eating leads to dyspepsia, and drinking leads to drunkenness, and a great many things lead to a great many others. But because men have been drowned in the sea, shall we never step into a bath-tub? Because a house is burned down, shall we never build a fire in the kitchen-stove? Because some people tell lies, shall other people not talk at all? Because one man has the heart-burn, and another delirium tremens, shall there be no more cakes and coffee? Nay, verily. This is not God's way of procedure. He gave Adam and Eve permission and desire to eat freely of every tree in the garden, with one exception, and that exception was within easy reach. He might have saved them and us from sin and suffering by placing all fruit beyond their reach, but he chose not. With a full knowledge that his gift would be abused, he yet did not withhold it. In like manner, he has given us all things richly to enjoy. We may abuse them, turning enjoyment into a sin, but that is not the fault of the giver or of the gift. The remedy for the abuse of a thing is not to destroy it, but to use it. Destruction should be reserved only for what is in itself wicked or useless. The remedy for dyspepsia is pure air, wholesome food, thorough mastication and salivation, regular and sufficient exercise, steady occupation, and ease of mind, — not starvation. Starvation is indeed a remedy, but it is a fearfully expensive one, and the dwarfed and misshapen

natures of many of our young people, and old people too, show how fatally injudicious is the policy pursued in their cultivation. Amusements they must have, pure, wholesome, lawful, graceful if you will; but if you will not, then impure, ruinous, disgraceful.

There is great disagreement of opinion and practice in the churches. There are many communities in which dancing is as innocent as kiteflying, and a great deal more common. There are many Christian families in which whist is an acknowledged and ordinary recreation. This fact should have its influence. It should lead those who disapprove to be modest. When any number of men, whose intelligence is respectable, and whose Christian character is unexceptionable, do something of which you disapprove, but which even you do not regard as a sin in itself, it becomes you to be measured in your disapproval. Because your friend is as good and as sensible as you, it does not follow that he is in the right and you in the wrong; but it does follow that there is so much basis for his differing opinion, that he need not be a knave or a fool for holding it. Because a dozen churches allow dancing, it does not follow that it is right, and your church must go to dancing forthwith; but it does follow that the opposition to your views is sufficiently respectable to suggest the possibility that you may be wrong; and there is a possibility, at least, that such oppo

sition is founded on a need of nature, and not on total depravity. And another thing follows: when whole communities in a city hold such opinions, sporadic cases in villages should be treated with at least respect. It is hardly fair to hunt a man down for believing, in a country church, what scores and scores believe and practise in a city church, without the smallest remark, or even notice, from anybody. When there are two sides to a thing, and a man tells you he thinks it is. right to take that side, you have nothing further to do. You may give him your own views as forcibly as you please, you may strive to enlighten his conscience by every means in your power, but you may not attempt to coerce him by any of those petty persecutions which you have so well at command. You can do it. If you are both by birth and education narrow-minded, it is not at all improbable that you will do it, and a good deal of mischief into the bargain; but it will be the old Adam in you, and not the new, that will get the commission.

Let no man despise amusements. It is a subject which demands the most careful consideration. It should be just as truly a part of the Church economy as the sacraments. Mistakes here keep people out of the Church, and wound weak consciences, and confuse weak brains, and prevent growth of grace in the Church. Let our Christianity be comprehensive, symmetrical, well-developed.

Let our young people bring all their bounding spirits, all the dew and freshness and gladness of their youth, to the Lord,-assuredly knowing that they are made in the very image of God; that their mirthfulness came from him just as much as their memories; that the ringing laugh and the merry song, in their proper place, are acceptable to him, as well as the broken and contrite heart, and the fervent and effectual prayer, in its place. The Church wants all the elasticity, and cheerfulness, and sprightliness, and wit, and humor, that there is in the world, whether it belongs to the young people or the old, and will find plenty of work for it to do. God is not the God of the dead, but of the living; not of the sorrowful only, but of the rejoicing. Feasting and fasting can and should be done alike to his glory. Jesus was present not only at the tomb in Bethany, but at the marriage in Cana. I know no reason why he should not be present at merry-makings now, as well as eighteen hundred years ago. He is the same yesterday and to-day and forever. He does not afflict the children of men because he likes to do it. He rejoices in all innocent happiness. The boy need not abate one jot or tittle of his love for play, because of his love for God. The sudden upspringing of the one, does not necessitate the decrease of the other. The Christian ought, all other things being equal, to be in school the closest student; on the play-ground, the hardest

player; in the workshop, the nicest workman; behind the counter, the most valuable clerk; in the battle, the sturdiest fighter. Whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report, all, all belong to Christianity.

-

Christ spoke the simple, literal truth, when he said that his yoke was easy, and his burden light. When the followers of Christ had to follow him to the rack, the stake, and the scaffold, to stripes, to the mouths of lions, to trials of cruel mockings and scourgings, to bonds and imprisonment, there was reason to speak of sacrifices. But, reluctant as we may be to confess it, the lines have fallen to us in pleasant places. The cup which our Father hath given us is sweet, as well as healthful, and it is no mysterious and hidden love which says, "Drink ye all of it."