The works of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honourable House of Commons…The workes of Ephesus explained in a sermon before the honovrable House of Commons…

Then hear the counsel of the Preacher, Whatsoever thy hand findeth to do, do it with all thy might. To do, and not with the might we have, is to do nothing. We live no more then we work, and we work no more then we labour. As idleness is the burial of our selves, so unlaboriousnesse (if I may so speak) is the burial of our works; without diligence they not only flat, but dye upon our hands. There are some whose very business is idleness, and there are many who are idle in their business. Seest thou a man diligent in his business ¹(saith Solomon) Not slothful in business (saith the Apostle) To be slow in business is ill, but to be slothful is far worse An industrious man is often wearied with working, but he is never weary of his work. Spontaneae lassitudines morbos loquuntur, is an Aphorism ²of Physicians. To be weary when we know not why, foresh•wes diseases of the body. I am sure it is an Argument of a diseased soul. The heart of the sluggard is like the field of the sluggard, overgrown with ³weeds.

Then heare the counsell of the Preacher, Whatsoever thy hand findeth to doe, doe it with all thy might. To doe, and not with the might we have, is to doe nothing. We live no more then we worke, and we worke no more then we labour. As idlenesse is the buriall of our selves, so unlaboriousnesse (if I may so speake) is the buriall of our workes; without diligence they not onely flat, but dye upon our hands. There are some whose very businesse is idlenesse, and there are many who are idle in their businesse. Seest thou a man diligent in his businesse ¹(saith Solomon) Not sloathfull in businesse (saith the Apostle) To be slow in businesse is ill, but to be sloathfull is farre worse An industrious man is often wearied with working, but he is never weary of his worke. Spontaneae lassitudines morbos loquuntur, is an Aphorisme ²of Physicians. To be weary when we know not why, foresh•wes diseases of the body. I am sure it is an Argument of a diseased soule. The heart of the sluggard is like the field of the sluggard, overgrowne with