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The idle man is the Devil's cushion, on which he taketh his free ease: who, as he is uncapable of any good, so he is fitly disposed for all evil motions.

Joseph Hall

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Joseph Hall
Age: 82 †
Born: 1574
Born: July 1
Died: 1656
Died: September 8
Clergyman
Poet
Priest
Writer
Ashby-de-la-Zouch
Leicestershire
Ease
Devil
Fitly
Free
Cushion
Evil
Cushions
Good
Motions
Men
Disposed
Laziness
Idle

More quotes by Joseph Hall

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Christian society is like a bundle of sticks laid together, whereof one kindles another. Solitary men have fewest provocations to evil, but, again, fewest incitations to good. So much as doing good is better than not doing evil will I account Christian good-fellowship better than an hermitish and melancholy solitariness.
Joseph Hall
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...Covetousness, looking more at what we would have than at what we have.
Joseph Hall
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The blood that is once inflamed with wine is apt to boil with rage.
Joseph Hall
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Neutrality in things good or evil is both odious and prejudicial but in matters of an indifferent nature is safe and commendable. Herein taking of parts maketh sides, and breaketh unity. In an unjust cause of separation, he that favoreth both parts may perhaps have least love of either side, but hath most charity in himself.
Joseph Hall
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[W]e all lie down in our bed of earth as sure to wake as ever we can be to shut our eyes.
Joseph Hall
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We are often infinitely mistaken, and take the falsest measures, when we envy the happiness of rich and great men we know not the inward canker that eats out all their joy and delight, and makes them really much more miserable than ourselves.
Joseph Hall
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Seldom was any knowledge given to keep, but to impart the grace of this rich jewel is lost in concealment.
Joseph Hall
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Recreation is intended to the mind as whetting is to the scythe, to sharpen the edge of it, which otherwise would grow dull and blunt,--as good no scythe as no edge.
Joseph Hall
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He that taketh his own cares upon himself loads himself in vain with an uneasy burden. I will cast all my cares on God He hath bidden me they cannot burden Him.
Joseph Hall
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I have seldom seen much ostentation and much learning met together. The sun, rising and declining, makes long shadows at mid day, when he is highest, none at all.
Joseph Hall
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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
Joseph Hall
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Our good purposes foreslowed are become our tormentors upon our deathbed.
Joseph Hall
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As you see in a pair of bellows, there is a forced breath without life, so in those that are puffed up with the wind of ostentation, there may be charitable words without works.
Joseph Hall
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Society is the atmosphere of souls and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or healthful.
Joseph Hall
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The life of doctrine is in application.
Joseph Hall
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Mark in what order: first, our calling then, our election not beginning with our election first. By our calling, arguing our election.
Joseph Hall
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Revenge commonly hurts both the offerer and sufferer as we see in a foolish bee, which in her anger invenometh the flesh and loseth her sting, and so lives a drone ever after.
Joseph Hall
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God loves to see his creatures happy our lawful delight is His they know not God that think to please Him with making themselves miserable. The idolaters thought it a fit service for Baal to cut and lance themselves never any holy man looked for thanks from the true God by wronging himself.
Joseph Hall
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The proud man hath no God the envious man hath no neighbor the angry man hath not himself.
Joseph Hall
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Death did not first strike Adam, the first sinful man, nor Cain, the first hypocrite, but Abel, the innocent and righteous. The first soul that met with death, overcame death the first soul that parted from earth went to heaven. Death argues not displeasure, because he whom God loved best dies first, and the murderer is punished with living.
Joseph Hall