love of gratitude, as well as the love of esteem and delight. "We love him because he first loved us." "I love the Lord, because he hath heard the voice of my supplications." The love of God to us, will be the first exciting cause of the love of God in us. The love of his whole character will grow up in the soul, in proportion as he shines into our hearts, to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ; and both in time, and through eternity, the love of God will be the united feelings of delight in his perfections, and gratitude for his mercies. Now, my Brethren, let us suppose that there is upon the mind something like a due sense of our obligations to the divine goodness;—not only for creation, preservation, and all the blessings of this life;-but especially for that inestimable instance of the love of God,-the redemption of the world by our Lord Jesus Christ. Let us suppose the case of a man brought to repentance by the grace of God; made sensible of the greatness of his sins; feeling that he is in himself an object of displeasure-a child of wrath;-and that if God were to enter into judgment with him, he must inevitably, and eternally, and deservedly perish. Let us further suppose that he is enabled to view with believing trust the mercies of God in Christ; to flee for refuge to lay hold upon the hope set before him; to embrace the salvation of the Gospel; and to look upon himself as a sinner saved;

D

redeemed by the blood of Christ;-rescued from eternal ruin by the astonishing kindness and compassion of God, in sending his own Son to die for him, and by the unspeakable love of the Saviour, who, for his sake, stooped to shame and death, and made his soul an offering for sin. Now, my dear Brethren, what will be the feelings which arise in such a man's heart upon contemplating the great salvation of the Gospel, purchased for him at such a price; and bestowed upon him so freely, and in such exceeding rich grace? Why, -ardent love and heartfelt gratitude, and the most sincere desire to express the sense which he has of his obligations to redeeming mercy, by his most strenuous endeavours to please, and serve, and glorify his God and Saviour. The language of his inmost soul will be, "What shall I render unto the Lord for all the benefits which he hath done unto me?" "Lord, what wouldest thou have me to do?" To possess the love of God without such a grateful and obedient heart, is impossible. We naturally seek to please those whom we love; and we obey them with ready mind and will. "If ye love me" says Christ himself, "keep my commandments." "If any man love me, he will keep my words." "This is the love of God," says St. John, "that we keep his commandments; and his commandments are not grievous." When there is the principle of love, obedience is both easy and delightful. Now God has said, "Thou

shalt not take the Name of the Lord thy God in vain." "This is the will of God, even your sanctification." "But fornication and all uncleanness let it not be once named among you: neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient." "Be ye not conformed to this world, but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind." "Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world." "Whosoever will be the friend of the world is the enemy of God." "Cleanse yourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and the spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God."

Now, my dear Brethren, let us suppose a man whose heart burns with gratitude for redeeming love, and with desire to please God, and to be conformed to his will. Let us suppose him placed in a Theatre, where God's name is taken in vain ;where impure ideas are insinuated, and scenes of profligacy exhibited;—where characters are represented who act upon principles which God has condemned, and glory in practices which God has forbidden;-where are assembled the vain and the worldly;-the vicious and the abandoned of both sexes, to join in an amusement which is found to gratify the taste of all these persons, and is congenial with the carnal mind, and with the corrupt heart. How would such a man be affected in such a place? Why, every feeling of honest indignation would be roused;-his heart would be filled with

pain and grief;—and he would be ready to weep over such overflowings of ungodliness,—such dishonour done to Him whom his soul loveth.

And

if any man could have such an utter disregard of God, as to find his gratification in these things;the conclusion is clear and inevitable,-he has not the love of God in him.

I think then, my dear Brethren, that it plainly appears from what has been said, that the Amusements of the Theatre are directly opposed to this first and greatest Commandment of the Law;— and it necessarily follows, that if any persons love and frequent such Amusements, they do not love God; they love the things which are contrary to His nature;-they follow their own gratification to the neglect of His will;-they feel no real delight in His perfections;-they shew no true gratitude for His mercies. Are you ready to think this too severe to be true, and to reject it with offended feelings?-I would put it to the conscience of every frequenter of the Theatre now before me;-Could you dare to say in the midst of such Amusements, "I love in my heart a holy God, who hates sin.—I delight in his character and perfections more than in any thing besides.I rejoice to please him.-I long to be like him.— It is my best happiness to do his will." No, the most thoughtless and the most stout-hearted would shrink back from such hypocrisy ;-you would feel in your conscience, I dare not profess or say

this; for if I did thus love God, I should not be here.

I now proceed to the second Commandment of the Law, "Thou shalt love thy Neighbour as thyself;" and to inquire, as I proposed, how far Theatrical Amusements are consistent with this precept and duty.

It will not be necessary for me to occupy any time in shewing that by the word "neighbour" is meant all mankind;—all with whom we have intercourse, or towards whom we have an opportunity of shewing love. The love which we are commanded to feel and manifest towards our fellow-creatures is of two kinds;-general and special. There is a sense in which we are to love all mankind; and there is a sense in which Christians are to love each other with an affection which must necessarily exclude all besides;-all who are not true Christians. The love which Christians are commanded to feel for each other is a love of mutual attachment and delight, founded upon the fellowship which they have in common with the Father, and with his Son Jesus Christ; and upon the likeness which they all bear to that Saviour whom they all love. The true members of Christ are one body, of which Christ is the head; and have all been made to drink into one Spirit. Now, between such (as far as they are really known to each other) there will be a special bond of union and affection;―peculiar feelings of regard and esteem ;—and wherever