Page:Spiritual Reflections for Every Day in the Year - Vol 3.pdf/47

 evils. In all our feelings even the best, in all our desires even the most lawful, there is danger unless we add to them temperance; to temperance, patience; to patience, experience; to experience, hope: giving to temperance the pre-eminence, as the most prudent to conduct.

There is yet another reflection which we may offer; temperance as applied to amusements. We require relaxation as well of body as of mind. Like a bow, neither the body nor the mind must be always bent. Those who declaim against innocent amusements are among the number of the intemperate. Such persons convert religion into a gloomy fanaticism, as far from what the Lord intends, as heaven is removed from earth. But man is too apt, instead of innocent relaxation, to seek after inordinate pleasure. We must beware, therefore, that we do not make relaxation a plea for frivolity. Although the most seriously religious man may lawfully use amusement for unbending his mind, yet he must beware not to exceed Christian liberty. Never let us purpose any other end to ourselves, than relaxing our energies that we may the more profitably return to our labour. The surest test to which we can subject any amusement is, to ask ourselves seriously: "After this indulgence, can I kneel down and address my Maker, with as much humble confidence as before? Shall I be able and willing to return to my religious duties as before? Shall I feel as spiritually-minded as before?" If we can reply to these questions satisfactorily, the amusement is innocent. But if we find our religious feelings blunted, our spirits injured, and our love to the Lord less ardent, the amusement has been either wrong in itself, or in-