5. The thoughts of the diligent tend only to plenteousness; but of every one that is hasty only to want.
The diligent is usually contrasted with the slothful:† here with the hasty. The thoughts of each work their own fruit, for plenteousness, or for want. The patient, plodding man of industry perseveres in spite of all difficulties; content to increase his substance by degrees; never relaxing, never yielding to discouragement. This care of diligence is profitable under the blessing of God. (Chapter 10:22.) ‘Thou mayest as well expect’ (says an old writer) ‘riches to rain down from heaven in silver showers, as to provide for thy family without industry in thy calling.’† Haste may have much of diligence in the temperament. But as indolence is its defect, this is its excess, its undisciplined impulse. The hand too often goes before, and acts without the judgment. Hence our English philosopher wisely counsels us — ‘not to measure dispatch by the times of sitting, but by the advancement of the business.’ A wise man had it for a bye-word, when he saw men hasten to a conclusion — ‘Stay a little, that we may make an end the sooner. To choose time is to save time, and an unreasonable motion is but “beating the air.”’†
The evil of haste under a worldly impulse is truly fearful. Often does it drive the man into rash projects; and high-raised delusive expectations he finds to be the short and sure road to want.† Need we remark, how rich the harvest of Christian diligence, of “patient perseverance in well-doing” — “eternal life”?† The heavenly race is not to be run by so many heats, but by a steady course. “Run,” not with haste or speed, but “with patience the race set before us.” (Hebrews 12:1.) The seed springing up in haste withered. (Matthew 13:20, 21.) Excitement is delusion, and ends in disappointment. What so important as to cultivate a deep work of grace, pervading the whole man, and abounding with fruit to the glory of God?
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