| JOHN C. BUCHER, | LUTHER REILEY, |
| GEO. P. WIESTLING, | GEORGE BEATTY, |
| GEORGE ZINN, | RUDOLPH F. KELKER, |
| DANIEL W. GROSS, | SAMUEL B. KEYSER, |
| ELIAS ZOLLINGER, | VALENTINE EGLE, |
| JACOB SHELL, | GEORGE L. KUNKEL. |
Harrisburg, March 11, 1846.
To the Vestry of the German Reformed Salem Church:
Dear Brethren: Although the Discourse preached on Sabbath evening last, was prepared during the preceding week as a regular duty, without a thought in reference to a request of this kind; yet as you have been pleased to express a wish to see it in print, in the hope of extending its usefulness, the manuscript is at your service. With sincere esteem and affection, yours, &c.,
JOHN F. MESICK.
ROMANS, XII. 3.—"BE NOT CONFORMED TO THIS WORLD."
The Bible is the only rule for all who wish to be saved. The professed Christian, not only, but every unconverted man, must bow to its precepts, if he would gain the favor of God. There is but one way, and but one gate of entrance into the Kingdom of Heaven, for saint and for sinner. Whatever, therefore, shall be acknowledged to be the duty of the covenanted follower of the Lamb, is equally the duty of every individual who stands disconnected with the visible Church.
It is a doctrine of revelation that, both classes of persons will be judged by the same law, and will be tried with equal impartiality and rigor. We are taught that, what Divine justice shall demand from the one, it will demand from the other; and that there is no respect of persons with God. The human race, as dependent and accountable agents, are placed on the same moral level in his sight. Each commandment of his word is addressed to every hearer of the Gospel. And all are under obligation to obey its injunctions, as they value the eternal welfare of their immortal spirits.
It is on this incontrovertible principle that I shall proceed to speak from the text: "Be not conformed to this world,"—assuming it as an undeniable truth that, what God requires of his children, he also exacts from the people of the world; and that whatever is inconsistent with the reputation or character of a good church member, is no less inconsistent with the eternal salvation of those persons who have not made a public profession of religion.
We take our ground boldly on this portion of scripture, and assert that the fashionable amusement of Dancing, is contrary to the spirit and aim of the Gospel, and, therefore, is opposed to the revealed will of God. Your attention is invited to two points:
First—To the necessity of non-conformity to the world; and
Secondly—To the facts proving that Dancing is an act of conformity to the world.
I. We begin with the necessity of non-conformity to the world.
The Scripture sense of the term, world, is that collection of idolaters, unbelievers, and wicked men who constitute the great bulk of the inhabitants of our globe; in short all persons who do not belong to the Kingdom of God.
This definition corresponds with the declarations of Christ: "My kingdom is not of this world;" "Ye are not of the world, even as I am not of the world;" "If ye were of the world, the world would love his own, but because ye are not of the world, but I have chosen you out of the world, therefore the world hateth you."