Boyle, Robert (1627-1691)

Occasional Reflections Upon Several Subjects

London

Printed by W. Wilson for Henry Herringman

1665

"If I had not elsewhere display'd the Evil and Danger of Idleness, and represented it as a thing, which, though we should admit not to be in it self a sin, yet may easily prove a greater mischief than a very great one, by at once tempting the Tempter to tempt us, and exposing the empty Soul, like an uninhabited place, to the next Passion or Temptation that takes the opportunity to seize upon it."

And first, the way of Meditating, I would recommend, conduces to keep the Soul from Idleness, and Employments worse than Idleness; for while a Man's thoughts are busi'd about the present subjects of his Reflections, our Ghostly Adversary is discourag'd to attempt that Soul, which he sees already taken up, with something that is at least innocent, if not good. If I had not elsewhere display'd the Evil and Danger of Idleness, and represented it as a thing, which, though we should admit not to be in it self a sin, yet may easily prove a greater mischief than a very great one, by at once tempting the Tempter to tempt us, and exposing the empty Soul, like an uninhabited place, to the next Passion or Temptation that takes the opportunity to seize upon it: If (I say) I had not elsewhere discours'd at large against Idleness, I might here represent it as so formidable an Enemy, that it would appear alone a sufficient Motive to welcome our way of Meditation; That it banishes Idleness. He that is vers'd in making Reflections upon what occurs to him; He that (consequently) has the works of Nature, and the actions of Men, and almost every Casualty that falls under his Notice, to set his Thoughts on work, shall scarce want Themes to employ them on: And he that can (as it were) make the World vocal, by furnishing every Creature, and almost every occurrence, with a Tongue to entertain him with, and can make the little Accidents of his Life, and the very Flowers of his Garden, read him Lectures of Ethicks or Divinity; such a one, I say, shall scarce need to fly to the Tavern, or a worse place, to get a Drawer, or a Gamester (perhaps no better qualifi'd) to help him to get rid of his time, such a one will rather pity, than pursue those, who think it their Priviledge to spend their whole Life in Diversions from the main Business of it; and out of an unskilful, and ill govern'd self-love, are come to that pass, that they cannot endure to be with themselves. Such a one will not need to frequent the company of those Gamesters, that are sure to lose that, which all their winnings will never be able to buy, or to redeem, and expose themselves coldly to as many Casualties, as ev'n War could threaten; and voluntarily tempt those Passions, it is the Task of Wisdome to decline, and a Virtue to suppress; losing nothing but their time, without losing their Patience too, and commonly a great part of that Reverence and Submission they owe to him, of whom the Scripture tells us,* that ev'n of Lots themselves, the whole disposal is his. Nor will he need, for want of knowing what to do when he is alone, to make it his almost daily Employment, to make impertinent Visits, to unsanctify'd Companies, where sometimes he may lose his good Name, often his Innocence, oftner his Zeal, and always his Time.
(pp. 3-5)

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Reading

2 entries in ESTC (1665, 1669).

Occasional Reflections Upon Several Subjects, Whereto Is Premis'd a Discourse About Such Kind of Thoughts.(London: Printed by W. Wilson for Henry Herringman, 1665). <Link to ESTC><Link to EEBO-TCP>

07/28/2014