On Sleeping in Church

While enjoying my holiday hobby of browsing charity shops (this time in Sherborne) I bought a little book of essays and have discovered a few gems in it.

One that both amused and edified me was by Jonathan Swift, 'On Sleeping in Church'!

You can easily find it on the web, but I am going to post it over the next few weeks.

"And there sat in the window a certain young man named Eutychus, who was sinking into a deep sleep as Paul was long preaching. When he was sound asleep he fell down from the third story, and was picked up dead.” - Acts 20v9

I have chosen these words with design, if possible, to disturb some part in this audience of half an hour’s sleep, for the convenience and exercise whereof this place, at this season of the day, is very much celebrated.

There is indeed one mortal disadvantage to which all preaching is subject, that those who, by the wickedness of their lives, stand in greatest need, have usually the smallest share; for either they are absent upon the account of idleness, or spleen, or hatred to religion, or in order to doze away the intemperance of the week; or, if they do come, they are sure to employ their minds rather any other way than regarding or attending to the business of the place.

(Jonathan Swift 'On Sleeping in Church')