Images de page
PDF
ePub

imagine that he heareth the voice of those glorious kings or venerable prelates, or worthy gentlemen complaining thus, and rating him: Why, sluggard, dost thou, against my will, possess my estate? Why dost thou presume to occupy the place due to an industrious person? Why dost thou forget or despise thy obligation to my kindness? Thou art an usurper, a robber, or a purloiner of my goods, which I never intended for such as thee. I challenge thee of wrong to myself, and of sacrilege toward my God, to whose service I devoted those his gifts to me.

How reproachful will it be to us, if that expostulation may concern us, "Wherefore is there a price in the hand of a fool to get wisdom, seeing he hath no heart to it?"

If to be a dunce or a bungler in any profession be shameful, how much more ignominious and infamous to a Scholar to be such? from whom all men expect

that he should excel in intellectual abili

ties, and be able to help others by his instruction and advice.

Nothing surely would more grate on the heart of one that hath a spark of ingenuity, of modesty, of generous goodnature, than to be liable to such an imputation.

To avoid it therefore (together with all the guilt and all the mischiefs attending on sloth) let each of us, in God's name, carefully mind his business; and may the grace and blessing of God prosper Amen.

you therein.

THE END.

Printed by S. & R. BENTLEY,
Dorset Street, Salisbury Square, London.

« PrécédentContinuer »