Imatges de pàgina
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he may be eminent for intellectual vigour and attainments; and yet, he may be utterly incompetent to decide upon this question;-while the enlightened and converted Christian, though he may belong neither to the wise men after the flesh, nor to the mighty, nor to the noble;though he may be amongst the most despised and the weakest of his fellow-creatures, and stand the very lowest in the scale of mind;-yet since his natural darkness has been taken away, and his natural bias changed; since he has received spiritual discernment and a holy principle; he is better able to form and give a judgment on a subject like this, than any natural man whatever, though endowed with the largest intellectual capacity which God ever gave to a human being; though he may have the highest moral character which can consist with a worldly mind and an unrenewed heart.

Take care, then, what advisers you follow. Be not led by the blind. Ask not guidance from those who are themselves turned aside by a deceived heart. But go to those who are endeavouring to have always a conscience void of offence both towards God and towards man;who are living for eternity;-whose judgment and conduct are regulated by God's word;-who are evidently impressed with a deep and abiding sense of religion;-who are persons of visible holiness;-and who, with patient perseverance, are living in the faith and obedience of the Gos

pel, and looking for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ unto eternal life. And what will be the testimony of such men? It will be found to be clear, uniform, and strong, against these dangerous amusements. They may differ as to the wisest and most expedient methods of counteracting them; but they will not differ as to their evil nature, and pernicious tendency.

I trust also you will have perceived by what has been said, the fallacious grounds on which the supporters or apologists of the Stage rest their cause and justify their conduct.

Be not you then dupes of such devices of Satan. Go to the only touchstone of truth;-the sure, safe, authorized standard of faith and practice.You will not, indeed, find express prohibitions against the ever-varying and ever-multiplying methods of sinning against God, and ruining the soul, which the craft and subtilty of the Devil or man may invent; but you will find in the Bible, general principles admitting of ready application, to every particular case; and you will find there a pervading tone and spirit which no honest inquirer can mistake. Bring the subject really to this test;-Are the Amusements of the Stage in accordance with the general principles and general spirit of God's holy word?-and no sincere mind can or will doubt long as to the right answer.

And now, my dear Brethren, permit me to conclude by earnestly calling upon you to lay these things to heart. I am addressing myself

to many young persons who are just entering into the world; too probably without any fixed religious principles; with all the buoyancy of youthful spirits, and in all the impetuosity of youthful passions. Oh, how especially to be dreaded in such cases is the fascinating and dangerous influence of the Theatre!

My dear young friends, I cannot but believe that what you have this afternoon heard, must have left this general impression upon your minds; there is sufficient reason for apprehending that the Theatre" is abomination in the sight of God," notwithstanding the support which it may receive from many who, in a worldly point of view, are amiable, estimable, and sensible persons.And will you harden your hearts, and by a bold effort, cast off fear, and venture upon what you

have so much cause to think is abhorred of God? Oh, remember, I beseech you, that a day is surely coming, when you must meet in judgment, that God, whose vengeance you thus dare, and whose forbearance you thus despise.

But may you take warning! I know, indeed, how utterly unavailing such an appeal must be, of itself, when made to the pleasurable propensities, and powerful passions of the youthful heart; but I also know that God can work his will by the feeblest instruments; and that it is his pleasure "by the foolishness of preaching, to save them that believe." May he bring conviction to your consciences, and turn and dispose your hearts!

May He give you, by his convincing Spirit, a sight and sense of the evil of all sin, and of the dreadful consequences of unpardoned guilt! And if you shall be awakened to a painful apprehension of God's righteous judgments, and your soul be brought to cry in earnest for mercy-the Theatre will then appear to you in its true character, as a place to be feared as the pestilence, and to be fled from as from the face of a serpent. And having been thus convinced of sin; may God, by the same Spirit, lead you on to the saving and sanctifying knowledge of the Lord Jesus Christ; and enable you to rest on his atoning sacrifice and perfect righteousness, by faith, to your peace and comfort; and, then, not the Theatre alone, but every kind of worldly dissipation and vain delight, will let go its hold upon your affections. The language of your hearts will be, I love the Lord, therefore, I hate every evil way. You will have seen things which are more excellent ;-you will have tasted true and substantial joy-higher and holier pleasures; and the remembrance of the time when " you walked according to the course of this world, fulfilling the desires of the flesh and of the mind," will only cover you with shame and confusion; and fill you with grief and regret, that you should have been so long regardless of your gracious God,-ungrateful to your dying Saviour,--and unmerciful to your own souls.

SERMON XI.

2 CORINTHIANS, xi., 3.

"I fear, lest by any means, as the Serpent beguiled Eve through his subtilty, so your minds should be corrupted."

IN these words St. Paul expresses that "godly jealousy," with which his mind was so soon and so sensibly affected, in consequence of his ever wakeful zeal for the honour and interests of his Divine Master, and his tender concern for the spiritual welfare of his fellow-creatures.

Nor were the fears of the Apostle for the Corinthians without just and sufficient cause. A formidable and malicious foe was perpetually on the watch to gain an advantage over them; and was ever ready to avail himself of any means, or device, or opportunity, by which he might be able to do them hurt.

There is, in these days, my dear Brethren, the very same ground for the very same suspicious vigilance, on the part of those who are called to the oversight of the flock of God, and whose office it is to watch for souls: and if any man ask a

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