The art of giuing Describing the true nature, and right vse of liberality: and prouing that these dayes of the gospell haue farre exceeded the former times of superstition in true charitie and magnificence. By Thomas Cooper.

CHAP. XXVIII. (Book 28)

A seauenth deuice to draw men from true bounty, is by nourishing them in Idlenes, and so disinabling thereto.

And that this sinne abounds in this age is manifest.

1 BY the generall pouerty of the Trades-man and Artificer, each labouring onely from hand to mouth, to maintaine life and soule together (as wee say:) the rest of the time being spent in idlenesse and vnthrifty sports, &c. Whereas the hand of the di∣ligent might haue plenty.

2 By that ordinary sleightnesse to which all Trades are growne, each ma∣king things onely saleable to the eye, without substance, &c. Idlenesse, hauing found out a neerer way to deceiue it selfe and others.

And is it not iust with God to giue

vp the deceiuer, to be deceiued? Is not the deceitfull Artificer, that workes sleightly, because hee loues idlenesse, and cannot, through his pouerty, for∣beare payment; is hee not, I say, met with all by as cunning as himselfe? Hath not idlenesse bred vp the Cony-catcher to strip him of his deceitfull gaine.

Hath not idlenesse fostred and in∣structed the slye and deceitfull game∣ster, to fleece him thread-bare?

Is not the Stage-plaier, a right bird of this idle neast, ready to entice him yet to more idlenesse? Is not the Tauerne and Alehouse dore open to receiue such a guest? Is not the bawdie house readie to send home this Prodigall by wee∣ping-crosse, that hee may crie late repentance?

Doth not the abundance of these nur∣series of idlenesse, conuince the raiging of this sinne in these times? would not the fire be quenched, if there were not such fuell?

What should wee speake of those swarmes of sturdy roagues, and Idle beg∣gers, whose meat is for the most part ease

and idlenesse, who had rather starue then be set a worke?

And are not such vsually forced to steale, that they may not starue? doe not the abundance of these conuince the Land to swarme with idlenesse?

And by your leaue, is it not now a fashion to liue in idlenesse? My high borne younger-Brothers, because they haue no lands, therefore they haue no∣thing to doe what they should; they can∣not digge, to begge they are ashamed: meete the enemy they dare not, and ther∣fore they wil be meet with their friend, if they can, by cheating, if not by plain cut∣ting, and so they will doe what they should not, and so in the end suffer what they would not.

Well then it is apparant that idlenesse abounds. Learne we now in the next place, the remedy hereof.

1 Labour we to get grace in our hearts, for he that is in Christ wil be alwaies brin∣ging forth fruit in due season, he can∣not

be idle that hath the spirit working in him.

2 And therefore let vs stir vp the spirit by prayer and holy duties, that how∣soeuer the world count, the seruice of God idlenesse, yet wee may finde, that when our God is honoured he will honour vs before men, in giuing vs di∣ligence, that we may stand before Prin∣ces, and giuing vs wisdome and faith∣fulnesse in the least.

3 And giue wee not our hearts to pleasures and delights, abuse we not our liberty in the creatures of God, for these will draw on and confirme in idlenesse.

4 Consider wee how the creatures are in continuall imployment.

5 And obserue wee that the diuell is neuer idle to hurt vs.

6 Remember wee how vnprofitably wee haue spent the time past, and con∣sider wee what warrant wee haue for the time to come.

7 And know wee that the minde can neuer be idle, if not working for good, then certainely for euill.