Amusements

With regard to the gaieties and amusements of the world, the question is, How far can the Christian partake of them? To this I answer, In so far as they are not in themselves sinful, or have no tendency to lead to sin in others, the Christian can freely partake of them. Beyond this he cannot go.

But another question arises. Things in themselves innocent, become criminal by excess: Can the Christian partake of what is innocent, and leave the excels to the world? To this I answer, No: the Christian cannot consistently countenance that, over the excess and abuse of which he has no control. But not to multiply examples, as the gaieties and amusements contended for all savour of extravagance and dissipation, it is but to enquire whence they spring, and by whom they are delighted in, and followed, to put to flight the sophistry that would plead for them, as becoming among Christians.

Are they of Heaven, or of Christian origin? Are they of God, or of the world? Do the godly, or the ungodly, delight in, and follow them? And as the answer shall in truth be, so let the line be drawn by every serious Christian, and, when drawn, observed. For by what other name than "conformity to the world," can it be called, when professing Christians are found partaking of the revellings, banquetlings, and abominable idolatries, which the profane and irreligious follow and delight in?

Is it by such a use of the "mercies of God," that they "present their bodies to Him, as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable?" Or is it not rather "yielding their members as.instruments of unrighteousness unto sin?" Upon the same principle may the line be drawn in all other cases, the excess in which is sinful: and if this shall be faithfully done by professing Christians, a great reproach will be rolled away from the religion of the Gospel, and the ungodly (this world) the sooner be ashamed of their frivolous and sinful dissipations.—Bishop Ravenschopt