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sERM.
xXix.]
A
GOOD
REPORT, &C.
477
the instructions
of
those who teach
us.
Every
one
of
us
have
our
proper
work,
which demands
our application
to
it.
There are
many enemies to this virtue, many practices
inconsistent
with
the
character of
diligence,
as
it
is
cele-
brated and
recommended
in
the
word
of
God.
First,
Sloth
or
laziness
stands foremost
in
this
rank.
Surely the powers
of
our mind and
body
were
never
made
to be useless,
Go
to the
ant, thou
sluggard,
and
learn industry
of that
little animal. Can
we
think
we
were
born
to be
cumberers
of
the
ground, and
mere
bur-
dens
of
the
earth
we
dwell on
Let
us
shake
off this
stu-
pid and infamous humour,
let
us
rise to an active
life,
and
answer the ends
of our creation.
And
for the same
reason
it
is,
that
there
ought to be
a
restraint
put upon
an excess
of
sleep
and slumber.
You
know
the
charac-
ter
of
the drowsy wretch,
that turns
from
side to
side
upon
his
bed, as
a
heavy
door upon
its hinges
;
and the
sluggard,
who
with folded hands
sits still
and
lets
the
weeds grow
over
his
corn
;
but
these
men shall be
,
clothed
with rags,
Prov.
xxiv.
12.
Secondly,
Luxury, and an intemperate
love
of
plea-
sure,
is
another
enemy to diligence in
our
callings.
It
is
an odious character
that
is
given
to
the
inhabitants
of
Crete
by
one
of
their
own
poets
;
and the Spirit
of
God
confirms the
truth
of
it,
Tit.
i.
12.
The
Cretans
are
evil beasts,
slow
bellies;
so
shamefully engaged
in
glut-
tony and the luxury
of
the palate,
that
they
render
them-
selves heavy,
stupid, and unfit for
business
;
A lazy
gene-
ration
of
men,
that
have
much more inclination
to
eat
and drink, and
live
like brutes,
than
to employ themselves
in
any.honest labour,
that
is
worthy
of
human
nature,
or
becomes
a
man.
Under the
same
reproof
I
may
justly
bring an
exces-
sive
indulgence
of
sports or recreations,
beyond what
is
necessary for the
refreshment of nature, and
the
recruit of
our
spirits,
in order
to
fulfil
duty
with more diligence
This
was
intimated
in
a former
discourse.
It
is
but
a
character
of
ill
report,
when
a
man
is
too often found
in
the place
of
sports and unnecessary.
diversions,
while
he
ought
to be
in his shop,
or
in
other
proper
business
of
his
life.
Prov.
xxi.
17.
"
He that
loveth pleasure, shall be