I must caution you

(Excerpt from a letter of Legh Richmond to one of his children)

Take care of too frequent interaction with the world. I write with a heart full of love—but I must caution you. There is nothing more dangerous to young Christians, than indiscriminate interaction with the ungodly. In such society—it is far more likely that we would receive evil, than impart good. Prudence and prayer are then especially needful; for we may more easily conform to the world—than bring the world to conform to us. Happy are those who have the least to do with it, except in the way of absolute duty and necessity.

May no trifles ever wean your affections from the unspeakably important subjects of eternity. Idols are bewitching, dangerous things—and steal away the heart from God. The most lawful things may become idols—by fixing an unlawful degree of affection upon them. The world, even in its apparently harmless form, is a terrible snare to the young and untaught mind.

My wish and endeavor has been to cultivate intelligent pursuits, in connection with piety, with my children, as recreations; instead of allowing and encouraging the trifling and often corrupting amusements of the world.