This I know, Christ is the fountain; but the well is deep, and thou must get forth this water before thou canst be refreshed with it. I know, so far as you are spiritual, you need not all this striving and violence; but in part you are carnal, and as long as it is so, there is need of labor. It was a custom of the Parthians, not to give their children any meat in the morning, before they saw the sweat on their faces with some labor. And you shall find this to be God's usual course, not to give his children the taste of his delights, till they begin to sweat in seeking after them. Judge therefore whether a heavenly life, or thy carnal ease, be better; and as a wise man, make thy choice accordingly. Yet let me add for thy encouragement, _Thou needest not employ thy thoughts more than thou now dost; it is only to fix them upon better and more pleasant objects_. Employ but as many serious thoughts every day upon the excellent glory of the life to come, as thou now dost on worldly affairs, yea, on vanities and impertinencies, and thy heart will soon be at heaven. On the whole, it is _the field of the slothful_, that is _all grown over with thorns and nettles_; and _the desire of the slothful killeth his_ joys, _for his hands refuse to labor_; and it is _the slothful man saith, there is a lion in the way, a lion in the streets. As the door turneth upon its hinges, so doth the slothful upon his bed. The slothful hideth his hand in his bosom, it grieveth him to bring it again to his mouth_,[332] though it be to feed himself with the food of life. What is this but throwing away our own consolations, and consequently the precious blood that bought them? For _he that is slothful in his work, is brother to him that is a great waster_.[333] Apply this to thy spiritual work, and study well the meaning of it. [Footnote 331] Matthew xi, 12. [Footnote 332] Proverbs xxvi, 30. 31. xxi, 25. xxvi, 13-15. [Footnote 333] Proverbs xviii, 9.