The description of the sluggard's garden brings into view two things,
the abundant, because unchecked, growth of profitless weeds, and the
broken down stone wall. Both of these results are but too sadly and
evidently true in regard to every life where rigid and continuous
control has not been exercised. It is a familiar experience known,
alas! to too many of us, that evil things, of which the seeds are in
us all, grow up unchecked if there be not constant supervision and
self-command. If we do not carefully cultivate our little plot of
garden ground, it will soon be overgrown by weeds. 'Ill weeds grow
apace' as the homely wisdom of common experience crystallises into a
significant proverb. And Jesus has taught the sadder truth that
'thorns spring up and choke the word and it becometh unfruitful.' In
the slothful man's soul evil will drive out good as surely as in the
struggle for existence the thorns and nettles will cover the face of
the slothful man's garden. In country places we sometimes come across
a ruined house with what was a garden round it, and here and there
still springs up a flower seeking for air and light in the midst of a
smothering mass of weeds. _They_ needed no kindly gardener's hand
to make them grow luxuriantly; can barely put out a pale petal unless
cared for and guarded.
But not only is there this unchecked growth, but 'the stone wall
thereof was broken down.' The soul was unfenced. The solemn imperative
of duty ceases to restrain or to impel in proportion as a man yields
slothfully to the baser impulses of his nature. Nothing is hindered
from going out of, nor for coming into, an unfenced soul, and he that
'hath no rule over his own spirit,' but is like a 'city broken down
without walls,' is certain sooner or later to let much go forth from
that spirit that should have bean rigidly shut up, and to let many an
enemy come in that will capture the city. It is not yet safe to let
any of the fortifications fall into disrepair, and they can only be
kept in their massive strength by continuous vigilance.