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…

If these two who were so excellent men, so well beloved of God, so endued with singular and divine gifts, the one namely of prophecy, and the other of strength, and such men as never could by vexation, labour, or trouble, be overcome, were overthrown and fell into grievous sins, by giving them selves for a short time to ease and idleness, and so consequently incurred miserable plagues at the hands of God: What sin, what mischief, what inconvenience and plague is not to be feared of them which all their life long give them selves wholly to idleness and ease? Let us not deceive our selves, thinking little hurt to come of doing nothing. For it is a true saying: When one doth nothing, he learneth to do evil. Let us therefore always be doing of some honest work, that the devil may find us occupied. He him self is ever occupied, never idle, but walketh continually seeking to devour us. Let us resist him with our diligent watching, in labour, and in well doing. For he that diligently exerciseth him self in honest business, is not easily catched in the devils snare. When man through idleness, or for default of some honest occupation or trade to live upon, is brought to poverty, and want of things necessary, we see how easily such a man is induced for his gain, to lye, to practise how he may deceive his neighbour, to forswear him self, to bear false witness, and oftentimes to steal and murder, or to use some other ungodly mean to ⟨p. 503⟩live withal. Whereby not only his good name, honest reputation, and a good conscience, yea his life is utterly lost, but also the great displeasure and wrath of God, with divers and sundry grievous plagues, are procured. Lo here the end of the idle and sluggish bodies, whose hands can not away with honest labour: loss of name, fame, reputation, & life here in this world, and without the great mercy of god, the purchasing of everlasting destruction in the world to come. Have not all men then good cause to beware and take heed of idleness, seeing they that embrace and follow it, have commonly of their pleasant idleness, sharp and sour displeasures?

If these two who were so excellēt men, so welbeloued of God, so endued with singuler and deuine giftes, the one namelye of prophesie, and the other of strength, and such men as neuer coulde by vexation, labour, or trouble, be ouercome, were ouerthrowen and fell into greeuous sinnes, by geuing them selues for a short time to ease and idlenesse, and so consequently incurred miserable plagues at the handes of God: What sinne, what mischeefe, what inconuenience and plague is not to be feared of them whiche all theyr lyfe long geue them selues wholye to idlenesse and ease? Let vs not deceaue our selues, thynkyng litle hurte to come of doyng nothyng. For it is a true saying: When one doth nothing, he learneth to do euyll. Let vs therefore alwayes be doyng of some honest worke, that the deuill maye finde vs occupied. He hym selfe is euer occupied, neuer idle, but walketh continually seekyng to deuoure vs. Let vs resist hym with our diligent watching, in labour, and in well doyng. For he that diligently exerciseth hym selfe in honest businesse, is not easily catched in the deuils snare. When man through idlenesse, or for default of some honest occupation or trade to liue vpon, is brought to pouertie, and want of thinges necessarie, we see howe easyly suche a man is induced for his gaine, to lye, to practise howe he maye deceaue his neyghbour, to foresweare him selfe, to beare false witnesse, and oftentimes to steale and murther, or to vse some other vngodly meane to