Phenix gazette. [volume] (Alexandria [D.C.]) 1825-1833, 1826-11-28

handmaids Of his servant, as one Of the vain
fellows shamelessly uncoyereth himself -.
Dancing it seems, was a sacred rite, and usuai'
ly performed by women. At that day, II was
perverted from It's sacred use by none put vain
fellows destitute of shame David vindicates
himself from nerirony, by saying, II was before
the lord; admitting tina, had this not oeen Inc
case, her rebuke would have been nerileo.
Sam xviii. 6. On account OF the Vlctory Vi
Saul and David over the Philistlnes, the wo-
men came out of all the cities OF lsiaei, singing
and dancing
Psai cxlix. 3. Let them praise his name in
the dance, Ps. xxx. ll.-"Thou hast turned
for me nv mourning into dancing The deli
yerance here spoken Of was a recovery from
sickness. and the dancing an expression oil re-
lipious gratitude and JOY.
Exod. xii. 10. AS soon as he came nish un-
10 the camp, he saw the calf and the dancing,
From this il appears that dancing was part
also of idol worship.
Jer. xxx 4. sOh virgin OF Israel, thou shalt
again be adorned with thy tabrets, and go forth
i'm the dances Of them that make merry j his
passage predicts the return from captivity, and
The restoration of the divine favor with the con-
seouent expressions OF religious Joy.
Matt. XII. II. I'VE have piped unto you and
ye have no, danced; we have mourned unto you
and We have not lamented.' That is, neither
the judgments nor the mcrcies of God produce
any effect upon this incorrigible generalion.-
They neither mourn when called TO mourning
by his providence; nor rejoice with the usual
tokens OF religious JOY, when his mercies de-
mand their gratitude.
Luke Xxx. IS. Nov his elder son was in the
field; and as he came, and drew nigh unto the
house, he heard dancing The return of the
prodigal was joyful event, for which the CRATE
ful father, according TO the usages OF the Jew
ish church, and the exhorta,ion Of the psalmist,
praised the lord in the dance
Eccles. iii 4. "a time to mourn, and time
to dance Since the Jewish church knew no.
thing Of dancing, except as religious ceremo-
ny, or as an expression of gratitude and praise,
that the text is declaration that the pro-
violence Of God sometimes demands mourning,
and sometimes gladness and gratitude.
Matt xiv. 6. But when Herod's birth day
was kept, the daughter of Herodias danced be-
fore them, and pleased Herod.' In this case
the dancing was perverted from its original OBJ
iect, to purposes of vanity and ostentation.
JOB. xxi. T. Wherefore do the wicked live,
become old, yea are mighty in power" Verse
IL. 'They send forth their little ones like
0OCk, ana tnelF CnllQte n udDCe. 1Hcy SptHu
their days in wealth, and in momen, go down
to the grave. I therefore, they say unto God,
depart from US, for we desire hot the knowledge
Of thy ways. What is the Almighty, that we
should serve him. and what profit shall we have
if we pray unto him.! Their wealth and dane
ing are assigned as the reason Of their saying
unto God, depart from u.s. and of their not de-
string the knowledge of his ways and not de-
lighting to serve him or pray to him.
From the preceding quotations, it will sufh
GENTLY appear
That dancing was religious act, both of the
true and also of idol worship.
That it was practised exclusively on joyous
occasions, such as national festivals or great
victories.
Thatit was performed usually in the day
time in the open air, in highways, fields, or
groves.
That men who perverted dancing from Sd
cred use to purposes of amusement, were deem
ed hilarious.
That no instances of dancing are found upon
record in the bible, in which the two sexes u
nited in the exercise, either as an act Of wor-
ship or amusement.
There is no instance upon record, Of social
dancing for amusement, except that OF the vain
fellows devoid Of shame, Of the irreligious
families described by Job, which produced in
crease of impiely, and ended in destruction;
and of iIerodias, which terminated in the rash
vow of Herod, and the murder OF John the
Baptist.