W I C K E D M E N S L U G G A R D S. Book IV. SIMILE. over with Nettles and Weeds. I went by the Field of the Slothful, by the Vineyard of the Man void of Under.ftanding, and lo, it was all grown over with <Thorns, and Nettles had covered the Face thereof, and the Stone Wall thereof was broken down, Prov. xxiv. 30, 31. V. The Way of the Sluggard feems to be barred or hedged up, that he cannot go on, he cannot find the Path. 'fhe Way of the flothful Man is a Hedge of 'I' horns ; but the Way of the Righteous is plai11, Prov. xv. '9· PARALLEL. though he provides for the Body, and takes care what he and his !hall have to eat, and what ro put on; yet his Soul, and the Souls of fuch as are about him, are negleCl:ed; nothmg but Weeds and Corruption grow there; Sin and filthy Luft predominate, Pride, Paflion, Covetoulnefs, and every evil Work, Jam. i1i. r6: V. So the Sinners Way, is as it were, hedged up: For like as a Hedge obftrcCts or hindns a Man fometimes in his Way, that he cannot pafs along fo the Wicked by one Temptation, Ob– ftruCtion, or anorher, are hindered tram gointTon in the Ways of God Perhaps the Snares tha~ at– tend their Trade, are as a Hedge to them; or the Fear of difpleafing a Father, or Uncle, or fome other Relation, left they !hould be left out of their Will, or di ,polfdfed of an E !late; or a Landlord, or fame great Man or Neighbor, by whom they may pof!ibly have their Livelihood, may be as a Heugc or Bar to obftruet them in their following of Chrift; and by this Means is the fpiritual Sluggard difcouraged. VI. The Sluggard cloth not enVI. So the fpiritual Sluggard doth not enjoy the joy the Good that is in his Hand: heavenI¥ good Things that leem to be in his Hand: 'I'he flothful Man roafleth not that Wberefore is there a Price in the Hand of a Fool to whtch he took in hunting, Prov. xii. get Wifdom, feeing he bath no Heart to it? Prov. 27. that is, when he hath got xvii. 16. Some Men hunt, as it were, after Know– Food, he cloth not prepare it, nor ledge; go from one Place to another, will hear make it meet to be received, nor this worthy Minifter, and that worthy Minifter, feed upon it. and at !aft when they have found the Venilon, I mean, come to underftand the Will of God, they do not fubjeCt to it: They know what the Threatening is, but fear it not; and know what the Precept is, but obey it not ; and know what the Promife is, and yet believe and apply it not. And thus they roaft not that which they have taken in huming; they feed not upon the Word; they are forgetful Hearers, and not Doers of the Word, and thereby deceive their own Souls, Jam. i. 72. VII. The Sluggard is one that VII. The fpirirual Sluggard loves his Eafe. If loves not to encounter with DiffiReligion cannot be owned, profelfed, and ftuck to, cultks ; he cannot abide to think unlels a Man offer fome Force, as it were, unto of enduring a little Hardlhip. <The himfelf, and expofe the Fldh to fome Hardfhips, Sluggard will not plow by Reafon of he prefently grows weary of it. He cannot in the tf;e Cold, Prov. xx. + Morning go to Prayer, becaufe his worldly Buli-' nefs calls tor him, or perhaps it is cold, or he·is indifpofed, &c. And perhaps he cannot pray at Night, becaufe it doth not agree wid1 the Flefh; the 6ody is weary, and would fain go to Bed. And he cannot go to Church to hear the Word of God, becaufe the \;yind blows, or it rains; or he hath wearied himfelf the Day before, and fo cannot rife early enough; or it is a great 'Nay, and the Ways are bad, &c. yet he knows in his Confcience, that if there were but a aood Bargain to be bought, or fame worldly Advantage to be had, though it were ~ot above the Value of half Five Pound, all thefe Obfl:ruCtions would be no– .fhing. But perhaps fame Sluggards may get over thefe Things; and yet if there lie prher Difficullj~es in the Way, they cannot hold the Plough of the Gofpel; if there is a Blaft of Perfecmion feared, he knows not how to encounter with that. And thus .the Sluggard difcourages himfelf. VIII. The Sluggard, though ne is fo fiothful, as to hide his Hand in his Bofom, and is grieved to briQg it qgain to his Mouth, yet he is wife in hio own Eyes. <The Sluggard is wifer in his owil Conceit, than feven Men CfZ/l render .. VIII. So the fpiritual Sluggard, though he is mon!l:rous idle, prays as if he prayed not, anti reads as if it were a Burden to him, and hears the Word with no Delight, his Heart is alleep, and per-haps his Eyes roo; yet he is very wi!C in his own Conceit. Notwithllanding he is fuch a poor, carnal, worldly Wretch, he hath high Thoughts of
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