will soon seek to excuse the wicked, and palliate their offences.

4TH REASON.-The distance between sin and the person who tampers with it lessens every hour; so that the victim is overtaken, before he imagines he has even consented to "the accursed thing."

5TH REASON. While the mind is sporting with sin, it is thrown off its guard, because the thought of danger is merged in the excitement of pleasure.

6TH REASON. It is the nature of sport to love adventure, and the relish is enhanced by the imminency of the danger incurred. He, therefore, who amuses himself with sin, will often run beyond the verge of innocency, in order to give zest to his sport.

7TH REASON. He who plays with wickedness is made familiar with many sinful words and practices, which drop into the mind like seed, haunt the memory, and suggest evil which would never have otherwise occurred.

SIMILES. A rash soldier who goes into an enemy's camp to satirise the commander of the adverse army, foolishly exposes himself to almost certain death.

A moth buzzing round a candle, delighted with its warmth and glare, is burnt by the flame with which it sports.

The man who nourished a serpent by the warmth of his bosom, was stung by the creature immediately it was hatched.

He who plays with pitch always defiles his fingers.

He who touches rouge will be stained with red.

The swine that wallows in mud may find sport, but will not escape defilement.

A bird, fascinated with the beauty and rattle of a snake, flutters round and round, till it falls insensibly into the jaws of death.

The hands of a dyer show his occupation.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.-Solomon tampered with vice when he "multiplied wives and horses;" but Solomon found, by bitter experience, the danger and sinfulness of his folly.

St. Peter tampered with temptation by entering the judgment hall, after the warning given him by his Lord and Master; but wept bitterly for the sin by which he was overtaken.

Balaam tampered with sin when he kept the messengers of Balak all night, and sacrificed to what he knew were no gods; but Balaam did not escape the consequences. 1st, He allured the children of Israel into fornication and idolatry, by which he brought upon them a most grievous destruction; 2ndly, He incurred the anger of God by his daring disobedience; and, 3rdly, He was slain by the very people he had blessed and betrayed.

When Remus leaped over the walls of the city founded on mount Palatine, in order to show his contempt of such a defence, he was instantly struck dead by his brother Romulus, whose anger was provoked by the indignity.

The Athenians made Sulla their jest, because he had a red and pimply face; but Sulla was an edged tool too dangerous for sport, and retorted the insult by destroying their magnificent city and reducing Greece to a Roman province.

Philip of France amused himself by foolish railleries against William the Conqueror; but the indignant monarch of England resented the gibes by ravaging France, and reducing its capital to ashes.

The three sons of William I. of England were one day in sport together, when the two younger brothers threw a pitcher of water over Robert in foolish joke. The angry Robert instantly drew his sword with intent to kill his brothers, and the whole family being set at variance, a war ensued, which entailed numberless evils.

Thersites chose to play his jokes on Agamemnon the king, and general of the combined armies of Greece in

the siege of Troy; but was taught, by a severe castigation from Ulysses, the danger of playing with edged tools.

QUOTATIONS. As a madman who casteth firebrands, arrows, and death; so is the man that deceiveth his neighbour, and saith, "Am not I in sport."-Prov. xxvi. 18, 19. It is as sport to a fool (only) to do mischief.—Prov. x. 23. Fools make a mock at sin.-Prov. xiv. 9.

Folly (i. e. wickedness) is joy to him that is destitute of wisdom.—Prov. xv. 21.

But fornication and all uncleanness, let it not be once NAMED among you, as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient. -Eph. v. 4.

They shall receive the reward of unrighteousness (who) count it pleasure to riot in the daytime: sporting themselves with their own deceivings, while they feast with you.-2 Pet. ii. 13.

Gladium insanienti tradere peccatum est.-Cicero.
Male olet omne cœnum.-Cicero.

Malorum commercio reddimur deteriores.

Melius est cavere semper, quam pati semel.

Caret periculo, qui etiam tutus cavet.

Corrumpunt bonos mores colloquia prava.

Quod cavere possis, stultum est admittere.-Terence.

CONCLUSION..

THEME XXXVII. Too much Familiarity breeds Contempt.

INTRODUCTION.-Those persons who intrude upon us at all times, cast aside the formalities of politeness, and take

unwarrantable liberties, will infallibly lose our esteem and respect.

1ST REASON.-When persons are so intimate as to throw off all restraint in the presence of each other, numerous foibles are exposed, which tend greatly to lessen respect.

2ND REASON. It is too frequently the case, that persons will not take the trouble of exhibiting to familiar acquaintances the same courtesy, deference, and intelligence that they do to strangers; so that esteem languishes from the discourtesy and dulness of indifference.

3RD REASON. The unlicensed freedom which great familiarity gives to selfish and unamiable passions, constantly provokes resentment and a feeling of contempt.

4TH REASON. Those who are very familiar with each other will often require services which neither friendship, conscience, nor propriety can justify; and whether the request be refused or granted, one party or the other must feel offended.

5TH REASON. It is the nature of men to think more meanly of that which is common, than of that which is scarce; so that boon companions, from their very familiarity, lose some portion of their mutual esteem.

6TH REASON.-All persons are imposed upon in some measure by ceremony and obscurity. That which is shadowed by mystery excites wonder, admiration, fear, and reverence; but, when great intimacy has drawn aside the veil, a reaction takes place in the mind, and whereas it felt inclined to give to "the unknown" more than his due, it is unwilling to concede to the "well-known" even a just award of merit.

7TH REASON.-Liberties are taken with very intimate companions, which wound their pride and offend their self-esteem: these offences provoke a desire of retaliation; to effect which the aggressor must be humbled, his merits extenuated, and his foibles magnified. Thus, wounded pride will often plant contempt between those whose familiarity exposes them to these annoyances.

SIMILES. The Frogs and King Log.-Esop's fuble.

.A Jackass, wishing to be beloved by his master as much as a spaniel, jumped upon his lap and threw his legs round his neck; but the master, offended at these liberties, beat the offender with a cudgel, and put him under restraint.-Esop's fable.

Light is absolutely essential for colours, but if colours are exposed constantly to a brilliant sunshine, they soon fade and lose their beauty.

The daisy, in England, is despised and rooted up as a weed, because its familiarity makes it intrusive; the marigold, on the other hand, is cultivated as a gardenflower and greatly admired. But in India the marigold is accounted a troublesome weed, and the daisy petted as an European exotic.

Rich viands, sparingly and occasionally taken, are agreeable to the palate, but produce loathing and nausea when repeated to a surfeit.

Men's behaviour with friends should be like their dress, sufficiently free for unrestrained exercise and motion, but not so free as to be indecorous and offensive.

Colours are beautiful to the eyes, but if one colour obtruded upon them from every object, its familiarity would distress rather than charm.

Music is delightful to the ear, but nothing is more distressing than the palling surfeit of sweet sounds.

A certain dress, or a certain ornament, may be very excellent and charming; but if a lady always wore the same dress and ornament in every society, the spectators would feel inclined to laugh with contempt, rather than smile with admiration.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.-James I. of England was a man of considerable learning and few vices; but, by jesting with his attendants, and a too great familiarity with his subjects, he was held in universal contempt.