Note, 1. Those that have no love for their business will never want
excuses to shake it off. Multitudes are ruined, both for soul and body,
by their slothfulness, and yet still they have something or other to
say for themselves, so ingenious are men in putting a cheat upon their
own souls. And who, I pray, will be the gainer at last, when the
pretences will be all rejected as vain and frivolous? 2. Many frighten
themselves from real duties by imaginary difficulties: The slothful man
has work to do without in the fields, but he fancies there is a lion
there; nay, he pretends he dares not go along the streets for fear
somebody or other should meet him and kill him. He does not himself
think so; he only says so to those that call him up. He talks of a lion
without, but considers not his real danger from the devil, that roaring
lion, which is in bed with him, and from his own slothfulness, which
kills him.