The travels of true godliness, from the beginning of the world to this present…

Upon this poor Poverty resolved not to let True Godliness have a Lodging in his House; but rather instead thereof, to put stronger Bolts and Bars on his Door. Godliness having waited all this while, to hear what these cursed enemies of his would say, and perceiving they had now done, he broke silence, and began of speak after this manner;

Upon this poor Poverty resolv'd not to let True Godliness have a Lodging in his House; but rather instead thereof, to put stronger Bolts and Bars on his Door. Godliness having waited all this while, to hear what these cursed enemies of his would say, and perceiving they had now done, he broke silence, and began of speak after this manner;

Godly. Well Poverty, I expected but little less from you, when I perceived you were resolved to hearken to those graceless Villains you lodge in your ^*House; for they (I hear would do their worst to keep me out; but I shall now however, to undeceive you, answer them all. First, as to these lazy Companions, Sloth and Idleness, who will not suffer you to labour for the good neither of Body nor Soul, they have in part brought you into this poor and miserable condition you are in. Oh how many have they brought to beg their ⟨p. 47⟩Bread from door to door! and stirred up others to rob, steal and commit horrible Murders, to uphold them in their loose, lazy and ungodly lives; by which means they have brought, and daily do bring a number of men and women to the Gallows: but the greatest mischief they do, is to the Souls of men; for they have cast thousands into such a deep sleep, that never awake until they lift up their eyes in Hell; they will not suffer men to labour to find out their great danger, till it is too late; and others, when they do perceive their woeful condition, are hindered by them from endeavouring timely and in a right manner to get out; they many times cry, Lord help us, and Lord have mercy upon us; but never strive to take hold of the offers and tenders of his Grace and Mercy, by cleaving to Christ, and leaving all their abominable wickedness. 'Tis the idle Soul that suffers hunger; who shall beg at harvest, and have nothing, though there is Bread and enough to spare for you in Gods House, yet they will not suffer you to seek out for it, but cause you to cry, yet a little sleep, yet a little slumber,