Against Idleness

Idle boys and men are found
Standing on the devil's ground;
He will find them work to do,
He wll pay their wages too.

Are they not of wisdom void,
Those that saunter unemploy'd;
Young or old, who fondly play
Their important time away?

What a bold and foolish lie,
When we hear a trifler cry,
"I no other business have!"
Has he not a soul to save?

Has he, from his Lord above,
No one talent to improve?
Let him go and muse on this.
Sloth is the worst wickedness.

Sloth is the accursed root
Whence ten thousand evils shoot;
Every vice, and every sin.
Doth with idleness begin.

) We by idleness expose
Our own souls to endless woes;
We, whenever loitering thus.
Tempt the devil to tempt us.

But suffice the season past,
That our time away we cast;
Thoughtless and insensible.
Dancing on the brink of hell.

Let us now to Jesus turn,
For our misspent moments mourn;
Let us, in His Spirit's power,
Promise to stand still no more.

Jesus, help! to Thee we pray:
Take the cursed root away;
Idleness far off remove.
Let us Thee and labour love;

o All our time and vigour give,
Serve our Maker while we live;
Use for God the talents given,
Work on earth, and rest in heaven.