was under the conviction that he had himself to make; that he then laid down some rules, which he had steadfastly observed. Among them were the following that he would always attend meeting upon the Sabbath; that he would never read loose and infidel writings, nor attend infidel meetings; that he would devote a portion of his time to some profitable study; that he would be always diligent and faithful in business, however discouraging things might look; that he would not frequent shops of refreshment, unless for necessary food; that he would form no alliance with any individuals, for society or amusement, till he knew them to be virtuous and safe companions; and that he would not go to the theatre till he was fortyfive years old, when he supposed he should be above the reach of any injury from that source. Long before he reached that age he became a pious man, and of course he now finds higher sources of pleasure than the theatre-a place which he never visited. Another youth, who came to the city at the same time and from the same place with him, took lodgings at a house with some theatre-going young men, was prevailed upon to go for once

then again and again became loose in his principles and habits, one wrong step led on to another, until he went headlong to ruin and found an infamous grave! And this, he remarked, had

been the sad history of many who with him began their career in life.

It is not contended that no young man can ever attend the theatre without receiving great and apparent injury; but it is always dangerous; its tendency is evil; and to multitudes it is a highway to ruin. Every young man is better without it; and if there are some who are quite confident that they are proof against its evil influence, still, considering its disastrous effects upon the multitudes who resort to it, if they have due consideration and high moral principle, they will, for the sake of the general good, give the entire force of their example against it. The whole history of theatres, from their earliest history down to the present moment, is one continuous demonstration. that their moral influence is bad.

I have not time here to enlarge upon the evils to which theatre-going will expose you. They are numerous; some of them are obvious. It is an expense of money, which no young man can well afford. Hence individuals have thus sometimes been fatally tempted to obtain means in an unlawful way - perhaps by defrauding, or by purloining from their employers in order to support this indulgence. It generates a feverish imagination, such as destroys a right balance of character. It helps to create in the mind an ideal world, aud to

beget impatience of the dull round of sober industrious life. It hardens the heart against religion, insomuch that a theatre-going man never becomes religious, unless he is persuaded to abandon that indulgence. It kindles up the lower and baser passions and creates an everlasting hankering for their indulgence. Through the power of the morbid appetites and ungovernable desires which it produces, it often urges their subject on to licentious conduct. A theatre-going youth is almost sure to fall a victim to licentiousness.

There are "the lips of the strange woman; they drop as a honey-comb and her mouth is smoother than oil. But her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword. Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell." Yet there is another voice, the voice of God, of reason, of conscience, calling with trumpet-tongue, "Enter not into the path of the wicked, and go not in their way. Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it

and pass away. For they sleep not except they have done some mischief; and their sleep is taken away unless they cause some to fall." The serpent's coils the viper's fangs-infamy-ruin — and the curse of God are there!

He hesitates, fears, turns away, and is almost a conqueror. But his vile imagination, heated in the theatre and stimulated by wine and cordials, re

sumes its office, and again entices him to walk in the ways of his heart and in the sight of his eyes. At length passion gains the ascendency; it proves too strong for conscience and the voice of God. He consents yields-falls a victim! "For at the window of my house I looked through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding, passing through the street near her corner, and he went the way to her house. In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night, behold there met him a woman with the attire of a harlot and subtle of heart. Her feet abide not in her house. Now she is without, now in the streets, and lieth in wait at every corner. With her much fair speech she caused him to yield, with the flattering of her lips she impelled him. He goeth after her quickly, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks, till a dart strikes through his liver; as a bird hasteth to the snare and knoweth not that it is for its life. For she hath cast down many wounded; yea, many strong men have been slain by her. Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death!" These pit-fallsthese gates opening into hell almost every nook and alley of

—

are lurking in our cities to de

vour young men ; and, oh, what disclosures will

GAMBLING.

DRUNKENNESS.

243

the day of judgment make, respecting both those who open and those who enter them!

ing and wailing and gnashing of teeth!"

"Weep

Next comes gambling and drunkenness. Not yet the gambling which stakes all and more than all upon a single throw, nor the drunkenness which lies upon the common or the side-walks in open day. All sense of prudence, honor, character has not gone yet; but it is fast going. The secret sins of the heart may be housed and nourished there through a long life, in connection with a fair and honorable exterior, if they are never permitted to break forth into any open act which renders their subject odious to society; but the moment they do this, it is as if a mill-dam gave way. All the iniquities of the heart then come forth with surprising rapidity and resistless power. Once break down a young man's sense of reputation, let him. feel that his character and standing among men are lost, and how rapid are his subsequent steps to ruin! One publicly condemned vice seldom lives long alone. The gambler will drink, and the drunkard will gamble if he can. The gambler is always a theatre-going man, always a rake and seducer, always a scoffer at religion and profaner of the Sabbath; and the man who will seduce virtue and scoff at religion, will gamble and defraud if he has a chance and knows how.

The young man therefore who has taken any of