harmless amusement? What more innocent than innocent recreation? What more sober than a sober tragedy? And where can be the immorality of a good moral play?" Something very like this is often heard, with a tautological iteration which takes for granted the very points to be proved, and gives no better reason to show that the deprecated practice is lawful than a gratuitous assumption that it is so. But after all such arguments, it is quite certain that the great body of religious and exemplary persons in every age have instinctively avoided and condemned many of the recreations current in ordinary society, especially play-going, and with a range of prohibition proportioned to their own advancing spirituality of character. This, to say the least, is no hopeful presumption in favour of the litigated indulgences.

It must to a Christian mind be argument sufficient against theatrical amusements-as such amusements ever have been, and are ever likely to be conducted-that these things are not of the Father, but of the world.' A higher, a more convincing, a more affecting reason, cannot surely, and needs not be, produced. If any man will gravely argue, that these things are not of the world, and are of the Father, it will then be requisite to show by facts that his hypothesis is untenable: but till then we feel inclined to take the matter for granted; for sure we are, that if it is to be decided by the sensibilities of a spiritually-minded man, there will be no difference of opinion. It is only because "all men have not faith," and those who have not, proffer arguments in excuse for their worldliness of spirit, that any question needs be held upon a matter so obvious as the unchristian and demoralizing character of the stage. What it might be under certain supposed circumstances of refinement, which never have practically existed, or are likely to exist, it is VOL. IX.Ch. Adv.

unnecessary for us now to discuss. We deal with facts as we find them, and, to all who value supremely their eternal salvation, those facts are abundantly lucid. Men are ashamed to be disciples of Jesus Christ: otherwise there would be little room for any discussion, to prove that our theatrical entertainments are utterly opposed to the spirit of our holy religion.

Still, however, as plausible excuses are currently offered in palliation of this popular immorality, we ought to feel very grateful to those, who, like the author whose work lies before us, have exerted themselves with great zeal and diligence to guard the publick against this insidious snare. Mr. Best has long been honourably distinguished in this cause, in the sphere and neighbourhood of his ministrations; and his labours, as we understand, have, by the blessing of God, been attended with signal success. For about fourteen years, we believe, he has preached an annual sermon on the subject; and his faithful arguments and appeals have attracted great attention in Sheffield, and powerfully tended, it is said, to open the eyes of the publick as to the serious evils of stage entertainments, and to diminish the number of attendants upon them. Several of his discourses have, we believe, been published either as tracts or in the local newspapers; but the present collection is printed with the author's permission by an individual, once much attached to the drama, but who, having been convinced by Mr. Best's arguments, is anxious that they should be brought under the consideration of others who have not yet seriously reflected upon the subject. The publication being thus extorted from the author, not by his own estimate of its value, but impartially, and for the publick benefit, we should receive it with indulgence, if it needed it: but it needs it not, as it is throughout an honest, scriptural, reasonable, and, we may

3 Y

add, not exaggerated appeal; simple, earnest, convincing, and well worthy of a faithful minister of Jesus Christ.

We proceed to cite a few of the writer's arguments.

The following passage in the first sermon relates to the point which we have above touched upon namely, the contrariety of the theatre to that spirituality of mind which is an essential part of the Christian character.

"No man can have a good hope that he is going to heaven, unless he has a growing taste and tendency of mind for those things which are to constitute his future employment and happiness. Now, I would not condemn the theatre because it does not promote these feelings, but because it is incompatible with them; the two things cannot subsist together; and if any individual, possessing spiritual feelings and heavenly desires, were to attend the theatre, its direct and sure effect would be to deaden and destroy them. In showing that the stage is opposed to spirituality of mind, I would not refer particularly to the injurious effect which would be produced upon the religious feelings by the company-the conversation-the gaiety of the general scene, because the theatre shares this evil with almost every other species of worldly dis sipation; but I would refer to the peculiar gratification of the stage-its own proper pleasure. The mind is power. fully affected by some creation of a vain fancy-the feelings are roused-the passions stimulated-the imagination heated; and during this paroxysm of mental excitement, life is transformed into a dream, and is embellished with various impracti cable and unattainable pleasures, and the scenes which are spread before the ardent and youthful mind are as flattering as they are false; and when this intellectual fever subsides, it leaves the mind relaxed

weakened-wearied-unfitted for ordinary employments, and sick of sober realities, and, like an appetite vitiated by highly seasoned food, requiring a constant succession of stimulants; and hence that ardent and insatiable desire after the works of novel-writers, dramatists, and every and any kind of composition which is calculated to pamper and please the imagination, which an attendance on the theatre often excites and always strengthens in young persons; and this desire will be in proportion to the quickness of perception and susceptibility of excitement, which the mind possesses; so that young

"Here then is another reason why all who truly desire to act consistently with their professed principles, will carefully . abstain from such amusements; because sobriety and spirituality of mind which their influence is directly opposed to that the Sacred Scriptures so earnestly enforce, and for the preservation of which the most serious Christian has constant need to watch and that he enter not into pray temptation." pp. 15-17.

The author then specifies several Christian graces; such as humility, contentment, and a forgiving spirit; and shows how directly the stage tends to weaken and destroy them, and to foster the contrary dispositions. The very virtues of the drama, he shows, are antichristian; so that even the avowedly good man of the play, the moral man, the man who is held up for imitation, is opposed to the Christian character as exhibited in the word of God, and to the image of that Saviour who hath left us an example that we should tread in his steps. The spirit, the maxims, the objects, the motives of the applauded dramatick character are irreconcilable to the mind that was in Christ Jesus, and to the course of his holy life. What then shall we say of the less reputable characters?

In the second sermon, from the text "Fools make a mock at sin," we find many proofs of this proposition in its application to the stage. Will any friend of theatrical amusements undertake to confute the following statement? If he will, our pages shall be open to his reply.

"I fear not to affirm, that it is one main part of the business of the stage 'to make a mock at sin.' Sin is there treated lightly and in jest.-The sacred names of God

the profane oath-the dreadful words hell' and 'damnation'-impure allusions all these are uttered as flippantly and as unscrupulously, as though it were no crime to take God's name in vain-to trifle and sport with eternal punishment, and to defile the imagination.-And are they not heard with gay and careless indifference, if not with applause and admiration?

cule is not directed against religion or virtue, but only against hypocrisy and mean and odious vices under a sanctified garb. But does not every man of common understanding perceive what is the real, and we scruple not to say meditated, effect of this alleged wholesome reprobation and ridicule. Mr. Best truly describes it:

"I do not mean that God and the Bible, and the awful realities of eternity, are openly and avowedly set at nought, and scorned and insulted. Blessed be God, such is the influence and ascendency which religion has gained in this country, that, perhaps, a large promiscuous assembly could no where be collected, in which this could be done without calling forth a general expression of disgust and reprobation. But, at the theatre, the effect is produced, more indirectly indeed, but not less really. Religion is safely ridiculed under the name of hypocrisy. A preacher of God's word, is, perhaps, exhibited in strong caricature, with affected gravity and absurd grimace. A sermon is delivered in burlesque imitation. A religious character is introduced, for the purpose of being placed in the most ludicrous points of view, and exposed as a person of weak intellect and of pitiable credulity. His conscientiousness and fear of sinning are made contemptible by being displayed only in petty and punctilious scrupulosity. His purity of mind is connected with circumstances of exquisite absurdity. His meekness under in sult is made to appear only as mean and unworthy timidity. His simplicity and sincerity of heart are represented as rendering him the dupe of every designer, and the butt for every dart which malice or mirth may choose to throw. And, while he is thus set forth as a laughing. stock, many a scoff and jest is uttered respecting over-righteousness and puritanical zeal. The words 'saint' and 'holy' are used only in sneer and sarcasm. Heaven' and 'hell,' and terms of equally awful meaning, are employed with levity and laughter. And thus, while religion in the general is, perhaps, complimented with some unmeaning expression of regard; its sanctity is profaned, its character is degraded,-its authority and its influence are undermined, and its several parts and its conscientious professors are brought into derision and contempt." pp. 189, 190.

And while religion is thus sneered at, sin is dressed out in colours the most attractive. Can then the

moral impression of the scene be doubtful? Some, however, may profess to doubt it; and may adduce their own case in proof that the effect is not so practically evil as is represented. To such persons we fear we must reply with our author, that

"They give a very plain proof that they must have already sustained no small injury; since their moral sensibilities are become so far blunted, as to permit them to witness the scenes and listen to the sen

timents, which they must hear and see, at any evening's performance, in any theatre, without feeling with indignant shame, that their better principles had been outraged, and their sense of propriety grossly insulted, and painfully offended." p. 254.

"I might confidently appeal to the recollections of those females who may have formerly frequented the theatre, whether the pleasure which they experienced, on their first attendance, was not often mingled with an involuntary sense of shame, a secret and painful consciousness of impropriety and evil; while, at the same time, through the influence of example and the force of custom;-from want of due consideration, or sufficient firmness of mind;-and perhaps from never having had their attention especially and seriously called to the sinful nature and injurious tendency of such amusements;-they allowed themselves to be present at exhibitions which their consciences condemned; and to be spectators of scenes, and hearers of sentiments, against which the quick sensibilities of a modest and delicate mind so painfully re volted as to cover them with confusion; and which scenes and sentiments they would not, on any consideration, have either ventured to describe and repeat, or endured to hear described and repeated, in private company, or in the society of their personal friends." pp. 262, 263.

Mr. Best states, that the attendance of respectable women at the Sheffield theatre has, he understands, greatly diminished; and we doubt not the effect has been caused in no slight degree by his own indefatigable exertions in pointing out to his flock and fellowtownsmen, the evils of this "innocent amusement." Let him not then be weary in his useful labours. It is very important that while the great body of the ministers of

Christ are occupied for the most part in the general duties of their holy calling, there should be individuals among them, who are devoting much of their thoughts and efforts to some particular point or question. By this division of labour, facts and arguments are accumulated, attention is aroused, zeal is excited, one works for all; and his brethren and the world are benefited by his labours. Thus Mr. Close, by his exertions at Cheltenham, in reference to the evils of the race-course, has

forced the subject upon the publick attention in other places: and so of Mr. Herbert Smith's labours for the suppression of Sunday travelling; and in various other instances. We always rejoice in laying before our readers, for the general benefit, the result of such isolated efforts, and in the present instance shall feel thankful if our notice of Mr. Best's volume shall awaken the attention of his brethren to the subject, in places where their exertions might be locally useful.

The Barometer.-Of the advantage arising from the use of this instrument, on board of ships, for the purpose of denoting approaching changes in the weather, we have been favoured by a scientifick friend with the following communication.-Nantucket Inquirer.

Not long since I noticed an article illustrating the use and the importance of the Barometer in foretelling storms. This communication forcibly reminded me of a similar circumstance, related by Arnott in the excellent work on Physics. As the subject is of immense importance to every mariner, and to all concerned in navigation, I forward an extract for insertion. It is more interesting from the fact that the learned author was himself a witness of the sublime scene which he so elegantly portrays, and which, but for the almost miraculous warning of the little tube of mercury, would have left no one to tell the tale.

The day is probably not distant when a Barometer will be considered as essential in the equipments of a voyage as are now the quadrant and the compass. Its indications have for many years afforded to the meteorologist, the most satisfactory prognosticks of the changes of the weather. When adapted to the motion of the sea it is called the Marine Barometer, and differs from that used on shore, in having its tube contracted in one place to a very narrow bore, so as to prevent that sudden rising and falling of the mercury which every motion of the ship would else occasion.

"The sun had just set with placid appearance, closing a beautiful afternoon, and the usual mirth of the evening watch was proceeding, when the captain's or

der came to prepare with all haste for a storm. The Barometer had begun to fall with appalling rapidity. As yet, the oldest sailors had not perceived even a threatening in the sky, and were surprised at the extent and burry of the preparations; but the required measures were not completed, when a more awful hurricane burst upon them than the most experienced had ever braved. Nothing could withstand it; the sails already furled and closely bound to the yards, were riven away in tatters; even the bare yards and masts were in great part disabled; and at one time, the whole rigging had nearly fallen by the board. Such, for a few hours, was the mingled roar of the hurricane above, of the waves around, and the incessant peals of thunder, that no human voice could be heard; and, amidst the general consternation, even the trumpet sounded in vain. On the following morning the wind was at rest, but the ship lay upon the yet heaving waves, an unsightly wreck."

Origin of Newspapers.-After the defeat of the Spanish Armada, intended by Philip II. of Spain, for the invasion of England, great interest being excited in every class, which gave rise to a very important invention-that of Newspapers.Previous to this period, all articles of intelligence had been circulated in manuscript, and all political remarks which the government found itself interested in addressing the people, had issued in the shape of pamphlets. But the peculiar convenience at such a juncture, of uniting these two objects, in a periodical publication, becoming obvious to the ministry, there appeared, some time in the