Against Idleness

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Forasmuch as Man, being not born to Ease and Rest, but to Labor and Travel, is by corruption of Nature through sin, so far degenerated and grown out of kind, that he taketh Idleness to be no evil at all, but rather a commendable thing, seemly for those that be Wealthy; and therefore is greedily imbraced of most part of Men, as agreeable to their sensual affection, and all Labor and Travel is diligently avoided, as a thing Painful and Repugnant to the pleasure of the Flesh: It is necessary to be declared unto you, that by the Ordinance of God, which he hath set in the Nature of Man, every one ought, in his Lawful Vocation and Calling, to give himself to Labor; and that Idleness, being Repugnant to the same Ordinance, is a grievous sin, and also, for the great inconveniences and mischiefs which spring thereof, an intolerable Evil: To the intent that when ye understand the same, ye may diligently flee from it, and on the other part earnestly apply your selves, every Man in his Vocation, to honest Labor and Business, which as it is enjoyned unto Man by Gods appointment; so it wanteth not his manifold Blessings and sundry Benefits.

Almighty God, after that he had Created Man, put him into Paradise, that he might dress and keep it; but when he had transgressed Gods Commandment, Eating the Fruit of the Tree which was forbidden him, Almighty God fort with did cast him out of Paradise into this woful Vail of Misery, enjoyning him to Labor the Ground that he was taken out of, and to eat his Bread in the sweat of his Face all the days of his Life. It is the appoinment and will of God, that every Man, during the time of this Mortal and Transitory life, should give himself to such Honest and Godly Exercise and Labor, and every one follow his own business, and to walk uprightly in his own Calling. Man (saith Job) is born to Labor. And we are commanded by Jesus Sirach, not to hate painful works, neither Husbandry, or other such Mysteries of Travel, which the highest hath Created. The Wise Man also exhorteth us, to drink the Waters of our own Cistern, and of the Rivers that run out of the midst of our own Well; meaning thereby, that we should live of our own Labors, and not devour the Labors of others. St. Paul hearing that among the Thessalonians there were certain that lived dissolutely and out of order, that is to say, which did not work, but were busie-bodies; not getting their own living with their own Travel, but eating other Mens Bread of free-cost, did command the said Thessalonians, not only to withdraw themselves, and abstain from the familiar company of such inordinate persons, but also that if there were any such among them that would not Labor, the same should not Eat, nor have any Living at other Mens hands. Which Doctrin of St. Paul (no doubt) is grounded upon the general Ordinance of God, which is, that every Man should Labor: And therefore it is to be obeyed of all Men, and no Man can justly exempt himself from the same. But when it is said, all Men should Labor, it is not so streightly meant, that all Men should use handy Labor. But as there be divers sorts of Labors, some of the Mind, and some of the Body, and some of both: So every one (except by reason of Age, debility of Body, or want of Health, he be unapt to Labor at all) ought both for the getting of his own living honestly, and for to profit others, in some kind of Labor to exercise himself, according as the Vocation whereunto God hath called him shall require. So that whosoever doth good to the Common Weal and Society of Men with his Industry and Labor, whether it be by Governing the Common Weal publickly, or by bearing publick Office or Ministry, or by doing any common necessary affairs of his Country, or by giving Counsel, or by teaching and instructing others, or by what other means soever he be occupied, so that a profit and benefit redound thereof unto others, the same person is not to be accounted Idle, though he work no Bodily Labor, nor is to be denied his living (if he attended his Vocation) though he work not with his hands.

Bodily Labor is not required of them which by reason of their Vocation and Office are Occupied in the Labor of the Mind, to the succour and help of others. St. Paul exhorteth Timothy to eschew and refuse Idle Widows, which go about from House to House, because they are not only Idle, but Pratlers also, and Busie-bodies, speaking things which are not comely. The Prophet Ezekiel, declaring what the Sins of the City of Sodom were, reckoneth Idleness to be one of the principle. The Sins (saith he) of Sodom were these, Pride, fulness of Meat, Abundance, and Idleness. These things had Sodom and her Daughters, meaning the Cities subject to her. The horrible and strange kind of Destruction of that City, and all the Country about the same, (which was Fire and Brimstone raining from Heaven) most manifestly declareth, what a grievous Sin Idleness is, and ought to admonish us to flee from the same, and embrace Honest and Godly Labor. But if we give our selves to Idleness and Sloth, to Lurking and Loitering, to wilful Wandring, and wastful Spending, never setling our selves to Honest Labor, but living like drone Bees by the Labors of other Men, then do we break the Lords Commandment, we go astray from our Vocation, and incur the danger of Gods wrath and heavy displeasure, to our endless destruction, except by Repentance we turn again unfeignedly unto God. The inconveniencies and mischiefs that come of Idleness, as well to Mans Body as to his Soul, are more than can in short time be well rehearsed. Some we shall declare and open unto you, that by considering them, ye may the better with your selves gather the rest. An Idle Hand (saith Soloman) maketh Poor,but a quick Laboring Hand maketh Rich. Again, He that Tilleth his Land, shall have plenteousness of Bread, but he that floweth in Idleness is a very Fool, and shall have Poverty enough. Again, A Sloathful Body will not go to Plough for cold of Winter, therefore shall he go a begging in the Summer, and have nothing.

But what shall we need to stand much about the proving this, that Poverty followeth Idleness: We have too much experience thereof (the thing is the more to be lamented) in this Realm. For a great part of the beggery that is among the Poor, can be imputed to nothing so much as to Idleness, and to the negligence of Parents, which do not bring up their Children either in good Learning, Honest Labor, or some commendable Occupation or Trade, whereby when they come to Age, they might get their living. Daily Experience also teacheth, that nothing is more an enemy or pernicious to the health of Mans Body, than is Idleness, too much Ease and Sleep, and want of Exercise. But these and such like incommodities, albeit they be great and noisom, yet because they concern chiefly the Body and external Good, they are not to be compared with the mischiefs and inconveniences, which through Idleness happen to the Soul, whereof we will recite some. Idleness is never alone, but hath always a long Tail of other Vices hanging on, which corrupt and infect the whole Man after such a sort, that he is made at length, nothing else but a lump of Sin. Idleness (saith Jesus Sirach) bringeth much Evil and Mischief. St. Bernard calleth it the Mother of all Evils, and step-dame of all Vertues, adding moreover, that it doth prepare, and (as it were) tread the way to Hell Fire. Where Idleness is once received, there the Devil is ready to set in his Foot, and to plant all kind of Wickedness and Sin, to the everlasting Destruction of Mans Soul. Which thing to be most true, we are taught plainly in the 13. of Matthew, where it is said, that the Enemy came while Men were asleep, and Sowed naughty Tares among the good Wheat. In very deed, the best time that the Devil can have to work his feat, is when Men be asleep, that is to say, Idle: Then is he most busie in his work, then doth he soonest catch Men in the snare of Perdition, then doth he fill them with all iniquity, to bring them (without Gods special favor) unto utter Destruction. Hereof we have two notable Examples, most lively set before our Eyes. The one in King David, who tarrying at home Idly (as the Scripture saith) at such times as other Kings go forth to Battle, was quickly seduced of Satan to forsake the Lord his God, and to commit two grievous and abominable sins in his sight, Adultery and Murder.

The Plagues that ensued these Offences were horrible and grievous, as it may easily appear to them that will read the Story. Another example of Samson, who so long as he Warred with the Philistines, Enemies to the People of God, could never be taken or overcome: But after that he gave himself to Ease and Idleness, he not only committed Fornication with the Strumpet Dalila, but also was taken of his Enemies, and had his Eyes miserably put out, was put in Prison, and compelled to grind in a Mill, and at length was made the laughing strock of his Enemies. If these two, who were so excellent Men, so wellbeloved of God, so endued with singular and Divine Gifts, the one namely of Prophecy, and the other of Strength, and such Men as never could by Vexation, Labor, or Trouble, be overcome, were overthrown and fell into grievous Sins by giving themselves for a short time to Ease and Idleness, and so consequently incurred miserable Plagues at the hands of God: What Sin? What Mischief? What Inconvenience and Plagues is not to be feared of them, which all their life long give themselves wholly to Idleness and Ease? Let us not deceive our selves, thinking little hurt to come of doing nothing; for it is a true saying, When one doth nothing, he learneth to do Evil. Let us therefore always be doing of some honest Work, that the Devil may find us Occupied. He himself is ever Occupied, never Idle, but walketh continually seeking to devour us. Let us resist him with our diligent Watching, in Labor, and in Well-doing. For he that diligently exerciseth himself in honest Business, is not easily catched in the Devils snare. When Man through Idleness, or for defalt of some honest Occupation or Trade to live upon, is brought to Poverty, and want of things necessary, we see how easily such a Man is induced for his gain, to Lie, to Practice how he may deceive his Neighbor, to forswear himself, to bear false Witness, and oftentimes to Steal and Murder, or to use some other ungodly mean to live withal; whereby not only his good Name, honest Reputation, and a good Conscience, yea, his Lise is utterly lost, but also the great displeasure and wrath of God, with divers and sundry grievous Plagues are procured. Lo here the end of the Idle and Sluggish Bodies, whose hands cannot away with honest Labor; loss of Name, Fame, Reputation, and Life, here in this World, and without the great Mercy of God, the purchasing of Everlasting Destruction in the World to come. Have not all Men then good cause to beware and take heed of Idleness, seeing they that embrace and follow it, have commonly of their pleasant Idleness, sharp and soure displeasures? Doubtless good and godly Men, weighing the great and manifold harms that come by Idleness to a Common-weal, have from time to time provided with all deligence, that sharp and severe Laws might be made for the Correction and Amendment of this Evil. The Egyptians had a Law, that every Man should Weekly bring his Name to the chief Rulers of the Province, and therewithal declare what trade of Life he used, to the intent that Idleness might be worthily punished, and diligent Labor duly rewarded. The Athenians did chastise Sluggish and Sloathful People, no less than they did Hainous and Grievous Offenders, considering (as the truth is) that Idleness causeth much mischief. The Areopagites called every Man to a strait accompt how he lived; and if they found any Loyterers that did not profit the Common-weal by one means or other, they were driven out, and banished, as unprofitable Members, that did only hurt and corrupt the Body. And in this Realm of England, good and godly Laws have been divers times made, that no Idle Vagabonds and Loytering Runnagates, should be suffered to go from Town to Town, from Place to Place, without Punishment, which neither serve God nor their Prince, but devour the sweet Fruits of other Mens Labor, being common Liars, Drunkards, Swearers, Thieves, Whoremasters, and Murderers, refusing all honest Labor, and give themselves to nothing else but to invent and do mischief, whereof they are more desirous and greedy than is any Lion of his prey. To remember this inconvenience, let all Parents and others which have the care and governance of Youth, so bring them up either in good Learning, Labor, or some honest Occupation or Trade, whereby they may be able in time to come, not only to sustain themselves competently, but also to rel[?]eve and supply the necessity and want of others. And St. Paul saith, Let him that hath stolen,steal no more; and he that hath deceived others, or used unlawful ways to get his living, leave off the same, and Labor rather, working with his Hands that thing which is good, that he may have that which is necessary for himself, and also be able to give unto others that stand in need of his help. The Prophet David thinketh him happy that liveth upon his Labor, saying, When thou eatest the Labors of thine Hands, hapyy art thou, and well is thee. This happyness or blessing consisteth in these and such like Points.

First, It is the gift of God (as Solomon saith) when one eateth and drinketh, and receiveth good of his Labor. Secondly, When one liveth of his own Labor (so it be honest and good) he liveth of it with a good Conscience, and an upright Conscience is a treasure inestimable. Thirdly he Eateth his Bread not with brawling and chiding, but with peace and quietness, when he quietly Laboreth for the same, according to St. Pauls admonition. Fourthly, He is no Mans Bondman for his meat sake, nor needeth not for that, to hang upon the good Will of other Men; but so liveth of his own, that he is able to give part to others. And to conclude, the Laboring Man and his Family, whiles they are busily Occupied in their Labor, be free from many Temptations and occasions of Sin, which they that live in Idleness are subject unto. And here ought Artificers and Laboring Men, who be at Wages for their Work and Labor, to consider their Conscience to God, and their Duty to their Neighbor, lest they abuse their time in Idleness, so defrauding them which be at Charge both with great Wages, and dear Commons. They be worse than Idle Men indeed, for that they seek to have Wages for their Loytering. It is less danger to God to be Idle for no gain, than by Idleness to win out of their Neighbors Purse, Wages for that which is not deserved. It is true, that Almighty God is angry with such as do defraud the Hired Man of his Wages; the cry of that injury ascendeth up to Gods ear for vengeance. And as true it is, that the hired Man, who useth deceit in his Labor, is a thief before God. Let no Man (saith St. Paul to the Thessalonians) subtilly beguile his Brother, let him not defraud him of his business: For the Lord is the revenger of such deceits. Whereupon he that will have a good Conscience to God, that Laboring Man, I say, which dependeth wholly upon Gods benediction, ministring all things sufficient for his living, let him use his time in a faithful Labor, and when his Labor by Sickness or other misfortune doth cease, yet let him think for that in his health he served God and his Neighbor truly, he shall not want in time of necessity. God upon respect of his fidelity in health, will recompence his indigence, to move the Hearts of good Men to relieve such decayed Men in Sickness. Where otherwise, whatsoever is gotten by idleness shall have no means to help in time of need.

Let the Laboring Man therefore eschew for his part this vice of Idleness and Deceit, remembring that St Paul exhorteth every Man to lay away all Deceit, Dissimulation, and Lying, and to use truth and plainness to his Neighbour, because (saith he) we be Members together in one Body, under one head Christ our Saviour. And here might be charged the Servingmen of this Realm, who spend their time in much Idleness of life, nothing regarding the opportunity of their time, forgetting how Service is no Heritage, how Age will creep upon them; where Wisdom were, they should expend their Idle time in some good Business, whereby they might increase in knowledge, and so the more worthy to be ready for every Mans service: It is a great rebuke to them, that they study not either to Write fair, to keep a Book of Account, to study the Tongues, and so to get wisdom and knowledge in such Books and Works, as be now plentifully set out in Print of all manner of Languages. Let young Men consider the precious value of their time, and waste it not in Idleness, in Jollity, in Gaming, in Bant queting, in Ruffians company. Youth is but Vanity, and must be accounted for before God. How merry and glad soever thou be in thy Youth, O young Man (saith the Preacher) how glad soever thy Heart be in thy young days, how fast and freely soever thou follow the ways of thine own Heart, and the lust of thine own Eye, yet be thou sure that God shall bring thee into Judgment for all these things. God of his mercy put it into the Hearts and Minds of all them that have the Sword of Punishment in their Hands, or have Families under their Governance, to Labor to redress this great enormity, of all such as live Idly and unprofitably in the Common-weal, to the great dishonor of God, and the grievous Plague of his silly People. To leave sin unpunished, and to neglect the good bringing up of Youth, is nothing else but to kindle the Lords wrath against us, and to heap Plagues upon our own Heads. As long as the Adulterous people were suffered to live Licentiously without Reformation; so long did the Plague continue and increase in Israel, as you may see in the Book of Numbers.

But when due correction was done upon them, the Lords anger was strait way pacified, and the Plauge ceased. Let all Officers therefore look straitly to their charge. Let all Masters of Housholds reform this abuse in their Families; let them use the Authority that God hath given them; let them not maintain Vagabonds and Idle persons, but deliver the Realm and their Housholds from such noysom Loyterers, that Idleness the Mother of all Mischief, being clean taken away, Almighty God may turn his dreaful Anger away from us, and confirm the Covenant of Peace upon us for ever, through the Merits of Jesus Christ our only Lord and Saviour; to whom with the Father, and the Holy Ghost, be all Honor and Glory, World without end. Amen.

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