i ® 3 a nd to his glory, by adoring, honouring i publish it, and so let both sides be heard. ¥ . % Ko A ave felt a desire that the subject should 4 "®e examined, in order to"tiy the nature of . Cunistian ; but on the other hand, if it is _gloly, and cur happiness.— Well, it this is and jollity A sight should be the last, I should be in this Pu blish Aaa We give a place tothe following essay #n compliance with (he desire of the ve- my pious gentleman who wrote it: Bat #ts svedt length precludes: the possibility of our publishing it in any other way thar in detached peices. We could wish he Bad been less prolix. As it is, we wil tinue it until jt is gone through with. = Mr, Havirron, Sit—you was pleased ‘some time ago %o.pub.ish a piece in your paper in favor of dancing, in answer to some. observations which you seen in snanuscript, written . a- gaiost that practice; or hich the writer of the answer sawi—batyou did not publish he piece Gisclfs Perhaps you will now Yours, &c. W. A. ¢ As the practice of dancing has become Wogkumiiar, and professors of religion seem ®o be deeply involved init; and it appear- Jig to my view, to be an immoral practice, at. —il the pr God, 1c ought lo be encouraged by every wrong i itself, it ought to be suppiessedy ‘or discountenanced. Now in order to ery this, it may be neediul to examine into] she end for which we were made; and I sippouse none will deny that the main de- 81:0 God had in our creation, was his own e<iuittedy then I conceive that all our sioughts, words and actions should be such aud praising hing both for what he isin hisasell and for what he hus done for us, and in all our conduct to aim at it. Whe- her, thevelore, “ygleat ordrink, or whatso- ever ye do, doivall to the glory of God,” § Cor. 10°81. : Now when people of both sexes, meet pgether in the dancing room, if they gould put the question to their own hearts, “and to that all. piercing ‘eye of God in some guch Words as theses Lord ! i am now in iy presence ; and am I now aiming at thy glory, mn thus dancing in. this house of —can I say mowning, or must I say mirth her, doth not my con- science accuse’ me, as ow by this practice, § ani sauslying the desires of flesh and of sho carnal mind—and that if I knew this ‘probationary world,” Oh! how would I surink from this evil practice—and vather _wouid sot I beat the practice of prayer (a! ~ duly expressly enjoined by" the word of rout) that the Lord would bless me and : AA me for Heaven. Now I think up- * suan impartial inspection, into our con- ! fic: if our conscience condemns us; it is * eur duty to desist immediately, for it our peat condemus us, ¢ God is greater than ur heart, and kneweth all things,” Join 3 . Objection—~David danced, who was one & the best men that lived, and also’ his son sthere dis «atime to dance,” es, warrant for us: DK 50, for sct the case d's dance, was in all ‘dances now prac a good reason or for 805 for we should ‘hot avi mere ‘man, a com- lete qule, ori pattern to! walk by, seeing that would lead us to defend murder, adil- tery,@nd rash judgement, see 2d Sam, 12 Chat. for David was guilty of all these nmgs. : AEE / jut I think David’s dance was very dil- rent from these modern dances——his be- ig an act of religious warship, eXpress- fing thanks and praise to God for great fa~ yours received, and evidently aiming at [dis glory, as you may see in 22 Sem. Chap. 6. and it was told David, saying, the Lord hath blessed the house of Obed Edom. and all that pertaineth to him, because of the Ark of God—So David went and wrought up the Ark of God, from the house of 98cd Edom. into the city of David, with | 4 1adness; and it was soy that when they that bore che Ark of the Lord, had gone BiX paces; he sacrificed oxen and fatlings And Dayid danced before the Lord, with ull his might; —and David was girded with a linpen Ephod. Se David and all the house of Israel brought up the Ark of the a Lde bil nake D ed weekly A practice be vight in the sight oly BR Pe by. Np HAMILTON, in Bellefonte, Pennsy a — TAs Ivania. Sg the trumpet. (But'it appears to me from he sequel of the account, that Michail, Saul’s daughter, did not relish this spiritu- al kind of dancing ; perhaps she woald have been fonder of these modern, carnal dancings— and it came to pass, as the Ark of the covenant of the Lord came to the city of David, that Michail the daugh: ter of Saul, looking ourat a window. saw Kg David duncing and playing ; and she despised him ia her heart”) = And alse you may see in Ist Chron. 15th and "161i Chap wheve it appears, they were enjoined to sanctity themselves for sosolemit a trans- action; as moving the Ark of the Lovd. which Moses had made, while in the wil- derness, which sanctifying was properly done by prayer and fasting. Now do the carnal dancers sanctilylthemseives by pray- ing and fasting, previous to meeting (o gether, in‘the jovial dancing room! No, the incopsistency would be too glaring; so itis evident that the dancing of David was of a different nature, and practiced with different views from which the carnal, flesh pleasing dancings are ; Tor at that time David itroduced the beautiful Psalm which follows, to praise the Lord for the great thiags he had done for Isracl.®* And similar to David’s dance, was that of Meri- am, the Prophetess, together with the holy women of Israel; for they went out with Timbrits and danced, as you may see Eros dus 15, 205 butia order to discern tbe na- ture and views of Meriam’s dance read the 14th and 15th chapters, where we have an account of the Lord displaying his mighty power, in dividing the red sea, for the Is- raclites to pass over, as on dry land; and then causing the waters to return again, which drowned all the Eyyptians, whoina hostile manner pursued them. Then sang Moses and the children of Israel this song unto the Lord, &c. So that we see their singing and. dancing ‘was with ‘a view to praise the Lord for the great and marvel- £N 14v lous~—yea, miraculous deliverance they had) just expericnced.—And then while dan- cing, they were singing praise to the Lord, “for be hath triumphed gloriously, the horsc and his rider hath he thrown into the sea.” Now docs these carnal dapcers sing praise to.the Lord while they are thus spending their precious time, : And simiiar to Davia’s, was. that dan- cing, of the holy women of Israel, when Saul was king, and when David, slew the: Philistine, Geliah, for we readin 1st Samu- ¢l 18th chapt, that the wbmen came out with singing and dancing with Tabrets, * Michal not knowing the real cause why Dayid danced, in the manner he then did, judged of bis conduct from what ghe knew of to be the practice in Israel at that time. She well knew that dancing was practiced by ¢¢ vain fellows” only, in common and ordinary cases; and she judged that, to act like one of those, was a shameful and indecent thing in the king. * It would have been so had it been on an ordinary occasi- ons, whether 1t was justifiable as a religi- ous ceremony, or whether it was will-wor- ship, shall not pretend (0 decide: but cerfain it 1s. that David Intended to praise God in the dance.” . Will any ofthe dane cers, at this time, pretend to say - that they intend to ¢ praise God in the dance 7 In- stead of this, if arly one of the company should attempt to praise. God during any part of the frolic, woull he not ‘spoil tne sport; aud after beiiig ridiculed, derided 4nd laughedat asa cracked brained fanatie, would most probably be turned out, so that the mirth might proceed? Those, howe- ver, whe quote this case as an authority for dapeing should bring themselves within the design of it.~They should dance on- ly with a view to 4 praise God in the dance,” and then the only question at iskue would be, whether this mode of worship be warranted under the preseut dispcusa- tion. of the covenant of grace! The ques tion now for christians te ask their con- sciences (for I speak as unto chrisiians) is, do they act consistently with. their charac- ter and profession, when they dance asthe “ vain fellows” do? A christain in all his actions eught either directly or indirectly, toatm at the glory of God. Will any christian dare to say that he goes to one of our common dances to glorify God— Would he even dare to ask the blessing oi God upon what he does? Ifany one would attempt to do so, at the = opening of the ball, weuld it not be deemed by the most thong hiioss present, a horrible profapaii- Bd with shouting ahd with the souad of a . ; ge & . . with joy, and with instruments of music.— And with various instruments of music did the people worship the Lord in these times So that I conceive the dancings above re cited, was of an holy rature, and that they were aiming at the honour and glory of God. And as to what Solomon says, that theve is a time to dance ; Ido agree that therc is a time to dance, a time to love and a time to hate, and indeed there has been a long ime since Adam’s first existence, even some A years; and thus there has been time for every purpose, of both = Gad «nd man; for Cain to kiil Abel, for David o kitl Uriah, for ‘Herod to kill John the Baptist, yea and for the people to kill or crucify the Lord Jesus.” Sowe see there has been time enongh for all these things, and shall we attemnt to defend the prac. tice of hating and killing one another, be- cause Solomon says there is a time: for all tacse purposcs. “And further, we cannot Suppose that Solomon coutradicted himself by approv- ing of such dancings as the custom now is; for we read in his book called the Preach- ery chap. 7. it is better 10 go to the house of mourning than to the i ouse of feasting ; and that the heart of the wise are in the house of mourning, but the heart of fools 1s inthe house of mirth, such as these dan- ctugs are. And James coincides with himy for he enjoins people, in bis fourth: chapter, to be afflicted, and mourn and weep; let your laughter be turned to mourning and your joy to heaviness; and is any merry iethim sing Psalms. But on the other hand, I suppose the dancing, similar to these modern dancings, we may sce an account of in the 6tn chap. of Mark, when and where king Herod made a supper to his Lord’s high Captains, and chief estates of Galilee, and ‘when his wn- fawiubwife’s daughter danced, so as to please and e him; he ‘would murder John the Baptist, to please and avenge her and her moth There we sve some of the {runs of irreligious dancing. So i appears plain that there is no scriptural au- thority for the kind of dancing now pracgi- ced. And itmay be a question, whether itis not 'n a measures, a transgression of the seventh commandment, at least in a re- mote senses for when both sexs are blend- ed together in the ‘dancing floor, it is a question whether they are so cautious and guarded agamst @ breachiof. their chastity, as Jos" ph was when tempted, Gen, 31, 12 And I have thought it inconsistent to sce or hear of some respectable, and I would fiope chaste ladies; get up and boldly face a man, in the position practiced in dancing. in the presence of the Great Being who made then, and a number of spectators, in the house of mirth and jojuty. Sich as was Herod’s bivth day dancing ; and then ina fev days after, approach the holy ta- bic, or gommunion of the Lord, There it appears to be such 2 contrariety between the two places and actions, that I do rot think Herod, would have dene both these things, for { suppose he would rather have killed both John and his Lord and master, than to approach to bis holy table ; even if the ordinance had then been instituted And I think those who partake of that "ho ly ordinance, und precious privaledgs,| ought to renounce the dancing practice, lest they in some sense « crucily the Lord afresh,” and wound their own conscience: The christian, bent of heart, cugnt notto be, how far may 1 go, or venture on doubts ful things, and yet escape Hell and goto Heaven, (like, Naaman, the Syriasy when he got his body clean ol tire leprosy, siy- ing to the prophet Elisha, in thisthe Lord pardon thy servant, when I bow down mv: self, in the house of Rimmon, 24 Kings 5; :8,) bat their pursuits and desires should be ke Davids. Lord shew fmé thy cons: mandmerits, and give me an heart to do them=—Oh! that my ways wére directed to keep thy statutes. Thy: word Hive] bid in my heart, that [ might net sin against thee—Open thou mine eyes, that I may ap or xT MONDAY MORNING, January 21, 1817, L— : . ther we would not abstain from it, as the scriptures enjoins christians to abstain from all appearance of evil.) I doubt not-but there has been, and still is, a considerable combating, or conflict, in the minds of ma- ny young people about the practice of dana cing, stch as the richest, the "most creditable, polite and fashiorable young people, yea old people, nay full members of the church do attend the dancings-~and if I abstain {rom it, I will be locked pon, and treated with contempt ; and as one chat knows nothing in the vorld, I will not acquire those polite and fashionable salutations, and genteel addresses 3 which the world abounds with. And yet there is something within, as a elicck, which agi- tates my mind, so that am halting Letween two opinions; indeed I Know net what”to do, To such I would say, “quench rot the spuit, my spirit shall not always strive: with man, and grieve not the it of God; turn ye at my reproot’; behold 1 will pour out my ¢pivit unto yous 1 will felis known my words unto jou Beware of refusing, disregarding agéieting at naught his counsul and reproofy fest the following awful threatnings, be reali: you «1 will laugh at your calamity vill mock | where your icor cometh ; when your feap cometh as disclation, and your destruction cometh as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upen you.” Then you may call and he will not answer, you may seek him early but you shall pot find him, ~—and why all this? because you wor lis- ten, now they would bave none of my counsel, they despiscd my reproof. Thete- fore shall thicy eat ef the fruit of their own’ way, and be filled with their own devinés," —but whose harkeneth unto me, siall dwell safely, aud shail be quiet from fear of evily Prov: 1 chap. fd And besides, shortly, the irvesistable messengers Death, will arvest vou ; and ge you must. And it your affections gre fasts ened on the dancing, and such practices 3. how awluai will the cogitations of your mind - be. But perhaps you wall say, these ébe servations and advices ought to ‘influence and check old people, whose natural ¥ie gout, and strength of body, is deciining'se that they have lost their relish for such gaicty and levity 5; and co ate expecting shortly to die. And besides they huve'find their time ol pleasure, wien they were young ; and they ought to dow thé pre sent youtiy people the game privileddes they enjoyed theraseives I admit the ree marks appears plusible ta corrapt nature 3 but as the praciice of these modern’ dane cings, dre no where sanctioned in the hay scriptures, by either precept or example 3 as Lihipk has been shewn above; it is destittite of any force. © And thir althoeld people hive had their time of carnal pleas sure; it is sd much the worse foi them, and for which they have cauge to miouri, when thoy reflect on Such past conduct, Ane therefore, ought to warn and caution youhg peopledromn the like, lest woe and Litters ness be the eid thereof. 5 And besides, the young. know nét that they will be spared to grow old, for thire is comparatively few that do. Thereibre they ought to « remember their creaior in the ‘days of their youth, while the evil days come not, northe years ‘draw nigh, when thon shalt say, © have ‘no pleasure inthem,” BEcls. 1%. - i . ¥% Wherelore come’out from among tle and be’ ye scperate saith ‘the Lord; #nd tuch not the unclean thing, ‘and { wiles ceive you——and will be’ a father unto youy and yeshall be my sons and daughters, saith the Lord Almighty,” 2 Cor. 6.117. The Apostle Paul appears to have cited this ‘promis from the Prophets Isaiak and Jeremiah, and seers to have esteems éd them Jery highly, and therefore tool occasion to exhort the Corrinthian church, icliding himself, to” cleanse themselves, frog all fleshly and carnal evils; and te . preds on for more holiness. 6 Having therefore these promises dearly. beloved, let us Cleanse ourselves from all fithinese ofthe flesh and spirit, perfecting in beliness ot 2 bY ad nely Spu Nn ad < wy _— ¥ behold wondrous things cut of thy law Make me io go inthe paths ef thy com mandments, for therein do I deliohp—! Turn away mine eyes from beholding vani | ty, aud quicken oie In thy way—I wil delight myself in thy commandments, which I have loved—I hate vain thoughts; but thy law do I love, Psalm 119, New I should think if these were the exercises of our minds, that the dancing room would not be pleasant” to us; but 4 in the féar of God.” But how can you expect to cléanse yourselves from all fil- thiness of flesh and spirit, while youqgare, i . ze PEA bid mvows 3 as it were, phinging yourself into the ith, 1 those promiscuous dances of Maic¢iand Yemuie together, But perhaps you will ack, what do we mean by those words, fleshand uncicanness,——Ans: perhaps the terms are derived froma the variow: we le ings, that we read of in the M.saickwBise pensation. But I think the Aroste Paul s Fee very disagresuble esieriainment ; and whe-gives us (he plamest definition & hed @ 4 Ree yy
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