James Pilkington
Promised Nothing
$35
Premium 100 percent combed ring-spun cotton, preshrunk
James Pilkington's words from his commentary on Nehemiah, the Lord hath promised nothing to idle bellies, printed over a deadlift scene on the back. The Patriarch Outfitters mark sits upper left chest, and the sleeve carries a Nehemiah 4:14 cross cut through to the shirt color. Printed to order on a premium tee of preshrunk 100 percent combed ring-spun cotton in a fitted cut, with a Patriarch Outfitters label inside the neck that lists the size, country of origin, and material.
Larger sizes cost a little more to make.
Made to order and ready in 2 to 5 business days, then 3 to 7 in transit. Flat-rate US shipping of $6 per order is added at checkout.
Details
- Fabric
- Premium 100 percent combed ring-spun cotton, preshrunk
- Fit
- Fitted cut
- Construction
- Side-seamed
- Shrinkage
- Preshrunk fabric that can still shrink slightly
- Printed to order in one ink
- Sleeve
- Right sleeve print
- Label
- Patriarch label inside the neck with the size, country of origin, and material
- Care
- Wash cold inside out, tumble dry low or hang dry, do not iron the print. Hot water can shrink the fabric.
- Placement
- Back, Front, Neckline detail and Sleeve
Front and back
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Front -
Back
The story
"The Lord hath promised nothing to idle bellies."
James Pilkington wrote these words in his commentary on Nehemiah 4:20, not in the Bible verse itself. Jerusalem's builders trusted God to defend them, but they still worked, kept watch, and stood ready to act. Pilkington's point was direct: trust in God is no excuse for neglecting the work he has given us.
His rebuke concerns chosen idleness, not physical appearance. He calls for diligence in our responsibilities while insisting that salvation depends on God's mercy and grace alone. Human effort is no substitute for that dependence. Do the work faithfully. Give God the glory.
About James Pilkington
James Pilkington lived from around 1520 to 1576. He was an English Protestant reformer, a Cambridge scholar, and Bishop of Durham. He endured religious exile and later founded a free grammar school at Rivington. His life's work included preaching, education, and biblical commentary. His exposition of Nehemiah was published after his death, in 1585.
The shirt carries half of his sentence. The other half is a promise, and the same book turns on the landlords of his own party. Read the full story.
The lifting scene on this shirt is a modern artistic interpretation of his call to diligence. It is not a historical event.
