“ Be ye

not enough call to mind the exalted tone of Scripture morality; and are therefore apt to value our-; selves on the heights to which we attain, when a. better acquaintance with our standard would have. convinced us of our falling far short of the elevation prescribed to us. It is in the very instance of the. most difficult of the duties lately specified, the forgiveness and love of enemies, that our Saviour points out to our imitation the example of our Supreme Benefactor. After stating that, by being kind and courteous to those, who, even in the world's opinion, had a title to our good offices and good will, we should in vain set up a claim to Chrisa tian benevolence, he emphatically adds, “ therefore perfect, even as your Father whịch is in “ heaven is perfect.”

We must here again resort to a topic which was lately touched on, that of theatrical amusements; and recommend it to their advocates to consider them in connection with the duty,

The Stuge. of which we have now been exhibiting some of the leading characters.

It is an undeniable fact, for the truth of which we may safely appeal to every age and nation, that the situation of the performers, particularly of those of the female sex, is remarkably unfavourable to the maintenance and growth of the religious and moral principle, and of course highly dangerous to their eternal interests. Might it not then be fairly asked, how far, in all who confess the truth of this position, it is consistent with the sensibility of Christian bene volence, merely for the entertainment of an idle hour, to encourage the continuance of any of their fellowcreatures in such a way of life, and to take a part in tempting any others to enter into it; how far, considering that, by their own concession, they are employing whatever they spend in this way, in sustaining and advancing the cause of vice, and consequently in promoting misery, they are herein

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bestowing

bestowing this share of their wealth in a manner agreeable to the intentions of their holy and benevolent Benefactor ? how far also they are not in this instance the rather criminal, from their being so many sources of innocent pleasure open to their enjoyment? how far they are acting conformably to that golden principle of doing to others as we would they should do to us? how far they harmonize with the spirit of the Apostle's affectionate declaration, that he would deny himself for his whole life the most innocent indulgence, nay, what might seem almost an absolute necessary, rather than cause his weak fellowChristian to offend? or lastly, how far they are influenced by the solemn language of our Saviour himself; “ It must needs be that offences come, “ but woe to that man by whom the offence cometh; “ it were better for him that a mill-stone were " hanged about his neck, and that he were cast

into the depths of the sea?”—The present instance is perhaps another example of our taking greater concern in the temporal, than in the spiritual interests of our fellow-creatures. That man would be deemed, and justly deemed, of an inhuman temper, who in these days were to seek his amusement in the combats of gladiators and prize-fighters: yet Christians appear conscious of no inconsistency, in finding their pleasure in spectacles maintained at the risk at least, if not the ruin, of the eternal happiness of those who perform in them!

SECT. VI.

Grand Defect — Neglect of the peculiar Doctrines

of Christianity. BUT the grand radical defect in the practical system of these nominal Christians, is their forgetfulness of all the peculiar doctrines of the Religion which they profess—the corruption of human nature —the atonement of the

Saviour--and the sanctifying influence of the Holy Spirit.

Here

Here then we come again to the grand distinctions between the Religion of Christ and that of the bulk of nominal Christians in the present day. The point is of the utmost practical importance, and we would therefore trace it into its actual effects.

There are, it is to be apprehended, not a few, who, having been for some time hurried down the stream of dissipation in the indulgence This evil of all their natural appetites, (except, into its efperhaps, that they were restrained from fects. very gross vice by a regard to character, or by the yet unsubdued voice of conscience); and who, having all the while thought little, or scarcely at all about Religion (“living,” to use the emphatical language of Scripture, “ without God in the world,”) become at length in some degree impressed with a sense of the infinite importance of Religion. A fit of sickness, perhaps, or the loss of some friend or much loved relative, or some other stroke of adverse fortune, damps their spirits, awakens them to a practical conviction of the precariousness of all human things, and turns them to seek for some more stable foundation of happiness than this world can afford. Looking into themselves ever so little, they become sensible that they must have offended God. They resolve accordingly to set about the work of reformation.--Here it is that we shall recognize the fatal effects of the prevailing ignorance of the real nature of Christianity, and the general forgetfulness of its grand peculiarities. These men wish to reform, but they know neither the real nature of their disease, nor its true remedy. They are aware indeed, that they must

cease to do evil, and learn to do well,” that they must relinquish their habits of vice, and attend more or less to the duties of Religion; but, having no conception of the actual malignity of the disease under which they labour, or of the perfect cure which the Gospel has provided for

it,

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it, or of the manner in which that cure is to be effected,

" They do but skin and film the ulcerous place,
" While rank corruption, mining all within,

« Infects unseen.” It often happens therefore but too naturally in this case, that where they do not soon desist from their attempt at reformation, and relapse into their old habits of sin, they take up with a partial and, scanty amendment, and fondly flatter themselves that it is a thorough change. "They now.conceive that they have a right to take to themselves the comforts of Christianity. Not being able to raise. their practice up to their standard of right, they lower their standard to their practice : they sit down for life contented with their present attainments, beguiled by the complacencies of their own minds, and by the favourable testimony of surrounding friends; and it often happens, particularly where there is any, degree of strictness in formal and ceremonial observances, that there are no people more jealous of their character for Religion.

Others perhaps go farther than this. The dread of the wrath to come has sunk deeper into their hearts; and for a while they strive with all their might to resist their evil propensities, and to walk without stumbling in the path of duty. Again and again they resolve: again and again they break their resolutions (a). All their endeavours are foiled, and they become more and more convinced of their own

moral weakness, and of the strength of their inherent corruption. Thus groaning under the enslaving power of sin, and experiencing the futility of the utmost efforts which they can use for effecting their deliverance, they are tempted (sometimes it is to be feared they yield to the temptation) to give up all in despair, and to acquiesce in their wretched captivity, conceiving it impossible to break their chains. Sometimes, probably, it even happens that they are driven to seek for refuge from their disquietude in the suggestions of infidelity; and to quiet their troublesome consciences by arguments which they themselves scarcely believe, at the very moment in which they suffer themselves to be lulled asleep by them. In the mean time while this conflict has been going on, their walk is sad and comfortless, and their couch is nightly watered with tears. These men are pursuing the right object, but they mistake the way in which it is to be obtained. The path in which they are now treading is not that which the Gospel has provided for conducting them to true holiness, nor will they find in it any solid peace.

Persons under these circumstances naturally seek for religious instruction. They turn over the works of our modern Religionists, and as well as Advice of they can, collect the advice addressed to modern Red

ligionists to men in their situation ; the substance of which is, at best, of this sort; “ Be sorry desirous of “ indeed for your sins, and discontinue the repenting.

practice of them; but do not make yourselves so uneasy.

Christ died for the sins of the whole “ world. Do your utmost; discharge with fidelity " the duties of your stations, not neglecting your

religious offices; and fear not but that, in the “ 'end, all will go well, and that having thus per

formed the conditions required on your part,

you will at last obtain forgiveness of our merciful “ Creator through the merits of Jesus Christ, and “ be aided, where your own strength shall be ins “ sufficient, by the assistance of his Holy Spirit,

Meanwhile

such as are.

«