nor have any living at other mens hands. Which ⟨p. 498⟩doctrine of S. Paul (no doubt) is grounded upon the general ordinance of God, which is, that every man should labour: And therefore it is to be obeyed of all men, and no man can justly exempt him self from the same. But when it is said, all men should labour, it is not so straightly meant, that all men should use handy labour. But as there be divers sorts of labour, some of the mind, & some of the body, and some of both: So every one (except by reason of age, debility of body, or want of health, he be unapt to labour at all) ought both for the getting of his own living honestly, and for to profit others, in some kind of labour to exercise him self, according as the vocation whereunto God hath called him, shall require. So that whosoever doth good to the common weal and society of men with his industry and labour, whether it be by governing the common weal publicly, or by bearing public office or ministry, or by doing any common necessary affairs of his country, or by giving counsel, or by teaching & instructing others, or by what other means soever he be occupied, so that a profit and benefit redound thereof unto others, the same person is not to be accounted idle, though he work no bodily labour, nor is to be denied his living (if he attend his vocation) though he work not with his hands. Bodily labour is not required of them which by reason of their vocation and office, are occupied in the labour of the mind, to the profit and help of others. Saint Paul exhorteth Timothy, to eschew ²we and refuse idle widows, which go about ⟨p. 499⟩from house to house, because they are not only idle, but prattlers also and busybodies, speaking things which are not comely. The prophet Ezekiel declaring what the sins of the city of