no wise enter any thing that defileth ;"—he must fight manfully against sin, the world, and the Devil, unto his life's end.

Now, what can persons who are thus pledged, have to do with the Theatre; except to shun and oppose it? Is it not notorious, that the things which they have disclaimed, and promised to quit for ever, are just the very things which are taught, practised, and encouraged at the playhouse?

They have vowed to "renounce the Devil and all his works." The Devil is the ruler of the darkness of this world;-the spirit that worketh in the children of disobedience;-the father of lies, and the great deceiver. In hatred and opposition to God, he puts it into the hearts of those who give heed to him, to speak and do things contrary to truth and holiness; and these are his works- the things which he promotes, and in which he delights. Now, the Theatre is just calculated to aid the tempter;-to increase his influence; and to accomplish the purposes of his will. There his agents are employed;-there his enticements are presented; and there his works abound. If you consider the dishonour done to God's holy name and word;-the mockery which is made of serious and spiritual religion;—the evil and corrupting communications which take place;—the licentious scenes which are exhibited;-the drunkenness, and riot, and

revellings to which these entertainments so frequently lead; the direct and indirect encouragement given to "adultery, fornication, uncleanness and lasciviousness;" and all the transgressions of God's righteous law, by sinful words and sinful deeds, of which the Theatre is the fruitful occasion; must it not be evident, that if, instead of renouncing the Devil and all his works,—we had solemnly pledged ourselves to confirm his dominion, and to do him service, the Theatre and its amusements must have been just the place and the means best fitted for the furtherance and fulfilment of such an engagement ?

But again. Where are the pomps and vanity of the world exhibited in fuller and more alluring display, than at the Theatre? Where are they more powerfully and successfully recommended and rendered acceptable, than on the Stage? Where shall we find, if not here, what the Bible emphatically calls "the world;"—its dissipation; its pride and profusion in dress; - its fondness for show;-all its foppery, and finery, and folly; -its gaieties; and its various devices for killing time and banishing serious thought, and making the mind more vain and earthly, and the heart more devoted to those "pleasures of sin" which are but for a season, and which drown men in destruction and perdition?

And further. If we wished to strengthen the corrupt tendencies of our fallen nature, and to

cherish "all the sinful lusts of the flesh;" where could we be more likely to succeed than at the Theatre? If we wished to nourish pride, or a readiness to resent and revenge injuries, or ambition, or a haughty spirit ;-if we wished that worldly and carnal affections, and love of vain and vicious pleasure should live and grow in us; -that sinful dispositions and sensual desires should gain the dominion and keep the dominion; -that every evil principle and evil passion which has its root in the natural heart, might ripen into maturity; and that we should not only be inclined to all manner of evil, but drawn away and enticed into its actual commission ;-if such were our wishes, we could not pursue more likely means of bringing them to effect, than by frequenting a play-house. The whole exhibition, with its sentiments and its scenes and its attendant circumstances, constitutes a mighty engine of corruption; and is directly calculated to give increased force to those "sinful lusts of the flesh," which every man professing himself a Christian is thereby solemnly pledged to renounce, to resist, and daily to mortify.

It may be said, that I affirm without proof. Proof is not necessary where the fact is notorious. -There is a general and popular knowledge of these things, to which I may confidently appeal. What I have said will, I doubt not, commend itself as truth to the consciences of those among

you, who, unhappily may be qualified by observation and experience to judge. Let the verdict of that inward monitor be but truly given, and I might then leave it to the decision of any frequenter of the Theatre, whether it be safe or consistent for any one to attend such amusements-whose duty, desire, and determination it is" to renounce the Devil and all his works;-the pomps and vanity of this wicked world; and all the sinful lusts of the flesh?"

The second branch of our baptismal covenant regards our faith.-We have promised, and we profess to "believe all the articles of the Christian faith."

Our Church, in strict accordance with the Sacred Scriptures, has given the following summary of " the articles of the Christian faith,"-or those things which a Christian should know and believe to his soul's health;-"First, I learn to believe in God the Father, who hath made me and all the world; Secondly, in God the Son, who hath redeemed me and all mankind; Thirdly, in God the Holy Ghost, who sanctifieth me and all the elect people of God." We, who are baptized, are all, either expressly or virtually, under a promise and vow to God to believe these essential truths.

Belief, if it be sincere, will be influential belief. We shall not only admit these principles into the understanding as true, but we shall apply them

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to practical use. Saving faith is not a mere intellectual exercise upon the doctrines of God's word, or the assent of the judgment to them, or the admission of them into the acknowledged creed; but it is a cordial persuasion of their truth constraining us to a corresponding conduct. If we have the faith of the heart, we shall not only allow that these things are so; but we shall feel, and live, and act as persons who are fully persuaded of their reality and importance.

Let us now inquire, whether an attendance upon Theatrical Amusements can consist with the unfeigned and influential belief of the abovementioned three parts of every true Christian's creed.

We profess our belief in God the Father, the maker and preserver of all things. Our acknowledged faith is, that "We have all one Father, and that one God hath created us;"-that "He giveth to all life, and breath, and all things;"that "in Him we live, and move, and have our being;"-that He is "the God in whose hand our breath is, and whose are all our ways." Now the inward and lively belief of this truth, necessarily implies the obligation of fearing,— loving,-honouring,—worshipping and serving God. Whoever receives this truth with the heart, and in the power of it, will remember his Creator; will endeavour so to keep in mind the existence, and attributes, and great goodness of God, as to