{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/211/2110506.htm","path":"chr/ecf/211/2110506.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/211/2110506.htm","text":"Different passages from the writings of Solomon against accidie.\nAnd Solomon, the wisest of men, clearly points to this fault of idleness in many passages, as he says: \u201cHe that followeth idleness shall be filled with poverty,\u201d 985 either visible or invisible, in which an idle person and one entangled with different faults is sure to be involved, and he will always be a stranger to the contemplation of God, and to spiritual riches, of which the blessed Apostle says: \u201cFor in all things ye were enriched in him, in all utterance and in all knowledge.\u201d 986 But concerning this poverty of the idler elsewhere he also writes thus: \u201cEvery sluggard shall be clothed in torn garments and rags.\u201d 987 For certainly he will not merit to be adorned with that garment of incorruption (of which the Apostle says, \u201cPut ye on the Lord Jesus Christ,\u201d 988 and again: \u201cBeing clothed in the breastplate of righteousness and charity,\u201d 989 concerning which the Lord Himself also speaks to Jerusalem by the prophet: \u201cArise, arise, O Jerusalem, put on the garments of thy glory),\u201d 990 whoever, overpowered by lazy slumber or by accidie, prefers to be clothed, not by his labour and industry, but in the rags of idleness, which he tears off from the solid piece and body of the Scriptures, and fits on to his sloth no garment of glory and honour, but an ignominious cloak and excuse. For those, who are affected by this laziness, and do not like to support themselves by the labour of their own hands, as the Apostle continually did and charged us to do, are wont to make use of certain Scripture proofs by which they try to cloak their idleness, saying that it is written, \u201cLabour not for the meat that perisheth, but for that which remains to life eternal;\u201d 991 and \u201cMy meat is to do the will of my Father.\u201d 992 But these proofs are (as it were) rags, from the p. 274 solid piece of the gospel, which are adopted for this purpose, viz., to cover the disgrace of our idleness and shame rather than to keep us warm, and adorn us with that costly and splendid garment of virtue which that wise woman in the Proverbs, who was clothed with strength and beauty, is said to have made either for herself or for her husband; of which presently it is said: \u201cStrength and beauty are her clothing, and she rejoices in the latter days.\u201d 993 Of this evil of idleness Solomon thus makes mention again: \u201cThe ways of the idlers are strewn with thorns;\u201d 994 i.e., with these and similar faults, which the Apostle above declared to spring from idleness. And again: \u201cEvery sluggard is always in want.\u201d 995 And of these the Apostle makes mention when he says, \u201cAnd that you want nothing of any man\u2019s.\u201d 996 And finally: \u201cFor idleness has been the teacher of many evils:\u201d 997 which the Apostle has clearly enumerated in the passage which he expounded above: \u201cWorking not at all, but curiously meddling.\u201d To this fault also he joins another: \u201cAnd that ye study to be quiet;\u201d and then, \u201cthat ye should do your own business and walk honestly towards them that are without, and that you want nothing of any man\u2019s.\u201d Those also whom he notes as disorderly and rebellious, from these he charges those who are earnest to separate themselves: \u201cThat ye withdraw yourselves,\u201d says he, \u201cfrom every brother that walketh disorderly and not according to the tradition which they received from us.\u201d 998\nProv. xxiii. 21. (LXX.).\n273:988 273:989 273:990 273:991\nS. John vi. 27.\n273:992\nS. John iv. 34.\n274:993\nProv. xxxi. 25. (LXX.).\n274:994\nProv. xv. 19 (LXX.).\n274:995\nProv. xiii. 4 (LXX.).\n274:996 274:997 274:998\n2 Thess. 3:11, 6, 1 Thess. 4:11.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XI: The Works of John Cassian.: Chapter XXI. Different passages from the writings of Solomon against accidie.","type":"page"}