A good many people are complaining all the time about themselves, and crying out, "My leanness! my leanness!" when they ought rather to say, "My laziness! my laziness!"
I am not the only one that condemns the idle; for once when I was going to give our minister a pretty long list of the sins of one of our people that he was asking after, I began with, "He's dreadfully lazy." "That's enough," said the old gentleman; "all sorts of sins are in that one."
The worst idleness is that of the heart. Think of the condition and prospects of a voiceless, thankless, prayerless heart.
When you and I are inclined to nestle down in indolence and self-indulgence, God "stirs up our nests;" and bids us fly upward.
The only cure for indolence is work; the only cure for selfishness is sacrifice; the only cure for unbelief is to shake off the ague of doubt, by doing Christ's bidding; the only cure for timidity is to plunge into some dreaded duty before the chill comes on.
INDUSTRY.
The Lord's visitations of distinguished favor are always to the diligent. That great men may not be ashamed of honest vocations, the greatest that have ever lived have been contented, happy, and honored while in the pursuit of humble trades.
