7. How is the industry of the " virtuous woman,” whose "price is far above rubies," described?

She seeketh wool and flax, and worketh willingly with her hands. She is like the merchants' ships, she bringeth her food from afar.-She riseth also while it is yet night, and giveth meat to her household, and a portion to her maidens. -She considereth a field, and buyeth it; with the fruit of her hands she planteth a vineyard. She girdeth her loins with strength, and strengtheneth her arms. She perceiveth that her merchandise is good: her candle goeth not out by night. She layeth her hands to the spindle, and her hands hold the distaff.-She stretcheth out her hand to the poor;, yea, she reacheth forth her hands to the needy.-She looketh well to the ways of her household, and eateth not the bread of idleness. Her children arise up, and call her blessed her husband also, and he praiseth her. (31 Pr. 13 to 20.; 27, 28.)

8. To what insect does Solomon send the sluggard to learn foresight and industry?

Go to the ant, thou sluggard; consider her ways, and be wise; which, having no guide, overseer, or ruler, provideth her meat in the summer, and gathereth her food in the harvest. (6 Pr. 6, 7, 8.)

9. Is the love of sleep opposed to diligence?

Love not sleep, lest thou come to poverty; open thine, eyes, and thou shalt be satisfied with bread. (20 Pr. 13.)

10. How does St. Paul exhort against idleness?

Not slothful in business, fervent in spirit, serving the Lord. (12 Ro. 11.) ›

11. What did St. Paul command as to idle busy-bodies? If any would not work, neither should he eat. We hear that there are some which walk among you disorderly, working not at all, but are busy-bodies. Now them which are. such, we command and exhort by our Lord Jesus Christ, that with quietness they work, and eat their own bread: but ye, brethren, be not weary in well-doing. (II. Thes. 3. 10 to 13.)

12. How does Solomon expose the evils of sloth?

The way of the slothful man is as an hedge of thorns. (15 Pr. 19.)

Slothfulness casteth into a deep sleep; and an idle soul shall suffer hunger. (19 Pr. 15.)

13. Does sloth lead to want, and diligence to prosperity? The soul of the sluggard desireth and hath nothing; but the soul of the diligent shall be made fat. (13 Pr. 4.)

14. To whom is the slothful compared?

He also that is slothful in his work is brother to him that is a great waster. (18 Pr. 9.)

15. How does the house of the indolent appear?

By much slothfulness the building decayeth: and through idleness of the hands the house droppeth through. (10 Eccles. 18.)

16. Does the property of the slothful go to waste?

I went by the field of the slothful, and by the vineyard of the man void of understanding; and lo it was all grown over with thorns, and nettles had covered the face thereof, and the stone-wall thereof was broken down. Then I saw, and considered it well: I looked upon it, and received instruction. Yet a little sleep, a little slumber, a little folding of the hands to sleep. So shall thy poverty come as one that travelleth; and thy want as an armed man. (24 Pr. 30 to 34.)

17. How does St. Paul describe the characters of idle

women?

They learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but tatlers also, and busy-bodies, speaking things which they ought not, (I. Tim. 5. 13.)

18. What will be the punishment of that "wicked and slothful servant," who does not improve the talents God has given him?

Cast ye the unprofitable servant into outer darkness: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. (25 Mat. 30.)

I

XXIV. SLANDER-TALE-BEARING.

FLATTERY.

SCORNING.

MOCK

ING.-FILTHY SPEAKING.

A few texts under each of these heads, describing the evil and punishment of these sins.›

1. Does the slanderer deserve punishment?

Whoso privily slandereth his neighbour, him will I cut off. (101 Ps. 5.)

2. What is the character of the slanderer?

He that uttereth a slander is a fool. (10 Pr. 18.)

3. Is the good man's character free from slander?

He that backbiteth not with his tongue, nor doeth evil to his neighbour, nor taketh up a reproach against his neighbour. (15 Ps. 3.)

4. How does St. James caution us against slander?

Speak not evil one of another, brethren: he that speaketh evil of his brother, and judgeth his brother, speaketh evil of the law, and judgeth the law. (4 Jas. 11.)

5. Is tale-bearing forbidden?

Thou shalt not go up and down as a tale-bearer among thy people. (19 Lev. 16.)

6. What evils does tale-bearing produce?

A froward man soweth strife; and a whisperer separateth chief friends. (16 Pr. 28.)

Where no wood is, there the fire goeth out; so where there is no tale-bearer, the strife ceaseth. (26 Pr. 20.)

7. Is a tale-bearer and flatterer unworthy of confidence? He that goeth about as a tale-bearer, revealeth secrets; therefore meddle not with him that flattereth with his lips. (20 Pr. 19.)

8. Is the flatterer a dangerous character ?

A flattering mouth worketh ruin. (26 Pr. 28.)

A man that flattereth his neighbour spreadeth a net for his feet. (29 Pr. 5.)

9. Is the scorner disliked?

The scorner is an abomination to men. (24 Pr. 9.)

10. How does God treat the scorner?

Surely he scorneth the scorner, but he giveth grace unto the lowly. (3 Pr. 34.)

11. How were those wicked young people punished who mocked the prophet Elisha?

As he was going up by the way, there came forth little children out of the city, and mocked him, and said unto him, Go up, thou bald head; Go up, thou bald head and he turned back, and looked on them, and cursed them in the name of the Lord. And there came forth two she-bears out of the wood, and tare forty and two children of them. (II. Kings, 2. 23, 24.)

12. Is mocking a reflection against our Creator?

Whoso mocketh the poor, reproacheth his Maker; and he that is glad at calamities shall not be unpunished. (17 Pr. 5.) 13. Will he who mocks his parents be punished?

The eye that mocketh at his father, and despiseth to obey his mother, the ravens of the valley shall pick it out, and the young eagles shall eat it. (30 Pr. 17.)

14. Is all corrupt communication forbidden?

Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. (4 Eph. 29.)

15. What should our speech be employed in?

Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient; but rather giving of thanks. (5 Eph. 4.)

XXV. TRUTH AND DECEIT.-FALSE SWEARING.-HYPOCRISY.

Commands against lying and false swearing-Exhortations to truth-God requires truth and punishes liars— Advantages of truth.—Evils of lying-The operation of deceit Hypocrites-How they act-Their detection * and punishment.

1. What is the ninth commandment?

Thou shalt not bear false witness against thy neighbour. (20 Exod. 16.)

2. Are false reports and false swearing forbidden?

Thou shalt not raise a false report put not thine hand with the wicked to be an unrighteous witness. (23 Exod. 1.)

3. How does the Psalmist forbid deceit ?

Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile. (34 Ps. 13.)

4. How does Zechariah enforce the importance of truth?

Speak ye every man the truth to his neighbour; execute the judgment of truth and peace in your gates: and let none of you imagine evil in your hearts against his neighbour; and love no false oath: for all these are things that I hate, saith the Lord. (8 Zech. 16, 17.)