-. : ■* ■:-:.■■ '^- / : /•;: t." %, >\ CIHM Microfiche Series (iUionographs) 1, \ \ ICMH Collection de microfiches (monographies) f 4 V , 1 Canadian Inttituta for HIttorlcal MIcroraproductlana / Inatltut Canadian da microraproductions histpriquaa .^ \ •N^ :-':\ ^ Technical and Bibliorapttie NotM / Nota» tachniquaf at bib|i/ 12X 16X 20X 22X 26 X XX ^X mtr 3 32 X Th« copy filmad h«r« bus b—n raproducad thank* to tha flanaroaitv Of : TlM UrHmI ChNrah af Caaiit AraMm vNiani uaiwtnny Mnaww Tha imagaa appaarlng hara ara tha baat quality 'poaalbia conaidarino tha condition and lagibility of tha original copy and in kaapina with tha filming contract apacificationa. L'axi g«n^ Laa plus da li conf filmi Original copiat in printad papar covara ara flimad baginning with tha front eovar and anding on tha laat paga with a printad or llluatratad impraa- aion, or th* back covar whan appropriata. All Othar original cbpiaa ara filinad bagiruiing on tha firat paga with a printad or IHuatratad impraa- aion, and anding on tha laat pafiga with a printad or illuatratad impraaaion. Laa papi pari darr d'im plat, origl prar d'im iadi amp Tha larat racordad frama on aach microficha ahall contain tha aymbol -^^^ (maaning "COIV- TINUED"), or tha aymbol V (maaning "EMD"4, whichavar appKaa. ^ Un( dorr caa: aym Mapa, plataa. charta. etc.. may bafilmad at diffarant'Vaduction ratioa. Thoaa too large •ntiraly included in one expoaure are filmed beginning in the upper left hand cornw, left to right and top^o bottom, aa many:iram'ea aa required. Thti following diagra^nw iliuatrate the method: ' • Lei film Lora repr etdi d'im iliua V id thankt luality gibility th« f nmed gon imprM* I. Ail 1 on th« pres- printod L'«x«mplair« filmi fut raproduit gric* i li gAnArositA da: ' Tlw UiiUrf CliMrdi d Cwmit Attkim ViatwtaUiiivinityArciilvM Las imagai auivantaa ont 4ti raprodujtaaavec la plus grand aoin, compta tanu da la condition at da la jiattat* da I'axamplalra ffllmA, at (In conformity avac laa conditions du contrat da filmag^ Las axanrtplairas originaux donOa couvartura dn^' papiar ast Imprimia sont ffilmto an commanqanr^ par la pramiar plat at an tarmlnaht soit par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una ampralhta d'Imprasslon ou d'illustration, soit par la sacond plat, salon la cas. Tous las autras axamplairas ' origlnaCix sont fllmte an commangant par la pramtAra paga qui comporta una amprainta^^ d'imprassion ou d'illustration at en tarminant par la darnlAra paga qui comporta una talla amprainta. ' ; V/' : V- iha coiy- IMD'^, at 6d aft to as :a the ^ Un das symbolas suiyants apparaTtra sur la darniAra image da cKaqua microfiche, salon \% cas: la symbole — »• signifie "A SUIVRE'M* symbola V signifia "FIN". . ' ■ '■■■. ' "'l '■■■'' ■-*■'';■ -'■' Lai cart«s, planches, tableaux, etc.. pe6vantAtra f ilm6s A des taux de reduction diff jirents. ' Lorsque le document est trop grand pour Atre reproduit en un seul clichA, 11 est filmA A partir — — --deJ'aoglftjiupArieur gauche, de gauche Adroite, et de haut an bas, en prenant la nombVe ^ d'images' nAcessaire. Las diagrammes suivants iliustrant^la mAthoda. . \ • ■ ■ \ - • ■ ■ V-- ■■ I 6 --i^- \^ /"\. MKXOCOPY RiSOUITION TBT CHAtT . (^1 «nd ISO TEST CHART No. 2) ky" ¥\ d ylPPLIED IIVMGE he ^ 16SJ Eoat Main StrMt S RochMtir, Naw York 14609 USA (716) 482 - 0300 - Phofw (716) 288-S989-foK »!*r'^ ' " n^ PI . IT"' f!^\«: r » » nil mil THK JMittn (liiuiiri 9^iiti : 1*"^ "IB rr AV IMNOK^qfT 4]fl> AH A^PRDPRIAn AiiimniiMtr ' / OUT£iNS OF A SBKMQN/ A A .i_ « i3:v;;-:.^^-,-^.; ■■•:.■ --y .■■: :. ^■■/.^ ;■;. '-,■'■"■■■' '^' _■ ■^^ ."•'H (•-- . ,■« ' «m . "".■'' ■ ' ::■*-■■•; ":4"-.- *'■■.' 1 / § T H K .Vx, , MODERN PLEASURE DANCE. OUTUNK OF A HERMOr* PUP.ACflKD \S TIIK WKi»I.EYAN CUURCIt, BRANTFOIIO, ON 8ABUATH KVENINiJ, FKB. 8ku. ■T TUB rAITOR— RIT. 0. TOVNO. RIPORTBD BY ONI Ol' THB CONORKOATION. Tixv— 9 Tlnioih/ iU. 4. and KeclenlMtM xl. f« After a week oMndivposition I am compelled to come before you this eveiilnjr with an amoant of prepara- 'Uon hot Rtall eqnal to that I am wont to malce for the most ordinary occnsioris. This Ihave deeply regret- ted, bat could not avoic|. In consrqoence of this, the discourne to which you are about to listen, so far as the garb in whieh>my thouffhts and flentimentn may appear, is concerned, will neceroarily part«l(e largely of the extemporaneoueriUion in our town; why not attar*k these? I rep'y— ^unquPBtiorably there are, ond their ''name »« L^gion,^* »ind they are daily wo«kirg to the utter undoio^of sonU, ond the insulting in the f fims^smx^mimm^^^ .^-::p mM defiant manner of Almighty God. ^ And these -^ ^vUs-Providence pormVtting-shall receive dae no, lice in their turn from th=, pulpit We have not reached even "the beglnningr «/ tho «nd • of th.sd.a- ^w_,cu33ion of prevailing einf as. yet. God helping me, 1 ^"^■--S2rf4iStb» with several of them, and that -'•"-■--. right early. -^:.;-v"," — ^-v— --— ;--^- 7--- ;-— — '-^ - ;- - ThcVutfence of ray cour>« in preaching ?peci^^^^ npoa this sahjeet, may have been questioned by some, ?earlng lest I should^hereby give^ offence in^ some casesrand thus hedge up my way of «°!>^eq»ent us^. fulness. To this I reply^/^wwc a conacience. iner« iJSseeingand Holy viod above ^^-^^^^rl desire to serve, and there is a judgment fay before me. when the pulpit and the pew must ahke be judged. laTiew of the«?e solemn ts^is I tannot, Irom mere prudential conslderati%D8, keep t>a<^k aught ot the ^JunselofGod. Besides, I hope, by the help of God ?o speak nothing but the truth ; and yet, aa much of theuuth asl can upon the point ; and ^n love^ , «, eye to God's glory, if any ^^f^ f HaJe Ireatly course, then I have only to say, that I have greatly overrated tlieir rationality, and good and kindly feelings. T ask the prayers of God's people and the can-lid attention of all M.y the Holy Spirit guide speaker and hearers into all troth ► * ■ ■ . > * * Tl?ere are two points to wh^ch I ask your attenton in thi* discussion : ' I. Th3 one common actuating impulse with all v\ .■I v\ those who parthipate ia the Modern Pleaaure Dance. Andf II. The Light which Divine Revelation, and csp"- ciaUy the one great Bible doctrine of an oncoming judgment, throws ttgow «.7cfc a Cflurw. .^^' I. The common actaatihg impulse with th083 who participate in the Modern Pleasure Dapce.— I use the term " actuating impulse " synonymously with njbtive or impeUing- consideration. Ordinarily we act from Buch considerations', or motives, or impulses. And it must be admitted, that an impelling consideration or impulse of no ordinary power, one of the mighty yorctr« of the world of iniM and feeling, must have been brought to bear upon the minds of those who take part in this amusement. See what is invplved in the preliminary arrangements— the actual engage- ments, and the unavoidable results of the pleasure ball. There is the expenditure on the part of some, who have to brave the frowns of unsatisfied creditors at every turn; many of whose demands might be inet» if these ball expenditures were not incurred. There at« the remonitraMes \n other cases of Ministers, and loved ones, as wife or children, or pa- rent^ and of conscieuce, and the Bible, all of which epduredaod resisted, in order to take part in thfr WvoUties of the dance. * * ^ There is the //me, too, of whieh all are ready to complain, «we have toolittle of it; " which is readily given away hy hours and nights, for the Eake Of the dance.' "v . Tk^K 19 the fatigue, too, which is involved in a 6, I ;■: nlff'iftJ dancinf*. eRpecially by "delicate yoting ladies, Bom'of wh'nn have no Bt)en<{th l\)r home da ties, ^. which is readily endaied for the sake of tho pleasure dance.;. / ■ ; : y.. Now, when benevolent inBtUuHoos and deed^.ftnd religiona otrvices, make their ilemand for a irf or atten- tion, though they furnieh motives as bijih as Heaven, and 88 deep as lloll; conpideration^ which we should suppose, ought to impel evfry one that hag the power to act, to an immediate exertion— these demands are not beedei by most of the patrons of the ballj— " Money is too scarce," "have not time," or "health too poor," is the excuse. , Well may we say, that the impelVnpr consideration which can ove^-master all the<^e feelings, and call forth these expcnrlitures of money, time and strength ^ and lead to this hrav'ing of remonstrances, must be no ordinary force, ffhat is i> 1 Can we find rut the, secret? Can we solve the problem? Wnat is the^^ ontcommwi ««<« r/»nff impule with these lovers ot the dance? The love of God; love of weaHh; love of improvement, are mighty impelliDg forces in many minds. liet us icquire then — (1 y ?s it Love to Vod'i « God is love;" nnl He is worthy ot the love of all created intelU^icpS m earth and heaven. One of the noblest endo^vments with which God has blessed mm, is the abdity o loviufoni enjoying his infinite creator. L'>vetob9d wlrrcver itrxis's, will maiiit\st itfielf in gratitude and ohetliene\ Is the dance designed to do either? We mi"htsappo?e so from the [lea which the apologises of the batd-room sometimes put in. We are^old that onr a'tetiti-n is directed to dancirg in tho Htble; that h;>ly men of old danced, and thia we are biddea # . _ are ■ ■ ' to praise God in the danc6. Now I usk, does any praon hplleve that this plea holds good in the case Of ihe Modern PUaaure Dance J Before it can do 80, it must be shown that the ancient Hebrew dance bore some resemblance to our modern dances, and that Miriam and David were wstnated by the same niotivea.and teelngs which operate in the minds of the dancers of these tim^s. > In thope ancient dances tber6 was no promiscuous mingling of tlie sexes, the night season was not select- ed and the motive was love to God; the object was to express irratitude, to oflfer praise. Where is there a single point of resemblance? As well talk of simil- arity between a Baceh'vnaliaa feast and the Lords Supper. As we'l seek a warrant for the false and blasrhemons prayers off-red on the theatre's stagey in the Lord's command to his disnples to pray and not fuiot. Resides, who of all those who palron^zev the bull and its dances, will profess that they do so . from love to Gt)d ? That they intend to "praise God in the diince ? ' Are they characterise d by great love lor the worship of God elsewhere? Do they open the dance vith a hymn of praiirc, and a solemn prayer >for a blessirg to sanctify and aid them? Do they re- turn thanks tor thp privilege, aud separate with the benediction? '^ , If we must reply in the negative in all these casps, then may we not ask wherein consists the similarity between the cases in question, and wher6in consista the justness of the plea made in favor ot ^modern dincing ? The plea is an absurdity in its applicat ion. Men and women now-a-days do not dance from love to God. Wherefore then ? • Is it (2 ) Love of health? It is' proper unques- tionably, to have a proper regard for our physical .\.v r^.' 8 health. It in from Qod, and one of his greatest bleep- infTf tQ man as n being of earth. What is life to us withoQt it ? While it is in our p53-e&sion we sliould be graceful for i*, and seek to retain it, and when lost we are jnstift<>d in seeking its recovery And wi h these feeling*), even the most devQnf. of Clod's people are not nnfreqaen Uy led to incar great expense, and » to undertake perilons toars, and endure long separa* tions from home and loved ones, either to preserve or regain their health. Now, the p^ea fa orged by the patrons of the dance, that it 13 most conducive to health. lathis > then the actii$it!ng impelling consideration? Let us s^e. What are the heaithrpromoting etemenlsinthe modern pleasure daiif'e Or ba' I room i Let these be narhed. laUsaid that the exertise in dancing is one? It ^s true, exercise iinder cerain circumstances is highly cnndqcive to health. But is the exercise which is sought and witnessed in a modern ball of that description? It mast be obvious to all, that fol- lowing, as it does, the fttigue of the day, beginning at eight o'clock at night, and terminating at some name- l^Fs hour be'ore s'lnrise next morning, thereby com- p'etely reveHng the arrangements of an infinitely wise Providence— exercise tu ken in a crowded and ill ventilaed room, carried to excejAs, and generally follo«ced hy sadden exposure to cold or damp air, is not the kind of exerc se which is calculated to pro- \^ mote health. What ph\8ician, having any claim ' whatever to professional sk II, hig ever been known to recommfind such exercise to hi-* patients or f ic ids? Or which of those, who participate in this midnight revelry, have felt on the diy f illowin? the ball, as if the exercise of the past ni>rht had resto^d their, wasted energies, oi^increasej their hea'th? Or, could one interrogate th • silent occupants of many prema- ture graves, who have gone theuce by the way of ^e ~i f -. i » ^ fi; r 6a/^ room, we shoald receive a very different teatU mo y. Or, is it arged, that liie heallhfulness of the danc'? consists in the pleasuire it affordj ? It is tru", cheerfalness is couducivo to heath. Bat are dancin>5 asaamhlies pfreat y productive of a trap hoilthy abid- • in? cheer fuhiesp? Is there not a very diffirent clas-i of emo'ions produced a-i well? Is there no uneasinesa from excited passions, from envyings* and social rival- shins? Are there no disgusts from dissimilar tastea, and no after-^regreta for much-needed money and precious time sq laddered, and God-given strength worse than waited? Are there no compunctions from ia soul imperilled, and a. Heavenly Father d'«»o- beyed? Ah.nol thewaysof the dancer are not a!' ways of pleasantness, hispaiths are not all paths of peace. This is not the actuating impulse. No amusement, I believe, canbe pointed out, which com r bines so many injurious particulara ob this which is so often defended as a h ealthy one. What then ia the motive? (3.) It it love of Improvement ? Our age is em- phatically ond of progreaa. And to favor whatever tends to true material, or intelleotua'tOr moral improve- ment, accords fully wi h our interests acd our du y. Now, the apologists^f the plpasure-dance have urged, t^a». it wai a great rejiher of bistes, feelings, and ea-. jtecially mantters, atid as sueh aii iiwprovement is a consummation to be desired, .therefore the pleasure dance should be favored. But let ns pause liere^, and ask-r-is the cause adtquatc to tjie promised effects ? Does it pofsesa such a power a=f no other existing in- Btitution possesses to refine and eUvAie in the true lise? Who will profess to bf^lieve that it does? AreM^t dancers the unrefined ond vuljiar; and do those who>articipate in the dance," because of that, fltand head anushouldera above all their unda'icii g iriendsin the matter of rl8ew){ioro, in the ways of Tolly, tho traonioiito is kept hrovenieut of the taa'p, and os an aid in the study of humnn nature. The Theatre-froer, too, patronizes the theatre professedly, bccauHe it is a school of, morals. But i a these oases, as in that of the danop, the true impellin^r consideration is Love of Pleasure /of p'easu able excitement, ps a predominating, alU Bwaying principle in the mind. This is the one com- mon actuating impulse with all who paiticipato in tho frivolities of the ball-rooni' The second point to be diccoased is— ir. The Light Which Divine Reve'ation, onfk «»- peciailif the^one great Bible doctrine of an oncoming Jurigaient, throws upon the course uf the dancer. We p.i8?e8i8uch a revelation. The Bible is from Ond — a measage; and f >r man— » directory. It is os aligbtshining in the midst of thick daiknes". It pours a ftvod of Ight upon a vast vnriety of subjects; it , solves for man niany grea^; and mighty probl»inns in which he haa the tteHpeht in'erest. It teaches man \ great leiisons concerning God, eternity, nnd the judg- \ men*, coaccruing his own state, and duties, apd pros- \pects. Now, the p-^siMon I take ip, that viewed in the ight of Revelation, the modtirn plea3or>)-dance is not o man an appropriatu and innocent amn^emeut. Is t? Ijet us see. Study mar» as the Bible reprsents im— a< a fallen, redeemed, mortal, and accountable ring. ■'/;. '■■■■ .'-'^--y-'- ^ ' ^■:'':-^-' ^l.) We havq to study him aaa/d. No«» he is the BUbject of o«rt»ln Busceptibilitifs, tendencies, oud proBensitiwj to evil, which had no place in the moral constitution Uol gave him. «'The imaginations of the thoughts or his heart are ftvil." The entire moral nature has be- come diseased by the terrible leprony of sin, "from the crown of the head to the sole of the foot, there 18 no sQundnf SB in him." His unrenewed heart is a .hage fountain of evil, "oat of it proceed fvil thoughts, as adulteries, fornications, marderi', bla«'- phemies," &c., &c In a word, deep down in every tmsanctified man's moral being, exist the germs of all . pvil, which ooly require the action of some develojping forces to cause them to spring up and produce a fear- ful harvest. There smaulder the fires of Iua^ whico, if fanned by the brotzea of temptation, are liable to burst forth in the racing flames of a fearful confl.igra- tioo, before which virtue and parity melt away, as the snow before the summer's s'ln. Now, are not these developing, exciting elements to be foand in large proportiouH in the modern ba'l? Ii there nothing there to act upon, anJ to feed, ai fuel feedelh a fire-r that love of show, that extravagance, that envy, that forgetfttlness of God, that irreverence, that sea- suaUty to which our fallen humanity is so prone? Beside, is there no dangft from intemperarce «nd licentiousness? The- Ball-room is not far from the bar-room, and many a yoang man attending the former soon learns and gets to love the wiy to the laHer. And is the virtuous youth as safe amid the whirlings of the lascivious wal'ss, and the simpering Bmall-ta'k and flattery of the ball-room, and in thia close aai free intercou'-se with the m»n who has long ag > became bankrupt in morals, as puents could de- sire?- ■" V ■ - ■■■ ^^" ■ ■ -l: 13 -■•'' Now, whatovcr brings fallen man with his evil pro- pens'tiea unnece^parily into thia close and danKOrou* intact* with ev.l is no aj^propriao amusement for bim. What, shall man la'iiich his tiny boat into the very circlings of the whirlpool, becaoso it is pl^'apant to be borne on and on without effort? Hhnll he clothe himself in gun-otton, and thea go and pl»y ^ with firebrands ju3t for the fun of it? .' 1 ■ ■ ■■■■■.*'"*. • (2.) We have to atady man as h Redeemed Be- ;ibg. ■- •/:, ■■: ",;,,.- "ITq is boagfht with a price : therefore he is mt . his own, but the purchaser's, lie is Christ'rt by the most legitimate righ's. All he possesses too, — the urth and its fulnes), hi^ pSysical and mental enorgiei all belong to Ilitn, Man holds them intrust; he ia a steward; nothing more. To glorify God in hi!».body and spirit is but his reasonable service. Wha^evetr ho possesses shou'd be devif>ted to this great objects For example, there is his Property. This is one of •'the ta!en».8" which he has received from the Great Propiietor. Now a dny approiicheth when an ac- count will be demanded as to the way in which he haa appropriated hid L ird's mrtney. , Thia ia clea-ly taught in th'* parable of the ta'enta. Now, let ua ack, what will be the ptaition on "that day" of those who bave uaed thpir property And worldly influence for the aupport of foo|is!i and hurtful amusements r ither than for Christ's cause . Will the Judge Say to the patrons of the danc^J who have given pounds f >r this objec^ and sf-arcely perce in some cases for the ot^er. 'Well done, good and fiithfiil servants," £o' Vrill the poor and the fadath'in who have suf- fered for want of thia aid riae up aid cull them * blessed? , ■&.., 14 Then, bU Ilia llcdtem'd He'mg there is th'' Imt Allottol to him. This, too, U (iud'-» gift. 'I >'i>« «J «h'»r», lti» Rrantel to be used ncording to the mmd of the Oiver. Ih It Ktraated for tlie imrpoBOd to which the dtiiichisf muHlor and hia papils, wid the Ptt*rou3 of the ball appri)^riato lit 0, when I nee young pfir-ioiH of shining talents flnl fiviroHt prosjwcts, U'fliey would hut impnvo their time in prepiring for lifc'rf duties and cont«'Bta — turti- IngaMdi and |)er/ertinif d'rt gi|ts and prontititing them all to gonsu il pirpoac-s arid rqinndering their mompn*s. and means nnd eu<;rgi\^ln Hinfni amaHO- iti'^nH I tremh'e for thorn in vin^ of th-j position they must or;capy ih that day, when^thc light pfe'cr- uity Bhdl hfo.ik forih an d oncovor and reveal all roan 8 mLadoings. (3.) But man i* alRO to ho stud ed ns a Mortal Be- ine: That he U mortal all have, and dViiy receive an abandauce of proof. It is appointed unto all fo die. D-incine is no pre- ventive of death. AH, too, are liable to die ot any time, nnd it^any place. Now if lif^ be so unccjrtaio, dooi it become m to go anvwhero, or enter up'^n any Pnjoym'^nt or pleasure in which w<5 wou'd not bo met by death ? " Who, we ask wou'd be f innd by the summons of donth enoraged in th" frivolitits of the ball-room^ And li y^x go there at all, this liability becomes ^^onr?. r.icre i-i no charm in ihe nia'tic or the dance to kccpdialh awav from the phce. Ah, no ! Hrs icy tinger^ have b^^ea in nume^rous i:»- Btanccs, laid *pen the throbbing hearts of gay danoers ' ! What a changp,— ^''hat a terrible transition do such experleace, pasil*g as they do from such m k' w 1 * ' t^.. \-- 15 k' 1 h/"'":- - ■cenM and thoaglits Into the immcditto prprcnce of n pin-htttlng ond A Imi^hty God ? And from time to tim<', we m*>(it wtili ucRonnts in our wtekty aud ddily pap«ra of BuddoD duatbs in bBll-rooins. i qnote two OP tUree which have lately come ta- haud :^— . *' In R New York parcr, I find the following :— " A Indy dropped dead while dancing in the city lost week." Reader, for what cartlily conaiderutioD would you have death find you thus I r In a Philmlelphia paper the following appeared : — "On 'I'har8f?ay mornirg a^»oat one o'clock a Bad af- fair lork ploce at a ball in tl is city. While the ball WAS in progress a lady who wrs fngaeed in dancing the lancers quadrille, sadd" n'y fell upon h*>r fuce on the floor, ai d when her crmpanions raiecd her up it wai found she was dead. The bill was given on the auoiveraary cf her 36th birth night." -f- In another New York paper, I find the following : —••Two persons died in this cily last wefk in the raldst of the payeties of the ball-room. The one was a young lady, the other was a yonng gentleman. They were at difierent places, both were seized sud- denly and were dead before friends or help could bo summoned." Thns are we ndmonifhfd that there Is rooni for death even in the bail-rdom ; and that the pay and the thoughtli'89 daricei" may be called to ezcharpe the embrace of the partner in the dance for the cold hand of death. We say ogiin to one and all/ who wotild die under / # ^ '^ t, 'V 16 ■noh olroomtUnces f Who wonl thi$ $out hath come hither Jnik from Ike vlrasure dance,"— "OO imperil not that •oul by going there at all. ; Wd have to stndy m«in also, {^JjMa an Accountable Being. Ood holds him roB|!>ipM^le for the actions, words, and cheririhed purposea of hi^ life. And as the text teaches, " for all thesci'Utings, whether good or bad— will God bring him into judgement" There shall the books be opened and the entire race be Judged. Heaven or Uell shall thenceforward be the portion of each. ■■''■'" ■ ■ ■,'•■■■■ to view' of these solemu flaots, I ask Is it proper to Siend hoar after hone, and nidcfet after night, in the easure dance ? •• llejoioe I O young man," &c., 4"^ besides, let as try the.« parties (crit pleasure by a to reasoiDtble rale. Soppose a balllD ^e announced f< the Kerby Hall, for three weeks, from next Tueg _ evening, and that before that appointed time arrives, it is M^rtained without the po«8ibility of a doubt, i'4d four weeks from next Tuesday the Son of I to judio io propr- and Innoreni, w^y oalil not men ifunce right ««p to thf judgment day ; ;or (TO Co tho ball even t'wngh tboy were certilo of mcellnHf dcatl', Junt aa Ihny would engine jn any other ionoceut atid proper #ork, or rooretttion ? be ■avfwl And many made choice of that good part whifh irfiall never be taken from them. Among the number who nought lliie Inittructlon and prayer* of the people of God, was th« young lady who it the #uhjcct of tb« following tketcbr. /:. _[^__._:__ ■' •-;;.•.. "j.. _\'" i '•' ' / " She listened to tlie voice of truth, and wag troubled. Con* t r- X 18 pcienco Rpoke within hpr, i^nd'waalcl not bift utterly lilcnccd. Sbo Selt that the claimH of Ood muHt bo mot, that sho inont not dclaj tho work of her Bilvntioii. rerHouftlly and Hol«miil/ was Hlie wrged to «ett!« the cootr.jvorsy, to roiwunoo Iho iileiisiircH of sin, and truNt in tJie merits if a cruciflod Saviour. She know Iter duty, but did it not. Tlio next r.fifl.t a " Boz Rail" whh to bo held, and from this FCone ot awful Roleinaity, away nlie hurries to the cham- b-r of niiith, aiud joins in a giddy dance. Uy the dound of the viol and the voice of melody, rbe aims to drown tire admoniUona of conscience, and she may have succeeded for a moment... Amid the display of fashion, tho gfare of liRlito, and the intoxication of the Bcone, conscience may have slumbered at her post, and suncn- d the gay traosgrcssor to r0vel undisturbed in forbidden plea&ure. But she only peemod to sleep. Tlie voice of Admonition and warning came— it came, though tho Voice of the living preacher was silent. And again she felt, and agAin i" she seen in the meet-- Iftg for conversation an or. Her Iieat,t^ i^ %\m seat of ten thousand painful and conflicting omotions. The claims of truth and duty are urged. Stio would yiidd,> he would follow Jesus, but tho world, ihe theatre, the bal 1-room, her gay companinnsi how can shq give them up? Uufortunatoly she was solicited to a,ttend another ball. Salan, a^'anTangel id' light, sheds a deceptive radi- ance over that scene, and suggests that such amusements are inno- cent, that her scriolSsness is melancholy., and jthat there is time enough yet. She triumphrd over conscioncp, yielded to the temp- tavlon and went. She wan permitlod to return to hpr dwelling, itct only to die ; to die, too,'as she had lived, without Qod or hope. m i Uark the facts that fill the Inst^pnge of her history. On one ■ evening the is in the meeting of inquiry, tl e next in thebtill-roofn, gayest ammgtUe gay, and almost tho next in her coffin ! One week, with a heart as light as ais she goes to a store to purchnKe trimuiin}>K l«»r u jjall-dreKs, ou tliti next her fj'i"ii'Js to the same i>:.uiv \.o ^urchatLC her shruud .' ' ' ' Thus ended the career of one who loved ploaBurc more than she loved God. There n« as no hope in her death. Xo light to cheer her in the la&t sad hour I 21. k ■ .^.■■ ■■• ■■■".IS"': ■..: ' :.-.■■ '•■ ■■ ' * ' . ■ '■ ' . ■ - And in how many hearts has this love of dancing proved its power to subvert pood desires and holy parposes, uutilthoFO who have sworn allegiance to Chnst in holy baptiBin, or in confirmation-vows or at the Lord's Supper, have utterly apostatized from the church and fallen Bttbaequently into grosser sins? Thus are. the unwatchful drawn away from Christ in every direction by the aUttrments of the ball room, and souls are ruined annually. Ifl there reason or no| why the pulpit should lift up the warning voice? And does it become thope that are tending to one common judgment with UB to dance and triumph over such successes as these? Woe be to that man or woman who has acted the part of a seducer of the young, drawing them froritthe vaihs cf religion (iiid virtue in-/ to the ways of folly and sin,#heq in that day thy blood of these victims shall be found on their handi The crime of that man who destroys the body is hjat small compared with his or her's who destroys^/the soul. :; Letmebeseechthe youth before me "to^bfitain from all appearance of evil." "To deny theyelves^of all ungodliness and worldly lusts anilive io^rly,' ^c. To do all, " whether they eat or drink to the glory cf God." "To flee also youthful lusts." •* Toyredeem the time." In a word, " seek the pearl of great^rice." Turn from the broad way of folly and death jtad ent^r the strait gate of conversionand walk in the way of piety. O strike for Soul freedom aim atacrownybf glory. Many of you have parents in heaven who/taught you to pray, not to dance. Meet them in hefcven. Let nought of this world's Vanities draw off yopr attention from your proper business in this probktionary .life^aim at all practicable and Bcriptural itoprovement. Men* -^:.rv/: ''■^^*". tal, moral and spiritaal, and especiailv at promotion God'g glory, Live for a home— a gloriooa home In the New Jerosalem. .>u-:^ May God guide, and bless, and save you evory one I •^AmemI , ■ ■ \ ■ h' .■■ . ■ - ■■■ : ■ ■.<■■;.-' ... . "■;-„■■ J' V- . ■ % ;"■ :■'■" ■ " ■■: ■ ■*■ ■■' ' ■ ■ '.-' : ' 1 ■ ■ . . ■ ■■ ::,■■■■ ..;V.:- -.•/• „.■•_/■■''.••;'•■■■. /Z-: '::■:/; : ■-___.;--— -^^ '.'■■.)'':'■-. ■■- ' '_^^_y[_:Z.z-,'*'-^^ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■ ■■,■■■. - ,■ '■■■■ ■ •■" ;■■ '■ '" . . ■' ■ , ^ '.•'■■ ..'V' ■■ ;■-:■:-■■ ;./■'■. :,,, ' ., .■•■•■■■. X ■..: ■••-.■■■.;.:' ' ■■■-.•■■■■;• -. ■'■%^- ■ . /:' .■..■■■■ .■■■r^ ,■ -^ ^ ■ ' ■ ■ - ■ '" '■ '..♦-■ ■ ■ ; ' . ■■'■ • '■ - . 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