forth only worms and hideous things; clear water, if it is led over a field or garden, brings forth grass and beautiful flowers; but if allowed to run idly over the streets, it gets mixed with the dust and makes mud and dirt. Our hearts and minds are ever-flowing fountains of thoughts and desires; if they are busied with good and praiseworthy work, they must of necessity produce beautiful flowers and excellent fruit; but if they are permitted to run about the streets after vain and sensual objects, nothing can come from them but filth and mire.
In idleness the devil finds the best opportunity of leading man into all kids of sin. Not without reason is idleness called the devil’s pillow.[1] Never does this hateful enemy, who is always on the watch to ensnare our souls, find a better opportunity of spreading abroad his wicked inspirations and temptations, especially in the matter of impurity, than when he finds men idle. Therefore all moralists are agreed that there is no better remedy for evil thoughts and desires than hard work and constant occupation. “Do something,” is the advice that St. Jerome once gave a friend of his who complained that he could not defend himself against the evil suggestions and desires of the flesh; “do something, that when the devil comes he may always find you busy;” then he will leave you and say to himself: there is no hearing forme now. And if sometimes you are plagued with those thoughts during your work, act as if they did not concern you, and go on with your work without fear or anxiety; when the devil sees that you pay no attention to him, ho will despair of being able to do you any harm and will leave you in peace. You never see birds building their nests in a mill that is always working; they could not bear the constant noise and whirring. But in nouses where there is no work-shop nor any noise, the swallows build even in the rooms, if the windows are left open day after day. I have never known a peasant to complain of violent temptations while doing his work in the sweat of his brow, either at home or in the fields. Oh, no! the devil cannot bear the laborious man, but he builds his nest and finds rest with idlers.
Shown by examples from Scripture. While the Israelites were burdened with hard labor in the Egyptian slavery they never thought of impurity or idolatry, Their circumstances were such that they had no time or inclination for such things. But when they were freed from slavery by the goodness of God, and were idle and unoccupied in the desert; when the bread was sent them miraculously from heaven,
- ↑ Pulvinar diaboli.
