I might, saith he, have received maintenance at your hands: but I took nothing, that I might be an example for you to follow, that none should live idly, but that They work with quietness, and eat their own bread. Idleness is the mother of all mischief. An idle pack is as if he were already dead. His feet serve him not to travail: his hands help him not to work: his eyes serve him not to see his estate: his heart regardeth not the time and misery of his age. Beggary falleth upon him, and gnaweth his bones, but he feeleth it not. For he is as if he were already ⟨p. 408⟩dead. Solomon faith, He that followeth idleness, 1hath no understanding. And again, He 2that followeth idleness, shall be filled with poverty. He is unprofitable to himself, and unto others. His children shall beg at every door. Again he saith, The slothful will not plough 3because of winter: he shall beg in summer, but have nothing. That is, men that have received increase of Gods blessing by taking pains, shall deny bread unto such, and upbraid them for their idleness, and so drive them to labour. They will say, as it is devised that the Ant said, in like case to the Grasshopper. In the summer thou diddest nothing but sing, therefore thou mayest starve in the winter. These extremities be great, if a man will weigh them advisedly. Yet Ecclesiasticus saith farther, Idleness bringeth much evil. It 4is an evil teacher. He that doth nothing is ill occupied. The mind of man is ever stirring and doing somewhat. If it be not doing well, it is doing ill. Water is clear, and fair, fresh, & comfortable: yet if it stand still in a hole, or be kept long in a vessel, whence it hath no issue, it will rot and smell, and be unwholesome. Even so it fareth with the sons of Adam, if they have nothing to do, no way to bestow their wit, they will rot, and prove unwholesome and devise mischief all the day long.
I might, saith he, haue receiued mainteinance at your handes: but I tooke nothing, that I might be an example for you to follow, that none shoulde liue idlely, but that They worke with quietnesse, and eate their owne bread. Idlenesse is the mother of all mischiefe. An idle packe is as if he were alreadie dead. His féete serue him not to trauaile: his hands helpe him not to worke: his eies serue him not to sée his estate: his heart regardeth not the time and miserie of his age. Beggerie falleth vpon him, and gnaweth his bones, but he feéleth it not. For he is as if he were alreadie ⟨p. 408⟩dead. Salomon faith, He that foloweth idlenesse, 1hath no vnderstanding. And againe, He 2that followeth idlenesse, shall be filled with pouertie. He is vnprofitable to himselfe, and vnto others. His children shal begge at euerie doore. Againe he saith, The slouthfull wil not plough 3because of winter: hee shall begge in sommer, but haue nothing. That is, men that haue receiued encrease of Gods blessing by taking paines, shall denie breade vnto such, and vpbraide them for their idleuesse, and so driue them to labour. They will saie, as it is deuised that the Ant said, in like case to the Grashopper. In the sommer thou diddest nothing but sing, therefore thou maist sterue in the winter. These extremities be great, if a man wil weigh them aduisedly. Yet Ecclesiasticus saith farther, Idlenesse bringeth much euil. It 4is an euil teacher. He that doth nothing is ill occupied. The minde of man is euer stirring and doing somewhat. If it be not doing well, it is doing ill. Water is cleare, and faire, fresh, & comfortable: yet if it stand still in a hole, or be kept long in a vessel, whence it hath no issue, it wil rotte and smell, and be vnwholesome. Euen so it fareth with the sons of Adam, if they haue nothing to doe, no waie to bestowe their witte, they will rotte, and proue vnwholesome and deuise mischiefe al the daie long.
- 1Prou. 12.
- 2Prou. 28.
- 3Prou. 20.
- 4Eccle. 23.
