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This advice bears, in its practical relation, on two important features developed in practical affairs. It strikes at the way of the wicked —

1. As it is traced in those open violations of integrity which are condemned alike by the laws of man and the laws of God; and —

2. In that great class of sins which falls under the term "dissipation" in ordinary life, which is condemned by the laws of God, and too frequently tolerated by the laws of man, which is, in itself, in fact, too evanescent, too much a thing of the heart, sinks into too great triviality, is too personal in its character, involving too exclusively the sacrifice of a man's own soul and life, and the dishonour of his Creator, to fall within the province of human legislation. Popular amusements bear directly upon both these classes of crime. They form a certain fascinating territory — a frontier lying between them and the practice of godliness. To allure the youth, the territories of criminality must be surrounded with a frontier of fascinating pleasures.

I. EVERY STEP YOU TAKE IN THESE FORBIDDEN GRATIFICATIONS IS TAKEN AT YOUR OWN COST. All the difficulties that will occur to you there are encountered at your own expense. In the very first principle of starting you forfeit all the protection, the guidance, and the help which man may expect at any time, in justifiable engagements, at the hand of God. God has designed that the whole of life should be conducted in a subjugation of the mind to His own teachings; and, in the path of these forbidden pleasures, amongst the allurements that awaken thoughtlessness of Him, and draw the heart from Him, there is no covenanted protection and guidance, and in that abandonment from God he has the elements of the final curse.

II. THE POPULAR AMUSEMENTS OF OUR TIME ARE TO BE REPREHENDED AND FORSAKEN BECAUSE THEY ARE ALWAYS ATTENDED WITH INDUCEMENTS TO GREATER WRONG. It is not merely the stealing and subtle influence that draws the heart away from God; it is not merely the dreadful effect which the fascination has in soothing down the mind into a state of self-gratification; it is not merely the fact that these delusive pleasures draw the mind away from everything distinctly religious; but they stand surrounded with inducements to drive the spirit home to the point in which it must break through the restrictions, not of Divine law only, but of human law also.

III. THE DIRECT INFLUENCE OF THE HABITS FORMED IN SCENES OF POPULAR AMUSEMENT IS ALTOGETHER OPPOSED TO THE EXERCISE OF VITAL GODLINESS. In cases I have known, there was the declination of the habits of godliness, and the very gift of prayer had almost ceased; every element of piety was crippled. It is said that these popular amusements are patronised by religious people, and that they may at times be rendered subservient to virtue. The answer is that the peril in them wholly outweighs every advantage that can be derived from them.

(Charles Stovel.)

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KJV: Take fast hold of instruction; let her not go: keep her; for she is thy life.

WEB: Take firm hold of instruction. Don't let her go. Keep her, for she is your life.