Chapter I: Front Matter

_Amusements distinguishable into useful and hurtful--the latter specified and forbidden_.

CHAPTER II.

SECT. I.--_Games of chance forbidden--history of the origin of some of these_.

SECT. II.--_Forbidden as below the dignity of the intellect of man, and of his christian character_.

SECT. III.--_As producing an excitement of the passions, unfavourable to religious impressions--historical anecdotes of this excitement_.

SECT. IV.--_As tending to produce, by the introduction of habits of gaming, an alteration in the moral character_.

CHAPTER III.

SECT. I.--_Music forbidden--instrumental innocent in itself, but greatly abused--the use of it almost inseparable from its abuse at the present day_.

SECT. II.--_Quakers cannot learn instrumental on the usual motives of the world--nor consider it as a source of moral improvement, or of solid comfort to the mind--but are fearful that, if indulged in, it would interfere with the Christian duty of religious retirement_.

SECT III.--_Quakers cannot learn vocal, because, on account of its articulative powers, it is capable of becoming detrimental to morals--its tendency to this, as discoverable by an analysis of different classes of songs_.

SECT IV.--_The preceding the arguments of the early Quaker--but the new state of music has produced others--these explained_.

SECT V.--_An objection stated to the different arguments of the Quakers on this subject--their reply_.

CHAPTER IV.

SECT I.--_The Theatre forbidden--short history of its origin--and of its state and progress_.

SECT II.--_Manner of the drama objected to by the Quakers--as it personates the characters of others--and it professes to reform vice_.

SECT III.--_Contents of the drama objected to--as they hold our false sentiments--and weaken the sinews of morality_.

SECT IV.--_Theater considered by the Quakers to be injurious to the happiness of man, as it disqualifies him for the pleasure of religion_.

SECT V.--_To be injurious to the happiness of man, as it disqualifies him for domestic enjoyments_.

SECT VI.--_Opinions of the early Christians on this subject_.

CHAPTER V.

SECT. I.--_Dancing forbidden--light in which this subject has been viewed both by the ancients and the moderns--Quakers principally object to it, where it is connected with public assemblies--they conceive it productive, in this case, of a frivolous levity, and of an excitement of many of the evil passions_.

SECT. II--_These arguments of the Quakers, on dancing, examined in three supposed cases put to a moral philosopher_.

SECT. III.--_These arguments further elucidated by a display of the Ball-room_.

CHAPTER VI.

_Novels forbidden--considered by the Quakers as producing an affectation of knowledge--a romantic spirit--and a perverted morality_.

CHAPTER VII.

SECT. I--_Diversions of the field forbidden--general thoughtlessness upon this subject--sentiments of some of our best poets--law of the Quakers concerning it_.

SECT. II.--_Consistency of this law examined by the morality, which is inculcated by the Old Testament_.

SECT. III.--_Examined by the morality of the New--these employments, if resorted to as diversions, pronounced, in both cases, to be a breach of a moral law_.