A26892:2236
A Christian Directory
A Christian directory, or, A sum of practical theology and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortify every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.A Christian directory, or, A summ of practical theologie and cases of conscience directing Christians how to use their knowledge and faith, how to improve all helps and means, and to perform all duties, how to overcome temptations, and to escape or mortifie every sin : in four parts ... / by Richard Baxter.
London: printed by Robert White for Nevill Simmons, 1673
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Part 1 › Chapter 5 › Tit. 4. The Thieves or Time-wasters to be watchfully avoided.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
Tit. 4. The Thieves or Time-wasters to be watchfully avoided.
§. 50. Th. 1. One of the greatest Time-wasting sins is idleness, or sloth. The slothful see their1 Time pass away, and their work undone, and can hear of the necessity of Redeeming it, and yet they have not hearts to stir: When they are convinced that duty must be done, they are still delaying, and putting it off from day to day, and saying still, I will do it to morrow or hereafter. To morrow is still the sluggards working day; and to day is his idle day. He spendeth his Time in fruitless wishes: He lieth in bed, or sitteth idly, and wisheth, Would this were labouring: He feasteth his flesh, and wisheth that this were fasting: He followeth his sports and pleasures, and wisheth that this were prayer, and a mortified life. He lets his heart run after lust, or pride, or Covetousness, and wisheth that this were heavenly mindedness, and a laying up a treasure above. Thus the soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing: but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat, Prov. 13. 4. Prov. 21. 25. The desire of the slothful killeth him; for his hands refuse to labour. Every little opposition or difficulty will put him by a duty: Prov. 20. 4. The sluggard will not plough by reason of the cold: therefore shall he beg in harvest, and have nothing: Prov. 22. 13. The slothful man saith, There is a Lyon without: I shall be slain in the streets. Prov. 26. 14, 15, 16. As the door turneth upon his hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed: The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom: it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth. And at last his sloth depraves his Reason, and bribeth it to plead the cause of his negligence: The sluggard is wiser in his own conceit, than seven men that can render a reason: Time will slide on, and duty will be undone, and your souls undone, if impious slothfulness be predominant.