'I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man
void of understanding; 31. And, lo, it was all grown over with thorns,
and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone wall thereof
was broken down.'--PROVERBS xxiv. 30, 31.
This picture of the sluggard's garden seems to be intended as a
parable. No doubt its direct simple meaning is full of homely wisdom
in full accord with the whole tone of the Book of Proverbs; but we
shall scarcely do justice to this saying of the wise if we do not see
in 'the ground grown over with thorns,' and 'the stone wall thereof
broken down,' an apologue of the condition of a soul whose owner has
neglected to cultivate and tend it.