have banished the idle. held in detestation, as hurtful not only to the individual, but to the community at large. Woo-te, emperor of China, published a severe law obliging all his subjects, especially women, under severe penalties, to have some work to do always, and never to be idle; nor was any one exempt from this, not even the wives of the mandarins or rulers of provinces, nor his own consort, the empress herself; but all according to their station had to occupy themselves with some work in silk, gold, or linen; so that the children might learn industry from the example of their parents; and it was looked on as a most wonderful thing to see one of the female sex in the public street or at a window. So writes Mendoza in his Annals of China. Cleomenes, the Spartan king, being asked why he did not destroy his enemy, as he could easily have done, answered: “No, that would not be good for my country; as long as we have an enemy to fight we have occupation, and that will keep us from idleness, which is the source of all disorder and misfortune in a country, and is most injurious to the common weal.” Such, too, was the opinion of Scipio, a wise and experienced man amongst the ancient Romans. These people had subdued almost the whole world, and after they had conquered the Carthaginians and Greeks, who had resisted them longest, their exultation knew no bounds. “Now,” they said, “our republic is in safety.” “And now, too,” said Scipio with a deep sigh, “our republic is in the greatest danger, greater than ever before; for now that we have no foreign enemy to fight idleness will show itself amongst us, and with it the vices that spring from it, and finally the ruin of our republic.” And subsequent events proved the truth of these words.
Thus putting us Christians to shame.
Ah, Christians, if one of those heathens were to come to Europe, to this Christian city of ours, and see how children are brought up in idleness by idle parents, what would he say? Oh! he would exclaim in astonishment, is then your own happiness and prosperity of no account to you, that you thus waste your time? Or else he might say: has the God you serve no reward for those who are zealous in His service? Truly, we should answer, that is one of the articles of our faith; every thought, word, act, and momentary service that we do for our God will be rewarded by Him with an eternity of glory and happiness. But, he will continue, does not then your God admit all Christians into His service? Yes, we answer; all without exception; young and old, great and small, rich and poor, men and women—all are invited