MEN discover their taste in nothing mo than in their choice of amusements. I to know what these are, and what is ad the corrupt taste of the carnal mind. men are never so much in their element engaged in them: and they will even their most important interests, in order them. Among these amusements, Gambl a distinguished rank.-The rage for de and particularly for cards, is a prominer in the character of the present age. quently, when we go into company, esp winter evenings, are cards introduced to s time. Alas! our time is short enough, die of itself; we need not haste its exit days are as an handbreadth, and our age is We complain of the shortness of life, and y to reduce its narrow span.-Does it b rational creature to kill that, which is nat short-lived, and so valuable in itself? Is it worthy of such a being to improve time by it to some useful purposes? Will it not t better account in the hour of death and in

he passionate fondness of the basest characters, or this amusement is sufficient to create a suspicion f its propriety and lawfulness. Is not this game nown to have a fascinating effect on the mind, especially when money is staked? Can it deserve he name of relaxation, and does it tend to promote either mental or bodily vigour, while it so deeply engages the heart, and engrosses the attention? It is not too much to assert, that gaming ravishes the passions, which it is our duty and real interest to suppress. Anger, deceit, and dishonesty, may be reckoned its vile produce. It has beggared thousands, and really enriches none. Anxiety of mind, neglect of business, drunkenness, poverty, theft, and suicide, are in its train. It deserves the severest reprobation from every serious man and good citizen.

"Mr. Locke having been introduced by lord Shaftesbury to the duke of Buckingham and lord Halifax, these three noblemen, instead of conversing with the philosopher, as might naturally have been expected, on literary subjects, in a very short time, sat down to cards. Mr. Locke, after looking on for some time, pulled out his pocket-book, and began to write with great attention. One of the company observing this, took the liberty of asking him what he was writing. "My lord," says Locke, "I am endeavouring, as far as possible, to profit by my present situation; for having waited with impatience for the honour of being in company with the great geniuses of the age, I thought I could do nothing better than to write down your conversation and, indeed, I have set down the substance of what you have said for this hour or two." This

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well-timed ridicule had its desired effect. noblemen, fully sensible of its force, in quitted their play, and entered into a co more rational, and better suited to the their characters.

"I think it very wonderful," says Add see persons of the best sense, passing aw hours together in shuffling and dividing cards, with no other conversation but wh of a few game-phrases, and no other idea of black or red spots, ranged together figures. Would not a man laugh to hear species complaining that life is short?

The pernicious consequences of play frequently described in the strongest t illustrated by the most striking examples. however, have they been represented o a scale, as in the late account of the fate body of gamesters at Hamburg, which an spectator has published in a German gaze result of his attentive examination, durin of two years. Of six hundred individuals. in the habit of frequenting gaming-houses, that nearly one half, not only lost consider but were finally stripped of all means of su and ended their days by self-murder. O not less than a hundred finished their car coming swindlers, or robbers on the highw remnant of this unfortunate group perish by apoplexy; but the greater part by ch despair.

Dancing is another sinful amusement sent age. The dancing of both sexes, cially in public places is highly pleasi

e galety it inspires, we company into which it ads, and various evils connected with it, render it ery way unbecoming the Christian; who has the most need to cultivate seriousness and gravity, d to live and act as a pilgrim and a stranger. here is scarcely any thing, not absolutely and otoriously wicked, in which conformity to the orld consists more, than the amusement of the all-room. Not a few have been called out of it ato eternity; but where is the person who would ish when summoned to the bar of God, to be found employed?

There are many other sinful amusements, in which wicked men take pleasure. There is one rand rule applicable to them all, and which may fford a pretty good test of their propriety or imropriety. You will find this Apostolic direction n Paul's Epistle to the Colossians, third chapter, and seventeenth verse, "Whatsoever ye do, in word or deed-do all in the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God and the Father, by him."

PLAYS and Romances not only indispose the soul for all acts of religion and piety, but they give it a disgust, in some measure, to all serious and ordinary actions. Those deceive themselves extremely, who think that Plays make no ill impression on them, because they do not find them excite any formed evil desire. There are many degrees

before one comes to an entire corruption and it is always extremely hurtful to th destroy the ramparts which secured it fr tation. Archbishop Tillotson, on the Plays, says, "They are intolerable, and be permitted in a civilized, much less a nation. They do most notoriously minis and infidelity. By their profaneness, the to instil bad principles into the minds of to lessen that awe and reverence whi ought to have of God and religion; an lewdness they teach vice, and are apt to minds of men, and dispose them to lew solute practices." Chief Justice Hale "Beware of too much recreation.-Ga erns, and plays, are pernicious, and cor If they had no other fault, they are j declined, in respect to their excessive time, and habituating men to idleness, vai and disturbing passions, when they are p as while they are used."

A pious and eminent writer on the theatrical amusements, says, "May we imposed on by the common, but delu ments, that moral and religious improve be acquired from such impure mixtures the literary merit, and accurate knowled human heart, which are displayed in ma dramatic works, will atone for the fat which conscience, delicacy, and religio quently suffer from these performances.