Ver. 18.-The curse of sloth. Religious teachers are sometimes unwilling to touch upon common faults, such a.s are noticeable by every observer as prevailing too generally in the everyday life of their fellow-men. The Scriptures give no countenance to such negligence, but, on the contrary, deal faithfully with those errors and evil habits which a.re alien from the Christian character, and which are injurious to human society. Slothfulness was peculiarly hateful to the writer of this book, who inculcated diligence a.s a religious duty, and exhibited in homely but effective ways the results of its prevalence. I. TEMPTATIONS TO SLOTH ARE MANY. Work must be done, some will admit; but it may be left to others, or it may be put off to a. more convenient sea.son. Work need not be done, others will declare; much may be left undone which some people think of importance, but which is not really so. Upon the plea of ill health, or mental inability, or preoccupation, multitudes, in this world whore there is so much to be done, sink into slothful, indolent habits and a useless life. 2CG ECCLESIAS'l'ES; OR, THE PREA.ORER. [en. x. 1-20.
II. THE FOLLY OF SLOTH IS EASILY MADE EVIDENT, 1. The slothful man is his own enemy. Had he exerted himself and exercised his powers, he would have grown &n abler and a better man. Who does not know persons with undeniable gifts who have "wrapped their talent in & napkin," and who have morally detel'iomted, until they have b~me w_orthless members of society? 2. The slothful man wrongs society. Every man 1s born mto this world to do a work for the general good. To live in idle- ness and comfort upon the produce of others' toil is to inflict a positive injn.ry. Others have to labour in order that the idle may be fed, Work is left undone for which the indolent possess, it may be, some peculiar gift. For the life of the elothful'the world is none the better. , III. THE SIN OF SLOT.H IS OONDEMNED BY THE w ORD OF GOD. The Ilook of Proverbs contains some very striking reflections and statements upon this point. And for the Christian it is enough to consider the example of the Lord Jesus, who with all his consecrated energy devoted himself to his Father's will and work. How &lien from the Master's spirit is the habit of the indolent I We cannot lose sight of the fact that, in the last judgment, the "wicked and slothful servant" must hear words of condemnation. IV. PRESERVATIVES FROM SLOTH ~UY BE FOUND IN THE PROVISIONS OF GoD's GRACE. 1. Prayer prompts to watchfulness and· toil. 2. Attention to the counsels and admonitions of God's Word cannot fe.il to be serviceable in delivering us from temptations to slothfulness. 3. Meditation upon the .example of our Saviour and Lord will stimulate to diligence and zeal. They who by the indwelling of his Spirit are one with him will share his devotion to the Father's will, his consecration to the welfare of mankind.-1'.
Ver. 1.-The dead fly in the ointment. "So do.th a little folly outweigh wisdom and honour" (Revised Version). It is a fact well worth a wise man's thought; that the presence of even a very little evil is found to be enough to counterbalance or undo much that is good. We find this in circumstance, in action, in character., Our every- day life supplies many illustrations. L Tm: CIRCUJ,I.BTANCES OF A JlAN. Not without reason does the moralist speak of the "one crumpled leaf'' spoiling the worth of the" bed of roses.". Ahab still makes himself miserable because he cannot have Naboth's vineyard in addition to all his property. It is not only true that "some murmur when their sky is clear~• if one "small speck of dark appear" in their heavens; it is true that very many do. lfwe are depending on our surroundings for our satisfaction, we shall ,give one more illustration of" the dead fly in the ointment." ' •• .. , IL HUMAN .ADVOCACY. A man may present an important case to bis audience ; he may have made diligent and ample preparation; he .may deliver his address with much logical force, with much felicity of style, with. much animation of spirit; •and yet he may fail to convince, and lie may lose his cause :through one mistake. He may make use of one offensive expression, or he may produce one palpably wenk argument, on which his opponents fasten; then all the good gained by his persuasiveness is lost by the harm done by his simple indiscretion. Much wisdom ie,outweighed by a little foll_y. III. HUMAN CHARA.CTEB, AND THE lNFLUENOE IT EXERTS. We are always acting upon our kindred and our neighbours by our character, and by the conduct of which it is the source. And, as a rule, the good and wise man is thus helping to make others good and wise; but there may be the "dead fly in the ointment" here. Truthfulness, righteousness, purity, kindness,-these qualities are calculated to tell powerfully upon those who daily witness them; but if there be in the midst of these an admixture of severity, or of exaggeration, or of pa.rsimoniousness, or of sarcasm, much if not most of the good influence m-iy be lost; the virtues and the graces are forgotten, while- the one blemish is remembered. 'I'he same thing, in much the same way, applies to- IV. HuMAN REPUTATION. A man may be building up a most honourable rcl?utntion through many years of toilful and virtuous life; he may succeed in w~nmng ~he regard of his fellow-citizens, and then by one serious indiscretion-pecuniary, socml, domestic, political, ecclesiastical-he may have to step down f~om· hi_s high position. It may not be a crime or a sin, but a serious mistake. an act m whwh he wns very on. x. 1-20.J EUOLESIASTES; OR, THB PREACHER. 267
ill advised, a. proceed.icg in which hie judgmcnt was sadly at fault-but it is enough; it upsets the fabric which had been laboriously constructed, and but little h,,uour will be accorded to him. 1. In our judgment of others we should distinguish between the superficial and the essential, between the exceptional and the common. 2. We should refuse to allow the on.e insignificant evil to disturb the harmony of our spirit, to spoil the brightness o.nd excellency of our life. 3. We are bound to be devoutly careful lest we permit oui" influence over others to be materially weakened by a. blemish in our character or a.n indiscretion in oilr condnct.-C. •