Chapter XII: Sloth

I. The command to be diligent is plain. Rom. xii. 11. 2 Thess. iii. 10, 11.

II. See the miserable results of sloth.

1. It leads to tattling. 1 Tim. v. 13.

2. Decay. Eccles. x. 18.

3. Difficulties. Prov. xv. 19.

4. Waste. Prov. xviii. 9.

5. Want. Prov. xx. 4; xxiv. 30, 34.

III. Contrast excellent woman (Prov. xxxi. 27) with the slothful person. Prov. xix. 24; xxiv. 30; x. 26.

IV. Learn a lesson from the ant for yourselves—for your children. Prov. vi. 6, &c.

Give your children something to do.

Remember, they must be _set to work_, though it is often more trouble
to you to teach _them_ to do it, than to do it _yourself_—yet
persevere.

V. If not slothful in your temporal affairs, above all be not slothful concerning the salvation of your souls.

Heb. vi. 11, 12. 2 Pet. i. 10.