Pཨ་བ, ས་

мни

y can retire, and "commune with their own rts;" if they find the love of God operating with diminished force on their minds; if they can -ring every thought into subjection," and concente every wandering imagination; if they can sorly examine into their own state of mind; I do say if they can do all this perfectly and without straction; (for who can do this at any time?) but they can do it with the same degree of seriousness, ay with the same degree of fervour, and renounce e world in as great a measure as at other times d if they can lie down with a peaceful consciousss of having avoided in the evening "that temption" which they had prayed not to "be led" into the morning, they may then more reasonably ope that all is well, and that they are not speaking Ise peace to their hearts.

;

"If this test were fairly used; if this experiment ere honestly tried; if this examination were concientiously made, may we not without offence preime to ask,—Could our numerous places of public esort, could our ever-multiplying scenes of more elect but not less dangerous diversion, nightly overow with an excess hitherto unparalleled in the anals of pleasure ?"

!

FROM W. WILBERFORCE'S PRACTIC

"I am well aware that I am now a on very tender ground: but it would per deference to the opinions and m age altogether to avoid it. There ha argument concerning the lawfulness amusements. Let it be sufficient to the controversy would be short indeed tion were to be tried by this criterion Supreme Being. If there were any sensibility for the honour of God, and in his service, which we show in behal ly friends, or of our political connexio seek our pleasure in that place which th inflamed with wine, or bent on the g other licentious appetites, finds most his state and temper of mind? In tha the neighbourhood of which (how jus school of morals might hence alone be corum, and modesty, and regularity, riot and lewdness are invited to the sp riably select it for their chosen resid the sacred name of God is often profa sentiments are often heard with delig tions and gestures often applauded, not be tolerated in private company, bu far exceed the utmost licence allowed

སམས་ Chucaruui w campait, 1320 CHUSE ch Scripture warrants, but those which it conns as false and spurious, being founded in pride ambition, and the over-valuation of human far?"

OM AN ADDRESS OF SEVERAL CLERGYMEN OF

THE CITY OF NEW-YORK, 1812.*

Theatrical representations necessarily tend demoralize every society in which they are suprted.

While tragedy purposes by an exhibition of eat and heroic character to cultivate a dignified orality, and comedy promises to laugh out of untenance every kind of folly and vice, both are se to their promise, and the unwary are grossly ceived. The idle and the profligate still conue to weep over tragical distress, and continue laugh immoderately at the buffoonery of comedy, thout ever undergoing a reform. It must be so. fidelity and licentiousness are introduced, under very form, which would diminish disgust, or be lculated to render them agreeable to the audi

ce.

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Familiarity is accordingly cultivated with the orst characters without necessity and without imatience, and often even with delight.

* This extract has been inserted by the American Editors.

"The affections which are exercise ened at the play-house, are always fallen nature, generally, those which h open profanity, and, never, those wh sively religious.

"The sensibility, which is here e terested, is the creature of romance occurs or acts in real life. In a misery still calls for compassion an is no benevolence in contributing to the stage for the purpose of exerci with ideal sorrow.

"The moral sentiment, inculcated with all the graces of composition an uniformly separated from the motive ples of christianity, is never tested by of the divine law, and is, of course, and impious.

"Revealed religion is never exhibit purity. It is adulterated by an inter fashionable maxims, and so reduced ard of unsanctified taste. Therefore t turn from the play-house highly grati entertainment. And if any man eve it, without disgust, it is because his t corrupted by evil communications. "Human pride and passion are fed ductions of the Theatre. Desires and strengthened. The whole is a faithfu the flesh lusting against the Spirit, and teracts the grand design of the gospel So sensible must all the disciples of of this tendency, that none of them wi ing to the play-house, the blessing of exhibition which he is about to witnes his return home at an untimely hour,

Precious time is, profusely, squandered upon fashionable folly. Great expense is incurred t. In life it tends to eradicate all inclination divine things; it renders meditation and prayer a wearisome and painful, and at death it yields upport or comfort."

"he full effect of the corrupt tendency of the stage nown only in the lives of the actors, or in those nts of dissipation into which profligates betake mselves from this chapel of devotion. The poious leaven, however spreads, with rapid but erceptible gradations, through all the circles of life, and, from them, to surrounding society. is more destructive to the interests of true reon, than is the canker-worm to the blossoms of spring. Whenever a rage for Theatrical resentations prevails, the religious taste is itself cted; and under the illusory idea of superefinement, the enticing words of man's wisn are apt to be preferred to the demonstration the Spirit."

'Cease to hear the instruction that causeth to from the words of knowledge."-" Abstain from appearance of evil."-"Be not deceived, evil mmunications corrupt good manners.""Let walk honestly as in the day: not in chambering I wantonness."--"For the love of Christ conaineth us-that they which live should not henceth live unto themselves, but unto Him which died - them."