The Puritan Theory of Amusements.
By Prof. Austin Phelps
The question of amusements was to the Puritans a representative question, in which was involved the whole spirit of Christian living. They brought to its discussion the whole force of their intense religious nature. In their very make they were intense men. They were anthracite on fire. Without flame, or crackle, or smoke, theirs was solid heat, burning stilly day and night. Such intensity of moral being they brought to all questions of practical life. Such men felt no need of amusements. How could they? They were not born, as some men appear to be, at hap-hazard, without an aim in living, and with no power to create one. Their happiness did not depend on cat's-cradle and push-pin. They did not know the meaning of the word "ennui." They came into this world as apostles. They came because they were sent. The echo of the voice which created them always sounded in their ears, and heralded their steps. Theirs was a great mission. Their souls were straitened till it was accomplished. When invited, urged, bribed, cajoled, commanded, threatened, browbeaten, to induce them to dance around a May-pole on the village green, they calmly said, "Wist ye not that I must be about my Father's business?" That which seemed to weaker natures a harmless or needful recreation seemed to them frivolity. When charged with excessive precision, said one of them for answer, "I have a precise God to deal with." They saw no record that Christ danced around poles, or amused himself with a jack-of-spades, or laughed at clowns and harlequins, or figured at masquerade balls. As they read his life, they saw him seeking relief from life's burdens in the companionship of brothers and sisters, in the homes of Bethany, in the society of angels, in communion with God. They saw that to him midnight prayer took the place of midnight revels. They honestly tried to live as Christ lived. Why should they not? Right or wrong, they believed this to be the true theory of life; and, what is more, they in good measure lived it. They enjoyed it. As a class, they were the happiest of mortals. If ever in this world men enjoyed life, they did, whenever tyranny would let them alone. And, when it would not, they entertained each other with songs in prisons, and broke out with doxologies at the stake. It may be well enough to revise their theory of amusements for later times and new generations. The Constitutions of States rarely last a century without change; still less should a popular theory of recreations. We may wisely let up somewhat of Puritan pressure upon the modern conscience. We may bid Godspeed to anybody who thinks he can improve in this respect the usages of a Christian people. By all means, let us give him a hearing. Specially may we extend the law of Christian liberty in this thing. We may trustfully leave it to every man's conscience to say what recreations, in themselves innocent (as almost all recreations are), will be a help to him in godly living. But, after all, who can fail to see that the spirit of Puritans on this subject was the Christian spirit? Who can help seeing that improvement, if it comes, must come from the same spirit? This was the spirit of a live conscience. It was the spirit of humble inquiry; it sought wisdom from God. It was the conservative spirit; it leaned to the safe side of moral questions. It was the profound spirit; it sought happiness in duties rather than in rights. It is very easy to fling at the Puritans in this matter, but it is very weak. Every dog must have his bay at the moon, but healthy men sleep through it. So disparagement of the Puritans does not disturb sound thinkers. The world has outlived the wit of it. The libel of the "Blue Laws" has ceased to be amusing. If we could stay long enough to answer such disparagement, our answer would be to point to the men whom the Puritans' theories of life created. Not till the improved theories give us better women, can we wisely believe that they are improvements. Not till children trained under such improvements, turn out to be more Christlike men and women, more prayerful, more self-denying, more useful, happier, too, in the profound sense of spiritual joy, can we safely admit that their fathers are wiser than our fathers. For that proof the world must wait awhile,—must wait long enough for us to do some things which the world is in more pressing need of than of an increase of amusements and of idle time.—Prof. Austin Phelps.