“GOING ONCE JUST TO SEE!”
By H. C. MILLER.
The apostle Peter sets forth the duty of Christ’s children in the following conclusion drawn from his previous remarks: “Wherefore gird up the loins of your mind, be sober, and hope to the end for the grace that is to be brought unto you at the revelation of Jesus Christ; as obedient children, not fashioning yourselves according to the former lusts, in your ignorance.” 1 Peter i, 13, 14. Again he says in chapter iv, 1-3: “Forasmuch then as Christ hath suffered for us in the flesh, arm yourselves likewise with the same mind. * For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, excess of wine, revellings, banquetings, and abominable idolatries.” Satan is on hand at all seasons of the year with his devices to draw attention from holy things. Time was when those who professed the name of Jesus, would no more be seen at a theater, or circus, or any other sinful show, than in the company of Satan himself. They knew these things, knew what they savored of, and they shunned them as they would any other evil association. But Satan has been studying how to entrap those whom he could, and has finally adopted the “sugar-coating plan.” He heralds his snares abroad as “unobjectionable scenes,” “highly instructive exhibitions,” “moral entertainments,” so exceedingly pure, says he, that even “the most fastidious Christian” cannot fail to be delighted. “Come one, come all, and see the greatest, and the most moral exhibition ever presented to the public.” Though the covering is tissue, yet it is sufficient to hide the deformity from the victims. How easily they are led on. It is wonderful, yes, astonishing, how flimsy a reason, or excuse, will satisfy the minds of some who profess the name of Christ. Said a brother who attended a circus with his wife, “I never went to one before, my wife never went to one before, and I don’t see any harm in going once, just to see what is in the world.” Said another, “I supposed that it was only a menagerie, but soon after I got there they commenced the circus performance, and as I had got so far I thought I might as well stay and see the whole.” He went blindly into Satan’s trap, and could not see the necessity of flight even when he found it was the Devil’s own. He forgot that the man of God should “flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” “But we never had seen a circus, so we thought we would go once just to see what is in the world.” And Eve tasted just once to see, and in that “just once” lay all the mischief. When we plead we want to see what is in the world, forgotten is the word speaking on this wise: “For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh, and the lust of the eyes,” &c., “is not of the Father.” Just to go once to see what is in the world! Fatal delusion! Adopt such a rule in all things and where will it not lead us? See this brothel! We have never been in one. Let us go just once to see what’s there. Here is a gambling hell. Let us enter just once and see what is here. Over there is a dance-house, and hark! there is music, too. Oh! let us go in, just once, and see what is there. You know we have never been in such a place before. Here is destruction before us, and we have never entered therein. Let us go to destruction just once, and see. “One precious boon, O Lord, I seek,
While tossed upon life’s billowy sea;
To hear a voice within me speak,
Thy Saviour is well pleased with thee.” “Let me but know where’er I roam
That I am doing Jesus’ will;
And though I’ve neither friends nor home
My heart shall glow with gladness still.” Thus sings the professor, and then hies to the circus to “see just once.” Consistent, very.