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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
Laziness
Idle
Ease
Devil
Fitly
Free
Cushion
Evil
Cushions
Good
Motions
Men
Disposed

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Even the best things ill used become evils and, contrarily, the worst things used well prove good.
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It is not he that reads most, but he that meditates most on Divine truth, that will prove the choicest, wisest, strongest Christian.
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Good prayers never come creeping home. I am sure I shall receive either what I ask, or what I should ask.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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Earthly greatness is a nice thing, and requires so much chariness in the managing, as the contentment of it cannot requite.
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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.
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Worldly ambition is founded on pride or envy, but emulation, or laudable ambition, is actually founded in humility for it evidently implies that we have a low opinion of our present attainments, and think it necessary to be advanced.
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Nothing fools people as much as extreme passion.
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And, if I were so low that I accounted myself the worst of all, yet some would account themselves in worse case.
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Rich people should consider that they are only trustees for what they posses, and should show their wealth to be more in doing good than merely in having it.
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Heaven hath many tongues to talk of it, more eyes to behold it, but few hearts that rightly affect it.
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The life of doctrine is in application.
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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.
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Society is the atmosphere of souls and we necessarily imbibe from it something which is either infectious or healthful.
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There is no enemy can hurt us but by our own hands. Satan could not hurt us, if our own corruption betrayed us not. Afflictions cannot hurt us without our own impatience. Temptations cannot hurt us, without our own yieldance. Death could not hurt us, without the sting of our own sins. Sins could not hurt us, without our own impenitence.
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A good man is kinder to his enemy than bad men are to their friends.
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It is a shame for the tongue to cast itself upon the uncertain pardon of other's ears
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