RELIGION IN AMUSEMENTS.

A celebrated divine says: “People may ask ‘What have you to do with amusements?’ I have not to do with them; but God made man to do with them. That is human nature; and that man takes a wrong course who tries to dam up human nature. I want to try to turn human nature in a right direction, and to let men have good amusements, for they like them. Where is the man that does not like to have amusements? Why, I like to see a kitten chase its own tail. If the ministers or religion had done their duty in trying to guide and direct the amusements of the people, there would not be so many bad amusements as there are at this day. Instead of the clergy standing askance from amusements, I would like to see them taking more interest – taking part – in them. I agree with John Wesley, who, when some people found fault with him for taking tunes which had been associated with foolish songs, and applying them to sacred hymns, replied, ‘I see no reason why the devil should have all the good things in the world.”