Work

Having from my Childhood been used to Bodily Labour for a Living, I may express my Experience therein.

Since I have done physical labor for a living since childhood, I may share my experience of it.

Right Exercise affords an innocent Pleasure in the Time of it, and prepares us to enjoy the Sweetness of Rest; but from the Extremes each Way, arise Inconveniences.

Proper exercise gives us innocent pleasure while we do it and prepares us to enjoy the sweetness of rest. But either extreme brings difficulties.

Moderate Exercise opens the Pores, gives the Blood a lively Circulation, and the better enables us to judge rightly respecting that Portion of Labour which is the true Medium.

Moderate exercise opens the pores and keeps the blood circulating briskly. It also helps us judge the right amount of work to do.

The Fowls of the Air sow not, nor gather into Barns, yet our Heavenly Father feedeth them, Mat. vi. 26. nor do I believe that Infinite Goodness and Power would have allotted Labour to us, had he not seen that Labour was proper for us in this Life.

The birds of the air do not sow or gather food into barns, yet our heavenly Father feeds them, Matt. 6:26. Nor do I believe that God, in his infinite goodness and power, would have given us work if he had not seen that it was fitting for us in this life.

The original Design, and true Medium of Labour, is a Subject that, to me, appears worthy of our serious Consideration.

The original purpose and proper measure of work seem to me worthy of our serious consideration.

Idle Men are often a Burden to themselves, neglect the Duty they owe to their Families, and become burdensome to others also.

Idle men are often a burden to themselves. They neglect their duties to their families and become a burden to others too.

As outward Labour, directed by the Wisdom from above, tends to our Health, and adds to our Happiness in this Life; so, on the contrary, entering upon it in a selfish Spirit, and pursuing it too long, or too hard, hath a contrary Effect.

Physical labor guided by wisdom from above promotes our health and adds to our happiness in this life. But working with a selfish spirit, or working too long or too hard, has the opposite effect.

I have observed, that too much Labour not only makes the Understanding dull, but so intrudes upon the Harmony of the Body, that after ceasing from our Toil, we have another to pass through, before we can be so composed as to enjoy the Sweetness of Rest.

I have observed that too much work not only dulls the mind but also disturbs the body's balance. After we stop working, we must go through another struggle before we can settle down and enjoy the sweetness of rest.

From too much Labour in the Heat, frequently proceeds immoderate Sweats, which do often, I believe, open the Way for Disorders, and impair our Constitutions.

Too much work in the heat often causes excessive sweating. I believe this sweating often leads to illness and weakens our health.

When we go beyond the true Medium, and feel Weariness approaching, but think Business may suffer if we cease, at such a Time spirituous Liquors are frequently taken, with a View to support Nature under these Fatigues.

When we go beyond a reasonable limit, we begin to feel tired but think our business may suffer if we stop. At such times, we often drink alcohol to help our bodies endure the strain.

I have found that too much Labour in the Summer heats the Blood, that taking strong Drink to support the Body under such Labour, increaseth that Heat, and though a Person may be so far temperate as not to manifest the least Disorder, yet the Mind, in such a Circumstance, doth not retain that Calmness and Serenity which we should endeavour to live in.

I have found that too much work in the summer heats the blood. Drinking strong alcohol to sustain the body during such work increases that heat. A person may drink moderately enough to show no signs of disorder. Even so, the mind does not retain the calm and serenity we should strive to live in.

Thus toiling in the Heat, and drinking strong Liquor, makes Men more resolute, and less considerate, and tends very much to disqualify from successfully following him who is meek and low of Heart.

Thus, working hard in the heat and drinking strong liquor make men more determined and less thoughtful. These habits make them much less able to follow successfully the one who is gentle and humble in heart.

As laying out Business, more than is consistent with pure Wisdom, is an Evil, so this Evil frequently leads into more. Too much Business leads to Hurry. In the Hurry and Toil too much strong Drink is often used, and hereby many proceed to Noise and Wantonness, and some, though more considerate, do often suffer Loss, as to a true Composedness of Mind.

Taking on more business than pure wisdom allows is an evil, and it often leads to further evils. Too much business leads to hurry. In the rush and hard work, people often drink too much strong drink. As a result, many become noisy and reckless. Some, though more thoughtful, often lose their true peace of mind.

I feel sincere Desires in my Heart that no Rent, nor Interest, might be laid so high as to be a Snare to Tenants. That no Desires of Gain may draw any too far in Business. That no Cares to support Customs, which have not their Foundation in pure Wisdom, may have Place in our Minds, but that we may build on the sure Foundation, and feel our Holy Shepherd to lead us, who alone is able to preserve us, and bring forth from every Thing which defiles.

I sincerely hope that no rent or interest will be so high that it becomes a trap for tenants. I hope that no desire for profit will lead anyone too far in business. I hope we will not worry about maintaining customs that are not founded on pure wisdom. Instead, may we build on the sure foundation and feel our Holy Shepherd leading us. He alone can protect us and bring us out of everything that defiles us.

Having several Times, in my Travels, had Opportunity to observe the Labour and Manner of Life of great Numbers of Slaves, it appears to me that the true Medium is lamentably neglected by many, who assign them their Portion of Labour.

During my travels, I have often had the chance to observe the work and lives of many slaves. It seems to me that many who assign their work sadly fail to strike a proper balance.

Without saying much at this Time, concerning buying and selling Men for Term of Life, who have as just a Right to Liberty as we have; nor about the great Miseries, and Effusion of Blood, consequent to promoting the Slave-trade, and to speak as favourably as may be, with regard to continuing those in Bondage who are amongst us, we cannot say there is no Partiality in it; for whatever Tenderness may be manifested by Individuals in their Life-time towards them, yet for People to be transmitted from a Man to his Posterity, in the helpless Condition of Slaves, appears inconsistent with the Nature of the Gospel Spirit. From such Proceedings it often follows, that Persons in the Decline of Life, are deprived of Monies equitably due to them, and committed to the Care, and subjected to the absolute Power of young unexperienced Men, who know but little about the Weakness of old Age, nor understand the Language of declining Life.

I will say little here about buying and selling people for life, though they have as much right to liberty as we do. Nor will I say much about the great suffering and bloodshed that result from promoting the slave trade. Even if we speak as favorably as possible about keeping those among us in bondage, we cannot say the practice is impartial. Individuals may treat them kindly during their own lives. Yet passing people on to one’s descendants in the helpless condition of slaves seems inconsistent with the spirit of the Gospel. Such practices often leave people in old age without money that is rightfully due to them. They are placed in the care and under the absolute power of young, inexperienced men. These men know little about the weakness of old age and do not understand what it is like to grow old.

Where Parents give their Estates to their Children, and then depend on them for a Maintainance, they sometimes meet with great Inconveniences; but if the Power of Possession, thus obtained, doth often reverse the Obligations of Gratitude and filial Duty, and makes manifest, that Youth are often ignorant of the Language of old Age, how hard is the Case of ancient Negroes, who, deprived of the Wages equitably due to them, are left to young People, who have been used to look upon them as their Inferiors.

When parents give their property to their children and then depend on them for support, they sometimes face great difficulties. But gaining control of the property often causes children to forget their obligations of gratitude and filial duty. It also shows that young people often do not understand the language of old age. If this is so, how hard is the situation of elderly Negroes? They have been deprived of the wages justly owed to them and left in the care of young people who are used to looking upon them as inferiors.

For Men to behold the Fruits of their Labour withheld from them, and possessed by others, and in old Age find themselves destitute of those comfortable Accommodations, and that tender Regard which their Time of Life requires:

For men to see the fruits of their labor withheld from them and held by others, and to find themselves in old age without the comforts and tender care their age requires:

When they feel Pains and Stiffness in their Joints and Limbs, Weakness of Appetite, and that a little Labour is wearisome, and still behold themselves in the neglected uncomfortable Condition of a Slave, and oftentimes to a young unsympathising Man:

When they feel pain and stiffness in their joints and limbs, have little appetite, and find even a little work tiring, they still find themselves living in the neglected, uncomfortable condition of a slave, often belonging to a young man who has no sympathy for them:

For Men to be thus treated from one Generation to another, who, besides their own Distresses, think on the Slavery entailed on their Posterity, and are grieved: What disagreeable Thoughts must they have of the professed Followers of Jesus! And how must their Groans ascend to that Almighty Being, who will be a Refuge for the Oppressed, Psalm ix. 9.

These men are treated this way from one generation to the next. Besides their own suffering, they grieve at the thought of the slavery their descendants will inherit. What terrible thoughts they must have of those who profess to follow Jesus! And how their groans must rise to that Almighty Being, who will be a Refuge for the Oppressed, Psalm ix. 9.