An expositio[n] upon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…An expositio[n] vpon the two epistles of the apostle S. Paul to the Thessalonians…

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