ciencies and negligencies. By means of the Theatre, God is manifestly dishonoured in almost every way in which man can dishonour Him; and in the Theatre, abundant occasions of sinning, and temptations of the most fearful kind, are put directly in the way of all who attend upon it, or are connected with it.

We are told that in breaking his law, we dishonour God.-Every wilful transgression of any of his commands, therefore, is an insult and wrong done unto God. Now, we are strictly commanded to honour God's holy name and his word; to love and highly esteem his people for his sake; to sanctify Him whenever we draw nigh unto Him in any act of worship; to pray unto Him with reverence and godly fear; to hate the thing which He forbids, and to love the thing which He commands. These are different ways in which we are to honour God. When we neglect to do these things, we fail to honour Him ;—when we do contrary to these things, we do to God direct despite and dishonour.

Now, I appeal to the conscience of every person in this congregation, who is, or has been, in the habit of attending the Theatre, for the truth of the following declarations :

On the Stage, the sacred names of God are taken in vain, and blasphemed; and this is very frequently, if not habitually done. The word of God is sometimes quoted, but it is put into the

mouths of the profligate and profane, to be used by them in merriment or in scorn. The people of God are first caricatured, and then held up to ridicule and contempt. God is very frequently addressed with counterfeit prayer; and the knee is bended, and the hand lifted up in solemn mockery. The sentiments recommended on the Stage, are, for the most part, in direct contradiction to the doctrines and precepts of the Bible; while the Christian virtues, the fruits of the Spirit, the evidences and effects of divine grace, are degraded and derided. By many of the characters exhibited and represented, the laws of God are set at open defiance; and such characters are arrayed with every attraction which is calculated to gain the admiration, and provoke the imitation of the spectators of such scenes. the Theatre, then, there is the most open, varied, direct, aweful dishonour done unto God. We can scarcely conceive any methods of provoking God to his very face, which are not practised in some or other of these amusements.

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But further, in the Theatre, the most abundant occasions of sinning, and temptations of the most dangerous kind, are laid directly in the way of those who frequent it. I cannot here enumerate all the various kinds of evil of which the Theatre is the fruitful parent.-I will only mention two:"Looking diligently," says St. Paul, in his Epistle to the Hebrews, "lest any root of bitterness

springing up trouble you, and thereby many be defiled:"-and he then specifies more particularly two roots of bitterness which were most to be dreaded, and most carefully to be guarded against, "lest there be any fornicator, or profane person, as Esau, who for one morsel of bread sold his birth-right." The two things, then, against which the Apostle so particularly guards and warns the Hebrews, are an infidel disregard of spiritual and eternal things, shewn by a preference for the things of this life; and the sins of uncleanness. Now the direct tendency of the Theatre, both by what is said, and in what is seen, is to promote these very two kinds of wickedness; and this engine of Satan is fearfully successful in shaking the principles, and in corrupting the morals. Infidelity has its seat in the heart; and nothing can be more adapted to plant this root of bitterness there, than the profane banter, and the unscriptural sentiments which are heard from the Stage; the ordinary, and almost necessary effect of which is to make religion appear mean and despicable, and to connect with the Bible associations which excite either laughter or contempt. Such profane ridicule or scorn of any portion of the Sacred Scriptures, too naturally prepares the way for doubts of their truth and authority;—and this is frequently followed by an utter rejection of them, as a revelation from God. This infidelity is either secret or open, as circumstances may direct.

Again, there are no temptations more to be dreaded than temptations to sensual sins--the sins of uncleanness. But where are such temptations so powerful, so varied, and, I doubt not I may add, so successful, as at the Theatre? Where shall youthful delicacy be more certainly destroyed? By what means shall the mind become so familiarized with unchaste images and ideas, as no longer to be pained by them, more surely than by the licentious scenes and sentiments of the Theatre? Where and when shall the young man be more likely to fall into one of the most fearful and ruinous snares which can be laid for him, than at a place where his principles are first corrupted, and his passions inflamed, and then the direct temptation presented? The advocates of the Stage may talk of reform in these respects; but these things are too closely connected with the Theatre,-too well calculated to promote its interests,-too indispensably necessary to its very existence-to be effectually removed.

And now, my dear Brethren, if these things be so, and that what I have stated is substantially correct, will, I doubt not, be felt by every candid hearer, who has had the opportunity of forming a judgment, I may confidently ask,—Is it possible for any man, desiring and intending to follow the rule laid down in the text, to countenance by his presence such amusements? Will the man who wishes to "do all things to the glory of God,"

find or seek his gratification in a place where God is so openly and awefully dishonoured? Will he who fears sin himself who is anxious to keep back others from sin-will he lend the sanction of his example to this trap, and snare, and engine of the Devil? Will he, by his support, encourage the actors to continue in the exercise of a profession, by which they are continually provoking God, and bringing more dreadful ruin upon their own souls? Will he contribute his part to confirm those who are already walking in these ways of wickedness, or to embolden those to enter who are doubtful and hesitating? Must not every principle and motive by which his heart and his conduct are impelled, lead him to regard the Theatre as a most dreadful evil;-to shun it with the most scrupulous care; and to use his earnest endeavours to warn and dissuade all those over whom he may have any influence, against this sin and danger?

And now, my dear Brethren, is not the conclusion inevitable? We have seen that no man can be a Christian, who does not intend, and desire, and endeavour to "do all things to the glory of God;" and who would knowingly lay a stumbling-block, and an occasion of falling into sin, in his fellow-creature's way. We have seen, that at the Theatre the most manifest dishonour is done unto God, and the most dangerous stumbling-blocks abound. Can we possibly evade the