Проповеди и лекции

and to lay down their laborious work of cherishing this niggard earth, and its raw productionK, and thereby think that be improveth their condition, is truly, first, to diminish the means which are possessed of health, contentment, and happiness ; and. next, lo injure that very c«>ndiiiiiri of the |)eople which ho Keeketh to amend. For industry and full nc- cupation, are, we know, two of the best condi- tions for honesty and virtue. And idleness ii the 1066 THK CUR«£ Aft To BODILY LA»OUll, [ surest intet lo vice and profliE^y ; and thouf^h be true thai cxcca^iro labour brutalizes hui nature, it is no less true that complete itllej brutalizen it more. AikI therefore, before yi rdaic ihu occtipaliun uf Ui<-hand. utid liie nctivil of the muscular frame, you ought to have book' higher occupation and nclivity of ibc spirit to i|^ up the vacancies which you make* which othc^l wise will be filled up with mischief aiid misery. Now herein lies the true secret of improving l>eople: toimplsiitta-steHfor.aiKlileMrc&after.tliii which handicraft or manual labour cannot g^rati and to tind which this must be relaxed, and activity of Uic understanding, of the mind, heart, and «oul followed alter. To decrease labour of ihe people, while yet their minds poftst^^ed wilh no higher ide-a of the occupati of time, than in si^nsuol or animal enjoym«s would have the ettect either of wasting tbem iudolenco, and losing to themselves and the benefit of their occupation, or of cngapif them with sports, which, whatever effect tfcer have upon the animal, bate in general no otJirt upon the spirit llieo to act tl ou fire with emula- tion, strife, and quarrel; which 6ie of the pis- sion^ requires to be fed with strong pcitotioiH. and producctb m the cod cruelty, gaming, figlil- inf^. and all the moral mischiefs which are foni to attend iijion the sports uiulholidaysof ignorasl people, unresimined by reli^on, and unchecU by fear of superiors ttwl better cultivated mrads. The oaths, the blasphemies, the brutal nanm tbe ig:nomtnious actions, aixl evil effects of whick upon u man aud his famUy, it is needless for oe lo enumerate m a country where ihey art too w«H v.] TQC CUA3E AS TO BODirT tAROUR, 1067 kmwn^ being tiaily prnclined utvder the eye and even paimnage of ihe hitrher ordem, and cr«n Bometimtaof ihe authorines ofthe land. If any one would know tbe condiUoii of a people* who have only half employment of their time, without any higher tables to direct to the use of the half which remain*, ho can cast his eye: upon the p