If a soul sin, and hear the voice of swearing, and is a witness. . . . if he do not utter it, then he shall bear his iniquity.-Lev. v. 1.

Because of swearing, the land mourneth.-Jer. xxiii. 10.

Accustom not thy mouth to swearing; neither use thyself to the naming of the Holy One; for as a servant that is continually beaten shall not be without a blue mark, so he that sweareth and nameth God continually, shall not be blameless.-Eccles. xxiii. 9, 10.

A man that useth much swearing shall be filled with iniquity, and the plague shall never depart from his house. If he offend, his sin shall be upon him: ... if he swear in vain he shall not be innocent, but his houseshall be full of calamities.-Eccles. xxiii. 11.

Too much asseveration gives ground for suspicion. Truth and honesty have no need for vehement protestations. Serj. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.

Common swearing is an acknowledgment that a man thinks his bare word unworthy of credit.-Serj. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.

The fashion of oaths has no temptation to excuse it, for no man can say he was born with a swearing constitution. -Serj. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.

It is common with many, upon every trivial matter, to pawn their honour, their truth, or their reputation: But what is so often pawned, or is lent to every one, cannot but lose much of its value.-Serj. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.

An honest man is believed without an oath, for his reputation swears for him; thus the Athenians were so. fully persuaded of the truth and fidelity of Xenocrates, that they passed a law, "That the evidence of Xenocrates should be admitted without an oath."

None are so nearly disposed to scoffing at religion, as those who accustom themselves to swear on every trifling occasion. Tillotson.

Swearing shows that a man distrusts his own reputation. -Italian proverb.

Procul, o procul este profani, conclamat vates.- Virgil.

CONCLUSION.

THEME XCVIII. Learning is better than House and Land.

INTRODUCTION.

1ST REASON. It is more enduring, seeing it is subject to fewer vicissitudes.

2ND REASON. It is more ennobling; "rank is but the guinea's stamp," but wisdom "is more precious than rubies, and all the things thou canst desire are not to be compared unto it."

3RD REASON.-It is more potential. Knowledge is power," says Lord Bacon; “but as for wealth,” adds the same philosopher, "it is useful as baggage, but very cumbersome."

4TH REASON.-Learning affords more lasting and varied delight than houses and lands.

5TH REASON. It is a better companion; inasmuch as it stays with us in our homes, goes with us in our travels, is the friend of our bosom, our ornament in prosperity, and solace in distress.

6TH REASON. It is intrinsically a better gift. Both learning and wealth are talents committed to us as "stewards of God's bounty;" but of the two, wisdom is certainly better and more valuable bestowment, than a large house with broad acres.

7TH REASON.-It is more our own than any externals can possibly be.

8TH REASON.-It is better, inasmuch as mind is better than matter.

SIMILES.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.

QUOTATIONS.-How much better is it to get wisdom than gold; and to get understanding rather to be chosen than silver —Prov. xvi. 16.

Wisdom is better than rubies, . . . . its fruit is better than gold, yea than fine gold; and its revenue than choice silver.-Prov. viii. 11. 19.; see also iii. 13-17.

Where shall wisdom be found? and where is the place of understanding? Man knoweth not the price thereof, neither is it found in the land of the living... It cannot be valued with the gold of Ophir, with the precious onyx, or the sapphire: The gold and the crystal cannot equal it. . . . . The topaz of Ethiopia shall not equal it, neither shall it be valued with pure gold.—Job, xxviii. 12–19.

Wisdom is the principal thing, therefore get wisdom; and with all thy getting get understanding.-Prov. iv. 7.

Solomon says, "I called upon God, and the spirit of wisdom came to me. I preferred her before sceptres and thrones, and esteemed riches nothing in comparison of her. . . . . all gold in respect of her is as little sand, and silver shall be counted as clay before her."- Wisdom, vii. 7-9.

Wisdom is subtle, lively, clear, undefiled, plain, not subject to hurt, loving the thing that is good, quick, which cannot be letted, kind to man, steadfast, sure, free from eare, having all power, overseeing all things, . . . . the breath of the power of God, . . . . the brightness of the everlasting light, . . . . more beautiful than the sun, and above all the order of stars.- Wisdom, vii. 22-29.

No tyrant can take from you learning.-Fielding's proverbs.

True philosophy is a very great possession.- Maunder's proverbs.

A wise man is a great monarch; he has an empire within himself; reason commands in chief, and possesses

the throne and sceptre; all his passions, like obedient subjects, do obey; though the territories seem but small and narrow, yet the command is great, and reaches further than the sultan, who wears the moon for his crest, or than the other that has the sun for his helmet.-Serj. Palmer's aphorisms and maxims.

Scienza in ogni stato e un grande tesoro.

Ingenium pretiosius auro.-Ovid.

Sapientia est possessio pretiosior divitiis.

Literæ semper jucundæ et utiles.

Felix qui potuit rerum cognoscere causas.- Virgil.
Victrix fortunæ sapientia.-Juvenal.

CONCLUSION.

THEME XCIX. Keep the Sabbath holy.

INTRODUCTION.

1ST REASON. The example of God warrants it.Gen. ii. 2.

2ND REASON.-The goodness of God pleads for it.Mark, ii. 27.

3RD REASON. The authority of God demands it.Ex. xx. 8.

4TH REASON.-The blessing of God rewards it.Ex. xx. 11.

5TH REASON.-A day of rest once a week is needful for health.

6TH REASON. It is actually profitable in a worldly point of view for every one is one seventh richer than he would be if the sabbath were abolished.

7TH REASON. It is essential for spiritual instruction and the soul's health.

SIMILES.

HISTORICAL ILLUSTRATIONS.-See Numb. xv. 32-36. Neh. xiii. 15-20. Ez. xx. 13. &c.

QUOTATIONS.-My sabbaths ye shall keep . . . for it is holy unto you: Every one that defileth it shall surely be put to death for whosoever doeth any work therein, that soul shall be cut off from among his people.—Ex. Xxx. 13, 14. 18.

Six days shall work be done, but on the seventh day there shall be to you an holy day, a sabbath of rest to the Lord: Whosoever doeth work therein shall be put to death.-Ex. xxxv. 2.

To-morrow is the rest of the holy sabbath unto the Lord Bake that which ye will bake to-day, and seethe that ye will seethe; and that which remaineth over lay up for you to be kept until the morning.-Ex. xvi. 23.

Ye shall keep my sabbaths, and reverence my sanctuary; I am the Lord.-Lev. xxvi. 2.

Blessed is the man . . . that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it. Isa, Ivi. 2.

If thou turn away thy foot from the sabbath, from doing thy pleasure on my holy day; and call the sabbath a delight, the holy of the Lord, honourable; and shall honour Him, not doing thine own ways, nor finding thine own pleasure, nor speaking thine own words: Then shalt thou delight thyself in the Lord; and I will cause thee to ride upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Jacob thy father; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.-Isa. lviii. 13, 14.

Also the sons of the stranger (i. e. the Gentile) that join themselves to the Lord, to serve Him. . . every one that keepeth the sabbath from polluting it.. will I bring to my holy mountain, and make them joyful in my house of prayer.-Isa. lvi. 6, 7.

even them

He that forsakes the sabbath forsakes his Maker.Jonas Hanwell, Esq.