Here we have, 1. The miseries of the slothful, whose hands refuse to
labour in an honest calling, by which they might get an honest
livelihood. They are as fit for labour as other men, and business
offers itself, to which they might lay their hands and apply their
minds, but they will not; herein they fondly think they do well for
themselves, see ch. xxvi. 16. Soul, take thy ease. But really they are
enemies to themselves; for, besides that their slothfulness starves
them, depriving them of their necessary supports, their desires at the
same time stab them. Though their hands refuse to labour, their hearts
cease not to covet riches, and pleasures, and honours, which yet cannot
be obtained without labour. Their desires are impetuous and insatiable;
they covet greedily all the day long, and cry, Give, give; they expect
every body should do for them, though they will do nothing for
themselves, much less for any body else. Now these desires kill them;
they are a perpetual vexation to them, fret them to death, and perhaps
put them upon such dangerous courses for the satisfying of their
craving lusts as hasten them to an untimely end. Many that must have
money with which to make provision for the flesh, and would not be at
the pains to get it honestly, have turned highwaymen, and that has
killed them. Those that are slothful in the affairs of their souls, and
yet have desires towards that which would be the happiness of their
souls, those desires kill them, will aggravate their condemnation and
be witnesses against them that were convinced of the worth of spiritual
blessings, but refused to be at the pains that were necessary to the
obtaining of them. 2. The honours of the honest and diligent. The
righteous and industrious have their desires satisfied, and enjoy not
only that satisfaction, but the further satisfaction of doing good to
others. The slothful are always craving and gaping to receive, but the
righteous are always full and contriving to give; and it is more
blessed to give than to receive. They give and spare not, give
liberally and upbraid not; they give a portion to seven and also to
eight, and do not spare for fear of wanting.