6TH REASON.-It may prevent the operation of other collateral events hanging the one on the other: Thus when the Countess of Nottingham neglected to send the ring of Essex to the Queen, it prevented Elizabeth sending a free pardon to the Earl; whereby the traitor lost his head, and the monarch broke her heart.

7TH REASON.-It may give a wrong bias to a whole series of dependent events: Thus a tier of bricks laid out of the perpendicular, in the lower part of a building, may attract no notice; but, as the building progresses, the defect is propagated from tier to tier, till at length the whole superstructure tumbles into ruins.

8TH REASON.-It may create the most fatal mistakes in others: As when a gun is hung up with the charge undrawn, another (presuming it to be unloaded) may be the innocent cause of a man's death.

9TH REASON. One neglect often involves another as a necessary consequence: Thus when the work of Monday is deferred till Tuesday, the work of Tuesday must be neglected for that of the day previous..

10TH REASON. -All negligence is like the letting-in of waters: Little faults soon become great faults, and the great increase in magnitude and importance like a river, which rises from a small spring, but gathers strength continually in its progress to the sea.

SIMILES.-A little spark may kindle a mighty fire.

The five careless virgins, who neglected to take oil for their lamps, were shut out from the bridal chamber.Matt. xxv. 8-12.

A serpent's egg will produce a serpent.

A slight cold may terminate in consumption and death. For want of a nail the shoe was lost, for want of a shoe the horse was lost, for want of a horse the rider was lost.

How many destructive fires occur annually through carelessness and gross neglect.

A slight neglect may be compared to a word spoken on the lofty Alps, the vibrations of which may unseat huge avalanches, and bring them down with fatal devastation.

A little neglect may be likened to a stray chip or leaf in a stream, which forms the nucleus of a sheet of ice.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

QUOTATIONS.-He that contemneth small things shall fall by little and little.-Eccles. xix. 1.

A little leak will sink a great ship.

A wee thing will put your beard in a bleeze.-Scotch proverb.

When the door is opened for a little vice a great one may enter in.-Maunder's proverbs.

The greatest events are often drawn from hairs.

A stitch in time saves nine.

Let us not sleep as do others, but let us watch and be sober.-1 Thes. v. 6.

"BUSINESS TO-MORROW."-The origin of this Greek proverb is given thus by Plutarch :-" A Theban polemarch, in the midst of a convivial feast, received certain despatches relating to a conspiracy; flushed with wine, he replied to the courier who urged him to open them immediately, "business to-morrow,' and thrust the letters under his pillow: But the morrow was too late; the conspirators made head, and the polemarch fell a victim to his own neglect."

He fell into the gutter while gazing at the moon.— Fielding's proverbs.

Incuria maculas fudit.-Horace.

Etiam minuta non negligenter tractanda sunt.-Cicero, Nugæ seria ducunt.

Inconsiderate negligenterque nequid agamus.-Cicero.

In re familiari laboriosior est negligentia quam diligentia. Columella.

Vituperanda est maxime incuria.- Cicero.

CONCLUSION.

THEME LXII. Use Pleasures moderately, and they will last the longer.

INTRODUCTION.

1ST REASON.-Pleasures often repeated pall upon the appetite, and become not only distasteful, but tiresome, and even disgusting.

2ND REASON. When pleasures fatigue the body, and jade the spirit, their repetition or continuation is most distressing.

3RD REASON. Any immoderate use of pleasures will make sad inroads upon health; and a sickly body loathes the racket and whirl of pleasure, as much as a broken spirit a foolish laugh or a flippant jest.

4TH REASON.-Pleasures carried to excess make a sad intrusion upon business, property, and time. To those, therefore, who have any regard for these things, the consciousness of this intrusion will render what was designed for a pleasure, the source of real anxiety, regret, and pain.

5TH REASON. The greatest charm of pleasure is its novelty, which frequent repetition destroys.

6TH REASON. The main use of pleasure is relaxation; but immediately it becomes a business, it ceases to be a recreation.

SIMILES.-Wine, in moderate quantities, "maketh a

cheerful countenance," but, used immoderately, produces intoxication, sickness, and pain.

Sweet food is agreeable as a bonne bouche; but in large quantities is most offensive to the palate.

Moderate heat is both pleasant and healthy, but violent heat is relaxing and painful.

If every day were a sunny day, who would not wish for rain?

Immoderate laughter is very distressing; but in moderation "it doeth good like a medicine."

God hath made night to succeed the day, and winter the

autumn.

Waltzing is no more pleasure to a ballet-dancer, or a play to an actor, than a counting-house to a merchant, or his master's shop to an apprentice.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

QUOTATIONS.-When the senses are too exquisite, they want narcotics.-Lord Bacon.

Who runs fast, cannot run long.

Drink little, and drink long.

Go away longing, for more you will yearn;
Go away loathing, you'll hate to return.

You must abstain, in order that you may sustain.Lord Bacon.

Pleasures immoderately pursued, waste the powers of enjoyment. Maunder's proverbs.

Cater frugally for the body if you would feed the mind healthily.-Maunder's proverbs.

A rich mouthful, a heavy groan.-Maunder's proverbs.
Violent delights have violent ends,

And in their triumph die : like fire and powder,
Which, as they kiss, consume.- Shakspeare.

Leave pleasure when it pleases you most.

One may support any thing better than too much ease. -Ray's proverbs.

Abstract what others feel, what others think;
All pleasures sicken, and all glories sink ;

Each has his share, and who would more obtain

Shall find the pleasure pays not half the pain.-Pope. He that resisteth pleasure crowneth his life.-Eccles. xix. 5.

32.

Take not pleasure in much good cheer.-Eccles. xviii.

Go not after thy lusts, but refrain thyself from thine appetites. Eccles. xvii. 30.

If thou sit at a bountiful table be not greedy upon it, and say not, "There is much meat on it."-Eccles. xxxi. 2.

Sound sleep cometh of moderate eating; he riseth early and his wits are with him; but the pain of watching, and choler, and pangs of the belly, are with an unsatiable man. -Eccles. xxxi. 20.

Wine measurably drunk, and in reason, bringeth gladness of heart and cheerfulness of the mind; but wine drunken with excess maketh bitterness of the mind . . diminisheth strength, and maketh wounds.-Eccles. xxxi. 28-30.

The first glass for thirst, the second for nourishment, the third for pleasure, and the fourth for madness.Anacharsis.

NE QUID NIMIS.*- Terence.

Voluptati tempera.

Optat Ephippia bos piger.-Horace.

Coena brevis juvat.

Arcus nimis intensus rumpitur.

CONCLUSION.

This wise maxim is ascribed by some to Thales, and by others to

Solon.