and folemnly cautioned against the danger of running into extremes, and carrying matters too far: But this is no more than must be expected in an age wherein fo many do at once glory in their fame (1), and are afhamed of that in which they ought to glory (m). An age wherein formality fupplies the place of vital Christianity, and in which spiritual Religion and Enthufiafm are fo far become fynonymous terms, that a perfon is looked upon as little lefs than mad as foon as he comes to the right ufe of his understanding. An An age wherein the pure doctrines of Scripture and of the Reformation, are fet afide for lifeless morality and dry fyftems of ethics; and a steady adherence to the truly evangelical tenets of the established Church, is deemed the mark of a weak judgment, and is fufficient to gain a man a nick-name, and to make him become a by-word among the people (n). Let us therefore, as we value our immortal fouls, take heed how we fuffer ourselves to be led aftray by any wretched pretenders to Chriftianity, and carefully avoid all thofe fnares that the Devil and his adherents have eftablished in this land, which has been fo juftly vifited with the judgments of a righteous God, for our crying fins and horrible lukewarmnefs. Let us reflect what thofe who have been cut off without having made their peace with God through Chrift their Redeemer, and have felt the punishments of the damned; let us, I fay, reflect what H 2 they they would do, could they begin their lives again, or obtain one fuch opportunity of repentance, as God of his infinite mercy now vouchsafes to us. Would they waste any of their precious time in BALLS, and fuch like vanities, and dance for hours together upon the frightful precipice of eternity, not knowing but the next moment might hurry them again into those inexpreffible torments they once experienced, where their worm dieth not, and the fire is not quenched; where there is weeping and wailing, and gnashing of teeth (o). Fudge therefore yourselves, Brethren, that ye be not judged of the Lord (p), and take beed, according to the Apostle's advice, that you refufe not him that speaketh from heaven (q); for the God of Truth hath faid, that bis Spirit fhall not always strive with man (r): To-day therefore, whilst it is called to-day, barden not your hearts; but calmly and seriously reflect what a fearful thing it is to fall into the bands of the living God (s), whose word is quick and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged fword, piercing even to the dividing asunder of foul and Spirit (t); and who is even a confuming fire (u); and able to destroy both body and foul in hell (x). Confider, I beseech you, confider, that these are not airy phantoms and idle tales, but they are awful and interesting truths, truths that are founded upon the word of God, and fuch as fhould make the unrenewed heart of every felf-deceiving formalift to tremble; wherefore I pray God they may fink deep into your confciences, and excite you to fly to JESUS the Saviour of all that truly turn unto him; and if you are fenfible of your need of a Redeemer, and will come as a loft, undone finner, not trusting in your own righteoufness, but in God's manifold and great mercies (y)2 there is no doubt but he will wash you clean by his precious all-atoning blood, and clothe you with the robe of his perfect righteoufnefs. Being thus made free from fin, and become fervant's to God, be urgent in imploring the continuance of divine grace, to enable you to walk worthy of. your vocation, in all holiness and good works. Then fhall you find, (but never by the palliating and fuperficial divinity of too many in our days,) that the ways of Religion are ways of pleasantnefs, and that all her paths are peace (z). THE CONCLUSION. AVING answered the arguments com HAD 1 monly brought in vindication of BALLS, and produced feveral proofs of their evil tendency and actual wickedness; having fhewn the reafons why, nevertheless, these diabolical diverfions have gotten fuch root, and the finfulness of them is fo little perceived, that many unwary fouls go. to them without fufpecting their danger: Having ad U) Communion Service. (x) Prov. iii. 17. admonished you to beware of a blind conformity to custom, and of the examples of nominal Chriftians, and given fome marks whereby fuch may generally be difcerned from thofe who are Chriftians, altogether; and lastly, having exhorted you to flee from the wrath to come (a), unto Him who is able and willing to fave to the uttermost all that come unto God by him (b); I cannot yet conclude, without obferving that it is indeed a melancholy reflection, that custom should have fo far blinded the eyes of many, as to make a demonstration of this kind neceffary; but fince this is the cafe, all proper care, I hope, has been taken to fet forth thefe enormities under their true colours, which, I trust, I have now done without the least aggravation; and if it can be proved that I have afferted any thing whatever that is not ftrictly agreeable to holy Scripture and plain reafon, I readily give up the point I * Though, I truft, I have advanced nothing against Balls and Plays, but what can be warranted by the best authority; yet I may be perhaps thought rather too fevere in having cenfured THE FLOURISHING TRADE OF CARD-PLAYING: for, fince we read in hiftory of a Roman Emperor who fpent his time in catching of flies, furely we may juftly claim the privilege of diverting ourselves a few hours in an evening (especially as it may be done fo very confiftently with the fashionable ideas of piety) in counting black and red spots, and asking What's trump, who Souffled, who cut, and who dealt? as also of building houses with our Cards, and blowing them down again, by way of changing the amusement, whenever we think proper. (a) Matt. iii. 7. (6) Heb. vii. 25. 1 I am fenfible, that if any body in the firft ages of the Church had attempted to prove that no Chriftian could go to BALLS, PLAYS, ROUTS, REVELLINGS, and fuch like, without disgracing his holy profeffion; his arguments would have been looked upon to be as unneceffary, as those of a man who, in thefe days, fhould write a folio in order to prove, that the Sun fhines on a bright day; and his labour as needless, as that of one who fhould go through all the rules of arithmetic to Thew that two and two make four; but, Tempora mutantur, nos & mutamur in illis! The Church cou'd once her Golden Ages boaft FINI S. |