Part 1 (1/2)
A Discourse on the Evils of Dancing.
by John F. Mesick.
HARRISBURG, March 11, A. D. 1846.
REV. JOHN F. MESICK--_Dear Sir:_ On last Sabbath evening, 8th inst., you preached a sermon to our congregation on ”_The Evils of Dancing_.” As this is a custom which is in much practise even by those who consider themselves patterns in society, and, who generally comprise the youth, and say that it is an innocent amus.e.m.e.nt. We would esteem it as a favor if you would furnish us with a copy thereof for publication that it may be circulated in our Sabbath Schools, among the votaries of dancing, the parents and friends of those who have been a.s.senting to it, in the hope that they may read it and learn its evil consequences, and abstain from its practice hereafter, and be satisfied that its use is not in character with the present age, whatever may have seemingly commended it in former days.
JOHN C. BUCHER, GEO. P. WIESTLING, GEORGE ZINN, DANIEL W. GROSS, ELIAS ZOLLINGER, JACOB Sh.e.l.l, LUTHER REILEY, GEORGE BEATTY, RUDOLPH F. KELKER, SAMUEL B. KEYSER, VALENTINE EGLE, GEORGE L. KUNKEL.
HARRISBURG, March 11, 1846.
_To the Vestry of the German Reformed Salem Church:_ DEAR BRETHREN: Although the Discourse preached on Sabbath evening last, was prepared during the preceding week as a regular duty, without a thought in reference to a request of this kind; yet as you have been pleased to express a wish to see it in print, in the hope of extending its usefulness, the ma.n.u.script is at your service.
With sincere esteem and affection, yours, &c., JOHN F. MESICK.
THE EVILS OF DANCING.
ROMANS, XII. 3.--”BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD.”
The Bible is the only rule for all who wish to be saved. The professed Christian, not only, but every unconverted man, must bow to its precepts, if he would gain the favor of G.o.d. There is but one way, and but one gate of entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, for saint and for sinner. Whatever, therefore, shall be acknowledged to be the duty of the covenanted follower of the Lamb, is equally the duty of every individual who stands disconnected with the visible Church.
It is a doctrine of revelation that, both cla.s.ses of persons will be judged by the same law, and will be tried with equal impartiality and rigor. We are taught that, what Divine justice shall demand from the one, it will demand from the other; and that there is no respect of persons with G.o.d. The human race, as dependent and accountable agents, are placed on the same moral level in his sight. Each commandment of his word is addressed to every hearer of the Gospel. And all are under obligation to obey its injunctions, as they value the eternal welfare of their immortal spirits.
It is on this incontrovertible principle that I shall proceed to speak from the text: ”Be not conformed to this world,”--a.s.suming it as an undeniable truth that, what G.o.d requires of his children, he also exacts from the people of the world; and that whatever is inconsistent with the reputation or character of a good church member, is no less inconsistent with the eternal salvation of those persons who have not made a public profession of religion.
We take our ground boldly on this portion of scripture, and a.s.sert that the fas.h.i.+onable amus.e.m.e.nt of Dancing, is contrary to the _spirit_ and _aim_ of the Gospel, and, therefore, is opposed to the revealed will of G.o.d. Your attention is invited to two points:
FIRST--To the necessity of non-conformity to the world; and
SECONDLY--To the facts proving that Dancing is an act of conformity to the world.
I. We begin with _the necessity of non-conformity to the world_.
The Scripture sense of the term, _world_, is that collection of idolaters, unbelievers, and wicked men who const.i.tute the great bulk of the inhabitants of our globe; in short all persons who do not belong to the Kingdom of G.o.d.
_This definition_ corresponds with the declarations of Christ: ”My kingdom is not of this world;” ”Ye are not of the world, even as I am not of the world;” ”If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you.”
The sentiment of the text is not the voice of a solitary pa.s.sage, but is amply sustained by other portions of the word of G.o.d. There are many similar precepts addressed to believers: ”Arise ye and depart, for this is not your rest; because it is polluted, it shall destroy you, even with a sore destruction;” ”Wherefore come out from among them, and be ye separate, saith the Lord, and touch not the unclean thing.” ”Love not the world, neither the things that are in the world; if any man love the world, the love of the Father is not in him.” ”Know ye not that the friends.h.i.+p of the world is enmity with G.o.d?” ”Ye cannot serve G.o.d and Mammon.” ”Choose ye this day whom ye will serve.” ”If the Lord be G.o.d, follow him; but if Baal, follow him.”
These commandments of our Heavenly Father, are not _hard sayings_ to the soul that has been delivered from this present evil world through faith in Jesus; for it has acquired through the work of the Spirit, a holy resignation to every intimation of the Divine will, and supreme delight in G.o.d as infinitely lovely, which causes every other source of pleasure or of happiness to become tasteless and insipid. To carnal minds, we admit, that they will sound like tyrannical edicts, because they seem to them to take away their natural liberty; shutting them up from the pursuit of that kind of enjoyment for which they pant, which they know not where to find, and in search of which they wander ”through earth, its gay pleasures to trace.”
But to souls renewed by Divine Grace, the yoke of Christ is easy and his burden light. True Christians, the heirs of glory, are separated from the world, not only by profession, not only by external badges, but what is of higher moment, by their character and spirit. They are essentially a peculiar people; singular in their opinions and practices, and created unto good works. They are distinguished by a conversation in Heaven.
They move through society as pilgrims and strangers on the earth. They keep themselves unspotted from the world, as temples of the Holy Ghost.
They seek in Heaven an inheritance which is incorruptible, undefiled, and that fadeth not away, as heirs of G.o.d and joint heirs with Jesus Christ. And they reflect the love and holiness of Jesus, as those who bear the Saviour's image.
_A wide and unalterable distinction exists, therefore_, between the servants of G.o.d and the people of the world, a distinction as perceptible as that which divides the night from the day, and the darkness from the light. ”The one are born from above, the other from beneath. The one are quickened by Divine grace; the other are dead in trespa.s.ses and sins. The one are governed by the Spirit of G.o.d, and the other are under the dominion of Satan. The one consult the glory of G.o.d, and cheerfully resign all for Christ; the other make self the centre around which they move.”
Such irreconcilable discordance in the primary elements of their character forbids the thought of their amalgamation. We might as reasonably expect that oil and water would commingle and become one fluid, as that true Christians should blend their hopes and interests with those of the world. The natural and ardent opposition, growing out of their respective principles and aims, renders a separation between them inevitable, absolutely necessary, necessary at least for the safety, comfort, consistency, and usefulness of believers.