,,tired ,,church ,,members4 ,,by ,,anna ,,warner1 ,,author ,,of ,,the ,,fourth ,,watch1 ,,the ,,other ,,shore1 ,,etc4 ,so two or three cities wandered unto one city1 to drink water2 but they were not satisfied3 yet have ye not returned unto me1 saith the ,lord4--,amos iv4 #h4 ,choked with cares and riches and pleasures of this life4--,luke viii4 #ad4 ,,new ,,york ,,hurst ,,company ,,publishers ,copyright1 #ahhi1 ,by ,,robert ,,carter ,,brothers ,copyright1 #ahia1 ,by ,,hurst ,,company4 ,,contents4 ,,tired ,,church ,,members ,,music ,,dancing ,,theatres ,,games ,,what ,,left8 ,,tired ,,church ,,members ,i suppose one never goes heartily into any bit of ,bible study1 without finding more than one counted upon4 ,and so for me1 searching out this subject of ,christian amusements some curious things have come to light4 ,as for instance1 how very little the ,bible says about them at all4 ,it was hard to find catchwords under which to look4 ,amusement8 there is no such word among all the many spoken by ,god to men4 ,recreation8--nor that either2 and game is not in all the book1 and rest is something so wide of the mark 7in the ,bible sense1 ,i mean7 that you must leave it out altogether4 ,and pastime8 ah1 the very thought is an alien4 ,this ,i say1 brethren1 that the time is short4 #a ,redeem it1 buy it up1 use it while you may1--such is the ,bible stand-point4 ,it flies all too quickly without your help4 ,my days are swifter than a weaver's shuttle4 #b ,pass the time of your sojourning here in fear4 #c ,not in frolic4 ,so you can see that ,i was puzzled4 ,however1 by patiently putting words together1 noting carefully the blanks as well1 some things become pretty plain2 and the vexed question of ,christian amusements is answered clearly enough for those who are willing to know4 ,but as we go on searching and comparing1 think always of the command once given and never repealed3 ,he that hath an ear1 let him hear what the ,spirit saith unto the churches4 #d ,for we call ourselves ,christians1--that people of laws divers from all other people2 and now we are consulting our statute book4 ,you think1 then1--says somebody1--that ,christians are to do nothing but work1 work1 from morning to night3 that the ,bible forbids all play and all pleasure8 ,no1 ,i think nothing of the sort4 ,but let us see what it really does say4 ,to the law and to the testimony1--and abide by them4 ,to begin then where most of all1 perhaps1 the old and the modern times are like each other1--feasts have always been in vogue and always permitted2 only for ,christians1 like all else that concerns them1 with a special set of regulations as to time1 manner1 and behaviour4 ,you do not think of this when you dress for your dinner party3 you did not suppose the ,bible meddled with such things4 ,nay1 it meddles 7if you call it so7 with the very smallest thing a ,christian can do4 ,the feasts of old time were in all essentials so like the feasts of to-day1 that not all the changes of race1 dress1 and viands can much confuse the likeness4 ,there is the great baby celebration for ,isaac1#e and the wedding feast for the daughter of ,laban1#f and the impromptu set-out in ,sodom wherewith ,lot thought to entertain the angels4#g ,there are the great gatherings of young people over which ,job was so anxious2#h and the yearly sacrifice at the house of ,jesse for all the family1 #i reminding one of our ,thanksgiving4 ,then follow state dinners of amity between two contracting powers2 as when ,isaac feasted ,abimelech1#aj and ,david feasted ,abner4#aa ,then court entertainments3 the birthday feast of ,pharaoh to all his servants1 when he lifted up one and hanged another1 and the birthday feast of ,solomon which marked his entrance upon a new life of duty1 opportunity1 and promise1 and which he kept like a young heir coming of age4 ,these are all well known to us3 and alas1 so also are the feasts of social excess1 like those of ,nabal2#ab and the idolatrous feasts of the men of ,shechem1#ac and of the king of ,babylon2#ad wherein men praise only the gods of gold1 and of silver1 of brass1 and of iron1 of wood and of stone4 ,and the harp1 and the viol1 the tabret1 and pipe1 and wine1 are in their feasts3 but they regard not the work of the ,lord1 neither consider the operations of his hands4 #ae ,a feast is made for laughter1--but this laughter is mad2 utterly interdicted to all those who would live soberly1 righteously1 and godly in this world4#af ,such revellings are classed among those works of the flesh which are manifest2 there can be no question about them3 the revellings1 banquetings1 #ag for which the time past of our life may suffice us4 #ah ,that time when we were without ,god in the world1 walking as other ,gentiles walk4 ,with all such recreations the true ,israel have absolutely nothing to do4 ,does it follow then that a ,christian must stand aloof from all festivities that are not wholly among ,christian people8 ,not quite that4 ,i am a companion of all them that fear thee1 said ,david1#ai and it certainly looks ill for a man if his habit is the other way4 ,yet there are exceptions1 there must be1--else1 says the apostle1 ye must needs go out of the world4 #bj ,but like everything else for you and me1 it is all within regulations4 ,first as to the going4 ,if any of them that believe not bid you to a feast1 and ye be disposed to go-- #ba ,and then follows the first rule4 ,whatsoever you can do there ,christian-wise2 whatsoever you can join in that will not implicate you as a possible worshipper of his idol that bade you--even the god of this world--that do4 ,but otherwise there is the strictest hands-off6 ,and for two reasons4 ,eat not for his sake that shewed it1 and for conscience sake4 #bb ,no matter if it be something as simple as eating and drinking4 ,that is the instance given by the apostle1 the eating of meat which had been first offered to an idol4 ,and just as once the missionaries in a far off ,eastern island never tasted beef for two whole years1 because they could get none which they were sure had not been so offered2 in like manner are you called upon to absolutely let alone everything which may cast even a doubt upon your loyalty to your ,master4 ,can you go to the entertainment so1 keeping your garments spotless8 ,can you go as the ,lord did8 ,and ,levi made him a great feast in his own house2 and there was a great company of publicans and others that sat down with them4 #bc ,pharisees murmured1 but the ,lord knew why he went4 ,and ,jesus answered them1 ,they that are whole need not a physician2 but they that are sick4 #bd ,if you can go thus1 to do your ,master's work2 mingling with his enemies to win them for his friends2 seeking their company not for their wealth and place1 but rather because of their deepest need and danger2 not for their gaiety1 but for the abounding joy you would fain make known to them out of your own heart-store3 then ,i should say again3 ,if any of them that believe not bid you to a feast1 and ye be disposed to go1--go6 ,but beware of compromises1--that specious temptation not to make religion disagreeable4 ,it can never be really that if it is the true thing1--a burning fire1 a shining light1--but some one has well said3 ,when religion loses its power to repel1 it loses also its power to attract4 ,it must be intense1 active1 clear enough to do both4 ,the disciple is not above his ,master4 ,if they have called the ,master of the house ,beelzebub1 how much more them of his household6#be ,and it is only as an uncompromising servant of the ,lord ,jesus1 that you can ever hope to do anything for him4 ,on all days1 in all places1 you must count yourself on duty and under orders4 ,you cannot pledge a man in the wine cup to-night1 and to-morrow plead with him to escape for his life4 ,you cannot join in the foolish talking and jesting1 which are not convenient1 #bf and afterwards reason of righteousness1 temperance1 and judgment to come3 or if you do1 people will not listen4 ,you will find that1 like ,lot1 you have lost your spiritual credit4 ,he seemed as one that mocked1 to his sons-in-law4 ,i had dined every week all winter with ,dr4 ----1 said a lady to me1 and never guessed that he was a clergyman till yesterday6 ,johnson said of ,burke1 that you could not stand with him five minutes under a gateway in a shower of rain1 without finding out that he was an extraordinary man1--and how long shall it take people to learn that you are a ,christian8--one bought back from slavery1 called to be a saint1 heir of a kingdom8 ,ah1 how ready men are to parade their worldly honours2 their orders of merit and badges of bravery2 but leave their ,christian colours at home1 and hide their uniform with a pair of the world's overalls6 ,alas6--,if the trumpet give an uncertain sound1 who shall prepare himself for battle8 #bg ,yes1 if you can go into mixed society as the ,lord went1 then go4 ,but otherwise1 for your own enjoyment1 a different model is set4 ,then ,jesus1 six days before the passover1 came to ,bethany1 where ,lazarus was which had been dead1 whom he raised from the dead4 ,there they made him a supper2 and ,martha served2 but ,lazarus was one of them that sat at the table with him4 ,then took ,mary a pound of ointment of spikenard1 very costly1 and anointed the feet of ,jesus1 and wiped his feet with her hair2 and the house was filled with the odour of the ointment4 #bh ,how exquisite the picture6 how rare the intercourse1 how precious the results6 ,a few of the ,lord's own people met together with the ,lord himself2 the one expensive thing mentioned being bought for him4 ,it was only a supper2 and there were sorrows before them1 and sorrows behind1 and only the spikenard was very costly1--that consecration to ,god which gives him all we have3 but its fragrance filled the house4 ,and not all ,arabia was ever so perfumed4 ,and must ,christians give no other feasts but such as that8 some one may ask4 ,there is another sort mentioned1 nay even insisted upon2 but if the first looks to you dull1 the second will seem--impossible6 ,you will find a full description of it in ,luke xiv4 #ac4 ,and so far as ,i know1 this is the only sort of great entertainment that ,christians are encouraged to give2 ruling out in toto the tit-for-tat customs of modern society4 ,for they cannot recompense thee4 ,but it also spares you the perplexing question of full returns1 for these people have given you nothing4 ,only the ,lord has given1--and now bids you keep open house for him in his absence4 ,and do you see8 the great ,master of assemblies will count the invitations as given to himself1 and will one day make a royal return for them all when he cometh in his kingdom4 ,they cannot recompense thee4 #bi ,what6--never invite your friends unless they happen to be poor8 ,o1 yes indeed1--invite them1 enjoy them1 make much of them1 precious things as friends are2 yet spend the most on the portionless lives that are all around you4 ,there are fancy fountains in the rich man's grounds1 throwing up jets of water just to catch the sunlight3 let your small rills of refreshment flow silently to places where the tide is out and the streams run dry4 ,they cannot recompense thee2 but thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just4 #cj ,and as soon as you make ready a blessing--not a compliment--in your hand1 unfashionable dresses will not matter1 untutored tongues will sound sweet2 and your feast will be all glorified1 for the ,lord himself will be there4 ,go your way1 eat the fat and drink the sweet1 and send portions unto them for whom nothing is prepared4 #ca ,the ,levite1 the stranger1 the fatherless1 and the widow1 #cb--the poor that are cast out #cc--these were ,israel's special charge under the law4 ,but the gospel gives deeper work4 ,when thou makest a dinner or a supper1 call not thy friends1 nor thy brethren1 neither thy kinsmen1 nor thy rich neighbours2 lest they also bid thee again1 and a recompense be made thee4 ,but when thou makest a feast call the poor1 the maimed1 the lame1 the blind2 and thou shalt be blessed1 for they cannot recompense thee2 for thou shalt be recompensed at the resurrection of the just4 #cd ,the ,lord dates the note of payment far ahead1 but indeed ,i think he is better than his word1 and deals out much coin as we go along2 it is such wonderful pleasure to fill an empty cup6 ,this is recreation1 true and sweet2 for of all the refreshments from one's own toil and sorrow1 ,i think ministering to other people is about the best4 ,i have said nothing--is it needful to say aught8--of the ,bible rules for behaviour at a feast4 ,one is ready to imagine that ,christians do only that which is lovely1 and of good report4 ,yet notice a few things4 ,they love the uppermost rooms at feasts1 #ce was spoken of the ,pharisees2 but to his disciples ,christ said3 ,whosoever will be chief among you1 let him be your servant4 #cf ,when thou art bidden1 go and sit down in the lowest room4 #cg ,other things follow close and easily upon that4 ,be courteous4-- ,let your moderation be known unto all men4 ,whether therefore ye eat or drink1 or whatsoever ye do1 do it all to the glory of ,god4 ,and to people with hearts so set1 that other vexed question of dress will be easy2 for all will be clothed with humility2#ch and the spotless garments will so far outshine the pearls and costly array1 that no one will miss them1 nor wish them there4#ci #a ,i ,cor4 vii4 #bi4 #b ,job vii4 #f4 #c ,i ,pet4 i4 #ag4 #d ,rev4 iii4 #bb #e ,gen4 xxi4 #h4 #f ,gen4 xxix #ce4 #g ,gen4 xix4 #c4 #h ,job i4 #g4 #i ,i ,sam4 xx4 #f4 #aj ,gen4 xxvi4 #cj4 #aa ,,ii ,sam4 iii4 #bj #ab ,i ,sam4 xxv4 #bf4 #ac ,judges ix4 #bg4 #ad ,dan4 v4 #a4 #ae ,isa4 v4 #ab4 #af ,titus ii4 #ab4 #ag ,gal4 v4 #ba4 #ah ,i ,pet4 iv4 #c4 #ai ,ps4 cxix4 #fc4 #bj ,i ,cor4 v4 #aj4 #ba ,i ,cor4 x4 #bg4 #bb ,i ,cor4 x4 #bh4 #bc ,luke v4 #bi4 #bd ,luke v4 #bi4 #be ,matt4 x4 #be4 #bf ,eph4 v4 #d4 #bg ,i ,cor4 ii4 #h4 #bh ,john xii4 #a-c4 #bi ,luke xiv4 #ad4 #cj ,luke xiv4 #ad4 #ca ,neh4 viii4 #aj4 #cb ,deut4 xiv4 #bg4 #cc ,isa4 lviii4 #g4 #cd ,luke xiv4 #ab1 #ac4 #ce ,matt4 xxiii4 #f4 #cf ,matt4 xx4 #bg4 #cg ,luke xiv4 #aj4 #ch ,i ,pet4 v4 #e4 #ci ,sir ,matthew ,hale thus charged his grandchildren3 ,i will not have you begin or pledge any health2 for it is become one of the greatest artifices of drinking1 and occasions of quarrelling in the kingdom4 ,if you pledge one health1 you oblige yourself to pledge another1 and a third1 and so onward2 and if you pledge as many as wilt be drunk1 you must be debauched and drunk4 ,if they will needs know the reasons of your refusal1 it is a fair answer3 ',that your grandfather that brought you up1 from whom1 under ,god1 you have the estate you enjoy or expect1 left this in command with you1 that you should never begin or pledge a health4' ,music ,what do you mean by 'the world'8 said a gentleman to me4 ,i suppose of course you rule out music and painting4 ,so people judge2 taking for granted that whatever is pleasant1 religion makes wrong4 ,rule out music8--why it exorcised ,saul's evil spirit6 ,yet even for the enjoyment of sweet sounds there are laws and limitations4 ,it will be a good day when our so-called sacred music 7much of it7 more nearly resembles that of old time and has less kinship with the title of a little book yclept ,rhymes and ,jingles4 ,a paid choir 7no objection to that1 if you can buy up their hearts as well7 an operatic organist1 a silent1 criticising congregation4 ,is there much praise in that8 much worship8 much refreshment for a tired heart8 ,look how it was when the ark of ,god1 the visible sign of his presence1 was brought home to ,jerusalem1--all took part in the music1 from the king down2 and did it unto ,god4 ,and ,david and all ,israel played before ,god with all their might1 and with singing1 and with harps1 and with psalteries1 and with timbrels1 and with cymbals1 and with trumpets4 #a ,the singers went before1 the players on instruments followed after2 among them were the damsels playing with timbrels4 ,bless ye ,god in the congregations1 even the ,lord1 from the fountain of ,israel4 #b ,not much like a quartette and its mute audience6 ,or how does this compare1 with the way we hand over the praise to some who do not even profess to feel it8 ,and ,david spake to the chief of the ,levites to appoint their brethren to be singers with instruments of music1 psalteries and harps and cymbals1 sounding1 by lifting up the voice with joy4 #c ,there is not much joy like that behind most of the choir curtains in our day2 but by such means one would be pretty sure of good music4 ,we are not told whether the women took part in the ordinary public music in the temple2 but on all special occasions of deliverance and thanksgiving they had their full share4 ,we people in this ,western world are so silent in our joy as in our grief1--as apt to bow the head for gladness as for sorrow1--we know nothing like those grand spontaneous bursts of music that once resounded on the shores of the ,red ,sea1 or echoed through the hill country round about ,jerusalem4 ,then sang ,moses and the children of ,israel this song unto the ,lord1 saying1 ,i will sing unto the ,lord1 for he hath triumphed gloriously4 #d ,that was from the men4 ,and answering them came the softer voices of ,miriam and all the women1 cheering them on3 ,sing ye to the ,lord1 for he hath triumphed gloriously4 #e ,this was no written music they had met to practise2 it was fresh out of their hearts2 with all their enemies dead upon the shore1 and ,israel free4 ,or listen to the chorus of women that came out of all the cities of ,israel to meet the army1 when ,david had conquered the ,philistine in single-handed fight4 ,and the women answered one another as they played1 and said1 ,saul hath slain his thousands-- ,and ,david his ten thousands-- ,you perceive that they understood music in those days2 every word in the great swell of song so distinct1 that ,saul heard every word--and was very wroth4 ,so at the dedication of the wall of ,jerusalem 7think of dedicating a city wall6 how they must have believed ,ps4 #abg7 the dedication was kept ,with gladness1 both with thanksgiving1 and with singing1 with cymbals1 psalteries1 and harps4 #f ,and as the bands of people went up to ,jerusalem to the three great feasts1 they sang and chanted from time to time as they marched along1 the ,levites at their head beginning the song1 and the rest joining in4 ,i was glad when they said unto me-- #g ,as the mountains are round about ,jerusalem #h--;and all the rest4 ,ah what music6 ,you see the ,bible is a great favourer of sweet sounds4 ,but all this1 you will say1 was public and special1--not meant for recreation4 ,let us listen to the ,bible music which is private and personal1 and you will find it every bit as sweet4 ,praise the ,lord with harps4 ,sing unto him with the psaltery and an instrument of ten strings4 ,sing unto him a new song2 play skilfully with a loud noise4 #i ,are you not glad of that word skilfully8 ,you see you may cultivate your talent to the last point1 and may have any amount of new music4 ,the ,lord's people are not meant to be bunglers1 in any line4 ,and yet some seem to think it is no matter how they sing holy words6 ,this new song may perhaps be what ,david speaks of in another place3 ,he hath put a new song in my mouth1 even praise unto our ,god4 #aj ,for as his mercies are new every morning1 #aa so should also our praises be2 new1 fresh1 vigorous2 not always the same old words to the same old tune4 ,the songs of ,zion1 so sung1 are wondrously sweet2 even the poor captives in ,babylon were called upon to sing them for the pleasure of their heathen captors4 ,the songs of ,zion4 ,many of you imagine they are all pretty much alike2 all solemn and tedious and slow4 ,but listen4 ,i will sing unto the ,lord1 because he hath dealt bountifully with me4 #ab ,can anything be gayer than that8 ,or anything sweeter than this3 ,my heart is fixed1 ,o ,god1 my heart is fixed3 ,i will sing and give praise4 #ac ,or where will you find richer chords that this3 ,i will sing of thy power1 yea1 ,i will sing of thy mercy in the morning3 for thou hast been my defence and refuge in the day of my trouble4 #ad ,new1 skilful1 and then comes in another requirement2 songs should be sensible4 ,i will sing with the spirit1 and ,i will sing with the understanding also4 #ae ,know what you sing4 ,does this keep out all but sacred music8 ,i should not think that4 ,but it does forbid singing you know not what in a foreign tongue1 or mere dead nonsense in your own4 ,i cannot see1 for my part1 why it is much better to sing idle words than to say them4 ,how vapid1 how senseless1 is many a song one hears from a pretty mouth and a sweet voice4 ,and in music as elsewhere1 there is no middle ground3 whatever does not edify--build up--pulls down4 ,it is better to hear the rebuke of the wise1 than for a man to hear the song of fools4 #af ,how run the directions8 ,singing and making melody in your hearts to the ,lord4 #ag ,can you do that8 ,if not1 music is no true recreation to you4 ,whatever chills your feeling for eternal things1 making them seem dull and far away1 is no breath of life-refreshment1 but comes bearing the fumes of death4 ,do you think you would never sing at all1 unless you sometimes forgot such solemn thoughts8 ,ah there you are mistaken4 ,behold1 my servants shall sing for joy of heart4 #ah ,not forgetfully1 but in full remembrance4 ,is any merry8 let him sing psalms4 #ai ,thy statutes have been my songs in the house of my pilgrimage4 #bj ,now somebody will say that ,i have wandered quite away from recreation1 and gone off to church4 ,but no2 ,i am speaking of heart and home music4 ,you all know that there is no recreation about most of your music now-a-days4 ,you bore yourselves and other people with much practising1 and when you have learned1 as you think1 then you drop it all4 ,who is ready with a song for some weary1 tuneless life8 or who keeps up her music till the tired years of her own8 ,work for it1 pay for it1 drop it1--that is the record4 ,your music1 as it is1 is a dead thing2 and ,i want you to put the principle of life in it4 ,for whatever you begin for your ,master1 you will also hold fast for him4 ,read over these words and ponder them well3 ,he that had received the five talents1 went and traded with the same1 and made them other five talents4 #ba ,every gift the man had1 was used for ,christ4 ,how precious a gift this musical power is6 how usable a gift4 ,a very lovely song of one that hath a pleasant voice1 and can play well on an instrument4 #bb ,how much it can do for ourselves1 for the world4 ,david took an harp1 and played with his hand2 so ,saul was refreshed1 and was well1 and the evil spirit departed from him4 #bc ,i have never forgotten how a lady with no great musical skill or education sang a verse of a hymn for me one night4 ,it was at a little party1 so she could not raise her voice above the softest undertone2 but she sang that verse just to let me hear the tune1 which ,i did not know4 ,the words were familiar3 ,there is a fountain filled with blood-- ,i suppose ,i have often heard them what you call better sung2 but never with more lovely effect4 ,every word1 every note1 was absolutely distinct and clear1 yet not one rising above that undertone3 ,i doubt if even the people nearest to us heard2 and the most restless nerves1 the weariest head1 could have listened and been refreshed4 ,i know my eyes grew full2 and ,i thought to myself1 ,ah1 you have practised your voice by many a sick bed1 and trained it for just that work4 ,the evil spirit departed from ,saul4 ,but what of music that puts the evil spirit into men8 ,of songs1 however sweet sounding1 that are written in the service of the devil1 and sung at the high court of the world8 ,for this is your rule3 ,singing with grace in your hearts to the ,lord4 #bd ,like your speech1 alway with grace4 #a ,i ,chron4 xiii4 #h4 #b ,ps4 lxviii4 #be1 #bf4 #c ,i ,chron4 xv4 #af4 #d ,ex4 xv4 #a4 #e ,ex4 xv4 #ba4 #f ,neh4 xii4 #bg4 #g ,ps4 cxxii4 #a4 #h ,ps4 cxxv4 #b4 #i ,ps4 xxxliii4 #b1 #c4 #aj ,ps4 xl4 #c4 #aa ,lam4 iii4 #ac4 #ab ,ps4 xiii4 #f4 #ac ,ps4 lvii4 #g4 #ad ,ps4 lix4 #af4 #ae ,i ,cor4 xiv4 #ae4 #af ,eccle4 vii4 #e4 #ag ,eph4 v4 #ai4 #ah ,isa4 lxv4 #ad4 #ai ,james v4 #ac4 #bj ,ps4 cxix4 #ed4 #ba ,matt4 xxv4 #af4 #bb ,ez4 xxxiii4 #cb4 #bc ,i ,sam4 xvi4 #bc4 #bd ,col4 iii4 #af4 ,dancing ,to everything there is a season1 and a time to every purpose under heaven4 #a ,and so it comes among the rest1 that there is a time to dance4 #b ,such being the case1 we have only to find out the when and the how2 for of course1 for ,christians1 dancing too must have its rules4 ,in feasting the word is1 ,do all to the glory of ,god2 and in music1 ,with melody in your hearts to the ,lord2 and now for dancing the order comes3 ,let them praise his name in the dance4 #c ,we are to praise the ,lord with our whole lives2 in our recreation no less than in our work4 ,you see it is all one3 with that proviso you may do anything4 ,praise him for his mighty acts3 praise him according to his excellent greatness4 ,praise him with the timbrel and dance4 #d ,i fancy you did not expect this1 secretly believing that the ,bible was all against dancing4 ,i fancy most people would start back and say it cannot be done4 ,if it cannot1 or if by you it cannot1 then--for you--the dancing question should be settled once and for all4 ,the ,lord has given you the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness1 #e and you are not at liberty to lay it off for any dancing gear whatever4 ,ye are a chosen generation1 a royal priesthood1 an holy nation1 a peculiar people2 that ye should shew forth the praises of him who hath called you out of darkness into his marvellous light4 #f ,the condition is absolute2 and all doubts upon the dancing question are at an end for you4 ,but for those who like to inquire into possibilities1 let us search a little further4 ,praise him in the dance4--,has it ever been done8 ,never1--in such dances as you are accustomed to4 ,but a great while ago1 on the shores of the ,red ,sea1 while the men were chanting the praises of that ,god who had brought them safe out of ,egypt1 the women banded together with timbrels and with dances #g 7no mixed dances1 observe71 and so1 dancing for joy at the great deliverance1 answered the men1 chorus like3 ,sing ye to the ,lord1 for he hath triumphed gloriously4 #h ,so after ,jephthah's victory1#i came out his daughter to meet him with timbrels and with dances4 ,so after the rout of the ,philistines1 ,the women came out of all the cities of ,israel1 singing and dancing1 to meet king ,saul4 #aj ,and though praise of the human agents mingled in1 yet only ,divine power had won the day1 and well they knew it4 ,and again you remember how when the ark was brought home to ,jerusalem1 ,david danced before the ,lord with all his might4 #aa ,does it seem very strange to you8 ,so it did to ,david's wife on that occasion2 for as she had no praise in her heart1 no sympathy with the joy1 of course the expression of it tried her patience4 ,dancing for joy1--we often use the image1 but these people did the thing4 ,it is hard enough to keep still sometimes1 if one is very happy4 ,not like our dancing6--you say4 ,indeed not much4 ,no special steps1 no intricate figures1 no elaborate positions1 no dressing for effect4 ,david even laid his royal robes aside1 instead of putting them on2 they were in his way4 ,how could one dance for joy in a state dress8 ,no need of partners1 where every one danced for glad thankfulness of heart4 ,no envy1 malice1 and all uncharitableness stirred up by another's dancing or another's dress2 no wall-flowers1 no monopoly4 ,no late hours1 leaving mind and body jaded for the next day's work4 ,i think dancing before the ,lord must have been very pure refreshment4 ,and by the way1 speaking of dress1 ,i feel1 somehow1 as if--would people but choose their ornaments out of that treasure-chest of jewels a meek and quiet spirit1 ball dresses would lose their charm1 and the ,german its great attraction4 ,one never likes to go where one's dress is out of keeping4 ,christian dancing1 for ,christian joy4 ,there was music and dancing1 as well as feasting1 when the prodigal son came home2 returned from his sins1 washed from his defilement1 clothed at last in the best robe a sinner can wear4#ab ,according to the word3 ,thou hast turned for me my mourning into dancing4 #ac ,is such glad thankfulness so rare in our days that people have forgotten how it acts8 ,and would such dancing be possible now8 ,i do not know4 ,but answer this question1 and you settle at once the other perplexity whether ,christians may dance4 ,for there is no other sort of dancing permitted to them1 than this which springs up out of the mercies of the ,lord1 and is all consecrated to his praise4 it is not quite the only sort mentioned in the ,bible2 but the others do not look attractive upon paper4 ,one of them indeed comes more properly under another head1 and the rest are all idolatrous2 in the service and honour of that biggest idol1 the world2 whether any special graven image was set up or not4 ,dances indulged in only by heathen1 or by nominal ,christians who had swerved from their allegiance4 ,when ,moses tarried long in the mount1 receiving his orders1 the people1 you remember1 grew tired and restless1--in want of recreation1 we should call it now1--and then they quickly corrupted themselves4 ,weary of waiting1 impatient of the monotony of their life1 out of their own possessions they made themselves an idol1 and then--danced before it6 conducting themselves as well became those who had chosen a god that could neither hear nor see4 ,the people sat down to eat and drink1 and rose up to play4 #ad ,and you will find this is always just what people do after unhallowed recreation3 they never rise up to do good work4 ,test your amusements by that4 ,recreation should be a re-creation to every noble end4 ,neither joy1 nor thankfulness1 nor the unbending from labour1 was there among those poor ,israelites--those people of the ,lord in name2 but only lawless mirth and unhallowed indulgence4 ,he saw the calf and the dancing1 and ,moses' anger waxed hot4 #ae ,you think ,i am very hard upon dancing2 and ,i have reason4 ,two years ago1 said a young girl to me1 you told me that if ,i went on doing these things ,i should myself change2 that ,i could not do them1 and keep myself4 ,i was almost angry then1 but do you know it has come true8 ,i have changed4 ,things that ,i minded and shrank from then1 ,i never notice now4 ,i have got used to them1 as you said4 ,it frightens me when ,i think of it4 ,poor child6--neither fright nor warning have stayed her course since then4 ,a ceaseless thirst for excitement1 an endless round of unsatisfying pleasure--so called1--a weary1 old1 disappointed look on the young face2 broken engagements1 forgotten promises1 a wasted life1--this is what it has all come to4 ,hard upon dancing8 yes1 ,i certainly have reason4 ,do ,i not find it right in the way of some of my ,bible ,class who might else become ,christians8 do ,i not know how it tarnishes the ,christian profession of others8 ,do not the careless young men in the class boast that they can get the ,church members to go with them anywhere--for a dance8 ,or how would you like to have a young girl come to you1 frightened at things she had permitted at a ball the night before1 entreating to know if you thought them very bad8 ,examine it1 test it for yourself2 only be honest4 ,can you dance in armour8 crowned and shielded and shining with the hope of salvation1 with righteousness and faith8 ,are your shoes peace8 peace of heart1 of conscience4 ,is your belt the girdle of truth8 ,can you shew your colours in the throng8 ,dare you8 ,are they not rather trailing in the dust1 or quietly pocketed1 or left at home8 ,think honestly1 and answer to yourself how it is4 ,as in feasting1 so here3 you cannot dance all night with people1 and next day warn them against the world1 and the things of the world1 and even hope to be listened to4 ,i am as good as most ,church members1--ah how often we teachers and talkers meet that rebuff6 ,and how well the ,lord knew when he said3 ,he that is not with me1 is against me4 ,doth a fountain send forth at the same place sweet water and bitter8 #af ,a time to dance4--,yes3 whenever1 and wherever1 you can do it as the whole-souled servant of ,christ4 ,and how about dancing at home1 among ourselves1 as people say8--,without going any further1 one thing forbids it all4 ,if you dance anywhere1--you1 a professing ,christian1--in the eyes of the world you dance everywhere4 ,the world allows no middle ground for ,christians4 ,i saw her dancing1--and nobody stops to inquire when1 or with whom1 or how4 ,so that there is nothing for you but this3 ,avoid it1 pass not by it1 turn from it1 and pass away4 #ag #a ,eccle4 iii4 #a4 #b ,eccle4 iii4 #d4 #c ,ps4 cxlix4 #c4 #d ,ps4 cl4 #b1 #d4 #e ,isa4 lxi4 #c4 #f ,i ,pet4 ii4 #i4 #g ,ex4 xv4 #bj4 #h ,ex4 xv4 #bj4 #i ,judges xi4 #c4 #aj ,i ,sam4 xviii4 #f #aa ,,ii ,sam4 vi4 #ad4 #ab ,luke xv4 #aa4 #ac ,ps4 xxx4 #aa4 #ad ,ex4 xxxii4 #f #ae ,ex4 xv4 #ai4 #af ,james iii4 #aa4 #ag ,prov4 iv4 #ae4 ,theatres4 ,if ,i say that it degrades oneself to find pleasure in degrading things or degraded people1 you will perhaps admit the fact but deny that it has any application to theatre-going4 ,is it not a fashionable1 intellectual1 and what not1 amusement8 ,let us see4 ,many of you who yet are theatre-goers1 know well that you would feel yourselves degraded if even a dear friend went on the stage4 ,she has trailed an honoured name in the dust1--so have ,i heard the comment1 from one who was not even a personal friend4 ,she might at least have taken another name6--,and the speaker was not brought up among ,puritans1 and belonged to a ,church which--as a ,church--has no fear of the theatre4 ,i think occasional indulgence was common enough in the family4 ,and the young actress had done nothing but become an actress1 keeping her own name4 ,friends are mortified1--and yet friends go to see1 and to help along4 ,but what shall actors do8 you say2 it is their way of getting a livelihood4 ,no1 not if support were given only to other ways4 ,a man may make a round sum at a rowing match which cripples his strength for life2 or by leaping across ,passaic ,falls1 till he breaks his neck2 he may set up for a wizard or a conjuror or a quack doctor1--he may pick your pocket or fire your house1--all in the way of business4 ,the only question is in which way will you help him on4 ,things must be judged of quite apart from their money-making results4 ,the old ,african maker of greegrees 7charms7 burns them all when she becomes a ,christian2 and the young carpenter just converted under ,mr4 ,moody's preaching1 gives up his only job because he can not do it for ,christ1 and will not even drive a nail in the scaffolding about a theatre4 ,for the money that changes hands there1 is the price of the souls of men4 ,you do not believe all this3 you do not believe that evil can hide among such fascinations4 ,and for the actors1 they are not men and women6 ,are they not kings and queens and fairies8 ,the glamour of their dress1 the strangeness of the scenes1 the un-everyday tragic or fantastic air of it all2 with sometimes the witchery of music or the wonders of artistic effect1 lay a spell upon your common sense4 ,do ,i not know8 ,have ,i not seen young ,christian girls from the country a standing jest with people who knew the world1 because--beginning with what the laughers called a holy horror of the theatre--they yielded and went just once4 ,then1 only once more1--and then presently would go every night1 to see everything6 ,when ,miriam was six years old1 some acquaintances over-persuaded her father to let them take her to see ,cinderella1--,cinderella and some part of ,der ,freischutz2 and one who was there remembers well how hard the little hands grasped the edge of the box1 and how impossible it was to win the young eyes round1 even by a vision of sugarplums4 ,to the end of her life1 ,i fancy1 she will see now and then a picture out of that fairyland4 ,next day ,miriam entreated earnestly to have the pleasure over again2 strengthening her plea with this remarkable promise1 that if she might go once more1 she would never do anything wrong again as long as she lived6 ,her father paced up and down the room with a grave smile upon his lips1 the little suppliant following with eager feet1 ever renewing her request1 and he answering little2 for the matter was beyond her ken4 ,but he was a ,christian who kept off the ,debatable land2 and where his foot might not enter1 he would not send his child4 ,had he not himself dedicated her to be the ,lord's8 ,she never went again4 ,never to the theatre2 never again to any such place1 until long afterwards2 and with that going he had nothing to do4 ,miriam had grown up1 had become a ,christian and a happy one2 and as yet no flatterer had beguiled her off upon the ,enchanted ,ground4 ,but at last the temptation came1 in a very specious way4 ,there was a new ,prima ,donna at the opera house that winter2 a young1 pretty woman1 working hard 7it was said7 to support her mother2 and ,miriam1 going daily to see dear friends at the same hotel1 often heard the singing and practising that went on in the ,prima ,donna's rooms4 ,and ,miriam was very fond of music1 and had been able to hear very little that was really good2 and now in a moment one thing took possession of her2 she must go to the opera6--,tickets too costly1 and no one to take her1 made the thing look impossible on the one side2 and on the other--there was her ,christian name and promise4 ,of course it was wrong for ,christians to go6--she knew that4 ,yet for the time1 nothing seemed tangible or real but this2 go she must6 ,and so from week to week this fever of desire grew and increased1 fed from time to time by those snatches of song that floated through the great hall of the hotel4 ,at last one day her friends said 7knowing nothing of all this71 ,miriam1 you must go with us to an undress rehearsal4 ,we have got tickets1 and you must go4 ,then beginning to answer the objections they expected--,it is only undress1 they said2 the house half lighted1 and the actors not in costume4 ,anybody might go1--and you must4--,it's a very moral opera1 began another4 ,of course we would never take you to see anything else4 ,miriam was too ignorant of the world and its theatres to fairly understand all these advantages1--indeed ,i fancy longing made such a din in her ears that she paid but little attention4 ,for a while she withstood--then desire rose up like a whirlwind and carried all before it4 ,they had tickets for that very night1--her friends1 said one morning1--a ticket for her also--and an escort4 ,she yielded and went4 ,went first to take tea with her friends1 on the way2 and ,i have heard her speak of the thrilling1 pent-up excitement of that hour or two before it was time to set out3--,excitement that made her as still as a mouse1 and the careless chatter of her friends incomprehensible6--that made cake into plain bread and butter1 and bread and butter into--chips1 for all she knew4 ,whether the excitement was all pleasure ,i doubt if she could tell2 yet if you think ,miriam knew she was doing wrong1 you would be mistaken4 ,perhaps it was with her1 in the tumult of longing1 as ,fenelon says3 ,o how rare it is to find a soul still enough to hear ,god speak6 ,or perhaps the ,lord1 in his wisdom1 chose this time to let her set her own lesson4 ,i can only vouch for the dream in which she sat at tea1 and walked along the street1 and entered the ,opera ,house2 glad to get out into the starlight1 almost awe-struck to find herself at last within those walls4 ,the rehearsal was very undress indeed4 ,the house1 not half lighted1 had yet fewer spectators than jets of gas1--a handful of shadowy figures1 hid away by twos and threes in the dim boxes2 which were almost too dark for the reading of libretti4 ,however eyes were young1 and the party put their heads together and began to study out the coming opera1 and so get a taste of the pleasure beforehand4 ,until--,well1 as ,i said1 ,miriam was young and ignorant of the ,world1 but a woman's instincts 7if they have not been tampered with7 outgrow her years and are independent of her experience4 ,and as the girl bent over the libretto1 some of these instincts took fright4 ,she found out suddenly that those small pages were not just the reading she liked1 with a gentleman looking over her shoulder2 and instantly sat back1 leaving the rest to their studies1 and read not another word that night4 ,she kept still1 waiting for the music1--and then the music began4 ,you who see such places only with all the conjuring power of light and dress upon them1 have no idea how they look when things are transformed back again1 and ,cinderella has lost her glass slippers1 and the coach is a pumpkin1 and the coachman is a rat4 ,this night the actors came on the stage in more--or less--than ordinary dress2 as men look when they have put on their dowdiest1 for bad weather or dirty work3 and these men wore their hats4 ,only the young ,prima ,donna was bare-headed1 and of course 7being a woman7 had not made herself a fright4 ,can a maid forget her ornaments8 ,and this just touched off the effect of all the rest4 ,but the music6-- ,the many discords and melodies of life since then have at last confused in ,miriam's recollection the sounds she listened to that night2 but for years liter she could hear them almost as distinctly as at first2 and the picture has never faded4 ,the slim1 fair girl2 the rough1 unwashed1 unkempt-looking men2 men whom 7had she been your sister7 you would not have let touch her--as we say--with a pair of tongs4 ,the play went on4 ,perhaps the libretto had given an uneasy stir to ,miriam's satisfaction1 for as she sat now entranced with the music1 suddenly there came to her the astounding revelation that this young girl on the stage1 was singing those very words which the other young girl in the boxes had not quite liked to read4 ,singing them at the top of her sweet voice1--trying to bring them out distinctly and with full effect4 ,it was only a queen1 to be sure2 but somehow 7missing the royal robes7 ,miriam could see only a woman4 ,close upon this came another shock4 ,these dingy1 untidy1 soiled-looking men were now making love to the young ,prima ,donna1--first one and then another2 this one in bass1 and that one in baritone1 and she answering in her clear soprano4 ,answering1--sometimes responding4 ,then they touched her1 and handled her1 and drew her about1 as the exigencies of the piece demanded4 ,and there was no glitter of dress to turn the one into a kingly suitor and the other into a faithful knight2 the tarnished men were but men2 and she--poor little uncrowned princess--was but a woman among them all2 rubbing off the bloom and reserve of her woman's nature with every touch4 ,miriam could never tell how sick hearted she grew as she looked4 ,that was this girl's livelihood2 to go through all sorts of situations1 with all sorts of men1 for the amusement of other people4 ,o yes1 it paid well4 ,had she been a teacher1--had she painted cups or stitched seams for a living1--her salary1 her wages1 would have been brought down to the lowest figure2 but on the stage1 at that work1 give her what she asks6--or make her so popular that the manager will4 ,does she not amuse us all8 ,if ever anybody was thoroughly cured of theatre going1 that was ,miriam4 ,it had been the greatest temptation of her life2 but now a great recoil came over her1 so that from that day1 the mere thought of the stage brought only loathing and disgust4 ,and so all women1 as women1 should set their faces against it in every shape2 even down to the most private of private theatricals4 ,there cannot possibly be a wholesome imitation of a bad thing4 ,i know it is very unfashionable doctrine4 ,i know that even while ,i write1 the newspapers set forth an advertisement of a play1 prepared by a clergyman1 to be acted by ,sunday ,schools in this sweet ,christmas time4 ,alas poor ,sunday ,schools6--in full training for service under the world1 the flesh1 and the devil4--,feed my lambs1 the ,lord ,jesus said1--and between meals you give them whiskey and water6 ,nor is it the children only who suffer4 ,i could tell of one lady in that very man's church1 who being much delighted with some such performance in the ,sunday ,school1 went off the very next night to a theatre1 to see the same thing done better4 ,n4 ,b4--,she had never been before4 ,i will have dances at home for my children1 lest they seek them elsewhere4-- ,i will take my boys to the theatre1 because ,i do not want them to go anywhere without me4-- ,real sayings1 of real mothers1 church members both4 ,which sayings1 in everyday ,english1 read thus1 ,since ,i want my children to keep out of the world1 ,i will bring the world to them at home4--,since my boys will do what ,i do not approve1 ,i will guard them by doing it too4 ,far different from the strong stern-words of ,scripture3 ,come out of her1 my people4 ,touch not the unclean thing4 ,and then the wonderful sayings of ,psalm i4 #a4 ,if anybody thinks ,i have given an unfair instance1 or that ,i characterize it unfairly1 let them take other testimony where no prejudice can be supposed4 ,read ,mrs4 ,kemble's ,journal of her stage life4 ,read the opinion she gives of it all in her later ,recollections4 ,yet from childhood some of her nearest and dearest she had known as actors4 ,i have spoken first as to people bound by the ,golden ,rule1 and forbidden therefore to help anybody even to get a living in an evil way4 ,for the work the theatre does upon yourselves1 you know it1 if you will be honest4 ,people answer3 ,o if it hurt me1 of course ,i would give it up4 ,be honest with yourself1 and you will come out of that delusion4 ,you know it does not make love to ,christ warmer1 or thoughts of heaven sweeter2 or the atmosphere of your everyday life more wholesome and sound4 ,you know it leaves a restless craving for excitement1--you know it exalts the world before your eyes2 and if you think a little you will find that1 like my poor young friend in her dancing1 you are not edified1 not built up1 but pulled down4 ,let me tell you of one case where the mother was a ,church member1 and had prayers regularly every morning with her family1 ,but the command to watch as well 7i4e41 keep awake7 she had forgotten4 ,and the desire seized her to see--,i will not write the name down here1 but it was one of those foreign importations which have beguiled thousands4 ,she did not want her son to know of her going1 and so went with her young daughter for escort6 ,but she found her son already there1 and for twenty-eight nights running he was there again4 ,why not8--if his mother went once8 ,and as might be expected1 the daughter has become 7as people say7 wild for the theatre4 ,among the people who loved ,mr4 ,lincoln best1 and could best understand the semi-official way in which he went to the theatre that fatal night1 there was not one1 ,i fancy1 who did not feel an added shock at learning where he was when the messenger came1 and who did not wish that he had been almost anywhere else4 ,yet why8 ,if the theatre is a proper place for ,christians to enter1 it is as good a place as any other to be ,waiting--waiting--when the ,lord shall come4 ,the only thing ,i think of mentioned in the ,bible that is much like modern performances on the boards1 is the dancing of the daughter of ,herodias before ,herod4 ,she worked for hire1 she beguiled her audience4 ,she pleased the king1 and got from him all she asked for4 ,it sounds very dreadful to you1 no doubt1 that the prophet's head should have been danced off by a pair of whirling feet8--but that is a slight matter4 ,if dancing and theatre going did only take off the heads of protesting saints1 like an old-time persecution1 they at least would but exchange the prison for the palace1 and so not lose much4 ,but this stealing away the heart and service once vowed to ,christ1 is another matter4 ,you think it does not do this4 ,you think your eye is as clear for heaven in the boxes as elsewhere4 ,you think you can dress and go and look on and listen1 keeping close to this command3 ,whatsoever ye do1 in word or deed1 do all in the name of the ,lord ,jesus4 ,do you think so8 ,i have never been to hear him1 said ,dr4 ,skinner1 speaking then1 only of a false prophet in a false ,church1 because ,i could not expect to meet my ,master there2 and ,i will go nowhere for pleasure where he is not4 ,what about the theatre1 tried by that test8 ,how surely the world marks every ,christian who is seen at such places2 how certainly the children know that the parents have not yet forsaken all for ,christ4 ,and how constantly ungodly men fence off your warning1 with the words3 ,look at ---- and ----1 ,i am as good as they4 ,i do this and that1 and they do it too4 ,i don't see the difference4 ,but nobody knows4 ,o yes1 everybody knows4 ,no matter if you are across the sea1--,a bird of the air shall carry the matter4 ,but especially1 the ,lord knows4 ,he setteth a print on the heels of my feet #a--;and step you never so lightly1 the mark will be there1 and the ,lord will know4 ,and where your feet go1 there others will follow4 ,is ,miss ,hope going to such and such a performance8 inquired a young man of me4 ,i said no4 ,he stood gravely thinking1 and the talk drifted on4 ,then suddenly ,i heard him say--to himself as it were3--,then ,i will not go either6-- ,persuasions1 entreaties1 ridicule1 are nothing1 mean nothing1 if only you stand firm4 ,and ,i have known gentlemen spend their strength in entreaties1 and then when the lady held out in her quiet refusal1 they said afterwards to other people that they liked to see any one true to his principles4 ,staying once with some friends of rather free opinions and practice1 ,priscilla was beset to go with them on a certain evening to the theatre4 ,so eager were the words1 so well-loved the friends1 that at last she grew desperate4 ,turning round upon the head of the house1 she said3 ,do you really want me to go8--,he looked at her1 sat back in his chair in silence1 then answered soberly3 ,well1 ,i guess ,i'd just as lieve you didn't6 ,depend upon it1 the very people who press you hardest1 professing to see no harm1 will feel they have lost something if you make them think the ,king's ,country is just like their own4 ,whatever has happened to your moral sense1 they know that the theatre is no place for a true-hearted servant of the ,lord ,jesus1 if the ,master is all he is represented to be4 ,if they met you there unawares1 it would be with a thrill not of pleasure but of pain4 ,let me repeat my question1 ,is it as a ,christian you go to the theatre8 can you go and keep your armour bright8 does the helmet of salvation rest securely on your head8 ,is the girdle of truth1--truth of life1 purpose1 and heart1--fast bound8 the breastplate of righteousness burnished1 the shield of faith ready against every dart that may fly in that great building8 ,are they the shoes of peace on which you go in8 not pleasure1 but peace8 ,is it the sword of the ,spirit with which you meet and parry the thrusts of idleness1 folly1 mischief8 ,ah you know better6 ,when you go to the theatre these defences are left at home1 as not fit for the occasion4 ,the house is built and managed and filled in the interests of the enemy2 and of course your uniform is out of place4 ,tired ,church members1 do you go there for rest8 #a ,job xiii4 #bg4 ,games4 ,dr4 ,skinner#a used to say that all games of chance were unlawful4 ,for inasmuch as there is no chance in the economy of this world1 all use of dice or lottery in any shape is really an appeal to him of whom it is said3 ,the lot is cast into the lap1 but the whole disposing thereof is of the ,lord4 #b ,and you will agree with me that this is not a thing to be done lightly4 ,in old times the casting of a lot was a solemn religious service3 ushered in even among pagans with prayer and often with fasting2 but what careless1 reckless ignoring of ,god as the ,governor among the nations1 is there in all connected with the lot in our days4 ,what foul associations cloud and wrap up almost every game of chance3 how soiled are the cards1 how unhallowed the rattle of the dice4 ,what degrading1 debasing work is done by every species of lottery2 what desperate evils spring up and grow out of a chance at a ,church fair6 ,some years ago1 at the time of the great ,german and ,french fairs in ,new ,york1 a lady thoughtlessly gave her young son leave to buy a chance for a gold watch4 ,thoughtlessly1--it was just a dollar to the fair and an amusement to the boy4 ,and before twenty-four hours had passed1 she would have given anything in the world to recall her permission4 ,for at once the boy's mind became wholly absorbed in his chance4 ,the fair went on1 the drawing was long delayed2 and day after day--hour by hour1 if he could--he went to inquire and to watch2 and the mother saw her child in a true gambling fever1 and she obliged to let it run its course4 ,mercifully1 as she said1 the watch fell to another4 ,if it had come to ,george1 ,i don't know what in the world ,i should have done4 ,we play for sugarplums1--we toss up for nuts2 but each time the evil seeds are planted4 ,the mere habit of talking of chance1 of luck1 of fate1 as if you believed in them all1 tends directly to weaken your realizing trust in the ,great ,ruler of the world2 who counts his sparrows1 and numbers the hairs of your head4 ,chance8 ,if the watchmaker could not control one smallest wheel or point in his watch2 if even a grain of dust got in and defied him2 what think you he could do with mainspring and hands8 ,one unmanageable atom would stop the whole4 ,to quote ,dr4 ,skinner again1--one to whom ,i think it never occurred to like anything but what ,god liked1--in his early life as a young man he had seen much wild company2 and so strong was their association with evil1 that to the end of his life he could never even hear the dice fall without a shiver4 ,put it away1 my dear1 he would say of even the backgammon board4 ,i don't like it--,i don't like it6 ,for games of chance1 as a rule1 gather round them a setting of sin and sorrow which other games do not4 ,i suppose men take in their practical infidelity1 and grow lawless4 ,you do not mean to appeal to ,god in your games of chance1--but if not to him1 then to some other power supposed to be outside his rule or beyond his notice3 chance1 luck1 or the devil4 ,and it does not much matter which word you use4 ,yet tired ,church members will play euchre and whist1 and there are cards in the table drawer in the parlour1 and of course a dingier pack in the kitchen1 in many a so-called ,christian house2 though the family hide them or apologize before people who are called intense4 ,the minister comes in upon a card party in his parish1 and all rise in deprecatory confusion2 and perhaps 7ah ,i know it happened in one case7 the minister waves his hand graciously1 with a ,don't let me disturb you1--and so passes on4 ,o it hurts one to have a fellow ,christian ask in the quiet evening at her own house1 ,would you object to our bringing out the cards8--,i could not touch them1 was all the answer1 and the drawer stayed shut4 ,but ,i wish a ,nonconformist ,church could rise up in these days4 ,we are so busy calling ourselves ,episcopalians1 ,methodists1 ,presbyterians1 that we seem to forget the old far-better name which should include all4 ,in the war it was only loyal or disloyal3 and ,new ,york was proud of the ,wisconsin boys that were all six feet two2 and ,ohio wept for those of ,massachusetts who were among the first to shed their blood4 ,dear friends1 it is war time now3 if you could only realize that1 a good many things would be set straight4 ,not able to give up doubtful games and questionable dances8 ,why in '#gf the women fired at their tea kettles6-- ,nonconformists4 ,but now1 ,my mother does it1--my aunt goes1--my father likes it3 so run the excuses which the members of your ,bible ,class1 children of ,church members1 fling in your face4 ,but what you call lawful games1 are stupid4 ,not all of them1 perhaps2 but if they were1 that would not touch the question4 ,paul's ,if meat make my brother to offend1 ,i will eat no flesh while the world standeth1 was crippled with no such condition as ,if ,i can get bread4 ,and when the ,lord bade us cut off the offending right hand1 no question of whether we could live without it came in4 ,it is not absolutely needful that ,christ should find all his tired ,church members rested and fresh2 but it is necessary that they should be spotless1 faithful1 ready1 when he comes4 ,there are other amusements that might be touched upon just here1 but perhaps they are as well not named4 ,whatever takes you full into the ranks of ,christ's enemies1 not to fight but to follow them2 whatever you cannot do straight through in the name of the ,lord ,jesus2 whatever turns you away from the shining presence of his face2 is unlawful for you4 ,once remember that there is no middle ground1 and then ask yourself what standing room there can be for you on a race course1 what seat at a circus4 ,if you are not with ,christ1 openly1 unmistakably1 you are scattering1 even in your games4 ,i asked a friend 7a minister of deep experience7 lately1 if he had seen much of this private card playing among ,church members8 ,he answered1 ,yes1 a great deal4 ,then ,i inquired what was the effect1 as he had noticed it4 ,and the reply was instant and emphatic3 ,always evil6-- ,carlyle tells of patriots in the ,french ,revolution who shaved each other out of the fragments of bomb shells1 and wore ghastly trophies from the guillotine4 ,but short of a ,reign of ,terror1 making all men mad1 one does not expect such things4 ,few people 7,i fancy7 if they knew it1 would care to use the glass from which some poor wretch had drunk his draught of poison2 and even to touch the murderer's knife stored up in a public museum1 would turn most hearts sick4 ,but if you could only see as ,god sees2 if things in society were but labelled and classed2 you would find your cards dark with the soul-life blood of thousands1 and could hear their ruin in every fall of the dice4 ,i was much interested in a recent ,english essay 7,on the ,criminal ,code of the ,jews7 to find how the typical ,israel regarded games of chance4 ,as if something of the old blessed ,the ,lord is our ,king1 staid by them1 even in the days of their downfall4 ,the writer says3 ,all who made money by dice-playing or any games of hazard1 by betting on pigeon matches and similar objectionable practices1 were not only incapable of becoming members of a tribunal1 but were not permitted to give evidence4 ,the ,ghemara regards a man who gains money by the amusements named1 as dishonest4 #a ,once pastor of the ,mercer ,street ,church1 ,new ,york1 and ,professor in ,union ,theological ,seminary4 #b ,prov4 xvi4 #cc4 ,what ,left8 ,but you will say1 ,i leave nothing for you1 then2 no amusements1 no recreation4 ,is that true8 ,is the narrow way indeed so barren1 that we must step out of it to rest8 ,has the ,lord only food and water for his flock1 and when they need change and refreshment must they leave their ,shepherd1 and go over to the wolf for a run upon the hillside8 ,that sounds hard for weak human nature--and strange1 for a ,lord of boundless resources4 ,and somehow the ,bible pictures of the flock shew wondrous contentment4 ,a stranger will they not follow4 #a ,then following the ,master must be very sweet2 for all men like variety1 and the mere fact of a new voice is of itself enough to draw one aside4 ,yet a stranger will they not follow1 but will flee from him1--,o how much that tells6 ,and here we touch the very root and spring of true refreshment1 of real recreation4 ,for while good general health is the best specific against mere bodily fatigue1 so against a jaded1 over-wrought state of nerves and energies1 there is nothing like a heart full of joy and a mind at rest4 ,he that believeth on me shall never thirst4 #b ,and if this satisfaction does not underlie all your pastimes1 they will be a failure4 ,no other stream alone can freshen even the small dry barrens of this earth4 ,but besides that1 what is there left for ,christian people8 ,to begin3 ,dancing is such good exercise6 people say4 ,granted4 ,or at least it might be4 ,but instead of night hours in a ball room1 get on horseback for two hours in the open day1 and then balance the profit and loss4 ,you don't know how8--then learn4 ,you have no horse8 ,go to riding school4 ,an hour in the ring will stir your blood better than twenty ,germans4 ,but you cannot afford to take riding lessons4--,well to say nothing of ball dresses1 just throw satin slippers and long gloves and carriage hire together1 and see if you cannot afford it4 ,ay1 and have a ticket now and then for some one poorer than yourself4 ,then for people who live within reach of the opera1 there is generally much other good music to be had1 at far less expense and with none of the objections4 ,and there again1 the money and time spent at the opera1 would train the voices at home into a lovely choir4 ,voices which now have no time1 and talents perhaps unknown4 ,everybody cannot sing4--,no4 ,and neither can everybody paint2 but it is a delicious pleasure to those who can4 ,what joy to go sketching6 what delight to work up the sketches at home4 ,what pure1 noiseless1 exquisite play it is4 ,and if some of the party care nothing for pencils1 let them lie under a tree with a book1 and be part of your picture4 ,ah1 books6--,of course you disapprove of novels1--some one exclaims4 ,indeed no4 ,a good novel is very improving as well as refreshing4 ,and after much study over that word good 7that is1 for us1 worth reading7 ,i can give no better meaning than this4 ,a good book1 whether novel or other1 is one which leaves you further on than it took you up4 ,if when you drop it1 it drops you1 right down in the same old spot2 with no finer outlook1 no cleared vision1 no stimulated desires1 it is in no sense a good book for you4 ,as well make fancy loaves of sawdust1 and label them ,good ,bread2 and claim that you rise from the banquet refreshed4 ,a novel has special power of its own4 ,it may be deeply historical1 like ,waverly1 and ,the ,tale of ,two ,cities4 ,it may be a picture of vivid local colouring1 like ,ivanhoe1 or ,lorna ,doone1 or ,dr ,antonio4 ,it may be full of social hints and glimpses1 with many a covert wise suggestion1 like ,miss ,austin's ,emma4 ,it may shew up a vital truth or a life-long mistake1 like ,miss ,edgeworth's ,helen1 or open out new natural scenes like the ,adventures of a ,phaeton2 or life scenes1 like ,oliver ,twist2 or be so full of frolic and fun and sharp common sense1 that the mere laughter of it does you good like a medicine4 ,witness ,christie ,johnstone1 and ,miss ,carlen's ,john4 ,all such books are utterly helpful1 and leave you well in advance of where they found you4 ,they enlarge your world1 they stimulate your life4 ,only read none that enlarge it by a peep through the gates of hell4 ,on that side knowledge is death4 ,but how is one to tell8 you ask4 ,books are not labelled good1 bad1 and indifferent4 ,no3 and when you go to shops and houses you do not know what air you will find1 perhaps not till you open the door4 ,but you start back from one room1 and hold your breath in another1 hastening to get away2 not because you have studied chemistry and can analyze the air1 but because your keen physical sense is smitten4 ,keep your moral sense as fresh1 as keen2 and the moment you find foul air in a book1 throw the book in the fire4 ,do not leave it about to poison some one else4 ,and if you find no wholesome stir1 no real refreshment1 but only a feverish thirst beginning1 lay the book down3 remember1 you are after recreation4 ,re-creation1--the remaking and refitting of ourselves for better work1 the resting for more labour1 the learning1 that we may grow thereby4 ,that is what you profess to need1 dear fellow ,christians4 ,then seek it1--and take no makebelieve4 ,nothing left8--,why the world is so full of delightful things to do1 that one can but look at a quarter of them4 ,they stand at my elbow ten deep4 ,books and music1 and painting1 and riding1 and gardening1 with all sorts of studies of the wonderful works of ,god4 ,you are not shut up to novels4 ,books of art1 books of travel1 books of poetry1 books of science4 ,o how ,i have rested in the coolness of ,longfellow's ,cathedral2 and with what delight seen ,alpine heights with ,ruskin4 ,then there is that wonder of refreshment1 the stereoscope4 ,one comes back from a half hour there in a ,swiss valley as into a new world1 with the dust all blown away4 ,a stereoscope costs little1 and views are not expensive1--that is if you are content with one or two at a time1 which is the real way to buy them2 choosing1 considering1 carefully selecting only those you cannot possibly go home without6 ,i know we began with six2 those six sorted out with jealous care from the contents of many boxes2 and by ones and twos the little collection has grown into something worth having4 ,and if you turn over every lot of views you come across1 you will often find one rare and fine and cheap1 thrown in among the rubbish4 ,then there is the microscope1--full of rich pleasure and deep study and wonderful revealings4 ,and here again no great outlay is needed4 ,the days of only sixty dollar glasses are quite gone by1 and for five or ten dollars--even less--you can get a microscope that will keep ahead of you for some time to come4 ,on the other hand1 if one has neither the skill nor the means to furnish a home-made telescope1 there are other ways of studying the stars1 from the days of ,ferguson down4 ,you remember he used to measure the distance from star to star with beads upon a string4 ,i have seen a man who could neither read nor write1 and yet could tell by the stars the hour at any time of night2 and it is a shame that we educated people who know so much1 should also know so little4 ,if you are in the country1 and fond of stones1 get a geologist's hammer1 and ,hugh ,miller's books1 and give yourself up to happiness4 ,or if you like flowers1 study them2 learning to know families and sub-families through all the floral peerage4 ,but perhaps you do not care for out-door things8 ,then get a bit of wood and a few carving tools1 and see what dainty wonders you can make at home4 ,or lose your cares in illuminating2 or bury them fathom deep in ,german4 ,from any of these1 well begun and carried on1 you will come back re-created for your work3 made over as good as new4 ,not poisoned with bad air1 nor wearied by late hours2 not singed and jaded with chagrin1 vanity1 and disappointment4 ,riding1 rowing1 archery1 fishing1 ought to give ,christian people enough exercise1 without their being obliged to frequent ball rooms to find it2 and as for the grace people talk of1 nothing teaches that like a heart full of graces--love1 joy1 peace1 and the rest4 ,do they flourish at your doubtful entertainments8 do they not rather droop and hang their heads1 like the dear flowers in your bouquet8 ,and if people sought their refreshment among all those sweet and wholesome things1 conversation would no longer be the difficult and the dry thing it is in many a company4 ,there would be something to talk about worth talking of2 and men of sense would venture to talk sense1 even to women2 and gossip would go down4 ,how much more interesting is a butterfly1 than the curtains of the house across the way6-- ,the world is full of joys and pleasures and wonders1 even yet1 outside of ,eden4 ,so full that as ,i said1 you can only begin to taste them all1 in all your life4 ,i think it is stated that no ordinary life-term would suffice for the thorough study of merely the great family of orchids4 ,and all these things which ,i have named 7the list is really much longer71 yes1 every one of them1 rightly used1 will ennoble you1 and build you up1 and refresh you1 with every time of using4 ,not like the snail which crawled up three feet every day and fell back two feet every night3 onward and upward shall be your course2 with soul and body and mind re-created1 restored by right means1 to right ends4 ,only make one rule to yourself3 where anything is doubtful1 let it alone4 ,if you tell me ,i do not know the fascination of these other things1 ,i tell you that ,i do2 and in one line at least have known it as deeply as any one could4 ,but ,i have also known1 that with the coming of ,christ into my heart1 with the new knowledge of his presence1 the old taste fell dead in a moment1 and never arose again4 ,i cannot say it was not much to give up1 for it was nothing4 ,the former fascination fell off1 like the dry skin of a chrysalis when the butterfly spreads its wings4 ,and here we reach the very point of the whole difficulty4 ,for with all their crosses1 privations1 and givings-up1 the ,lord's people are not meant to dwell in any land of darkness or of drought4 ,listen to some of the promises4 ,the righteous shall hold on his way1 and he that hath clean hands shall be stronger and stronger4 #c ,they go from strength to strength4 #d ,they that wait on the ,lord shall renew their strength4 #e ,for why8 ,for the joy of the ,lord is your strength4 #f ,i believe the words are true for the body as for the mind4 ,it is nowhere promised that you shall not be tired2 but so waiting1 so living1 so abiding by the head waters of all strength1 the most lovely1 fresh1 ever-renewed life shall be yours4 ,the righteous shall flourish like the palm tree4 #g ,their souls shall be as a watered garden4 #h ,it is the man whose delight is in the law of the ,lord who not only bringeth forth his fruit in his season1 but also when the time for freshness and life and growth seems over1 ,they shall still bring forth fruit in old age4 #i ,not only created in ,christ ,jesus unto good works1 but perpetually recreated in him1 from hour to hour1 from year to year4 ,has he not said3 ,i will be as the dew unto ,israel8 #aj ,no more age for them1 thus dwelling in the power of an endless life2#aa no empty hands1 for those who have all things1 and abound4 #ab ,no disgust of life or hopelessness of labour for servants who every now and then--from the midst of their work--follow the ,master 7but only him7 apart to rest awhile1 #ac ,a stranger will they not follow4 ,you have seen such people2 you may see them every now and then2 with smooth brows and sweet faces and eyes full of the peace of ,god4 ,and ,i said1 ,this is the rest1 and this is the refreshing4 #ad ,i am persuaded1 that without this1 all forms of recreation that can be tried will be but as quack medicines1 giving a temporary relief1 only to be followed by a sorer need4 ,and while there are a hundred lawful1 sweet1 wholesome means of rest at our disposal1 ,i believe that even they will fail if used alone4 ,and if you throw in all unlawful pleasures also1 the failure will but be the more complete1 ,all my springs are in thee1 #ae and these other things are but channels through which may flow the loving kindness of the ,lord4 ,from him comes all your skill to study1 your power to sing3 the ingenious fancy1 the quick intellect1 the deft hand1 are all his gift4 ,in this exquisite world of his wherein you work1 his power1 his care1 his laws are around you as surely when you play as when you work4 ,so that you can walk with ,christ always1 as you are meant to do2 looking up to him from relaxation as from labour1 thus missing the intoxication of the one and forgetting the toil of the other4 ,now whatever lawful things such a disciple may amuse himself with1 you can see at once that for even the doubtful he could have no relish2 counting them but as a draught from that troubled sea whose waters cast up mire and dirt4 #af ,neither would he come to his recreations tired of life1 nor because his daily round had turned to white of egg2#ag but with genuine1 honest fatigue1 taking amusement as he takes sleep1 and going back from it with a joyous rebound to his special weedy corner in the vineyard4 ,i know ,i am getting rested1 ,i heard a minister once say in his vacation1 for ,i am getting hungry for my work6 ,my people have forgotten their resting place--let it not ever be said of you and me4 ,but it is those not merely planted in the courts of the ,lord1 but who flourish there1 that are the trees whose leaf shall not wither2 and in this you have the whole story4 ,a ,christian who is flourishing where he belongs1 will never go where he does not belong4 ,and no one who is dwelling daily in the clear sunshine of ,christ's presence1 will need a dance to enliven him1 or a horse race--or a walking match--to keep up his interest in life4 ,there will be melody in his heart without the opera2 and life will be full and bright and strong1 without a speck of tinsel pleasure4 ,work will be sweet1 and play will be joyous2 and by one and by the other the man will grow-- ,grow1 like the cedar in ,lebanon4 ,now that you may prove all this1 that you may begin right1 be careful to take the full good of all the ordered resting times3 to wit1 the ,sundays4 ,i wish all tired people did but know the infinite rest there is in fencing off the six days from the seventh4 ,in anchoring the business ships of your daily life as the ,saturday draws to its close1 leaving them to ride peacefully upon the flow or the ebb until ,monday morning comes again4 ,o the delight1 the lull1 of feeling3 ,no need to settle this question--no need to think of this piece of work--for a whole long1 sweet thirty-six hours6 ,why do you take ,sunday papers1 to keep your nerves astir with business on the ,lord's own day of rest8 ,why do you add up and consult and consider in the pauses of the sermon1 or make opportunity for a business whisper in the porch1 and on the way home8 ,why do you let the perplexities of servants1 of means1 of plans1 ruffle your spirits on the one great day of freedom8 ,do not you know that even a debtor may walk abroad on ,sunday1 with no fear of a prison2 and house doors may stand open1 and no sheriff can enter4 ,shall it be worse with your mind than with your body8 ,sleep1 sleep to-day1 tormenting cares1 ,of earth and folly born1-- ,it is the high court of the ,prince of ,peace4 ,rest on ,sunday6--,i hear some earnest worker cry4 ,why ,sunday is the hardest of all the week6 ,yes1 in a way that is true1 for workers in the ,lord's work4 ,yet as far as possible do not make it so4 ,do not imagine that you have the whole world on your shoulders3 do not try to have4 ,do not lift up a burden you can by no means bear4 ,the messengers came back to the ,lord with their reports1--so you4 ,lord1 they will not hear-- ,lord1 it is done4-- ,work with your whole heart and strength2 but then take work and class1 and lay them at the ,lord's feet2 and with them the tired worker too4 ,so doing your work peacefully4 ,and if ,monday morning finds you tired1 it will find you also rested4 ,the air of the world will have cleared somewhat1 giving a nearer view of the city2 its mountains will have sunk down well nigh out of sight1 before the everlasting hills to which you may lift up your eyes for help4 ,and labour and care and profit and loss will cease to be a tangle when stamped with this order3 ,occupy till ,i come4 ,but for you who are not workers 7the why and wherefore are for yourselves to say7 do you too make the ,sabbath a day of rest4 ,yet do not let your ,sunday rest run into ,sunday dissipation by trying to hear all the good sermons at once4 ,choose 7and abide by7 some true church so near that no street car shall be run for you1 and yet--if possible--far enough off to give you a freshening walk as you go and come4 ,neither take out your carriage1 that thine ox and thine ass may rest4 #ah ,of course ,i speak only of places where it is possible to walk to church4 ,get up early enough to have no hurry and no late4 ,have a simple church dress that will need no fussing2 have a simple breakfast1 without hot cakes1 and a cold dinner1 that thy man servant and thy maid servant may rest as well as thou4 #ai ,i know it is charged upon the men of the family that they will never stand a cold dinner4 ,but ,i have catered for just such many times1 and ,i know they will4 ,only be you careful on ,saturday1 to provide a dainty repast that is fit to eat cold--and then see4 ,you will find those very grumblers charmed with their dinner1 and praising it before any other in the week4 ,you can always grace your cold dishes with hot coffee and baked potatoes4 ,o the rest1 the recreation of such a day6 ,with all earth's turmoil pushed aside1 and ,christ himself the one invited guest4 ,unless indeed some needy friend1 who can have no ,sunday elsewhere4 ,people talk in these days with horror of the old ,puritan sabbath4 ,but even if everything be true that they tell of it1 ,i would rather spend ,sunday with blinds shut and pictures turned to the wall1 than in the full week-day glare which fills some houses4 ,and if you want refreshment from your play-times in the week1 if you want heart and mind and face to keep fresh1 begin the week with the ,lord's day kept wholly to the ,lord4 ,verily1 my sabbaths ye shall keep3 for it is a sign between me and you throughout your generations4 #bj ,a sabbath1 a rest4 ,rest of mind which lingering in bed will not give2 rest of body which feasting could only hinder2 a rest of heart by dwelling all day in the deep shadow of the ,lord's presence4 ,so beginning the week1 this promise shall be upon you as each day rolls on1 ,my presence shall go with thee1 and ,i will give thee rest4 #ba ,and in all things that ,i have said unto you be circumspect2 and make no mention of the name of other gods1 neither let it be heard out of thy mouth4 #bb #a ,john x4 #e4 #b ,john vi4 #ce4 #c ,job xvii4 #i4 #d ,ps4 lxxxiv4 #g4 #e ,isa4 xl4 #ca4 #f ,neh4 viii4 #aj4 #g ,ps4 xcii4 #ab4 #h ,jer4 xxxi4 #ab4 #i ,ps4 xcii4 #ad4 #aj ,hosea xiv4 #e4 #aa ,heb4 vii4 #af4 #ab ,phil4 iv4 #ah4 #ac ,mark vi4 #ca4 #ad ,isa4 xxviii4 #ab4 #ae ,ps4 lxxxvii4 #g4 #af ,isa4 lvii4 #bj4 #ag ,job vi4 #f4 #ah ,ex4 xxii #ab4 #ai ,deut4 v4 #ad4 #bj ,ex4 xxxi4 #ac4 #ba ,ex4 xiii4 #ad4 #bb ,ex4 xxiii4 #ac4