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They are soon seen dancing along the slippery path!
--Archibald Alexander, "Thoughts on Religious Experience" 1844
There is a class of people, who seem never to feel the force of Christian truth. They are such as spend their whole waking hours in the giddy whirl of amusement and social company. Full of health and spirits, and optimistic in their hopes of enjoyment from the world--they put away 'serious reflection' as the very bane of pleasure. The very name of Jesus is hateful to them: and all they ask of Christian people is to let them alone, that they may seize the pleasures of life while within their reach.
If we may judge from appearances, this class is very large. We find them in the many places of fashionable resort. The theater, the ballroom, and the very streets are full of such. They flutter gaily along, and keep company with each other--while they are strangers to all serious reflection. If a Christian ever gets the opportunity of addressing a word of serious advice to them, their politeness may prevent them from behaving rudely--but no sooner is his back turned, than they laugh him to scorn, and hate and despise him for his endeavors. They habituate themselves to think that Christianity is an awkwardly foolish thing, and wonder how any person of sense can bear to attend to it.
Very often this high reverie of pleasure is short. In such a world as this, events are apt to occur which dash the 'cup of sensual delights' while it is at the lips. Death will occasionally intrude even upon this mirthful circle and put a speedy end to their unreasonable merriment. O how sad is the spectacle, to see one of these 'votaries of fashion' suddenly cut down, and carried to the grave! When mortal sickness seizes such people--their cruel friends make it their chief study to bar out every idea of true religion, and to flatter the poor dying creature with the hope of recovery--until death has actually seized his prey. Such an event produces a shock in the feelings of the others--but such is the buoyancy of their feelings and their forgetfulness of mournful events--that they are soon seen dancing along the slippery path, with as much insane thoughtlessness as before!
There is a class of people, who seem never to feel the force of Christian truth. They are such as spend their whole waking hours in the giddy whirl of amusement and social company. Full of health and spirits, and optimistic in their hopes of enjoyment from the world--they put away 'serious reflection' as the very bane of pleasure. The very name of Jesus is hateful to them: and all they ask of Christian people is to let them alone, that they may seize the pleasures of life while within their reach.
If we may judge from appearances, this class is very large. We find them in the many places of fashionable resort. The theater, the ballroom, and the very streets are full of such. They flutter gaily along, and keep company with each other--while they are strangers to all serious reflection. If a Christian ever gets the opportunity of addressing a word of serious advice to them, their politeness may prevent them from behaving rudely--but no sooner is his back turned, than they laugh him to scorn, and hate and despise him for his endeavors. They habituate themselves to think that Christianity is an awkwardly foolish thing, and wonder how any person of sense can bear to attend to it.
Very often this high reverie of pleasure is short. In such a world as this, events are apt to occur which dash the 'cup of sensual delights' while it is at the lips. Death will occasionally intrude even upon this mirthful circle and put a speedy end to their unreasonable merriment. O how sad is the spectacle, to see one of these 'votaries of fashion' suddenly cut down, and carried to the grave! When mortal sickness seizes such people--their cruel friends make it their chief study to bar out every idea of true religion, and to flatter the poor dying creature with the hope of recovery--until death has actually seized his prey. Such an event produces a shock in the feelings of the others--but such is the buoyancy of their feelings and their forgetfulness of mournful events--that they are soon seen dancing along the slippery path, with as much insane thoughtlessness as before!
posted by Joe L. at 11:22
2 Comments:
"O how sad is the spectacle, to see one of these 'votaries of fashion' suddenly cut down, and carried to the grave!"
I get so uncomfortable thinking about the lives of folks like these.
What do they think about death and beyond the grave?
Do they think about it all?
Do they care?
Do they think they have it figured out?
Is their any fear in them?
Are they secure in their lifestyle?
Does their conscience speak?
How can they sleep at night?
Are all pleasures sought after simply to medicate their emptiness bringing on blissful oblivion?
Selfish pleasure-seekers are an ugly thing. I now find myself full of pity when I'm around them. What dull lives they lead.
And yet, sinner that I am, my flesh does envy their pleasure at times.
God forgive me. Thank you for choosing me.
Mike, good thoughts. It is the most humbling thing to reflect on the fact that a perfectly holt God would choose to redeem such a sinner as I. This truth then makes me treat others with more compassion and humility, since who am I? I am a sinner. I spat in God's face from the womb, yet, here I am today, redeemed, and hoping for others around me to know and experience that redemption.
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