Vile thieves!

(John Angell James, "Redeeming Time" 1825)

"Be very careful, then, how you live--not as fools
 but as wise, redeeming the time, because the
 days are evil." Ephesians 5:15-16

Unprofitable reading is another consumer of time which
must be avoided. Worldly amusements, and parties of
pleasure, are also injurious. I do not by this mean to
condemn the occasional communion of friends in the
social circle, where the civilities of life are given and
received, the ties of friendship strengthened, and the
mind recreated, without any injury being done to the
spiritual or moral interests.

But the theater, the card-table, the billiard-room,
are all to be avoided as vile thieves, which steal
our time and hurt our souls!