Quote 4670
76
Other Quotes from the Author & Topic
Spend the greatest part of the day in thy particular calling. He that minds not his closet before his shop is an atheist, and he that minds not his shop after his closet is a hypocrite. The world is God's great family, and He will allow none in it to be idle.
I would rather confess my ignorance than falsely profess knowledge. It is no shame not to know all things, but it is a just shame to overreach in anything.
An idle person is a fit subject for the devil to work upon.
Idleness is the hour of temptation, and an idle person is the devil's tennis ball, tossed by him at his pleasure.
The proud man is Satan's throne, and the idle man is his pillow.
It is hardly possible that a person should continue absolutely unemployed for any long time and he that is not doing what he ought will be doing what he ought not; the destroyer of souls can hardly wish for a fairer mark at which to direct his temptations than an idle person.
Idleness is a moth or canker of the mind, and the fruits thereof are wicked cogitations, evil affections, and worse actions; corrupt trees without fruit, twice dead and plucked up by the roots, engendering in the mind a loathing of God and godliness.
The idle man is the devil's cushion on which he taketh his free ease, who, as he is incapable of any good, so he is fitly disposed for all evil motions. The standing water soon stinks, whereas the current ever keeps clear and cleanly, conveying down all noisome matter that might infect it by the force of his stream. If I do but little good to others by my endeavors, yet this is great good to me, that by my labor I keep myself from hurt. Meditations and Vows
Long ease will bring either superstition, profaneness, or heresy through our corruption.Time Well Spent
Harbor no idle persons in your family; let your servants have moderate work and meat. If they deserve reproof, let it be without passion; advice, with some natures, may do more than correction.
O the deadly sins, the deadly temptations, the deadly judgments that idle and slothful Christians are given up to; therefore, be active, be diligent, be abundant in the work of the Lord. Idleness is the very source of sin. Standing pools gather mud and nourish and breed venomous creatures, and so do the hearts of idle and slothful Christians.
Idleness is hateful in any, but most abominable and intolerable in ministers; and sooner or later none shall pay so dear for it as such. Witness the frequent woes that are denounced in Scripture against them. Where should a soldier die but in the field? And where should a minister die but in the pulpit?
Idleness is a sin against the law of creation. God creating man to labor, the idle person violates this law, for by his idleness he casts off the authority of his Creator.
Idleness breeds temptation. Our vacation is the devil's term; when we are least at work for God, then is Satan most at work about us. By doing nothing men learn to do evil. Yea, idleness is the burying of a living man.
Avoid idleness, for that is the proper soil for these filthy weeds to grow in. Vile thoughts seldom occur when the soul is usefully employed. A man that is diligent in his calling has employment for his thoughts, but if a man be idle, the devil soon employs him. As a standing pool grows filthy of itself and full of toads and vermin, so the heart that is not engaged in something good and useful is a fit place for the devil to breed evil thoughts and filthy passions in. The inhabitants of Sodom were not worse by nature than other men, but they grew rich in a fertile land, lived at ease in luxury, and then gave themselves up to all abominations.
The good man is weary of doing nothing, for nothing is so laborious as idleness.
A true friend is not born every day. It is best to be courteous to all; entire with few. So may we, perhaps, have less cause of joy—I am sure, less occasion of sorrow.
A Christian in all his ways must have three guides: truth, charity, wisdom—truth to go before him; charity and wisdom on either hand. If any of the three be absent, he walks amiss. I have seen some do hurt by following a truth uncharitably; and others, while they would salve up an error with love, have failed in their wisdom and offended against justice. A charitable untruth and an uncharitable truth, an unwise managing of truth or love are all to be carefully avoided of him that would go with a right foot in the narrow way.
An Ambitious man is the greatest enemy to himself of any in the world besides, for he still torments himself with hopes and desires and cares, which he might avoid if he would remit of the height of his thoughts and live quietly. My only ambition shall be to rest in God's favor on earth and to be a saint in heaven.
Special OfferTop Authors
1. Thomas Watson (167)
2. Charles Spurgeon (135)
3. J.C. Ryle (117)
4. John Calvin (107)
5. J.I. Packer (93)
6. John Piper (87)
7. Thomas Brooks (84)
8. George Swinnock (82)
9. John Flavel (77)
10. John Owen (69)
11. A.W. Pink (68)
12. Louis Berkhof (63)
13. Thomas Manton (60)
14. C.S. Lewis (59)
15. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (58)
16. B.B. Warfield (58)
17. William Gurnall (56)
18. R.C. Sproul (55)
19. Heinrich Bullinger (53)
20. Matthew Henry (51)
2. Charles Spurgeon (135)
3. J.C. Ryle (117)
4. John Calvin (107)
5. J.I. Packer (93)
6. John Piper (87)
7. Thomas Brooks (84)
8. George Swinnock (82)
9. John Flavel (77)
10. John Owen (69)
11. A.W. Pink (68)
12. Louis Berkhof (63)
13. Thomas Manton (60)
14. C.S. Lewis (59)
15. Martyn Lloyd-Jones (58)
16. B.B. Warfield (58)
17. William Gurnall (56)
18. R.C. Sproul (55)
19. Heinrich Bullinger (53)
20. Matthew Henry (51)
Top Topics
1. Sin (216)2. Scripture (152)
3. Prayer (143)
4. Faith (134)
5. Preaching (119)
6. Gospel (111)
7. The Law (108)
8. Suffering (99)
9. Salvation (91)
10. Sabbath (88)
11. Church (85)
12. Christ (82)
13. Grace (73)
14. Law (61)
15. Justification (55)
16. Truth (53)
17. Death (51)
18. Holiness (47)
19. Love (46)
20. Heaven (45)
21. Children (44)
22. Creation (43)
23. Theology (43)
24. Ten Commandments (42)
25. Holy Spirit (41)
26. Obedience (40)