my name is pilgrim yesterday at dusk I
met along my way an enemy his name was
sloth he tried to lure me like a moth
exhausted to his idle flames as always
he used other names relief and respite
and repose and rest and leisure these he
knows are worthy seasons in this age
worthy names to make a sage out of a
scoundrel look he said to me affecting
praise you've led your church for 30
years and I'm glad that you at last
comply with my advice I'm willing still
to help you rest though my good will I
must admit has withered from all your
unwillingness to come when I've invited
you before but I replied I still deplore
your ways and your deceitful snares what
makes you think that all my cares would
suddenly transform your mirth and your
amusements as if worth were made of ease
and emptiness my urgent prayers do not
express compliance with your old advice
no more today does it entice than it has
ever done then why said sloth do you
retire should I not hear this as a
knocking at my door come now my welcome
mat is out are you not standing there
no I replied I'm not and where I stand
you cannot comprehend
I do not aim with you to spend a single
hour
though I confess you are a subtle cheat
and dress your house with promises your
name can never keep sloth to my shame I
visited your rooms enough to know you
are not rest you Bluff your way into the
lives of drained and weary men with pity
feigned and promise life as if the soul
of man were made to sit and roll the
dice until some happy pair make him a
champ or a millionaire you cannot
understand my aims I do not live for
wealth or games sloth felt the sting and
said I know your kind a workaholic o
sleep not play not throw to the wind
God's gift of leisure days rescind the
work of Christ who bought your rest oh
yes I know your kind invest invest
invest and never take your dividends on
earth you make your way to heaven by
your work your precious work who do not
shrink a moment from your service of
this holy God your life your love
perhaps I said had I not heard this
censuring before conferred from better
lips than yours
I would just thank you for the warning
good and useful outcomes flow from such
rebukes when love is in the touch but
you have never loved
along with wrath and greed and pride and
strong desires for sex and food and
eminence use seven deadly sins dispense
destruction everywhere and then you
cover treachery again and smile as you
condemn the heart that wars to quench
your flaming dart you cannot grasp in
part or hold the glory of a Christian
soul at work and rest the Sun had set
and sloth said night comes pilgrim
let me now keep your book while you
sleep will not your tireless Jesus keep
your going out and coming in calm
pilgrim rest it is not sin to sleep
that's true I said but it is sin to
sleep for sloth I will not sit or lie
while you are near but stand then take
this book in my right hand and in my
mouth and to you are no longer in my way
nor bar my path of industry in this next
season of my life you missed the mark
old sloth you do not know what Jesus
bought oh yes I'll show you
sloth replied come unto me all you who
labor now and see the rest that I have
bought for you that's what he bought
quotes that are true I said do not make
truth old sins like heretics build vice
on spins from true half sighted texts
how gives the Lord distressed as my God
lives I'll tell you sloth he gives his
rest under a yoke his sweet bequest
blood-bought and suited to the back of
every weary st. the knack of all our
plan
Jesus makes the weighty burden light and
takes the yoke beams in his hand and
lifts and carries us our works our gifts
and Jesus is the giver grace bought and
powers every pace and every enterprise
sloth we were made and made again to be
Co makers with the maker of the world to
see the world above and then to make the
world below more beautiful to learn to
know and then to make to shape adorned
compose produce and turn a thorn into an
etching tool to right to say what never
has been said that way to seem to draw
to paint to build to stitch and weave
until we fill the world with truth for
this God spoke and Jesus died this is
our yoke our happy yoke you will not
take my work sloth we were made to make
so pilgrim sloth replied you'll earn
your heaven with your arts go learn your
Bible better say by grace not works the
book is clear go chase your heaven
laboring that's not my taste my heaven
sloth
I answered chased me long before I found
my way to it grace to be sure the day
will show again the half text you left
out sloth we are made to do we are
workmanship in Christ made for good
works he sacrificed his life that we
might live in them he the vine we the
stem
and they the fruit is not the fruit of
love our life pointless dispute sloth
muttered to himself he turned to go and
said to me you've spurned my offer of
sweet rest go waste your life you are a
fool
you'll taste your sorrow mark my words
and he was gone and so one victory
obtained my weary soul was kept and I
laid down my head and slept
you