The Players Scourge, Part 2 · Act 5
ACTVS QVINTVS.
THe unlawfulnesse of penning, acting, and beholding Stage-playes, being thus at large evinced, and those Objections answered, which are most usually opposed in their unjust defence, there is nothing now remaining, but that I should cloze up this whole Treatise with a few words of exhortation to Play-poets, Players, and Play-haunters, whom the love of Stage-playes hath fAbstrahunt … recto quae opinione nostrâ cara sunt, pretio …uo vilia. Nescimus aestimare res, de quibus non cum fama, sed cum rerum natura deliberandum. Nihil habe…t ista magnificum, quo mentes in se nostras tra…ant, praeter hoc, quod mirari illa consuescimus. Non enim quia concupiscenda sunt laudantur; sed concupiscuntur quia laudata sunt; & cum singulorum error publicum fecerit, singulorum erro…em facit publicus. Seneca. Epist. 81. pag. 331.seduced, to their eternall prejudice.
And here I shall first of all beseech all Play-poets, to ponder with themselves; that they are the primary causes of all the sinnes which Players, Playes or Play-houses doe occasion: not any one sinne is there that any Actors, Auditors, or Spectators commit by meanes of acting or beholding these their Stage-playes, but flowes originally from them, and g1 Tim. 5.22. See my Healthes Sicknesse pag. 52.shall at last be set on their account: for if there were no Play-house-poets there could be no Playes to see or act, and so by consequence no such accursed hQui semen praebuit is enatae segitis malorum est auctor. Demosthenes Oratio De Corona.fruits of Stage-playes as now are too too frequent in the world, both to the publike and mens private hurt. Now tell mee I beseech you, what man, what Christian is there who in Gods, in mens account would thus be branded iRom. 1.30.for an inventor of evill things; a publike nursery of all sin and wickednesse; a man borne onelyonly for the common hurt both of himselfe and others, yea an instrument raysed up from Hell it selfe to draw on thousands to that horrid place of their eternall woe. kSeneca De Clementia. lib. 1. cap. 18.Quanto autem non nasci melius fuit, quā sic numerari inter publico malo natos? lMatth. 26.24.Better had it beene for you never to have had a being, to mIob 3.11, 16. Eccles. 6.3. Psal 58.8.have perished in the wombe like an untimely birth: yea happier were it that a nMatth. 18.6. Marke 9.42. Luke 17.1, 2.milstone had beene fastned about your neckes and you so drowned in the very depth of the Sea, then that you should thus pull downe damnation, eternall damnation on your owne and infinite others heads by these your prophane ungodly Enterludes, which will oSee here, pag. 916. to 924 accordingly.prove no other at the last but the evidences of your vanity, folly, sinne and shame, and without repentance your owne and others destruction. O therefore deare Christian Brethren, as you tender your owne, the States, the Churches welfare; as you feare, that dreadfull pRom. 14.10, 11, 12. 2 Cor. 5.10.reckning which you must shortly make before the Iudgement Seate of Christ, when qMatth. 12.36. Eccles. 12.14. Rom. 2.16. Iude 14.15. Rev. 20.12, 1….all your idle, wanton, amorous, prophane, ungodly, scurrilous Playes and words, with all the sinnes they have produced, shall be charged on your soules; let me now perswade you with many a rZach. 12.10. Ierem. 6.26. cap. 31.15. Isay 22.4. cap. 33.7.bitter sigh and teare, to lament your former, and seriously to renounce your future Play-making, as hSee here, pag. 360.436, 437, 438, 486. fol. 542.545, 566, 568. pag. 841.842, 910, 918, 922.many tr…e penitent Play-poets have done before you, endeavouring to consecrate your much applauded wits, your parts and industry to Gods glory, the Churches, the Republikes benefit, your owne and others spirituall good, which you have formerly devoted to the tSee pag. 10. to 62.Devils pompes and service, uSee pag. 302. to fol. 5…6. accordingly.the Republikes prejudice, sinnes advantage, Religions infamy, and mens common hurt. O consider, consider I beseech you, that as long as you continue Play-poets, you are but the uSee here, pag. 42. to 62.92, 133. to 143.professed agents of the world, the flesh, the Devill, whose pompes, whose lusts and vanities you have long since renounced; that you doe but sacrifice your wits, your parts, your studies, your inventions, your lives to these accursed Masters, who can gratifie you with no other *Rom. 6.23. Psal. 9.17. Matth. 25.41.wages at the last, but Hell and endlesse torments; a poore reward for so hard a service. Doe not, O doe not then devote your pretious time, your flourishing parts of Poetry, Eloquence, Art and Learning to these usurping hellish tyrants, which you should xRom. 12.1. 1 Cor. 6.20. Rom. 6.13.wh…ly dedicate to your God, y1 Cor. 6…19, 20.to whom they are onelyonly due: but since you are *Rom. 8.12.no longer debtors to the flesh to live after the flesh, nor yet to the aRom. 6.16, 17, 18, 11, 12. Iam. 4.4. Rom. 12.2. 1 Iohn 2.15, 16.world, the Devill, or sinne to doe them servic…, let God alone henceforth enjoy them, bRom. 11.36. Rev. 4.11. Pr…v. 16.4.from whom, for whom you did at first receive them. Alas my Brethren when you shall come to die, when *Isay 33.18. Iob 6.4. c. 18.11. cap. 27.20. Psal. 55.4. Psal. 73.19. Psal. 88.15, 16.terrors of conscience shall seize upon your soules, or when as dDan. 7.9, 10. Matth. 25.31, …2.Christ himselfe shall sit upon his Throne of Glory for to Iudge you, what good, what comfort, (yea what eRom. 6.21. Ier. 3.25. cap. 51.51. Ezech… 16.52, 54, 63.shame and fPsal. 55.5. Psal. 1…9.53. Ezech. 7.8…horror) will all your Play-poems bring to your amazed spirits? then will you wish in earnest, O that we had beene so happy as never to have pend, or seene a Stage-play; yea woe be to us that we were ever …o ill imployed as to cast away our time, our parts, our studies, our learning upon such heathenish, foolish and unchristian vanities. Alas, gPsal. 84.10.one day, one houre in Gods Courts, Gods service, had hEccles. 6.12.beene farre better to us; then all t…e yeeres of our vaine uselesse lives, which wee have spent on Playes and Theaters, which now bring nothing else but a more multiplied treasure of endlesse miseries and condemnation on our owne and others soules, which these our Enterludes have drawne on to sundry sinnes. iIob 3.3, 11, 13.O that the day had perished wherein we were borne, and the night wherein it was said, there is a man-childe conceived! Why dyed we not from the wombe, why did we not give up the ghost when we came out of the belly, before ever we had learnt the art of making Playes? for then should wee have lien still and beene at rest; then had we beene free from all those Play-house sinnes and tortures which now …urcharge our soules, then had wee never drawne such kQui enim alios peccare fecerit, multos secum praecipitat in mortem, & necesse est ut sit pro tantis reus, quantos secum traxerit in ruinam. Salvian. De Gubernat. Dei. l. 4. p. 141.troopes of Players, of Play-haunters after us into Hell, whose company cannot mitigate, but infinitely enlarge our endlesse torments. And then all this over-late repentance will be to little purpose. O then be truely penitent and wise lIob 8.5.be…imes, before these dayes of horror and amazement over-whelme you, that so you may have mPsal. 37.37. Prov. 19.21.peace and comfort in your latter ends, in that *Ioel 2.1, 2.Great, that terrible Day of the Lord Iesus, when all impenitent Play-poets, Players, and Play-haunters mIoel 2.6. Nahum 2.10. Isay 13.6, 7, 8, 9.faces shall gather blacknesse, their hearts faint, their spirits languish, their joynts tremble, their knees smite one against the other, and their mouthes shreeke out unto the nLuke 23.30. Rev. 6.16.17.Mountaines to fall upon them, and unto the Rockes to cover them, for feare of the Lord, and for the glory of his Majesty, when he shall come in …laming fire to render oRom. 2.8, 9. Iude 14.15. 2 Thes. 1.8.indignation and wrath, tribulation and anguish to every soule of man that doth evill, whether he be Iew or Gentile. Certainely the time will pRev. 12.20. Iam. 5.8, 9. Heb. 10.37. 2 Pet. 3.16. Iude 14.come ere long, when the qRev. 6.12. to 17. Isay 34.4. cap. 13.9, 10, 11. Luke 23.36. 2 Pet. 3.7, 10…12.Sunne shall become blacke as sackcloth, and the Moone a… blood: when the Starres of Heaven shall fall unto the earth even as a Figtree casteth her untimely fruit when shee is shaken with a mighty winde; when th… Heave…s shall depart as a scrowle when it is rolled together, and the Elements melt with fervent heat; when every Mountaine and I sland shall be moved out of their places, yea the earth also and the workes that are therein shall be burnt up with fire: when the Kings of the earth, and the great men, and the rich men, and the chiefe Captaines, and the mighty men, (who now wallow securely in their sinfull lusts and pleasures without feare of God or man) and every Bond-man and every Free-man (who lives and dyes in sinne and vaine delights) shall hide themselves in the Dennes and Rockes of the Mountaines; yea say to the Mountaines and Rockes, fall on us, and cover us from the face of him that sitteth on the Throne, and from the wrath of the Lambe: for the Great Day of his wrath is come, and who shall be able to stand? And then what rIob 33.27. Rom. 6.21. 1 Sam. 12.21. Isay 55.2.good, what profit will all the Stage-playes you have penned, seene, or acted, doe you? will they appease that sin-revenging Iudge, before whose Tribunall you shall then bee dragged? Will they any way comfort or support your drooping trembling soules? or any whit asswage your endlesse, easelesse torments? O no! *Wisd. 5.1. 1 Iohn 4.17. Phil. 3.9, 10. 2 Cor. 5.1. to 21.nothing but Christ, nothing but grace and holinesse, (which the tWisd. 5.3, 4. See here, pag. 120. to 128. 814.815. accordingly.world, which Playes and Play-poets now deride and laugh at) will then stand you instead, and sheild of all the terrors of that dismall Day. *2 Pet. 3.…1, 14. 1 Pet. 1.15, 16, 17.Wherefore (beloved) seeing that all these dreadfull Spectacles, and this day of horror draw so nigh, be diligent that yee may be found of God in peace, without spot and blamelesse; abandoning Play-making, with all such fruitlesse studies, passing all the time of your sojourning here in feare, endevouring to be holy in all manner of conversation, even as God is holy; x2 Pet. 3.18.and growing up daily more and more in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Iesus Christ, y1 Tim. 6.19. Heb. 9.28.laying up in store for your selves a good foundation against the time to come; that so you may lay hold on eternall life, and receive that Crowne of righteousnesse which the Lord the righteous Iudge shall give at that Day to all those who love, and wait for his appearing.
Secondly, I shall here beseech all voluntary Actors, of academicall or private Enterludes, in the name and feare of God, as they tender the glory of their Creator and Redeemer, the peace of their owne consciences, the eternall welfare of their soules, or their owne credit and repute with men, now seriously to consider the intolerable infamy, sinfulnesse, shame, and vanity of acting Playes, which not only *See here, pag. 841. to 866.the Primitive Christians, a…d Protestants, but even Pagans and Papists have condemned. Alas how can you justifie or excuse your selves in the sight of God for this your action, when as you are thus condemned in the eyes of men? or how can you appeare before God with comfort in the Day of Iudgement, when as you are unable to stand innocent before mans tribunall in these dayes of grace? Certainely, if zMatth. 1….36… 37. Isay 3.16.for every idle word that men shall speake, (yea and for every idle part or gesture to, which they shall act or use) they must give an account at the day of Iudgement; what a dreadfull reckning must you then expect for all those idle wanton words and gestures which have passed from you whiles you have acted Playes? Repent therefore, repent I say with floods of brinish teares for wha… is past, and never adventure the acting of any academicall Enterlude for time to come. And if any Clergie-men, who have taken ministeriall Orders upon them, are guilty of this infamy, this impiety of prophaning, of polluting their high & heavenly profession by acting or dancing on any publike or private Stage; becomming thereby the worlds, the Devils professed Ministers instead of Christs, to the intolerable scandall of Religion, the ill example of the Laity, (aSee Bernard. Concio ad Clerum. & Oratio ad Pastores. accordingly. who are apt to imitate them in their bIdeoque timendum est, ne quos duces hujus recti itineris habere nos credimus, …os comites habeamus erroris. Hi…rom. Epist. 14. cap. 3. pag. 43.lewdnesse) and their own deserved infamy; Let such disorderly histrionicall Divines, consider that of *Epist. 127. fol. 186.Bernard, Si quis de populo deviat solus perit, Verum Pastoris error multos involuit, & tantis ob est quantis praeest ipse. dEpist. 42. fol. 186.Verum tu Sacerdos Dei altissimi, cui ex his placere gestis, mundo an Deo? Si mundo, cur Sacerdos? Si Deo, cur qualis populus talis & Sacerdos? Nam si placere vis mundo, quid tibi prodest Sacerdotium? Volens ita que placere hominibus, Deo non places. Si non places, non placas. Alas how can any commit the custody of their soules to such who are altogether negligent of their owne. eBernard. Ser. 11. in Psal. Qui habitat. f. 748.Qui sibi nequam, cui bonus? *Epist. 146. fol. 200.Placet vobis ut illi homini credam animam meam qui perdidit suam? was S. Bernards question to Pope Innocent; it may be mine to Patrons and Ordinaries who present or admit such Play-acting or other scandalous Ministers to the cure of soules, which ought to be deprived of all sacred Orders and preferments, as the gSee here, pag. 150.469, 512. & 573. to 668.841. to 868. & Summula Raymundi. f. 91.92, 93, 94. Summa Hostiensis. lib. 3. De Vita & honestate Clericorum. fol. 237. & l. 5. De Clerico Venatore. fol. 455. Edit. Lugduni 1517. Innocentius 3. Operum. Tom. 1. pag. 471. accordingly.precedent Councels and Canonists witnesse. But how ever such Actors chance to escape all humane penalties here, let them remember that they shall surely undergoe the everlasting censure of the h1 Pet. 5.4.Great Shepheard of the Sheep, Christ Iesus, hereafter: and let this for ever disswade them from this ungodly practise of personating Stage-playes, which hath beene most execrably infamous in all former ages. As for all professed common Actors, I shall here adjure them by the very hopes and joyes of Heaven, and the eternall torments of Hell, to abominate, to renounce all future acting, and this their iSee here, Act 4. Scene 1. Act 6. Scene 20. & Act 7. Scene 2.3.hellish profession, which makes them the very instruments, the arch-agents, the professed bondslaves of the Devill, the publike enemies both of Church and State, the authors of their owne and others just damnation; excommunicating them both from the Church, the Sacraments, and society of the faithfull in this life, and everlastingly excluding them from Gods blessed presence in the life to come. You then who are but newly entred into this infernall unchristian course of Play-acting, consider I beseech you, that this your infamous profession is the broad beaten rode to all kinde of vice, of wickednesse & prophanesse; the readiest passage unto Hell it selfe, in which you cannot finally proceed without the assured losse of Heaven; & a professed apprentiship to the very Devill, whose pompes, whose service you have long since renounced in your baptisme; and therefore cannot now embrace without the highest perjury. O then take pitty on your owne poore soules before it be too late; before Stage-playes, sinne, and Satan have kQui blandiendo dulce nutrivit malum serò recusat ferre quod subijt jugum. Seneca Hyp…olitus. Act 1. Facile est tenero… adhuc animos componere. Difficulter reciduntur vitia quae nobiscum creverunt. Seneca. De Ira. lib. 2. cap. 18.gotten such absolute full possession of you, as utterly to disable you to cast off their yoake: And now I pray say thus unto your soules; *Bernardi Meditationes. cap. 2. fol. 280. A. & Epist. 19. fol. 199. B.Cur ergo tantopere vitam istam desideramus, in qua quanto amplius vivimus tanto plus peccamus? Quanto est vita longior, tanto culpa numerosior. Quotidie nam que crescunt mala & subtrahuntur bona. Mi…ime pro certo est bonus qui melior esse non vult: & ubi incipis nolle fieri melior, ibi etiam desinis esse bonus. Alas why will you die, why will you voluntarily cast away your soules for ever by this trade of acting Playes, when as you need not hazard them if you will now renounce it? What, is there any profit or pleasure in your owne damnation? is there any advantage to be gotten by the Devils service? is there any safe living in the very mouth of Hell it selfe? Why then should you proceed on in this Diabolicall trade? Doe your Friends or gracelesse Paren…s presse, or else induce you to it, even against your wills? O give them that pathetical resolute answer which Helyas the Monke once gave unto his Parents. mBernard. Epist. 111. fol. 202… G.Sime vere ut boni, ut pij Parentes diligitis; si veram si fidelem erga filium pietatem habetis, quid me patri omnium Deo placere satagentem inquietatis, & ab ejus servitio cujus servire regnare est, retrahere attentatis? Vere nunc cognosco, nMich. 7.quod inimici hominis domestici ejus. In hoc vobis obedire non debeo, in hoc vos non agnosco parentes sed hostes. Si diligeretis me gauderetis uti que quiavado admeum at que vestrum, immo universorum patrem. Alioquin quid mihi & vobis? oSecundum exteriorem hominem de parentibus illis venio, qui me ante fecerunt damnatū, qu…m natum. Peccatores peccatorem in peccato suo genuerunt, & de p…ccato nutriverunt. Nihil ex eis habeo nisi miseriam & peccatū, & corruptibile hoc corpꝰ quod gesto. Quid sum ego? Homo de humore liquido. Fui enim in momento conceptionisde humano semine conceptus, &c. Deinde spuma illa coagulata modicum crescendo caro facta est. Poste… plorans & ejulans traditus sum hujus mundi exilio, & ecce jàm morior plenus iniquitatibus & abominationibus. Iamjam presentabor ante districtum judicem, de operibus meis rationem redditurus, &c. Bernardi Medicationes cap. 2. …ol. 280.Quid à vobis habeo nisi peccatum & miseriam? hoc solum quod gesto corruptibile corpus de vestro me habere fateor & agnosco. Non sufficit vobis quod me in hanc seculi miseriam miserum miseri induxistis, quod in peccato vestro peccatores peccatorem genuistis; quod in peccato natum de peccato nutristis, nisi etiam invidendo mihi misericordiam quam consecutus sum ab eo qui non vult mortem peccatoris, filium insuper gehennae faciatis? O durum patrem! ô saevam matrem! ô parentes crudeles & impios! imo non parentes sed peremptores, quorum dolor salus pignoris, quorum consolatio mors filij est. Qui me malunt perire cum ijs, quâm regnare sine eis. Qui me rursus ad naufragium unde tandem nudus evasi, rursus ad ignem, unde vix semiustus exivi, rursus adlatrones à quibus semivivus relictus sum, sed miserante Samaritano jàm aliquantulum convalui, revocare conantur, & militem Christi prope jam rapto caelo triumphantem, ab ipso jam introitu gloriae, tanquam canem ad vomitum, tanquam suem ad lutum, ad seculum reducere moliuntur. Mira abusio. Domus ardet; ignis instat à tergo, & fugienti prohibetur egredi, evadenti suadetur regredi? & haec ab his qui in incendio positi sunt & obstinatissima dementia, ac dementissima obstinatione fugere periculum nolunt? Proh furor! Si vos contemnitis mortem vestram, cur etiam appetitis meam? Si inquam negligitis salutem vestram, quid juvat etiam persequi meam? Quare vos non potius sequimini me fugientem, ut non ardeatis? An hoc est vestri cruciatus levamen, si me etiam perimatis, & hoc solumtimetis, ne soli pereatis? Ardens ardentibus quod solatium praestare poterit? Quae inquam consolatio damnatis socios habere suae damnationis, &c? Desinite igitur parentes mei, desinite, & vos frustra plorando affligere, & me gratis revocando inquietere. Doth the love of gaine or pleasure allure you to it? Alas, pMatth. 16.26.what will it profit you to win the whole world (much lesse a little filthy gaine, or foolish carnall momentany delight) and then to lose your soules? qEccles. 12.1.Remember therefore your Creator in the dayes of your youth, by abjuring the Devils service, and betaking your selves to Gods, lest the Devill being your lord and master in your youth, prove your tormentor onelyonly in your age. rEusebius Gallicanus Sermo. exhort. contra diversa vitia. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 5. pars 1. pag. 594. H.Recedat ita que peccandi amor, succedat judicij timor. Nam quamdiu in vobis carnalium re…um vixerit appetitus, spiritalium à vobis sensuum elongabit affectus. Nemo in vas aliquo faetore corruptum balsama pretiosa transfundit; & sicut dixit Dominus: Nemo mittit vinum novum in utres veteres. Difficile est ut assurgere ad bonum possis, nisi à malo ante diverteris: quamdiu nova delicta adijciuntur, vetera non curantur. Prorsus peccata non redimet, qui peccare non desinit: quia nemo potest duobus dominis servire. In uno animae domicilio iniquitas at que justitia, castitas at que luxuria simul habitare non possunt. Interdicatur igitur accessus voluptati, at que libidini, ut domus munda pateat castitati: excludatur Diabolus cum militia vitiorum, ut Christus cum choro possit intrate virtutum. You who have beene ancient Stage-players, and have served many Apprentiships to the Devill in this your infernall profession, O consider, consider seriously I beseech you, the wretched condition wherein now you stand: your parts are almost acted, your last dying Scenes draw on apace, and it will not be long ere you goe off the Theater of this world sActs 1.25.unto your proper place; and then how miserable will your condition be? You have beene the Devils professed agents, his meniall hired servants all your lives, and must you not then expect his wages at your deathes? You have treasured up nought but wrath unto your selves against the day of wrath, whiles you lived here, tRom. 2.5. to 12.precipitating both your selves and others to destruction; and can you reape ought but wrath and vengeance hereafter if you repent not now? Your very uSee Act 4. Scene 1. & 7. Scene 2.3. & Part 2. p. 843.844, 845.profession hath excommunicated you the Church, the Sacraments, the society of the Saints on earth; and will it not then much more exclude you out of Heaven? *Hierom. Epist. 3. cap. 6.O miserabilis humana conditio, & sine Christo vanum omne quod vivimus! was S. Hieroms patheticall ejaculation: and may it not be much more yours, who have Ephes. 2.12.lived without Christ in the world, who have renounced his service, and betaken your selves to the Devils workes and pompes against your bapti…mall vow, as if you had covenanted by your selves and others to serve the Devill, and performe his workes, even then when you did at first abjure them: O then bewaile with many a bitter teare, with many an heart-piercing sigh; with much shame, much horror, griefe and indignation, the losse of all that precious time which you have already consumed in the Devils vassalage… and since God hath forborne you for so many yeeres, out of his tender mercy, O now at last thinke it enough, yea too too much that you have spent your best, your chiefest dayes in this unchristian diabolicall lewde profession; professing publikely in z1 Pet. 4.2, 3, 4.S. Peters words; The time past of our lives may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, and of the Devill to, we will henceforth live to God alone: If you will now cast of your former hellish trade of life, with shame and detesta…ion; if you will prove new men, new creatures for the time to come; Christs armes, Christs wounds, yea and the Church her bosome stand open to receive you, notwithstanding all the *1 Pet. 1.11, 12, 13.lusts and sinnes of your former ignorance. But if you will yet stop your eares, and harden your hearts against all advice proceeding on stil in this your ungodly trade of life, *Quid autem eo infaelicius cui jam esse malum necesse est. Seneca. De Ira. lib. 1. c. 13.in which you cannot but be wicked, then know you are such as are marked out for Hell; b2 Thes. 2.10, 11, 12.such who are given up to a reprobate sence to worke all uncleanesse even with greedinesse, that you all may be damned in the Day of Iudgement, for taking pleasure in unrighteousnesse, and disobeying the truth. As therefore you expect to enter Heaven Gates, or to escape eternall damnation in that great dreadfull Day, c2 Cor. 5.10. Matth. 12.36. Rom. 14.10.when you must all appeare before the Iudgement Seate of Christ, to give a particular account of all those idle, vaine and sinfull actions gestures, words and thoughts, which have proceeded from you, or beene occasioned in others by you all your dayes; be sure to give over this wicked trade of Play-acting without any more delayes, which will certainely bring you to destruction, if you renounce it not, dSee Part 1. Act 6. Scene 14.…0. & here p. 910.as all true penitent Players have done before you. For if the righteous shall scarcely be saved in the Day of Iudgement, where shall such ungodly sinners, as you appeare? e1 Pet. 4.17.18.Certainely, fPsal. 1.5, 6.you shall not be able to stand in Iudgement, or to justifie your selves in this your profession in that sinne-confounding soule-appaling Day: but g2 Thes. 1.8, 9.you shall then be punished with everlasting perdition from the presence of the Lord, & from the glory of his power, if the very riches of his grace and mercy will not perswade you to renounce this calling now; *Bernardi Meditationes. c. 2. fol. 280.Quanto que diutius Deus vos expectavit vt emendetis, tanto districtius judicabit si neglexeritis: by how much the longer God hath forborne you here expecting your repētance, the more severely shal he then condemne you.
If any Stage-players here object,Objection. that they know not how to live or maintaine themselves if they should give over acting.
To this I answer first,Answ. 1. that as it is no good argument for Bawdes, Panders, Whores, Theeves, Sorcerers, Witches, Cheaters, to persevere in these their wicked courses, because they cannot else maintaine themselves; so it is no good Plea for Players. hSee Tertul. de Idololatria. lib. Chrysost. Hom. 50. in Matth. & Alexander Alensis. Summa Theologiae. pars 2. Quaest. 135. memb. 5.No man must live by any sinfull profession; nor yet doe evill that good may come of it: therefore you must not maintaine your selves by acting Playes, it being a lewde unchristian infamous occupation. Secondly, there are divers lawfull callings and imployments by which Players might live in better credit, in a farre happier condition then now they doe, would they but bee industrious: iSee Marcus Aurelius, Epistle 12. to Lambert, accordingly… & Part 1. Act 6. Scene 5.It is therefore Players idlenesse, their love of vanity & sinfull pleasures, not want of other callings, that is the ground of this objection. Thirdly, admit there were no other course of life but this for Players; I dare boldly averre that the charity of Christians is such, as that they would readily supply the wants of all such indigent impotent aged Actors (unable to get their livelihood by any other lawfull trade) who out of conscience shall give over Playing. Certainely, the charity of Christians was such in kEpist lib. 1. Epist. 10. See here p. 906.Cyprians dayes, that they would rather maintaine poore penitent Actors with their publike almes, then suffer them to perish, or continue acting; and I doubt not but their charity will be now as large in this particular as it was then. Lastly, admit the objection true; yet it were farre better for you to die, to starve, then any wayes to live by sinne or sinfull courses. There is lNulla est necessitas delinquendi quibus una est necessitas non delinquendi. T…rtul. …e Corona Militis. cap. 7.no absolute necessity at all that men should live; but there is this necessity lies on all men, not to sinne … yea every pious Christian as is evident by the concurrent examples of all the Martyrs, should rather chuse to die the cruellest death, then to commit one act of sinne. Better therefore is it for Players to part with their profession for Christs sake even with the very losse of their lives and goods, (which mMatth. 10.37, 38.they must willingly lose for Christ, or else they are not worthy of him,) then to retaine their Play-acting, and so lose their Saviour, themselves, their very bodies and soules for all eternity, as all unreclaimed, unrepenting Players in all probability ever doe. Let Players therefore if they will be mercifull to themselves, shew mercy rather to their soules, then to their bodies or estates. *Bernard, ad Gulielmum Abbatem Apologia. Col. 9…88 I.Talis enim misericordia crudelitate plena est, qua videl…cet ita corpori servitur, ut anima juguletur. Quae enim charitas est, carnem diligere, & spiritum negligere? *…i tàm sollicitus es, si nec minima spernis, si tàm prudenter servas paleas tuas, etiam hotreum tuum servare memento & custodire. Imo vero non exponas thesaurum tuum qui sic incubas sterquilinio tuo. Bernard. Sermo. 7. in Psal. Qui habitat. fol. 70. H.Quaeve discretio, totum dare corpori & animae nihil? Qualis vero mis…icordia ancillam reficere & dominam interficere? Nemo pro hujusmodi misericordia sperat se consequi misericordiam sed certissime potius paenam expectet. Yea let them renounce their Play-acting though they perish here, rather then perish eternally hereafter to live by it now.
Lastly, I shall here exhort all Play-haunters, all Spectators of any publike or private Enterludes, to ponder all the premised reasons and Authorities against Stage-playes, together with those oSee Part 1. Act 6. thorowout.severall soule-condemning wickednesses, sinnes, yea fearefull judgements, in which they frequently involue their Actors and Spectators: to remember, that they are the very pSee here, pag. 42. to 62.129, 231, 236, 257, 405, 430. fol. 522, 524, 528, pag. 561. to 567.658.Devils snares, his workes, his pompes, which they most solemnely renounced in their baptisme: that they are qPart 1. Act 6. Scene 1. to 20. accordingly.the greatest, the most pernicious corruptions both of their Actors, their Spectators mindes and manners; the onelyonly Canker-wormes of their graces, their vertues; the chiefest incendiaries of their carnall lusts… the common occasions of much actuall lewdnesse, sinne and wickednesse; the principall obstacles of their sincere repentance; the grand empoysoners of their soules; and if we believe rEcce qua voleb…s ire, ecce turba viae latae, non frustra ipsa ducit ad Amphitheatrum, non frustra ipsa ducit ad mortem. Via mortifera est, latitudo ejus delectat ad tempus, finis ejus angustus in aeternum. Sed turbae strepunt, turbae festinant, turbae colluctantur, turbae concurrunt. Noli imitari, noli averti: vanitates sun… & insaniae mondaces. Noli numerare turbas hominum incedentes latas vias, implentes crastinum Circum; civitatis natalē clamando celebrantes, civitatem ipsam malè vivendo turbantes. Noli ergò illos attendere, multi sunt. Et quis numerat? Pauci autem per viam angustam. Enar. in Psal. 39. Tom… 8. pars. 1. p. 414.415. vid. p. 416.417, 418.S. Augustine, the mortiferous broad beaten way to Hell it selfe, and everlasting death, in which whole troopes of men run daily on unto destruction. O then let all these, all other fore-alleaged flexanimous considerations divorce you now from Stage-playes, from Theaters, which else will seperate you from your God; and so engage your hearts, your judgements, your consciences against them, as never to frequent them more upon any occasion or perswasion whatsoever. You have heard and seene at large what Censures, what Verdicts the *See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 3.4, 5, 12. & Act 7. Scene 1. to 7.Primitive Church, both before and under the Law and Gospell; the ancientest Christians, Councels, Fathers; the best Ch…istian, the best Pagan Nations, Emperours, Princes, States, Magistrates, Writers, both ancient and moderne, have constantly, have unanimously passed upon Stage-playes, Theaters, Players, Play-haunters, against whom Tertullian, Cyprian, Chrysostome, Augustine, Salvian, and other Fathers, with sundry moderne Authors, have professedly written ample Volumes: You have seene all ages, all places, all qualities and degrees of men, tSee Part 1. Act 6. Scene 3.4, 5, 12. & Act 7. Scene 2. to 7.Iewes and Gentiles, Greekes and Barbarians, Christians and Pagans, Protestants and Papists, yea Popes and Iesuits to, concurring in their just damnation. Be not, O be not yee therefore uNun quid patribus doctiores aut devotiores sumus? Periculose praesumimus quicquid ipsorum in talibus prudentia preterivit. Bernard. Epist. 174. fol. 111.wiser, nay worser, then all, then any of these Play-condemning Worthies who have gone before you; (whose harmonious Play-confounding resolutions agreeable with the Scripture, if Saint xObedientia quae majoribus praebetur Deo exhibetur. Quamobrem quicquid vice Dei praecipit homo, quod non sit tamen certum displicere Deo, haud secus omnino accipiend…m est, quam si p…aecipiat Deus. Quid enim interest utrum per se an per suos ministros sive homines sive Angelos hominibus innotescat suum placitum Deus? Sive enim Deus, sive homo vicarius Dei mandatum quodcun que tradiderit, pari profectò obsequendum est cura, pari reverentia deferendum, …bi tamen Deo contraria non praecipit homo. De Praecepto & Dispensatione. fol. 250. H.K.Bernard may be credited, must binde you to renounce all Stage-playes, in the very selfesame manner as if God himselfe had expresly commanded you to abandon them:) frequent not Playes which they abominated; pleade not for Enterludes which they so seriously, so abundantly condemned: Let not that censure of holy yIam religionis antiquae non solum virtutem amisimus, …ed nec speciem retinemus. Ad Gulielmum Abbatem Apologia. fol. 260. D.Bernard be verified of you; that you have now not onelyonly lost the power of the ancient Christian Religion, but even the very shew and outside to: but as you are Christians in name, in profession, so bee you such in truth, in practise. And since it was the zS…e here, p. 4.61, 557. accordingly.most notorious character of Christians heretofore, to abominate, to abandon Players, Playes and Play-houses; let it bee your honour, your piety, your practicall badge of Christianity to forsake them now: that so imitating the Primitive Play-renouncing Christians in their holinesse, you may at last participate with them in their eternall blisse. And so much the rather let me admonish you to withdraw your selves from Playes and Play-houses, because no ordinance of God can doe you any good, or clense you from your sinnes, whiles you resort to Theaters, as I have *See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 12. & p. 392. to 406.436, 433.largely proved: heare but Saint Chrysostome once more to this purpose, where speaking against mens and womens parling, laughing, and gazing about in Churches (which *See Chrysost. Homil. 24 in Acta Apost. Tom. 3. Col. 519…520. Hom. 36. in 1 Cor 14. Tom. 4. Col. 535…536. & Homil. 8…9. in 1 Tim. accordingly.hee severely censures) he writes thus. aHomil. 24. in Acta Apost. Tom. …. Col. 520. B.C. See here p. 432. to the like purpose…Nunquid theatrica sunt haec quae hîc geruntur? opinor autem quod id Theatris debeamus. Inobedientes enim multos nobis constituunt & ineptos: quae enim hîc extruuntur, illic subvertuntur: & non hoc solum, sed & alias immunditias necesse est Theatri studiosis adhaerere. Et perinde fit ac si quis campum velit purgare, in quem fons lut… fluens, ins…uat; quantum enim purgaris, tantum influit. Hoc & hîc fit, quando enim purgamus à Theatro huc venientes, & immundiciam afferentes, dum illuc iterum abeunt, majorem contrahunt immundiciam, quasi dedita opera sic vivant ut nobis negocium faciant, & iterum veniunt multo luto sordidati, in moribus, in gestibus, in verbis, in risu, i… desidia. Deinde iterum nos fodimus, quasi dedita opera in hoc fodientes, ut puros illos dimissos iterum videamus luto ac caeno inquinari. You then who have beene constant Play-haunters besmeared with their filth and dung for divers yeeres together, you who have spent your youth your manhood, your best and chiefest dayes *Eccles. 12.1. Luke 1.74, 75. Rom. 12.1, 2. Eph. 5.16, 17.which you should have dedicated to God, your honest callings, and farre better things; on Playes, on Play-houses, and such lascivious sports, you who have cast away your money, your estates on Players, Playes & Play-houses, (the bSee here, pag. 10.11, 49, 50, 52, 67, 68, 69, 101, 102, 329, 330, 341, 374, 386, 418, 431, 446, 472, 474, 488, 510, 560.very factors, pompes and synagogues of the Devill) c1 Tim. 6.17, 18, 19. Heb. 13.16. Prov. 19 17. 1 Iohn. 3.17. See Part 1. Act 6. Scene 2.wherewith you should have cherished Christs poore needy members; You who have beene ancient Patriots, Supporters of Actors or their Enterludes either by your purses, or your presence, drawing thereby upon your soules the guilt of many a fearefull unlamented sinne; remember, O remember that it is now dRom. 13.11, 12. 1 Pet. 4.2, 3.more then time for you to clense your selves from these Augaean Stables; with which you have beene too long defiled: to renounce these cursed pompes of Satan, which you have too long served; eEphes. 5.15, 16. Col. 4.5.to redeeme the short remainder of that most sacred time which you have too prodigally, too sinfully consumed; to take some speedy serious course for the fCol. 3.5, 6, 7. Rom. 13.13. 1 Pet. 2.11. Gal. 5.24.mortifying of those soule-slaying …leshly lusts which you have over-long fomented; for the gPsal. 149.4. Isay 1.16. Rom. 13 14. Rev. ….18. Vanus error hominis, & inanis cultus dignitatis, fulgere purpurâ, mente sordescere. Minucius Felix. Octavius p. 122.adorning, the saving of those immortall soules, which you have over-much neglected; for the h2 Cor. 5.20. Rom. 5.1.attoning of that holy God, that blessed Saviour that sanctifying Spirit of grace, which you have too highly, too long iIsay 3.8. Ier. 41.8. Psal. 106.7, 33.43.provoked, kHeb. 6.6.crucified, lEph. 4.29, 30. Heb. 10.29.grieved; which you mSee Part 1. Act 6. Scene 12. & 20.can never doe whiles you resort to Stage-playes. And since the world, the flesh, the Devill have had your youth and strength, let God be sure to enjoy your age, whom you have nDeo dicata membra nulla tibi temeritate usurpes; sciens, quod pietati sanctificatanon abs que gravi sacrilegio in usus vanitatis, voluptatis, aut ejusmodi seculario operis assumantur. Bernard. in Psal. Qui Habitat. Serm 8. fol. 71.sacrilegiously robbed of all the rest. Alas, all the time that you have already past in Play-haunting, and such delights of sinne, hath beene but a time of spirituall death, wherein you have beene worse then nought in Gods account: oEpist. 3. c. 5. Ephes. 2.1, 2, 3.Ab eo enim tempore censemur ex quo in Christo renascimur, as Saint Hierom truely writes: and what other profit have you reaped from Playes or Play-houses, pHierom. Epist. 3. c. 7.Nisi quod senes magis onusti peccatorum fasce proficiscimini, as the same Father speaks? O therefore now at last before it be too qMatth. 25.10. to 14.late, before death hath wounded you, Heaven excluded you, Hell devoured you, repent of all your former Play-haunting with many a sob and teare, abandoning all Playes, all Play-houses for the future; rCyprian. Epist. l. 1. Epist. 5. p. 37.ut sic correcti at que in meliu… reformati, qui admirati fuerant prius in Spectaculis insaniam, nunc admirentur in moribus disciplinam. You who are but young and newly entred into this dangerous course of Play-haunting; you of whom I may say as *Seneca. Epist. 47. pag. 229.Seneca once did of the Roman gentry; Ostendam nobilissimos juvenes mancipia pantomimorum, remember that holy covenant which you not long since made to God in baptisme, sSee here, pag. 3. & 42. to 62.to forsake the Devill and all his workes, the pompes, the vanities of this wicked world, with all the sinfull lusts of the flesh, of which Stage-playes (as the tSee here, pag. 3.42. to 62.561. to 567.230, 236, 257, 425, 430, 522, 524, 528, 658.Fathers teach you) are the chiefe; O perjure, perjure not your selves, renounce not your christianity, your faith, your vow, your baptisme (by frequenting Playes) in your youth, your child-hood; uTu si templū spiritus sancti violas, si intra te sacrarium Dei deturbas & faedas, si cum calic… Christi, de calice Daemoniorum communicas, contumelia est, non religio: injuria, non devotio: Idolorum servitus & horrenda abominatio, velle simul Baal famulari & Christo. Cyprian De Caena Dom. Serm. p. 299.bequeath not your selves so soone unto the Devill, after your solemne consecration unto God in Christ; let not him gaine possession of your persons, your service in your youth, that so hee may command, and challenge them in your age; *Seneca Epist. 116.Non enim obtin…bis ut desinat si incipere permiseris: ergo intranti resistamus, &c. But as xRom. 12.1, 2. cap. 6.3. to 14. Luk. 1.74, 75.you have given up your soules and bodies as an holy living sacrifice unto God in baptisme, to serve him with them in holinesse and righteousnesse before him all the dayes of your lives; so be yee sure to make good your promise, by yEccles. 12.1.remembring, by serving your Creator in the dayes of your youth, your strength, your health and life, who will zRom. 2.10. 2 Tim. 4.8. Hebr. 2.7, 9.then crowne you with glory and immortality at your death. Pitty it is to see how many ingenious Youthes and Girles; how many young (that I say not old) Gentlemen and Gentlewomen of birth and quality, (as if they were borne for no other purpose but to consume their youth, their lives in lascivious dalliances, Playes and pastimes, or in pampering, in aTo whom I may use S. Cyprians words in the like case. Tu licet indumenta peregrina & vestes sericas indues, nuda es: Auro te licet & margaritis gemmis que condecores, sine Christi decore deformis es. Si quem de tuis charis mortalibus exitu perdidisses, ingemiscer…s dolenter & fleres, facie inculta, veste mutata neglecto capillo, vultu nubilo, ore dejecto jndicia maeroris ostenderes. Animam tuam misera perdidisti, spiritualiter mortua supervivere hic tibi, & ipsa ambulans funus tuum portare caepisti, & non acriter plangis, non jugiter ingemiscis? Non te vel pudore criminis, vel continuatione lamentationis obscondis? Ecce pejora ad huc pe…candi vulnera, ecce majora delicta; peccasse, nec satisfacere; deliquisse, nec delicta de…lere. Cyprian. De Lapsis Sermo. Tom. 2. pag. 347.adorning those idolized living carcases of theirs, which will turne to earth, to dung, to rottennesse and wormes-meat ere be long, and to condemne, their poore neglected soules) casting by all honest studies, callings, imployments, all care of Heaven, of salvation, of their owne immortall soules, of that God who made them, that Saviour who redeemed them, that Spirit who should sanctifie them, and that Common-weale that fosters them; doe in this idle age of ours, like those bIsay 5.11, 12. c. 22.12, 13. cap. 56.12. Amos 6.1. to 8. Dan. 5.1.2, 3, 4. Iam. 5.5. & Iob 21.11. to 16.Epicures of old most prodigally, most sinfully riot away the very creame and flower of their yeeres, their dayes in Play-houses, in Dancing-schooles, Tavernes, Ale-houses, Dice-houses, Tobacco-shops, Bowling-allies, and such infamous places, upon those life-devouring, time-exhausting Playes and pastimes, (that I say not sinnes beside,) as is a shame for Pagans, much more for Christians to approve. O that men endued with reason, ennobled with religion; with immortall soules, cCol. 3.1, 2, 3. Phil. 4.8, 9. Isay 43.21. Rom. 14.7, 8.fit onelyonly for the noblest, heavenliest, sublimest and divinest actions, should ever bee so desperately besotted as to wast their precious time upon such vaine, such childish, base ignoble pleasures, which can dEccles. 2.1. to 12.16.11. 1 Sam. 12.21. Isay 55.2. Iob 15.31. Hosea 8.7. Rom. 6.21.no way profit soule or body, Church or State; nor yet advance their temporall, much lesse their spirituall and eternall good, which they should ever seeke. You therefore deare Christian Brethren, who are, who have beene peccant in this kinde, for Gods sake, for Christs sake, for the holy Ghosts sake, for Religions sake, (which now extremely *Rom. 2.24. Isay 52.5. Ezech. 36.20, 23.suffers by this your folly;) for the Church and Common-weales sake, for your owne soules sake, which you so much neglect, repent of what is past recalling, and for the future time resolve through Gods assistance, never to cast away your time, your money, your estates, your good names, your lives, your salvation, upon these unprofitable spectacles of vanity, lewdnesse, lasciviousnesse, or these delights of sinne, of which you must necessarily repent and be fRom. 6.21. Ezra 9.6. Isay 1.29. c. 26.11. Ezech. 16.61, 63.ashamed, or else be condemned for them at the last; g1 Pet. 1.17.passing all the time of your pilgrimage here in feare, and imploying all the remainder of your short inconstant lives, in those honest studies, callings… and pious Christian duties, hRom. 6.22.which have their fruit unto holinesse, and the end everlasting life. And because we have now many wanton females of all sorts resorting daily by troopes unto our Playes, our Play-houses, to see and to be seene, as they did in iSee here, pag. 452.Ovids age; I shall only desire them (if not their Parents and Husbands, to consider; kSee Part 1. Act 6. Scene 2.4, 5. & p. 144.145, 146, 331, 332, 333, 349, 270, 389, 390, 391, 419, 430, to 442… 452, 498, 662. accordingly.that it hath evermore beene the notorious badge of prostituted Strumpets and the lewdest Harlots, to ramble abroad to Playes, to Play-houses; whether no honest, chast or sober Girles or Women, but only branded Whores, & infamous Adulteresses did usually resort in ancient times: the *Adulterijs… impudicitijs, puerorum violationibus omnia fervent, pernoctationes execrandae …iebant mulieresque ad ea spectacula vocabanturi: ô scelestum illud nocturnū funestū que spectaculū! in Theatro fiebat ea pernoctatio; & virgo inter adolescentes insanos atque ebriam turbam sedere cogebatur, &c. Chrysost. Hom. 5. in Tit. 1. Tom. 4. Col. 1484. B.Theater being then made a common Brothell: And that all ages, all places have constantly suspected the chastity, yea branded the honesty of those females who have beene so immodest as to resort to Theaters, to Stage-playes, which either finde or make them Harlots; *See pag. 333.356, 439, 443, 444. accordingly.inhibiting all married Wives and Virgins to resort to Playes and Theaters, *See Thomas Beacon his Catechisme. fol. 515. & 536. Women ought not to resort to Playes or Enterludes.as I have here amply proved… Since therefore Saint Paul expresly enjoynes all women (especially those of the younger sort) to be lTit. 2.4, 5.sober, chaste, keepers at home, (yea mSee here pag. 434.435. & Doctor Taylor his Commentary upon Titus 3. vers. 5. pag. 389.390. Thomas Beacon his Catechisme. fol. 515.536. and in his 3. Booke of Matrimony. fol. 675.therefore keepers at home, that they may be chaste and sober, as ancient and moderne Commentators glosse it;) that the Word of God be not blasphemed: (where as the dissolutenesse of our lascivious, impudent, rattle-pated gadding females now is such, that as if they had purposely studied to appropriate to themselves King Solomons memorable character of an whorish woman, nProv. 7.10, 11, 12, 13. See Lyra, Cartwright, Dod, …nd Holcot on this place.with an impudent face, a subtile heart and the attire of an Harlot; they are lowde and stubborne; their feet abide not in their houses; now they are without, now in the streets, and lie in wait at every corner; being never well pleased nor contented, but when they are wandring abroad to Playes, to Play-houses, Dancing-matches, Masques, and publike Shewes; from which nature it selfe (if we believe S. *Nam quoniam à scena & ijs quae illic sunt turpia & ind…cora ipsa natura abduxit mulieres, Diabolus quae sunt Theatri abduxit in gynecaeum, molles inquā, seu pathicos & meretrices. Hom. 12. in Col. 4 Tom. 4. Col. 1210 B…id. Ibidem.Chrysostome hath sequestred all women; (or to such suspicious places under pretence of businesse or some idle visits, where they oft-times leave their modesty, their chastity behinde them, to their eternall infamy:) Let me now beseech all female Play-haunters, as they regard this Apostolicall precept, which enjoynes them, to be sober, chast, keepers at home (or good carefull House-wives, as *See Coverdals and Tindals Translations; and the Fathers, who render it for the most part. Do…us curam habentes.som… have rendred it:) *1 Tim. 2.9, 10. 1 Pet. 3.3, 4, 5. 1 Cor. 11.5, 6, 15. Isay 3.16. to 25. Prov. 7.10. 2 King 9.30. See Gulielmus Peraldus. Summae Virtutum ac vitiorum. Tom. 2. Tit. De Superbia. cap. 10. to 15.adorning themselves in modest apparell, with shamefastnesse and sobriety: (which now are out of fashion) not with broidered cut or borrowed plaited haire, or gold, or pearles, or costly array, (the onelyonly fashions of our age;) but (which becommeth women professing godlinesse) with good workes: As they tender their owne honesty, fame or reputation both with God and men; the honour of their sex; the prayse of that Christian Religion, which they professe, the glory of their God, their Saviour, and their qCum enim judicium carnis ex anima pendeat, carni nihil potest utilius quam salus animae provideri. Bernardi Declamationes. fol. 170. B.soules salvation, to abandon Playes and Play-houses, as most pernicious Pests; where rSee Part 1. Act 6. Scen… 3.4, 5, 20. & pag. 333.356, 439, 443, 444.all females, wrecke their credits; most, their chastity; some, their fortunes; not a few, their soules: and to say unto them as the Philosopher did unto his wealth which he cast into the Sea, *Hierom. Epist. 34. cap. 3. pag. 90.Abite in profundum malae cupiditates; ego vos mergam ne ipse mergar à vobis.
CATASTROPHE.
I Have now deare Christian Readers, through Gods assistance, compleatly finished this my Histrio-Mastix, wherein I have represented both to your view and sIn hoc enim Tractatu, non solum pium Lectorem sed etiam liberum correctorem desidero. Veruntamen sicut lectorem meum nolo mihi esse deditum, ita correctore… nolo sibi. Ille me non amet amplius quàm catholicam …idem; iste se non am…t amplius quàm catholicam veritatem. Augustinus. lib. 3. De Trinitate. Pro… mio. & Petrus Lombardus. in lib. 4. Se…tentiarum. Pr…logus.censures to, (as well as my poore ability, and other interloping Imployments would permit,) the unlawfulnesse, the mischievous qualities and effects of Stage-playes themselves, and of their penning, acting, and frequenting; endeavoring (out of a tRom. 10.1.cordiall desire of your eternall welfare) as much as in mee lieth, to perswade you to abandon them; by ripping up the severall mischiefes and dangers that attend them. If any therefore henceforth perish by frequenting Stage-playes, after this large discovery of their sin-engendring soule-condemning qualities, their sinne, uEzech. 34.…. Acts 20.26.their blood shall light upon their owne heads, not an mine, who have taken all this paines to doe them good. All then I shall desire of you in recompence of my labour, is but this; that as I have acted my part in oppugning, so you would now play your parts to in abominating, in abandoning, Stage-playes, without which this Play-refuting Treatise, will doe no good, but hurt unto your soules, by turning your sinnes of ignorance, into sinnes of knowledge and rebellion. The labour of it hath beene mine alone; my desire, my prayer is and shall bee, that the benefit, the comfort of it may be yours, the Republikes, and the glory, Gods; the xVbi Deus Magister est… quàm citò discitur quod docetur. Le…. 1. De Pentecoste. Serm. 1. cap. 1.convincing concurrence of whose ever-blessed Spirit, so blesse, so prosper it to your everlasting weale, that y1 Thes. 5.23.your whole spirits, soules and bodies, may be henceforth preserved blamelesse, from all future soule-defiling Enterludes and delights of sinne, unto the comming of our Lord Iesui Christ… ( z2 Cor. 5.10. Rom. 14.10, 11.before whose dreadful Tribunall we must al ere long be summoned, to give an account of all our actions:) & that you may so judge of Stage-playes now, as you will determine of them in that great dreadfull Day of Iudgement, and in the day of death, when you shall not judge amisse. And because no dissolute Libertines, or licentious Readers through Satans or the worlds delusions, should cheat their …oules of the benefit intended to them by this worke, out of a prejudicate opinion, that it is overstrict, and more then puritanically invective against Players, Playes and Theaters; to prevent this fond evasion, and to put all aNunquam n. sine querela aegra tanguntur. Seneca De Ira. lib. 3. cap. 10.exclaiming Play-patriots to perpetuall silence, pretermitting the memorable omitted authorities of Gulielmus Stuckius, Antiquitatum Convivalium. lib. 3. cap, 20…21, 22, &c Tiguri. 1597. and of Gulielmus Peraldus, Summae Virtutum ac Vitiorum. Tom. 2. Lugduni. 1585. Tit. De Luxuria. c. 3. p. 68. to 77. two excellent learned Discourses against Stage-playes, health-drinking, and bAgainst which See Robertus Massonius his Treatise of Dancing… & Part 1. Act 5. Scene 8.9. with the Author… there quoted; and those other Writers in the Table.mixt lascivious dancing, which I shall commend unto your reading; with cQuando populus ad ecclesiam venerit tàm per dies Dominicos, quàm & per solemnitates sanctorum, aliud ibi non agat, nisi quod ad Dei pertinet servitium. Illas vero balationes & saltationes, canticaque turpia, & luxuriosa, & illa lusa Diabolica non faciat, nec in plateis, nec in domibus, neque in ullo loco, quia haec de Paganorum consuetudine remanserunt. Et qui ipsa fecerit canonicam sententiam accipiat. Bo…hellus Decret. Ecclesiae Gallicanae. lib. 4. Tit. 1. cap. 39. pag. 549, &c. See Tit. 10. cap. 2. to 19. where there are divers Constitutions to the same purpose.the Imperiall Edicts of Charles the Great, against Stage-playes and Dancing on Lords-dayes, and Holy-dayes, and all fore-cited Play-condemning Authorities:) I shall here by way of Conclusion, cloze up this whole Discourse, with the words of Ioannis Mariana, a famous Spanish Iesuit; who besides his large and learned Booke, De Spectaculis, professedly oppugning Stage-playes, hath since the publication of that Treatise, in his 3. Booke and 16. Chapter De Rege & Regum Institutione. pag. 341. to 352. (dedicated to King Philip the 3. of Spaine, and published in the yeere 1598. Cum Privilegio Caesareae Majestatis & permissu Superiorum, with the speciall prefixed approbations of Stephanus Hoieda, Visitor, and Petrus De Onna, Master Provinciall of the Iesuits of the Province of Toledo, in Spaine,) delivered his positive and deliberate resolution against Players, Playes, and Play-houses in these ensuing termes, which is every way as harsh, as rigid and precise as any verdict, that either I my selfe, or any other fore-quoted Authors have here past against them. His words well worthy all Players and Play-haunters consideration are these.
*De Rege & Regum Instit. lib. 3. cap. 16. p. 341. to 352. Edit. We…belij. 1611.Publicam ludorum insaniam, quae spectacula nominantur, *In his Books De Spectaculis. Coloniae. Agrip. 1609. See here pag. 695.seperata disputatione pro virili parte castigavimus, multis que Argumentis & majorum testimonijs confirmavimus, theatri licentiam, de qua potissimum laborandum est, nihil esse aliud; *Nota.quam o…ficinam impudicitiae & improbitatis, ubi omnis aetatis, sexus & conditionis homines depravantur: simulatis que & ludicris actionibus ad vitia vera informantur. Admonentur enim quid facere possint, & inflammantur libidine, quae aspectu maxime & auribus concitatur: puellae presertim, & juvenes, quos intempestive voluptatibus infici grave est, *Nota bene.at que reipublicae Christianae exitiale malum. Quid enim continet scena, nisi virginum *Hence Saint Hierom writes thus: Repertum est facinus quod nec mimus fingere, nec scurra ludere, nec Atella…us possit effari. Epist. 48. cap. 3. pag. 103. because Players usually acted most wicked things.stupra, & mores prostituti pudoris faeminarum, lenonum artes, at que lenarum, ancillarum & servorum fraudes, versibus numerosis & ornatis explicata, sententiarum luminibus distincta, eo que tenacius memoriae adhaerentia, quarum rerum ignoratio multò commodi…r est? Histrionum impudici motus & gestus, fractae que in faeminarum modum voces, quibus impudicas mulieres imitantur, quid aliud nisi ad libidinem in…lammant, per se ad vitia satis proclives? An major ulla corruptela morum excogitari possit? Quae enim in scena per imaginem aguntur, peracta fabula cum risu commemorantur, sine pudore deinde fiunt, voluptatis cupiditate animum titillante: qui sunt veluti gradus ad suscipiendam pravitatem, cum sit facilie à jocis ad seria transitus. Rectè enim & sapienter Solomon, Quasi per risum, inquit, stultus operatur Scelus; turpia enim, at que inhonesta factu dictu que dum ridemus, approbamus: suo que pondere pravitas identidem inpejus trahit: *Nota.Censeo ergo, moribus Christianis certissimā pestem afferre theatri licentiam, nomini Christiano gravissimam ignominiam. Censeo Principi eam rem vel maxime curae fore, ne aut ipse suo exemplo authoritatem conciliet arti vanissimae, si frequenter intersit spectaculis, audiat que libenter fabulas, praesertim quae ab histrionibus venalibus exhibentur: & quoad fieri poterit, de tota provincia exturbet eam pravitatem. Ne que concedat mores suorum ea turpitudine depravari. *Nota.Hoc nostrum votum est destinata que sententia. Verum populi levitas & peccantium multitudo, quasi moles quaedam opponitur; tum auctoritas eorum qui communi Errori patrocinantur. Et est excusatio furoris multitudo insanorum, hoc quo que nomine prava nostra natura, quod vitijs suis & cupiditatibus favet, ne que facile avelli se sinit ab ijs quae cum voluptate suscipiuntur; cujus sumus natura cupidissimi. Vsque adeo ut si quis vanitati resistat, ei vehementer irascatur populi multitudo. *See here, pag. 3.4.Ille si… publicus inimicus, Augustinus ait, cui haec faelicitas displicet, quisquis eam auferre vel mutare tentaverit, eum libera multitudo, avertat ab auribus, evertat à sedibus, auferat à viventibus. Excaecat nimirum prava consuetudo animos, & quae passim fieri videmus, defendere conantur quidem *Let our Play-patrons well observe this Epithite.licentiae patroni, magni scilicet Theologi, quasi juri & aequitati consona, otio & literis abu…entes: quos redarguere facile erit testimonio & authoritate veterum Theologorum, in hac re non discrepantium; à quibus discedere nostrae aetatis Theologos velle non putamus. Has omnes simulatae veritatis praestigias retegere non erit difficile, multitudinem à furore retinere difficilius erit: nisi publica accesserit authoritas, quorum interest magistratuum. Profecto curandum est, ut ea opinio publice suscipiatur, *Let Play-haunters note this well.Theatra sane, quibus obscaena argumenta tractantur; officinam universae improbitatis esse, qui concurrunt eò non secus facere, quam qui ad ganeas, ad furta, ad caedes, ad lupanaria: qui suscepti laboris fructus erit multò maximus. Erunt enim qui pravitate cognita desinant peccare, salutem que suam turpi voluptate potiorem habeant, ne que prudenter & scientes in mortem ferantur furentes, rapidi, & miserabiles. Illud certe omni cura prestandum, ut haec *Let Players marke this stile and title.natio perditorum hominum, penitus à templis exturbet…r: quod Romanorum tempore fuisse aliquando factum, Tacitus, Libro quartodecimo his verbis indicat. Ac ne modica quidem studia plebis exarsere, quia redditi quanquam scaenae pantomimi, *And if Pagans prohibited Players to come unto their Idols Solemnities, shall Christians admit them to the Church or Sacraments?certamnibus sacris prohibeantur. *Stage-playes then are no fit Ornaments for Christian Feastivals and Solemnities, this very Iesuit being Iudge.Qua ergo fronte histriones de foro raptos é publicis diversorijs in Templu… Christiani inducent, ut per eos sacra festorum laetitia augeatur? Aut quî conveniat, uti Augustinus contra Romanos antiquos ait; histriones ignominia notare, at que in infamiûm numero ponere, per quos divinus cultus honestatur? cur à sacris ordinibus repellantur, quod ecclesiasticae leges sanciunt, quorum opera dies festi & caelestium celebritates illustrantur? Sed obijcis fortasse, eos in templis non in turpibus argumentis versari, sed sacras historias referre; quod utinam verum esset, & non potius ad movendum populi risum, obscaenissima quo que actitarent. Et est acerbum negare non posse, quod sit turpe confiteri. *Such is th… holinesse of our Popish Playes.S…imus s…pe in sanctissimis templis inter fabuli actus, ch…ri adinstar adulterorum furta, amores tu…pes recitari, ut honestissimus quis que ea spectacula vitare debeat, si decori, & pudori consultum velit. *Nota bene.Et putabimus tamen quae à modestis hominibus fugiuntur, ea caelestibus esse grata? Ego crediderim potius quasi sordes & religionis ludibria, hos omnes ludos à sanctissimistemplis esse exterminandos, ac imprimis publicos histriones, qui cum turpi vita sint, religionem faedare potius sua ipsorum ignominia videntur; & assueti turpibus, in sanctissimis locis odorem, quo imbuti sunt, ore, oculis, & toto corpore exhalant: ac nescio an aliquando fabulam agant, quin verba turpia, vel imprudentibus saepe excidant: & hos tamen contendemus divinis celebritatibus adhibere? Sed fac, (quod nunquam accidisse probabis) histriones severa aliqua lege constrictos, intra modestiae fines contineri posse, ac sacras tantum historias cum dignitate referre; *Sacred stories therefore in this Iesuits judgement ought not to be acted on the Stage, no nor yet in Church…: which controls the practise of his fellow Priests and Iesuits.contendo, non minus eum morem cum religionis sanctitate pugnare, ne que minus dedecus reipub. afferre: Quî enim conveniat ab hominibus turpibus Divorum res gestas referri, eos que Francisci, Dominici, Magdalenae, Apostolorum, ipsius etiam *Quanto res sacratior tanto abusus …jus damnabilior. Concil. Coloniense 1536. pars 9. cap 16. Surius. Tom. 4 pag. 787.Christi personas repraesentare? An non id sit Caelum terrae, aut caeno potius, sacra profanis miscere? Imagines in templis magna honestate depingi cavetur, & impudicam faeminam Mariae aut Catharinae, probosum hominem Augustini, aut Antonij personam sustinere patiamur? Quod Arnobius certe, & antiquior Tertullianus ab antiquis factitatum accusant: ignominiosos homines in scenam sanctissimorum Deorum personas inducere. Nonne violatur Majestas. (Tertullianus ait) & divinitas constupratur, laudantibus vobis? Quae verba ad nostros mores transferas licet, at que in antiquis interpreteris… nostrorum licentiam & turpitudinem accusari. *Nota.Ita que si duorum optio danda esset, mallem ab histrionibus profanas fabulas agi, quam sacras historias: quo…iam cum decore & honestate eos facere non posse persuasum plane habeo, tum ob eorum vilitatem & dedecus, tum ob faedissimos mores, parem que actionum levitatem & turpitudinem. Et ipse cogitabam in templis festis que Divorum omnia ad pietatera & modestiara comparanda esse, quibus rebus animus excitatur ad religionem & ad rerum divinarum contemplationem, ijs que communiter & privatim vacandum esse. Risus, plausus, clamores an id praestens, per se quis que considerabit. Sequitur pravitas alia, ne que minor superiori, neque minus devitanda. *They h…ve Women actors in Spaine, as we have fem…le Spectators, and Playing Boyes in Womens attire.Mulieres excellenti pulchritudine, eximia actionum venustate & gratia inducuntur in Theatrum, quod maximum est incitamentum libidinis, & ad corrumpendos homines potissimum valet. Deus enim (uti Basilius ait libro de virginitate) cum conderet animantes in utrum que sexum distinctas, aestrum mutuae cupiditatis inseruit, inter homines maxime, qua se invicem appeterent, majorem multò in viro, quoniam faeminam de ejus latere formatam diligit ut proprium membrum, & ad eam toto impetu rapitur. *N…ta.Sic faemina in se quandam virtutem habet, miram que potestatem trahendi ad se virum, non secus a… Magnes, cum ipse non moveatur, ferrum ad se rapit. Contra hanc potissimum cupiditatem pugnare debent, quicun que pudicitiae dignitatem consequi student, nunquam interrupto us que ad vitae finem certamine: *Let Play-haunters ponder this.Quod an ij faciant, qui tanto studio ad Theatra concurrunt, pius & modestus lector secum ipse consideret. Enim vero cum histriones studia omnia lucro metiantur, ut multitudinem alliciant, quam non ignorant aspectu mulierum, & auditu maxime capi, omnes fraudes suscipiunt, nulla honestatis cura: us que eò ut in templa etiam turpes has mulierculas inducant: quod his Annis non semel factitatum est, neque uno loco in Hispania, quod horrescunt audire aures; de quibus rebus egerint pudet, piget que dicere. Et *Nota.Principum munus est resistere levitati multitudinis, & perditorum hominum temeritati. Non ignoramus antiquis temporibus mulieres in scenas fuisse invectas, quas insigni impudentia corpora etiam nudasse, omnem que aetatem objecta specie libidinis expugnasse passim at que corrupisse, sua quo que aetate *Hom, 38. in Matth.Chrysostomus multis locis accusat. Nudas quidem in nostra Theatra mulieres prodire non arbitror, tametsi nonnunquam in ipsa actione nudari audiebam, certe tenuissimis vestibus indutas prodire, quibus membra omnia figurantur, ac ferme subijcuntur oculis. Mulieris autem aspectu pulchrae & ornatae, preterea ge…tus & verba in molliciem fracta adjungentis, quid potentius esse possit ad illiciendas animas, at que in sempiternam mortem impellendas, inflammandas que libidine, ego sane non video: vincit officium linguae periculi magnitudo: eo amplius quod haec etiam turpitudo suos patronos habet, non quosuis de populo, sed viros eruditionis & modestiae opinione praestantes. Aiunt enim aut comaedias in universum abdicandas, aut mulieres inducendas in Theatrum, *Nota be…e.quod majus periculum immineat si pueri substituantur in veste muliebri & ornatu, quo aspectu ad praeposteram & nefariam libidinem populus solicitetur. Nimirum velamen malitiae quaerunt: aliud agunt, aliud agere videri volunt. Hispanorum nationi suspicio criminis imponitur, à quo natura abhorret, (paucos excipio) & nos in provincijs quibus id malum viget, scimus saepe pueros in scenam prodijsse sine periculo; varias que personas ut res se dabat cum dignitate, eligantiaque actitasse. Cupiditas autem muliebris sexus latius patet, majoresque multo impetus habet, non solum in corruptissimis hominibus & pravis, quales sunt qui puerorum amoribus indulgent, sed in alijs etiam viris, aliqua probitatis & modestiae laude conspicuis. Mit…o quod faeminae scenicae, quae histriones consectantur & adjuvant, formasunt venali, sive quod tot viris procacibus & otiosis circumseptae, *Nota bene.mira…uli instar esset, si pudice viverent: & ex turpi questuplerum que raptae, posito amplius in Theatro pudore ad ingenium redeunt. Ita vulgato inter plures corpore omnibus exitium afferunt, juvenes otiosi & perditi (quorum magnus numerus ubi que est) eo aspectu concitati feruntur precipites: unde rixae graves, vulnera, & cedes, contemptus parentum & rei familiaris prae amore earum muliercularum. Quae probra, & similia multa alia, qui digna non putat quae omni studio avertantur, ferreus sit & communi hominum caeterorum sensu ratione que destitutus. *No standing Play-houses are to be suffred by this Iesuits sentence, whose reasons I wish all Magistrates and others would consider.Censeo praeterea nullam certam sedem histrionibus extruendam publice, domum aut Theatrum, quam lucri parte locatam unde inopes alantur, aut quod in alias publicas utilitates impendatur; ea enim species obtenditur ab ijs qui contra statuunt. *No standing Play-houses are to be suffred by this Iesuits sentence, whose reasons I wish all Magistrates and others would consider.Primum enim facto Theatro occasio manifesta praebetur honesta conditione viris & faeminis inter se libere conveniendi, praesertim domus, aut Theatri magistro venali: nam qui emit magno, venda… necesse est omnem licentiam, quae ab illo flagitare homines perditi poterunt: fiet que ex Theatro lupanar multo exitialius quam alia: deinde frequentiores ludi erunt perpetua sede publice designata, quam omnino sit opus. Alliciet loci opportunitas ad ludendum & spectandum, & praefectus cum magno eam sedem conduxerit histriones undi que conquiret, nullum que diem elabi sine ludo patietur; quin potius diebus noctes continuabit, quanta cum perturbatione reipublicae dicere non est necesse. Quis enim juvenes avellat ab ea vanitate? Opifices & agrestes relicto opere quotidiano concurrent, famuli heros contemnent, faeminae viros & familiam, prae cupiditate spectandi: quod scimus hoc etiam tempore ex parte contingere. Praeterea histrionum numerus extructo certe Theatro per urbes & oppida, immensum augebitur pondus iners atque inutile, cum sint enervati voluptatibus; nam & lucri aviditas multos excitabit, neque nisi magno numero poterunt tam multis Theatris satisfacere. *O that all Christian Princes, Magistrates, and Play-haunters would well weigh this reason.Postremo, num juvenes ex his privilegijs & bacchanalibus, aut strenuos milites, aut bonos senatores fore credimus? discent illi quidem ea inspectione amare, armorum pondus, alias que molestias sustinere non poterunt, cum totos dies residere in Theatris consueverint: quo tempore aut aequos calcaribus inci…are & flectere potuissent, aut alia ratione vires corporis exercere, aut certe pacis artes commentari. Scimus Romae primum ex lapide Theatrum à Gneio Pompeio fuisse extructum, nam antea scena ad tempus ex materia facta utebantur, tanta ex eo opere populi gratia, ut magni cognomen ex ea fabrica accesserit. Id fuit multitudinis judicium, qua pal…ae instar levissimae in omnes partes circumfertur: nam prudentiorum magnae partis repraehensionem incurrit, unde laudem captabat. Sic docet Tacitus libro quartodecimo, productis etiam in utramque partem probandi & improbandi Theatra argumentis: ut *Nota bene.quod in ea temporum faece & morum labe dubitatumest… nobis pro certo lege esse debeat, nequaquam populi Christiani moribus & sanctitati convenire, ut per urbes & appida, certa, perpetua que sedes histrionibus detur. Scimus saepa à Censoribus Romae eversa Theatra nihilominus, quasi morum certissimam à lascivia labem: & erit in populo Christiano, hac professione, qui restituenda contendat? Ad haec: Suscepta Christi religione per omnes pene Civitates cadunt Theatra, uti Augustinus ait, caveae turpitudinum & publicae professiones flagitiosorū; & nos ea instauranda contendamus? Vincit rei dignitas orationis facultatem. *Nota…Neque excuses, nostra Theatra non esse conferenda cum antiquis, neque majestate operis, neque ludorum apparatu… Turpit…dinem loci accusamus, non structurae modum; rivus tenuis, naturam continet fontis unde manat; surcu…us arboris unde excisus est, succum habet. Nam si magno vectigali, sublato Theatro rempub… privari accuses, risum tenere non potero, ne que enim tanti lucrum esse debet, ut mores populi & religio negligantur; neque deerunt aliunde rationes, si Theatra repudiemus, ad egenorum inopiam sublevandam. Et mihi qui secus statuunt, magni Pompeij factum imitari velle videntur. Is enim ut reprehensionem evaderet quasi Theatro constituto turpitudinis scholam apperuis…et, Veneris Templo Theatrum quasi appendicem adjunxit, religionis sanctitate novam structuram velaturus, nimirum verebatur ne aliquando memoriae suae censoria ignominia accederet, quasi arcem omnium turpitudinum struxisset; uti Tertullianus ait: Ergo Pompeij imitatione cum templis, aut hospitijs pauperum theatrum jungatur, quo majus lucrum sit, honestius susceptae improbitatis velamen. *Note this ensuing passage, and the accursed fruits of Stage-playes, well.Censeo ergo cum multis, fore è republica, si histriones pretio venales penitus removeantur. Omnes enim pecuniae vias norunt, & pecuniae causa omnes turpitudines suscipiunt, instillant que alijs; questuaria arte exhauriunt iunt pecunias, & veluti sopitis voluptate sensibus latenter extorquent, quas non minori turpitudine insumant, otio & desidia ut torpeant Cives efficiunt, quae omnium vitiorum radix est, vitijs omnibus & fraudibus viam muniunt, libidine maxime, quae auribus & oculis suscipitur. Divinum Cultum minuunt diebus festis, cum vacandum esset rebus divinis, populo ad spectacula attracto, quae pestis omnibus piaculis procuranda videbatur. *This the Iesuit writes, not that hee would have any Stage-playes suffred, for he professeth the contrary before; but onelyonly by way of prevention; that in case he could not procure all Playes to bee suppressed, that yet those that were tolerated might bee thus regulated.Quod si non obtinemus, ut ludi scenici penitus amoveantur, & placet nihilominus eam oblectationem populis dare: quod jus & aequitas postulare videtur, impetrare certe cupimus, ut delectus aliquis sit, neque promiscue licentia quidvis agendi histrionibus concedatur: sed legibus certis circumscribantur & finibus, quos nemo impune transgrediatur. *Nota bene.Tametsi nullis legibus putabam furorem hunc satis frenari: prudenter quidam O here, inquit, quae res nec modum habet ne que Consilium, ratione, modo que tractari non vult. Sequamur tamen Platonis institutum, qui poetarum Carminibus examinandis praefici sanxit viros prudentes non minores quinquaginta annis: eorum judicio quaecunque agendae erunt fabulae examinentur, ipsi etiam intermedij actus quibus major turpitudo inesse solet; mulieres in Theatra inducere nefas esto: Theatrum nusquam publice constituatur. Diebus festis (u…i antiquis legibus sancitum meminimus) ludi scenici ne exhibeantur, ne temporibus quidem jejunij Christiani: quid enim commercij squalori cum Theatri risu, plausu que . A templis & sanctorum qui cum Christo in Caelo regnant, ac omnino divinis celebritatibus amoveantur: ac praesertim ij modi & gestus, quibus turpitudo in memoriam revocatur, & ferme oculis subijcit…r, quae sunt vulnerareligionis nostrae probra, monstra que immania: Hispanorum nationis dedecora, *See here, pag. 213.445, 446, 881. & BB Ponet his Apologie or Answer to D. Martyn, p. 61… & 78. Ba…aeus Centur. 8. pag. 665. where the Sodomy of the Papists and Popish Clergie is descried.adeo faeda, ut stilus contrectare vereatur, suoque se faetore tueri hoc genus mali videatur. Postremo, quoad fieri poterit minori aetate pueri & puellae arceantur ab ijs spectaculis, ne à teneris reipublicae s…minarium vitijs inficiatur, quae gravissima pestis est. A…sint inspectores publice designati, viri pij & prudentes quibus cura sit ut turpitudo omnis amoveatur, & potestas coercendi paena si quis se petulanter gesserit. Deni que , populus intelligat, histriones non probari à republica, sed populi oblectationi at que importunis precibus dati: quae cum non potest quae …unt meliora obtinere, solet aliquando minora mala tolerare, & populi levitati aliquid concedere. What could any Puritan or Precisian (as the *See here Part 1 Act 8. Scene 7. pag. 797. to 828. accordingly. Quod autem de istis quaedam inhonesta & maligna jactantur, nolo mireris, cum scias hoc esse opus s…mper Diaboli, ut servos Dei mendacio lacerat, & opinionibus falsis gloriosum nomen infamet; ut qui conscientiae luce suae clarescunt alienis rumoribus sordidentur. Cyprian. Epist. l. 4. Epist. 1. p 170.171.world now stiles all such who run not with them into the same excesse of riot and prophanesse) write more against Stage-playes, Play-houses, Players, Play-haunters; or what have I said more against them in this Treatise, then this great Iesuit hath done, and that by publike approbation both of his Royall Soveraigne, his Visitor and Superior too? And must not Stage-playes then be extremely bad when as pofessed Iesuits so severely censure them? yea, shall not Protestants, nay Papists to, be unexcusably licentious, if they should be more moderate or indulgent unto Playes, then they? Let no Player, or Play-haunter, no voluptuous libertine therefore henceforth quarrel either with me or others, as being too puritanically rigid against Stage-playes, when as these loose Iesuits equalize, if not exceed us in their Play-condemning Censures, as this large transcribed passage fully proves. b2 Pet. 3.17.Yee therefore, beloved Readers, seeing yee now know these things before hand, beware lest ye also being led away to Playes, to Theaters, with the error, the example, the importunate sollicitations of the wicked (as many ignorant and unstable nominall Christians have beene before you;) fall from your owne stedfastnesse, faith and Christian vertues, into a sinke of hellish vices, to your eternall ruine. cHeb. 13.20, 21.Now the God of peace that brought againe from the dead our Lord Iesus, that great Shepheard of the Sheepe, through the blood of the everlasting Covenant, make you perfect in every good worke to doe his will; working in you that which is well-pleasing in his sight, through Iesus Christ; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
Augustinus de Symbolo ad Catechumenos. l. 4. c. 2.
Quisquis contempto Deo sequeris mundum, & ipse te deserit mundus. Sequere adhuc quantū potes fugitivum, & si potes apprehendere eum, tene eum: sed video non potes, fallis te. Illen. labiles motus suos torrentis ictu percurrens, dum te videt inhaerentem sibi, & tenentem se, ad hoc te rapit, non ut salvet, sed ut perdat te. Quid n. cū pompis Diaboli amator Christi? Noli te fallere, odit n. tales Deus, nec inter suos deputat professores, quos cernit viae suae desertores. Ecce ruinosus est mundus, eccetantis calamitatibus replevit Dominus mundum, ecce amarus est mundus & sic amatur, quid faceremus si dulcis esset? O munde immunde! teneri vis periens, quid faceres si maneres? Quem non deciperes dulcis si amarus alimenta mentiris? Vultis dilectissimi non inhaerere mundo, eligite amare creator…m mundi, & renunciate pompis mundanis, quibus Princeps est Diabolus cum Angelis suis.
FINIS.