Alas! you are likely to dance and frolic yourselves into hell!

(Samuel Davies, "The Tender Anxieties of Ministers for Their People")

"I stand in doubt of you." Galatians 4:20

I am in doubt of some of you—that the WORLD has your hearts! Your thoughts seem to be engrossed by it, and your affections are fixed upon it as your supreme good—and hence your mouth is full of it; for out of the abundance of the heart—the mouth speaks. Now if any man loves the world—the love of the Father is not in him. Covetousness is idolatry; and you know that no idolater has eternal life. I fear that this is the character of some of you!

I am no enemy to the lawful pleasures of mankind, nor do I place genuine piety in morose, mopish, melancholy austerities. But after all, I must declare, that I have very little hopes of the success of the gospel among you—if I should have a congregation of dancing, frolicking, worldly professors! Alas! you are likely to dance and frolic yourselves into hell!

If you should die this night—I am in doubt whether heaven or hell will be your eternal residence!