made them, and, therefore, no man has a right to destroy them."

If water oozes into a ship through a leak, it must be pumped out again, or the ship will sink.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

QUOTATIONS. He that justifieth the wicked, and he that condemneth the just, even they both are abomination to the lord.-Prov, xvii. 15.

He that saith unto the wicked, "thou art righteous," him shall the people curse, and nations shall abhor him. -Prov, xxiv. 24.

Isabella. Yet show some pity.

Angelo. I show it most of all, when I show justice,
For then I pity those I do not know,

Which a dismissed offence would after gall;

And do him right, that answering one foul wrong
Lives not to act another.-Shakspeare.

We bid this be done,

When evil deeds have their permissive pass,
And not the punishment.-Shakspeare.

Mercy is not itself that oft looks so;

Pardon is still the nurse of second woe.-Shakspeare. It is owing to justice that man to man is a god, and not a wolf.-Lord Bucon.

Cato the Elder used to say," the public are more interested in the punishment of the wrong-doer, than he that receives the injury."

He that chastiseth one, amendeth many.-Fielding's proverbs.

Spes impunitatis maxima est illecebra peccandi.— Cicero.

Deteriores omnes. sumus licentia.-Terence.

Alitur vitium, crescitque tegendo.- Virgil.

Impunitas semper ad deteriora invitat.

Mors lupi, agnis vita.

Invitat culpam, qui peccatum præterit.-Publius Syrus. Bonis nocet, quisquis pepercerit malis.-Publius Syrus. Reus læsæ majestatis punitur, et pereat unus, ne pereant

omnes.

CONCLUSION.

- THEME LXXI. Listen not to all that is spoken. INTRODUCTION.

....

1ST REASON.-Those who give ear to every idle rumour about themselves and others, will be constantly hearing something to vex and annoy them.

2ND REASON.-Diligence in gathering up the gossip of the day can never be of service to any one. It will not serve to fortify the mind against future calumnies, nor to make it more careful, nor to bring about amendment; neither will it relieve the distressed, assist the needy, or warn the impenitent.

3RD REASON-As perfidy and ingratitude are always afloat on the tide of idle gossip, those who are most credulous will be constantly perplexed with evil suspicions ;* their friends, their relations, their ministers, their neighbours, even their husbands or wives, their children and parents, will at times come under the cloud, and cause their love to vacillate, their confidence to halt, and their sympathies to wax cold.

4TH REASON.

The spread of an evil report very often

*For this reason Pompey the Great, with true magnanimity, burnt the papers of Sertorius, and Julius Caesar those of Pompey after the battle of

Pharsalia.

brings about evil which might have been otherwise averted: Thus the report that a bank, merchant, or tradesman is insolvent, causes a run upon them," which brings them down; or prevents their adjusting matters, so as to ride out an ephemeral difficulty.

5TH REASON. The moral influence of gossip-hearing and tattling is most pernicious: it fosters lying, slandering, and ill-will; idleness, inquisitiveness, and tale-bearing; meanness, distrust, and all uncharitableness.

6TH REASON. -The social evils are no less fatal. Family feuds, violated friendships, constant litigation with neighbours, misanthropy, and recklessness, are amongst the baneful produce of this deadly upas tree.

SIMILES. Not every wind that blows is a healthy breeze.

He who shakes every man by the hand may be glad to fee the doctor.

Idle curiosity sometimes fills the mousetrap.

Those who are too fond of tasting will often make a wry mouth.

He who plucks every flower must not mind pricking his fingers.

The prick of a pin is enough to make an empire joyless for a time.

He who ventures into the oven will smell of fire.

QUOTATIONS.-Shun profane and vain babblings.-2 Tim. ii. 16.

The words of a tale-bearer are as wounds, and they go down into the innermost parts of the belly.-Prov. xviii. 8.

Death and life are in the power of the tongue; and they that love it shall eat the fruit thereof.-Prov. xviii. 21.

Hide me from the secret counsel of the wicked. who whet their tongue like a sword, and bend their bows to shoot their arrows, even bitter words: That they may shoot in secret at the perfect: Suddenly do they shoot at him, and fear not. . . . . They search out iniquities; they accomplish a diligent search. . . . . But God shall shoot at them with an arrow; suddenly shall they be wounded; So they shall make their own tongue to fall upon themselves. Ps. lxiv. 2-8.

....

Surely the serpent will bite without enchantment, and a babbler is no better.-Eccles. x. 11.

Psalm Iviii. 3-6.

If a ruler hearken unto lies, all his servants are wicked. -Prov. xxix. 12.

Deuteronomy, xiii. 1–3.

It is rudeness of a man to hearken at the door.-Eceles. xxi. 24.

A whisperer defileth his own soul, and is hated wheresoever he dwelleth.-Eccles. xxi. 28.

Listeners hear no good of themselves.

Take heed you find not what you do not seek.

The tongue will break a bone,

Although itself hath none.-Fielding's proverbs.

Be an Argus at home, but a Mole abroad.-Fielding's proverbs.

For mad words a deaf ear.-Ray's proverbs.

In casa argo, di fuori talpa.

Curiosus nemo est, quin sit malevolus.—Plautus.

Percontatorem fugito.-Horace.

Garrula lingua nocet.-Ovid.

Multum peperit garrula lingua malum.--Tibullus.

CONCLUSION.

THEME LXXII. Never contend with a Fool.

INTRODUCTION. . .

1ST REASON.-Because it will be a waste of time and labour.

2ND REASON. The match is not equal; and by contending with a fool you lower yourself to his level.

3RD REASON. You expose yourself to abuse from your adversary, who will "turn again and rend you."

4TH REASON. All wise men will condemn you, whether you prevail, or are conquered.

5TH REASON. It will be no glory to conquer a fool in argument; but a great disgrace to be conquered by him.

6TH REASON. A fool is so empty-headed, self-opiniated, and obstinate, that he neither will nor can be persuaded: For (as Solomon says), "Though thou shouldst bray a fool in a mortar among wheat, with a pestle, yet will not his foolishness depart from him.”

7TH REASON.-Opposition only makes him the more pertinacious and conceited.

SIMILES.-Those who contend with a fool, are like children sitting in the markets, and calling unto their fellows, and saying, "We have piped unto you, and ye have not danced; we have mourned unto you, and ye have not lamented."-Matt. xi. 16, 17.

You cannot wash a blackamoor white, and no wise man will attempt it.

It is unwise to play with pitch if you wish to keep clean hands.

The oak which resists the gale is broken or blown down. He who contends with a fool, is like him who "casts pearls before swine."

Shakspeare says, that Gratiano's "reasons are as two grains of wheat hid in two bushels of chaff." What wise