Idleness, Bane of

Idleness is the great corrupter of youth, and the bane and dishonor of middle age. He who, in the prime of life, finds time to hang heavy on his hands, may with much reason suspect that he has not consulted the duties which the consideration of his age imposed on him; assuredly he has not consulted his happiness. Blair. 9717.

IDLENESS Considered. It is very great vanity in many professors to mind more other men’s business than their own; from the society of such saints we must withdraw. No man is too noble to have a calling. If iron had reason, it would choose rather to be used in labor, than to grow rusty in a corner.

By the law of Mohamet, the Grand Turk himself was to be of some trade. The hour of idleness is the hour of temptation. An idle person is the devil’s tennis-ball, tossed by him at his pleasure. God ordained that the neck of the consecrated ass should be broken (Exodus xiii.

13), instead of sacrificing it; peradventure, because that animal hath ever been the hieroglyphic of sloth and laziness. Among the Kgyptians idleness was a capital crime. Among the Locrians, he that lent money to an idle person was to lose it. Among the Corinthians, idle persons were delivered to the carnifex.

By the laws of Solon, idle persons were to suffer death. The ancients call idle ness the burial of a living man; and Seneca had rather be sick than idle. Now, shall nature do more than grace? Shall poor blind heathens be so severe against idle persons, and shall Christians embrace them?

Should they nod rather turn their backs upon them and have no intercourse with them who think themselves too great, or too good, to hold the plough? T. Brooks.