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And now, my dear Brethren, what is the conclusion to be drawn from the whole? Whycertainly this; that the Amusements of the Theatre are contrary to the divine nature and will, and injurious to the best interests of man; that their direct and necessary tendency is to dishonour God, and to ruin the soul; that in indulging ourselves in such amusements, we prefer our own gratification to the honour of God, and to the good of our fellow-creatures; and thereby give manifest proof that we love neither God nor our neighbour; we only love ourselves. And what kind of self love is this, which is willing to receive a trifling gratification in exchange for the soul?

And, my dear Brethren, when you reflect upon the aweful guilt and danger of such a state, will you persevere in this course? Will you have your pleasure at all risks, and at all events? Then, in the name of that God whose minister I am, and whose message I bring, and by whose authority I speak ;-I warn you that "the end of these things is death,"- eternal death;-intolerable and interminable torment;-torment heightened by the reproaches of those, whom, by your example and by your influence you may have strengthered in their wickedness, and hardened in their sin. But, my dear Brethren, I trust that something like the conviction and determination of Job is arising in the hearts of those, who may have never before viewed the subject in this point of

view; "Surely it is meet to be said unto God, if I have done iniquity, I will do no more." Oh! my dear Brethren, rest not till you do truly love God and your neighbour, and then there will be no need for me to warn you against these dangerous pleasures. See your want of these new principles. Strive to attain them. God will give them, if you seek them through Christ by earnest prayer. But seek in sincerity;-leave off all known sin, all outward violations of his command,—all dangerous compliances with the world. -Come out from the world and be separate.Cast yourselves upon God,―upon his mercies in Christ Jesus-and upon the help of his heavenly grace; and he will receive you, and be a father unto you, and make you his sons and daughters. It is related of the Rev. Mr. HERVEY, that he was once travelling in a stage coach, in which was a lady, who spoke much in favour of the Theatre. Amongst other things she said,—there was the pleasure of thinking on the play before she went; the pleasure she enjoyed when there; -and the pleasure of reflecting upon it afterwards. When she had done, Mr. HERVEY replied, there was one pleasure more which she had forgotten to mention ;-the pleasure it would give her on her death-bed. My dear Brethren, on a death-bed we must lie; and we know not how soon. I have, this morning, committed to the cold grave the mortal remains of one who was

worshipping with us on Sunday last, and it was then as likely that he would be worshipping with us here to-day, as it is that we ourselves shall be worshipping here on Sunday next. How deeply should such a solemn warning affect our minds. We know not but that we may be summoned into an eternal and unseen world as suddenly as he.

Are there then here present any frequenters of Theatrical Amusements? May God give you grace so to number your days, that you may apply your hearts to wisdom. The Lady to whom Mr. HERVEY made his well-timed remark, felt its force;—she acted up to her convictions ;—she never visited the play-house again ;—but followed such pleasures as would bring her true satisfaction on her death-bed. God grant that you may go and do likewise.

There is one part of this congregation over whom I am jealous with especial fear;-I mean the young;-to whom the pleasures of the Theatre are the most tempting and the most perilous. I would not willingly omit the use of any means by which, through the divine blessing, I might preserve their feet from falling into this snare; and, as the afternoon of Sunday next is the time appropriated more particularly for their instruction, it is my intention, if God permit, to address them on that occasion upon the subject of these

amusements.

SERMON IV.

MAT. vi., 13.

"Lead us not into temptation."

THE Christian Minister is a spiritual sentinel, placed by Providence on his post of observation, in order that he may watch over his people, and in behalf of his people; and as soon as he discovers danger, it is his duty to employ all the means, and opportunities, and advantages, which his station may afford him, for the purpose of resisting, and counteracting, and, if possible, averting the threatening evil. In the discharge of such an office, the Christian Minister will select, from time to time, such subjects as may appear best adapted to the existing circumstances and immediate necessities of his people; and he will press upon them those truths, and those duties, which the present temptations and the impending dangers may render expedient, and deserving of particular attention.

Now, my dear young Friends, it was from a deep sense of my responsibility, and I trust also,

with an earnest desire to promote your temporal and eternal welfare, that I stated my intention of making another effort this afternoon, to put you upon your guard against the temptations to which you are exposed, by the re-opening of the Theatre. This is an occasion on which I feel myself called upon, both by my duty to God, and from love to your souls, to warn you as plainly and faithfully as I can. There are few dangers so much to be dreaded as those which arise from the opening of a Theatre. Were impiety and impurity to appear in all their naked, undisguised, and exceeding sinfulness, they would be less perilous. But the Theatre conceals its mischief and its wickedness under a specious and imposing mask. It seems to offer nothing but harmless entertainment; -it comes with very plausible pretences;-it makes very fair professions;-it is one of those wiles of the Devil, in which he has discovered in a peculiar manner, what the Bible calls his 66 subtilty." In these Amusements there is much to entice and entrap;-much to excite the tenderest feelings;-much to interest the cultivated mind; there is every thing of outward decoration, and beauty of language, to catch and to gratify the eye and the ear;—and together with all this, moral lessons and virtuous sentiments are interspersed here and there, which serve to lull and to pacify the conscience. All these circumstances conspire to spread over the Theatre a most

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