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

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, ²yet a little folding of the hands to sleep: Is it not sad notwithstanding your House is on fire, and you like to be burnt in your Bed, yet cannot through this base Sloth and Idleness rise up; you are just ready to drop into Hell, and yet will not endeavour to deliver your own Soul. O remember that Word,³ Take the slothful and unprofitable Servant, and bind him hand and foot, and cast him into utter darkness, there shall be weeping and gnashing of Teeth. And then secondly, as to Light-fingers, he is a Thief; and if you follow his Dictates, he will bring you to the Gibbet, besides,