§. Sect. 4 That the Lord abhorreth idle∣nesse and neg∣ligence, and se∣uerely punish∣eth it.
Contrariwise, the Lord abhorreth idlenesse and negligence in our cal∣lings, esteeming them that are slothfull, more brutish and without vnder∣standing, then the dumbe & brute creatures, and therfore sendeth them to their Schoole to be instructed by them. a 1.1 Go to the Ant, thou sluggard, consider her wayes and be wise. And therefore it is condemned in the b 1.2 Scriptures; c 1.3 reprooued in the Parable; Why stand ye here idle? Forbidden in all our affaires, d 1.4 Be not slothfull in businesse; Matched and rancked with wasting our owne goods, and stealing from other men; for he that is slothfull in his worke, is the brother of him that is a great waster; and the Apostle implyeth e 1.5 by that Antithesis, Let him that stole, steale no more, but let him labour with his * 1.6 hands; that an idle person is no better then a thiefe. For he robbeth the poore of their right, who depriueth them by his sloth of that reliefe, which he might yeeld vnto them out of his honest labour. And finally, to be wic∣ked and slothfull, are words of like signification, and fit to describe a per∣son desperately naught and designed to destruction. Whereof it is that our Sauiour ioyneth them together in the Parable of the talents; Thou * 1.7 wicked and slothfull seruant, &c. But how much God hateth idlenesse and negligence in the duties of our callings; it will better appeare, if wee con∣sider the manifold euils which hee causeth to accompany and attend vpon it.