Read "The Wishes that the Sluggard Frames" by John Newton online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
I: The wishes that the sluggard frames, / Of course must fruitless prove; / With folded arms he stands and dreams, / But has no heart to move.
II: His field from others may be known, / The fence is broken through, / The ground with weeds is overgrown, / And no good crop in view.
III: No hardship he or toil can bear, / No difficulty meet; / He wastes his hours at home, for fear / Of lions in the street.
IV: What wonder then, if sloth and sleep / Distress and famine bring.
Can he in harvest hope to reap, / Who will not sow in spring?
V: 'Tis often thus in soul concerns / We gospel sluggards see; / Who, if a wish would serve their turns, / Might true believers be.
VI: But when the preacher bids them watch, / And seek and strive and pray, / At every poor excuse they catch --
A lion in the way.
VII: To use the means of grace how loath!
We call them still in vain; / They yield to their beloved sloth, / And fold their arms again.
VIII: Dear Saviour, let thy pow'r appear, / The outward call to aid.
These drowsy souls can only hear / The voice that wakes the dead.