The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 6 · Scene 12

The Players Scourge · Part 1 · Act 6 · Scene 12

SCENA DVODECIMA.

12THe twelfe effect of Stage-playes is this: That they wholy indispose their Actors and Spectators to all religious duties: that they withdraw and keepe them from Gods service: that they bring the **See Molanus Hist. S. Imagi…um. l. 4. c. 18.Word, the worship, yea all the ordinances of God into contempt; making them vaine and ineffectuall to their soules.

1First, I say, that Stage-playes in…ispose men to the acceptable performance of every religious duty; be it p. 522prayer, **Dum enim auditum ad indebitos sermones effundun… aures intenta… non porrigun… ad divina. Concil. Lateranens… sub. Innocentio 3. cap. 17.hearing, and reading of Gods Word, receiving the Sacraments, and the like. This sundry Fathers fully testifie: and I would to God all Christians would well weigh their words which much concerne their soules in the very maine of Christianity, to wit, Gods worship, and their vow in baptisme. Tertullian informes us; nnDe Spectac… lis. c. 17. & pag. 396.397, 398.That Stage-playes defile the eyes, the …ares, the soule… of the Spectators, and make them to appeare polluted in Gods sight. That none of the things deputed unto Stage-playes are pleasing unto God, or beseeming the servants of God, because they were all instituted for the D…vill, and furnished out of the De…ils treasury… for every thing that is not of God, or displeasing unto God is of the Devill: ooQuot adhuc modis perorabimus, nihil ex his quae spectaculis deputantur, placitū Deo esse aut congruens Dei servis, quod Domino placitum non sit, …i omnia propter Diabolum instituta, & ex Diaboli rebus instructa monstrabimus: nihil enim no… Diaboli est, quicquid Dei non est vel Deo displicet: hoc erit pompa Diaboli adversus quā in signaculo fidei ejeramus. Quod autem ejeramus ne que facto, ne que dicto, ne que visu, ne que aspectu participare debe…us. Caeterū nonne ejeramus & rescindimus signac…lū, rescindendo testationem ejus? Nunquid ergo superest u… ab ipsis Ethnicis respo…sum flagitemus, an liceat Christianis spectaculo uti? Atquin hinc vel maximè intelligunt factum Christianum, de repudio spectaculorum… Ita que negat manifestè qui per quod agnoscitur, tollit. Quid autem sp…i superest in hujusmodi homine? nemo in castra hostium transit, nisi projectis armis suis, nisi destitutis signis & Sacramentis principis sui, ni…i pactus simul perire? Ibid. c. 24.Stage-playes they are the pompe of the Devill, against which we have protested in the seale of our faith: That therefore which we renounce, we ought not to participate of neither in deed, nor word, nor sight, now view. And doe we not then reno…nce and teare off the seale againe, in cutting off the testimoniall of it? Shall we then desire an answer from the very Heathens themselves? Shall they resolve us, whether it be lawfull for Christians to use Stage-playes? But verily they most of all discerne a man to be a Christian, even from this renouncing of Stage-playes: he therefore doth manifestly deny himselfe to be a Christian, who takes away this badge by which he should be knowne to be a Christian. Now what hope is there remaining in such a one? No man hath revolted unto the enemies Tents, unlesse he first cast away his armes, unlesse he hath first forsaken the colours and allegeance of his Princ…, unlesse he hath covenanted to perish together with them. ppAn ille recogitabit eo tempore de Deo, positus illic ubi nihil est de Deo? pudicitiam ediscet, attonitus in mimos? Sed tragaed o vociferante, ex…lamationes ille alicujꝰ prophetae retracta…it? Inter effaeminationis modos psalmū secū cōminiscetur? & cū athletae agent, ille dicturus est, repercutiendum non efse? poterit & de misericordia moveri defixus in morsus ursorum & spongias retiatiorum? Av…rtat Deus à suis tantam voluptatis exitiosae cupiditatem. Ibidem. cap. 25.Will …e thinke earnestly of God at that time, who is placed where there is nothing at all of God? will he thorowly learne chastity who admires Stage-playes? will he call to minde the exclamations… of some prophet, whiles the Tragedians are crying out? will he m…ditate of a Psalme, who …its amidest effeminating measures? or can he be moved with compassion, who is wholy intent upon the biting of Beares, and the spunges of retiaries? God turne away from all his so great a desire of pernicious pleasure. qqQuale est enim de ecclesia Dei ad Diaboli Ecclesiam tendere? de caelo (quod aiunt) in caenum? illas manus quas ad dominum extuleris, postmodum laudando histrionem fatigare? ex ore quo Amen in sanctum protuleris, gladiatori testimonium reddere? foreign alij omnino dicere nisi Deo Christo? Cur igitur non ejusmodi etiam Daemonijs penetrabiles fiant? Nemo enim potest duobus dominis servire. Quid luci cum tenebris? quid vitae & morti? Ibidem. cap. 26.For what a desperate wicked thing is it, for a man to goe out of the Church of God, into the Chappell of the Devill? out of Heaven (as they say) into the mire and clay? those hands which thou hast lifted up unto the Lord in prayer, to weary afterwards in applauding a Stage-player? out out of the same mouth with which thou hast uttered Amen, to the holy one, to give testimony to a Sword-player? or to say, (foreign,) for ever and ever, to any one but to God Christ? Why then may not such become liable to the possession of D…vils, &c? For no man can serve two Maisters. What hath light to doe with darkenesse? What relation hath life to death? rrOdisse debemus istos conventus & caetus Ethnico…um, vel quod illic nomen Dei blasph… matur, inde tentationes emittantur. Quid facies in illo suffragiorum impiorum aestuario depraehensus, non quasi aliquid illic pati possis ab hominibꝰ, nemo te cognoscit Chri…tianum, sed recogita quid de te fiat in caelo. Dubitas enim illo momento quo in Diaboli ecclesia …ueris, omnes Angelos prospicere d… caelo, & singulos deuotare, quis blasphemiam dixe…it, quis audierit, quis linguam, quis aures Diabolo adversus Deum administraverit? Non ergo sugies sedilia hosti…m Christi, illam cathedram pe…tilentiariam, ipsum que aërem qui desuper incubat, scelestis vocibus con…tupra…um? Ibidem. cap. 27.we ought to hate these assemblies of Pagans, even because the Name of God is there bla…phemed, and because divers temptations are sent out from thence. How wilt thou doe being deprehended at unawares in that over-flowing of impious suffrages; not as though thou shouldest there suffer any thing from men; for no man knoweth thee to be a Christian; but consider seriously, what may be done concerning thee in Heaven. For do…t thou do…bt but that in the very moment when as thou p. 523art in the church of the Devill, all the Angels looke downe from Heaven, and take speciall notice of every one there present; observing who he is that speakes blasphemy, who that heares i…, who it is that lends his tongue, his eares to the Devill, against God? Wilt thou not therefore flie these seates o… the enemies of Chri…t, this pestilentiall chaire, and that very aire which hangs over it, adulterated with wicked words and sounds, &c? Thus he: whose words sufficiently testifie, that Stage-playes indispose men to all religious duties; because they defile their eyes, their eares, their hands, their soules, they being the **See here, pag. 42. to 61. & 561. to 567.pompes, the inventions of the Devill which are incompatible with Christianity: because they teare of the very seale and cognisance of their Christianity: and wholy inthrall them to the Devils vassalage. Saint Cyprian writes thus of Stage-playes to the selfesame purpose. ssQuid Scriptura interdixit? Prohibuit enim spectari, quod prohibet geri. Omnia inquā, ista spectaculorum genera damnavit, quandò idololatriam sustulit ludorū omniū matrem; unde haec vanitatis & levitatis mon…ra venerunt. Quod enim spectaculum sinc idolo? quis ludus sine sacrificio? quod certamen non consecratū mortuo? Quid inter haec Christianus fidelis facit? si idololatriam fugit, quid loq…itur? Qui jam sanctus sit, de rebus criminosis voluptatem capit? Quid contra Deum superstitiones probat, quas amat, dum spectat? Caeterum sciat haec omnia daemoniorum inventa esse, non Dei. Cyprian De Specta…ulis. lib. Edit. Pamelij. pag. 243.244.What hath the Scripture interdicted? V…rily it hath prohibited that to be behold, which it inhibiteth to be acted. I say, it hath condemned all these kindes of spectacles when as it hath taken away Idolatry the mother of all Playes, from whence these Monsters of vanity and le…ity have proceeded. For what spectacle is there without an Idoll? what Play without a sacrifice, &c? What doth a faithful Christian make among these? if he flieth Idolatry, why doth he speake it? he who is now holy, can he r…p… pleasure from criminous things? Why approves he super…t…tions against God, which he affecteth whiles that he beholds them? But let him know, that all these are the inventions of Devils, not of God. ttImpudenter in Ecclesia Daemonia exorcizat, quorum voluptates in spectaculis laudat: & cum semel illi renunciando, recisa sit res omnis in Baptismate, dum post Christum ad Diaboli spectaculum vadit, Christo tanquam Diabolo…renunciat. Idololatria, ut jam dixi, ludorum omnium mater est; quae ut ad se Christianos fideles veniant, blanditur illis per oculorum & aurium voluptatem, &c. Ibidem.He impudently exorcizeth Devils in the Church, whose pleasures …e applaudes in Stage-playes: and when as by renouncing him once, every thing of his was pared off in Baptisme; whiles that after Christ (I pray observe it all you Christians who resort to Stage-playes) he resorteth to the spectacles of the Devill, he renounceth Christ as if he were a Devill. Idolatry, as I have already said, is the Mother of all Playes, which that it may allure faithfull Christians to it, flatters them with the pleasure of the eyes and eares. Romulus did first of all consecrate Cirque-playes to Consus, as to the God of Counsell, for the Sabines that were to be ravished. But other Stage-playes were procured at the intreati… of the people, when as a famine and pestilence had seised upon the Citty, and these were afterwards dedicated to Ceres, to Bacchus, and to other Idols and dead men. Th…se Grecian combates, either in songs, in musicall Instruments, in voyces, or in strength, uuPraesides suos habent varia Daemonia. Et quicquid est aliud quod spectantium aut oculos movet, aut delinit aures; si cum origine sua, & institione quaeratur, causam praefert aut Idolum, aut Daemonium, aut mortuum. Ita Diabolus artifex, quia Idololatriam per se nudam sciebat horreri, spectaculis miscuit, ut per voluptatem posset amari. Ibidem.have divers Devils for their Presidents: and what ever else there is, which either affects the eyes, or pleaseth the eares of the beholders, if its orignall or instituters be sought after, hath either a… Idoll, a Devill, or a dead man for the Father of it. Thus the c…nning Devill, b…cause he knew that naked Idolatry by it selfe would be aborred, hath mixed it with Stage-playes and spectacles, that so thorow pleasure it might be beloved. What need I prosecute this any further? **Partes Christiani si perroges, nes…it; aut infaelicior si scit: quem si rursum perrogem, quo ad illud spectaculum itinere pervenerit; confitebitur per lupanarium, per prostitutar…m nuda corpora, per publicam libidinem, per p…blicum dedecus; per vulgarem lasciviam, per communem omnium contumeliam. Cui ut non obijciam quod fortasse commisit, vidit tamen quod committendum non fuit, & oculos ad Idololatriae spectaculum per libidinem duxit: ausus secum Spiritum sanctum in lupanarium ducere si potuisset: qui festinans ad spectaculum, dimissus, & adhuc gerens secum ut assolet, Eucharistiam, inter corpora obscaena meretricum tulit, plus damnationis meritus de spectaculi voluptate. Fugienda sunt ista Christianis fidelibus, ut jàm frequenter diximus, tam vana, tam perniciosa, tam sacrilega spectacula: & oculi nostri sunt & aures custodiendae, &c. Ibid.If thou aske a Play-haunter, what are the parts of a Christian, he knoweth not, or else he is so much the more unhappy, that he knoweth: If I should againe demand of him, by what way he came to that spectacle; he will confesse through the Brothel-house, p. 524through the naked bodies of prostituted Harl…ts, **For Play-houses anciently were common Bro…hels, or else they had the Stewes adjoyning to them. See here pag. 390.through the common Stewes, through publike shame, through vulgar lascivio…snesse, through the commo… reproach of all. To whom that I may not obiect, that which perchance he hath committed, yet he hath seene that which was not to be committed, and hath led his eyes tho…gh lust to the spectacles of Idolatry: daring, if he had bee…e able, to carry the Holy Ghost along with him into a Brothel-house; who hastning to a Stage-play, as soone as he is dismissed the Church, and whiles he carrieth the Eucharist about him, as he hath wont to do…; hath brought it among the obscene bodies of Whores; deserving more damnation from the pleasure of the spectacle. These so vaine, so pernicious, so sacrilegious Playes and spectacles are to be avoyded of all Christians, as we have already oft-times said; and both our eyes and eares are to be kept from them, &c. If then the Scripture prohibites the acting, the seeing of Stage-playes; as being the invention of the Devill; the parts, the issues of Idolatry: If those who resort to Playes renounce Christ Iesus himselfe, as if he were a Devill; if they doe as much as in them lies, even carry the holy Ghost himselfe; and the very Sacrament of Christs Body and Blood into a Play-house; and so prophane them in the highest manner, as this Father testifies: no wonder is it, if Playes unqualifie men for holy duties. Isiodor Hi…palensis, and HRabanus Maurus, discoursing of Cirques, of Theaters, of Cirque-playes, and Stage-playes, write thus of them: yyVnde animadvertere debes Christiane, quod Circum numina immunda possideant. Quapropter alienus erit …ibi locus quē plurimi Sathanae spiritus occupaverunt. Totum enim illius Diabolus & angeli ejus replent. Isiodor Hisp. Originum lib. 18. c. 41.that uncleane Deities possesse them. Therefore O Christian, let this be a strange place to thee, which many spirits of Satan have taken possession of. For the Devill and his Angels have filled it all up. zzHaec quippè spectacula crudelitatis & inspectio vanitatum, non solum hominu… vitijs, sed Daemonu… jussis instituta sunt. Proindè nihil esse debet Christiano cum Circensi insania, cum impudicitia Theatri, cum atrocitate arenae, cum luxuria ludi. Deum enim nega…, qui talia praesumit; fidei Christianae praevaricator effectus, qui id denuò appetit quod in lavachro jampridem renunciavit, id est Diabolo, pompis, & operibus ejus. Ibid. c. 59. &. HRabanus Maurus… De Vniverso. lib. 20. cap. 38. Operum. Tom. 1. pag. 251. A.For the spectacles of cruelty, and the inspection of vanity were not ordained onelyonly by the vices of men, but likewise by the commands of Devils. Therefore … Christian ought to have nothing to doe with the madnesse of the Circus, with the uncleanesse of the Theater, with the cruelty of the Amphitheater, with the barbarousnesse of the Arena, with the luxury of the Play. For he denieth God (a terrible sentence worthy all Players, all Play-haunters saddest considerations) who presumeth to act or see such things: being made a Prevaricator of the Christian faith, who againe desires that which he hath long since renounced in his baptisme; tha… is, the Devill, his pompes, and workes. And is such a desperate Play-haunter, thinke you, fit or able to serve, to please the Lord, or to performe any holy duty to him in a holy manner? Olympiodorus in his Enarration upon the 4. of Ecclesiastes, Keepe thy feete when as thou entrest into the house of God, is pregnant to our purpose. Keepe thy f…ete, &c. That is, saith he; aaNe instrumentis eisdem quibus in bono utimur, abutamur in malo: quasi dicat: Ne quaeso pedibus eisdem quibus templū Dei frequentas, theatrales adito …udos, & obscaena spectacula. De aliis quo que humani corporis membris idem intellige faciendum. Et profectò qui impolluto pede subcunt Ecclesiam Dei, debent ab impijs …ocis & profanis se penitus, ut Deo contrar…js, continere. Olympi…dorus, Enar. in Eccles. cap. 4. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 11. pag. 405. E.Eccl 4Let us not abuse to evill, those very instruments which we use in good: as if he should say; Doe not, I beseech thee, goe to Stage-playes and obscene Spectacles with the same feete wherewith thou frequentest the Temple of God. Vnderstand that the same likewise is to be done of the other members of the body. And truely those who will goe to the Church of God with an undefiled foote, ought altogether to with-hold themselves from wicked and prophane places, as being contrary unto God. Therefore those who frequent Play-houses can never serve God as they ought if this Father may be credited. S. Augustine writing against Stage-playes, and those Devill-Idols that were both honoured and delighted with them, informes us: that Christians in his time, had utterly abandoned all Stage-playes; bbNihil enim eis turpe ac flagitiosum spectandum imitandumque proponitur, ubi veri Dei aut praecepta insinuantur, a…t miracula narrantur, aut do…a lauda…tur, aut b…neficia postulantur. De Civi… D…i. lib. 2. cap. 28.and that no filthy, no wicked thing was propounded to be s…ene or imitated, where either the precepts of the true p. 525God were insinuated, or his miracles declared, or his gifts praysed, or his benefits craved. ccNisi fortè hinc sint tempora mala qui… per omnes penè Civitates cadunt Theatra, caveae turpitudinum, & publicae professiones …lagitiosorū. Vnde enim cadunt nisi inopia rerum, quarum lascivo & sacrilego usu constructa sunt. Nonn… Cicero …orum cum Roscium quendam laudaret histrionem ita peritum dixit, ut solus esset dignus qui in scenam deberet intrare: ita virum bonum, ut solus esset dignus, qui eò non deberet accedere? quid aliud apertis… mè …stendens… nisi…illam s…enam esse tam turpem, ut ta… to minus ibi esse homo debeat, quantò fuerit majus vir bonus: & tamen dij eorum tali dedecore placab…ntur, quale à viris bonis removendum esse censebat. Augustin. De Consensu Evangelistarum lib. 1. cap. 33. Tom. 4.530…531.That when Christianity cam… up, the Play-houses almost thorow all Citties fell downe; they being the very dens of filthinesse, and the publike professions of wicked persons: whereupon the Pagans complained, that the Christian times were evill times: And whence is it, (writes he) that the Play-houses fall downe, but through want o… those things by whose lascivious and sacrilegious use they are supported? Did not their Cicero when as he commended one Roscius a Stage-player, say, that he was so skilfull, that he onelyonly was worthy to come upon the Stage: that he was so good a man, that he onelyonly was worthy not to come upon it? shewing most plainely nothing else; but that the Stage is so filthy, that by so much the lesse a man ought to be there, by how much the more he is a good man: and yet their gods were attoned with such dishonesty… as he thought ought fit to be removed from good …en. But most punctuall is that in his lib. 4. De Symbolo ad Catechumenos. cap. 1. Tom. 9. pars 1. pag. 1427.1428. where he writes thus. ddSee here, pag. 49.50. in the margent.Thou art deprehended and detected O Christian when as thou doest one thing, and pro…essest another: being faithfull in name, and shewing the contrary in deed; not keeping the faith of thy promise: one whiles entring into the Church to poure out prayers, and a very little while after comming into a Play-house to cry out dishonestly with Staye-players. What hast thou to doe with the pompes of the Devill which thou hast renounced? Why doe you halt with both …oof…s? If God be God, follow him: if the world be God, follow it. If God be chosen, let him be served according to his will: if the world be chosen, to what end is the heart feined, as it were fitted for God? eeQuid tibi cum pompis Diaboli amator Christi? Noli te …allere, vidit enim tales Deus, nec inter suos deputat professores… quos cernit viae suae desertores. Ibidem.What …ast thou to doe with the pompes of the Devill, who professest thy selfe a lover of Christ? Doe not deceive thy selfe, for God hates such persons, neither doth he repute those among his professors, whom he seeth to be the forsakers of his way. All which is a sufficient evidence, that Stage-playes wholy indispose men to the true worship of God. Salvian Bishop of Marselles, is very copious in this theame. ffDe Gubernatione Dei. l. 6. Edit. Parifijs. 1598. pag 187, &c. his words are very emphaticall in Latine; which because the Booke it selfe is common, I will forbeare to transcribe.We say (writes he) God hath forsaken us, when in very deed we forsake God. For, suppose we, that the Lord will respect us, not deserving his favour? let us see if he can. Loe infinite thousands of Christians daily abide at the shewes of unseemely things. Can God then favour such kinde of persons? Can God cast his gracious countenance upon such as rage in Cirques, and commit adultery in Theaters? Or is this our meaning, or d…e we thinke it meete, that for as much as God seeth us in Cirques and Theaters, that what things we see he beholdeth; and what filthinesse we behold, he seeth it also for company? For one of these must needs be: for if he vouchsafe to looke upon us, it followes, that he must behold all these things where we are: or if, which is most true, he turne away his eyes from these things, **O that our Play-haunters would consider this.he must likewise turne away his countenance from us who are there. And the case standing thus, yet neverthelesse, we doe these things which I have said, and that without c…a…ing. Or thinke we that God hath his Theaters and Cirques, as had the gods of the Gentiles. For thus did they in old teme, because they were perswaded that their Idols delighted in them: but how is it that we doe so, who are **And if our God detest them, why …hould we th…n affect them, who professe our selves to be his Children?certaine that our God detesteth them? Or verily if we know that these abominations doe please God, I will not gainsay but we may resort unto them continually. But if it be in our conscience, that God abhorreth, that he detesteth; that God is offe…ded as the Devill is fed by Theaters; **Marke this O Pl…y-haunters.how say we that we worship God in the Church, who alwayes serve the Devill in the obscenity of Playes, and that wittingly and willingly, out of deliberation and set purpose? And what hope I pray you, shall we have with God, who not ignorantly, or at unawares offend him; but after the example of those Giants heretofore, whom we read to have attempted Heaven with their mad endeavours, and as it were to have marched forwards against the clouds? So we through the iniuries which all the world over we continually commit, doe as it were appugne Heaven p. 526with a common consent. **Let those then who celebrate Christs Nativity, Resurrection or Ascention with Stage-playes, & such like Enterludes remēber this, and confesse their Error.To Christ therefore, O monstrous madnesse! even to Christ doe we offer Cirques and Stage-playes; yea and even then especially when as we receive any goodnesse from his hands, when any prosperity is bestowed upon us by him, or when as God hath given us any victory over our enemies? And what else by this doe we shew our selves to doe, but even to be like the man who is iniurious to the person who hath done him good; who rayles upon him that speakes him faire, or strikes him over the face with a sword that kisseth him. For I aske the great and rich men of this world, of what offence is that servant guilty which wisheth ill to a good and gracious Master; which rayleth on him that deserveth well, and rendreth dispitefull words for his good received? without controversie all men will iudge him a most hainous offender, who rendreth evill for good to him, to whom indeed he might not render evill for evill. **O let us then remember this, and be both grieved at it and ashamed of it.Thus verily doe even we who are called Christians, we stirre up a mercifull God against us by our uncleanesse; we offend a gracious God by our filthinesse, and we wound a loving God by our wickednesse. To Christ therefore, O monstrous madnesse! even to Christ doe we offer Cirquers and Stage-players; to Christ doe we render for his benefits the filthinesse of Th…ters; even to Christ doe we sacrifice the oblation of most base sports. As though our Saviour, who for us became man, had taught us thus to doe: As though he had preached this either by himselfe, or by his Apostles: As though that for this end he had taken upon him the shame of mans nativity, and the contumelious beginnings of an earthly generation: As though for this end he had layen in a manger, at what time notwithstanding the very Angels ministred unto him: As if for this purpose he would be swadled in ragges of cloth, who did governe Heaven in his cloutes: As though for this end he had hung upon the Crosse, at whose hanging the whole world was astonished: gg2 Cor. ….9.Who for your sakes (saith the Apostle) when he was rich, became poore, that yee through his poverty might be made rich. hhPhil. 2.6.Phil 2:6And being (saith he) in the forme of God hee humbled himselfe to the death, even the death of the Crosse. Even this did Christ teach us when he suffred these things for our sakes. Well doe we requite his passion, who receiving through his death redemption, leade a most filthy life. iiTit. 2.11, 12, 13, 14.Titus 2:11Titus 2:12Titus 2:13Titus 2:14For the grace of God that bringeth salvation hath appeared unto all men, saith blessed Paul, and teacheth us, that we should deny ungodlinesse, and worldly lusts, and that we should live soberly, righteously, and godly in this present world, looking for the blessed hope and appearing of the mighty God and of our Saviour Iesus Christ; who gave himselfe for us that he might redeeme us from all iniquity, and purifie us a peculiar people to himselfe zealous of good workes. Where be they who doe these things, for which the Apostle saith, that Christ came? where be they who flie desires of this world? where be they which live godly and righteously, that looke for this blessed hope by well doing; and leading a pure life; shewing thereby that they looke and long for the Kingdome of God: where be such? kkTit. 2.14.Titus 2:14Our Lord Iesus Christ came (saith he) that he might purifie us a pecular people to himselfe, zealous of good workes. Where is that pure people? that peculiar people; that good people; that people of holinesse? ll1 Pet. 2.21.1 Pet 2:21Christ (saith the Scripture) suffred for us, leaving us an ensample, that wee should follow his steps: And we follow the steps of our Saviour in Cirques, and in Theaters; as if our Saviour had left us such an example, whom we read to have wept, but that he laughed we never read. And both these for our sakes: because weeping is a pricking of the heart, laughter a corruption of manners. Therefore saith he; mmL…k. 6.25, 21.Woe to you that laugh, for yee shall waile and weepe. And, blessed are yee that weepe now, for yee shall laugh. **Let our ioviall Roarers, Epicures and Christmas-keepers consider this.But it is not enough for us to laugh and be merry, unlesse we reioyce with sinne and madnesse, unlesse our laughter be tempered with filthinesse, and mixed with impiety. What error I say is this, or what folly? Cannot we daily be merry and laugh, unlesse we make our laughter and mirth to be wickednesse? Or else thinke we simple mirth to be nothing worth? and can we not laugh except we sinne? What a mischiefe is this, or what furie? Let us laugh I pray p. 527you and be merry so we sinne not. What foolishnesse, nay madnesse is it, to thinke mirth and ioy nothing worth, unlesse God be iniured thereby? yea iniured, and that most hainously. **O that all Players and Play-haunters would consider this.For in Stage-playes there is a certaine Apostasie from the faith, and a deadly declining from our beliefe and the heavenly Sacraments, &c. as in pag. 51.52. before. And what else is it but to fall into destruction, to foregoe the beginning of life? For where the foundation of the Creed is overthrowne, life it selfe is destroyed. Then againe we must needs returne unto that which we have often said: What such thing is there among the nnBarbarians and Turkes delight not in these accursed Stage-playes, why then should. Chritians doe it?Barbarians? Where be any Stages or Theaters among them? where is the wickednesse of diverse impurities, to wit, the destruction of our hope and salvation? Which Playes notwithstanding if they being Pagans did use, they should erre with lesse offence to God: because albeit such doing were a defiling of the sight, yet were it not a violation of the Sacrament. But now what can we say for our selves? we hold the Creed, and yet overturne it: we confesse the duty of salvation, and yet deny it too. And therefore where is our Christianity? who as it seemeth have received the Sacrament of salvation to no other purpose, but that afterwards we might more hainously offend. We preferre pastimes before the Church: we despise the Lords Table and honour Theaters: in a word, we love all things, reverence all things, God alone seemeth vile unto us in comparison of all other things, &c. By which large discourse of this pious Father, it is most apparant: That Stage-playes overturne mens faith and religion; annihilate their baptisme; estrange their hearts and affections from Gods service, and wholy indispose them to his worship. Gregory Nyssen informes us: ooDe Oratione. lib. pag 9.That God neither heares nor regards the prayers of those qui in Theatris faustas acclamationes affectant, &c. who affect applauses… in Theaters, and delight in Stage-playes. Gregory Nazianzen, demanding this question, ppAd quos entem de divinis rebus agendum fit? nimirumad …os, quibus res cordi est, & qui cam non nugatoriè velut… quiddam de multis, voluptis & corum quae infra ventrem sunt occupationes, tractant. Oratio. 1. ad Eunomianos pag. 6.unto what manner of persons he should discourse of divine things? makes this reply; that it must be to those who would lay them serio…sly to heart; and not to such who handle them slightly, as one thing onelyonly of many for pleasure and contentment s…ke, after …irque-pla…es, after Stage-playes, after songs, a…ter gluttony and carnall copulation: Intimating unto us; that those who delight in Stage-playes and such like Spectacles are altogether unfit to heare Gods Word, or seriously to performe any holy duty; their mindes being so preposessed with Playes and thoughts of vanity, after their returne from Play-houses, that they can never bend them to pious exercises in that diligent manner as they ought. And therefore he records of the Citizens of Constantinople, who delighted much in Stage-playes: qq…dq…e in ea Civitate, quàm vix etiam multa virtutis exempla servare possint: ut quae sicut ci…cos & Theatra, ita divina quoque mysteria pro ludo habeat. Oratio. 31. in Laudem Athena…ij pag. 525.That as they reputed Cirques and Stage-playes, so they likewise esteemed the divine misteries themselves, to be but a pastime. Saint Chrysostome in his forequoted rrHom. 3. De Davide & Saul. Tom. 1. Col. 511.512. Hom. in Psal. 118. D. 150.151. Ibid. Tom. 1. Col. 1030.1031. Hom. 1. De Verbis Isaiae. Vide dominū sedentem, &c. Ibidem. Col. 1281.1283, 1284. Hom. 38. in Matth. Tom. 297.298.Ps 118Homilies, is exceeding copious in this theame; where he informes us; that Stage-playes so pollute the eyes, the eares, the hearts of the Actors and Spectators, that they make them altogether unfit to approach into Gods holy presence, or to tread within the porch, the doores of his holy Temple, much more unfit to participate of his most sacred Body and Blood, (which must not be lodged in a polluted soule) or to heare his pure Word; which eares defiled, or rather putrified and stopped up with filthy Stage-playes, can never seriously attend too. His ssSee here, Scene 4.fore-alleadged words to this purpose, are so emphaticall and flexanimous, that they might even move an heart of Adamant, and cause the most obdurat Stage-haunters for to tremble. If wee adde to this, ttSee here, Act 4. Scene 1. pag. 134. & Act 7. Scene 2.3. where I have quoted severall Councels and Fathers to prove it. See Gratian De Consecratione. Distinct. 2. neere the end.Acts 4Acts 7the constant practise of the Primitive Church, who excommunicated all Stage-players and Play-haunters both from the Word, the Sacraments and all Christian society as altogether unworthy to participate of either; refusing to admit of any p. 528Actors or others into the Church till they quite abandoned, not onelyonly the acting, but the very sight and hearing of Stage-playes, and openly promised and professed, never to returne unto them more: Or if wee againe consider; uuSee Apostolorum Canones. Can. 17.18. Gratian. Distinctio. 33.34, 48. Ioannes De Burgo Pupilla Oculi… pars 7. c. 5. D. Alvarus Pelagius. De Planctu Ecclesiae. l. 2. Artic. 28. H. fol. 134. Ans…lmus in 1. Tim. c. 3. Tom. 2. p. 356. C.D.1 Tim 3that Stage-players, with those who married Woman-actors were utterly …ncapable of any Ecclesiasticall Orders, and perpetually disabled to administer either the Word or Sacraments to Gods people, by reason of that inexpiable steine which the very acting of Stage-playes had engrained on them: Wee must needs acknowledge, that the acting and beholding of Stage-playes indispose men to Gods service, and unfit them for his holy ordinances: else why should the Church excommunicate or exclude these persons, or thus disable them in so strict a manner? Moreover those xxSee here, Act 4. Scene 2. pag. 150. & Act 7. Scene 3. thorowout.Acts 4Acts 7sundry Councels and Authors, yySee here, Scene 17.18. & 1.2, 3, 4, 5. Nihil turpius aut deformius anima vitijs obnoxia. Chrysost. Hom. 22 ad Pop. A…tioch. Tom. 5. Col. 108. C.which debar all Clergie men from the acting and beholding of Stage-playes, either in publike or private, lest their eyes, their eares and hearts, set apart, and consecrated to Gods holy mysteries, should be defiled by them, and so indispose them to discharge their ministeriall function; are a most pregnant evidence of this irr…fragable truth; that Stage-playes disable men from the right performance of all holy duties. And no wonder. For first they disteine the soule with the f…h, and involue it in the guilt of divers sins; which makes it odious in the eyes of God; zzHab 1.13.Hab 1:13Who as he can indure no iniquity; so he aaPsal 66.18. Iohn 9.31. Isay 1.4. to 26.Ps 66:18John 9:31Isa 1:4–26regards no worship, no duties of piety, no prayers that proceed from polluted hearts. God will be worshipped onelyonly in the bbPsal. 96.9.Ps 96:9beauties of holinesse; with cc1 Tim. 2.8. Heb. 10.22.1 Tim 2:8Heb 10:22cleane hands and pure hearts: Whence hee commands all his, dd2 Cor. 7.1.2 Cor 7:1to cleanse themselves from all pollution of flesh and spirit, perfecting holinesse in his feare: eeIer. 4.14 Isay 1.16.Jer 4:14Isa 1:16to wash their heart from wickednesse that they may be saved: ffIsay 52.11. 2 Cor. 6.17.Isa 52:112 Cor 6:17and not so much as to touch any uncleane thing, that so he may receive them. God will be ggLevit. 10.3.Lev 10:3sanctified of all those that come neere him; he will have them hh1 Pet. 1.15, 16. Levit… 11.44.1 Pet 1:151 Pet 1:16Lev 11:44to be holy in all manner of conversation, even as he is holy, that so they ii1 Pet. 2.5, 9.1 Pet 2:51 Pet 2:9may be a holy Priest-hood, to offer up spirituall sacrifices of prayer and praise, acceptable unto him through Iesus Christ; whose kk1 Ioh. 1.7.9. Rev. 1.5, 6. Heb. 9.14.1 John 1:71 John 1:9Rev 1:5Rev 1:6Heb 9:14blood doth cleanse them from all their sinnes, llEphes. 5.26.27. Col. 1.14, 21, 22.Eph 5:26Eph 5:27Col 1:14Col 1:21Col 1:22presenting them pure and holy in his Fathers sight without spot or bleemish. Now Stage-playes, mmSee Scene 3.4. thorowout. Act 3. Scene 1.2, 3. & Act 7. Scene 2.3.Acts 3Acts 7as I have formerly proved, nnSee Salvian, De Gubernat. Dei lib. 6. here, Scene 3.4. Chrysostom. Hom. 3. De Davide & Saul. & Hom. 38. & 69. in Matth.universally defile the very bodies and soules of men, overspredding them with a leprosie of sundry sinnes, (which they either ingenerate or infuse into their soules, (which ooIsay 59.2, 3. Lam. 3.43, 44.Isa 59:2Isa 59:3Lam 3:43Lam 3:44ecclipse Gods grace and favour from them, ppIsay 1.15. Prov. 1.28. Ier. 14.12.Isa 1:15Prov 1:28Jer 14:12stopping up his eares against all their prayers, and qqIsay 1.11, 12, 13. Prov. 15.8. c. 21.27. c. 28.9.Isa 1:11Isa 1:12Isa 1:13Prov 15:8sending up an unsavory stinke into his sacred nostrels: therefore they must of necessity disable them to all holy duties. Secondly, it is impossible for rrMatth. 6.24. I…m. 1.4. 1 Ioh. 2.15, 16. Rom. 8.5, 6, 7, 8.Matt 6:241 John 2:151 John 2:16Rom 8:5Rom 8:6Rom 8:7Rom 8:8any man to serve two different Masters both together, to serve God and Mammon, Christ and the Devill: God in the Church, the Devill in the Play-house: Christ in the morning, the Devill in the evening. He who serves Satan all the weeke in the Stage or Play-house, can never worship Christ upon the Lords day in the Temple. Alas, there was never yet such dd2 Cor. 6.14, 15, 16. O seculū nequam, quod solos tuos sic soles beare amicos ut Dei facias inimicos. Bernard… Epist. 107.2 Cor 6:142 Cor 6:152 Cor 6:16fellowship betweene Christ and Beliall, betweene the renounced pompes and vanities of Satan, and the humility of our super-celestiall Saviour, that men might serve and follow them both together. Now eeSee Act 2. Chorus. pag. 42. to 60. here, fol. 522.523. & Act 7. Scene 2.Acts 2Acts 7Stage-playes are the very Devils owne peculiar pompes, Play-houses his Synagogues; Players, his professed Masse-…riests and Choristers; Play-haunters his devoted servants, as ffTertullian De Spectac. cap. 24.25. See here, pag. 10.11.himselfe professeth, and ggNam de ijs quid dicamus, qui cum gentilium turbis ad spectacula maturant, & conspectus suos a… que auditus impudicis & verbis & actibus faedant: non est nostrum pronunciare de talibus. Ipsi enim sentire & videre possunt quam sibi delegerint partem. Hom. 11. Super. Levit. Tom. 1. fol. 83. B. Et revera si vincamur & post haec verba peccamus, si post Ecclesiam rursum in Circum, & ad equorum cursus, & ad conventus Gentilium eamus, quid aliud fit, quam superatos nos possider. Idem. Hom. 8. In Isaiam. Tom. 2. fol. 108. H.Origen, with others, largely prove: Those therefore who thus serve the Devill in Playes and Play-houses; its impossible for them to serve the Lord sincerely in prayers and Churches. Thirdly, hh1 Cor. 10.211 Cor 10:21No p. 529man can drinke the Cup of the Lord, and the cup of Devils; nor yet partake of the Lords Table, and of the table of Devils: But Stage-playes, iiSee Act 1.2. accordingly.Acts 1:2are the cup and table of Devils; the very Devils meate; his drinke; **Et haec fercula apellabantur quasi celebraretur conviviū, quo velut suis epulis immunda Daemonia pascerentur. August. De Civ. Dei. lib. 2. cap. 4. See here, pag. 46.47 & Theophylact… in Act. c. 17 p. 804Acts 17those dishes and repasts wherewith he was solemnely feasted by his idolatrous worshippers, in his owne Idoll-temples. It is not possible therefore for any Christian to feed his eyes, his eares with these diabolicall banqvets, and yet worthily to participate of Christs Body and Blood, the spirituall Sweet-meates of a Christian soule. Fourthly, the very acting and beholding of Stage-playes drawes downe a selfe-condemning guiltinesse, and so by consequent **Chrysostom. Hom in Psal. 118. & Hom. 1. De Verbis Isaiae. vidi Dominum sedentem, &c. here, Scene 4.Ps 118a certaine secret terror of appearing in Gods presence on mens soules. There is scarce a man of any grace or ingenuity, but would even blush and feare to be de…rehended by any good man at a Play-house: Yea the very llPlutarchi Cato. Seneca. Epist. 97. Valerius Maximus. l. 2. c. 10. sect. 2. Ludov. Vives Notae. in August. De Civit. Dei. l 2. c. 8.Heathen Romanes stood so much in awe of Cato his vice-condemning presence: that they durst not call for their …loralian Enterludes whiles he was neere the Theater. And will not the consideration of Gods all-seeing presence, thinke yee, strike much more feare into the mmSee Tertul. De Spectaculis c. …7. & here, fol. 524. b.hearts and consciences of such who are deprehended by him at lewde lascivious Stage-playes, then any Christians, any Catoes eye or face, could strike into these Heathen Romans; which have no such soule-confounding Majestie in them as is in the very smallest frowne of God? If therefore those who resort to Stage-playes by reason of their selfe-convincing consciences, nnHeb. 4.16.Heb 4:16can never approach with boldnesse to Gods Throne of Grace; its certaine they cannot serve or worship him as they ought. Fiftly, hee who perjures himselfe in the highest degree, breaking that very origall covenant which he made to God at fir…t in Baptisme, and afterward ratified at every receiving of the Sacrament, can ooSee Act 2. Chorus… p. 42. to 61. & Act 7. Scene 2.Acts 2Acts 7never questionlesse serve the Lord in any acceptable pious manner: the performance of this vow and covenant (at least-wise in the desire the endeavour of his soule) being that alone which makes him a Christian; and so a man capable of serving God. ppSee Ibid. pag. 42. to 61. & Act 7. Scene 2. pag. 561, &c.Acts 7But he who acts or resorts to Stage-playes, violates that very originall covenant which he made to God at first in baptisme, and a…terwards reconfirmed at every receiving of the Sacrament; as I have else-where largely proved: therefore he can never serve the Lord in any acceptable or gracious manner, according to his will. And alas what Christian is there, who would frequent or harbour any such sinfull pleasures, as will quite disable him to serve his God, to please his blessed Saviour, qq1 Pet. 1.18, 19. Christi sanguis terrarum orbis est praetium; Christus emit ecclesiam, hoc eam omnem adornavit. Chrysostom Hom. 60. ad Pop. Antioch. Tom. 5. Col. 341. D.1 Pet 1:181 Pet 1:19who hath bought him even at the dearest rate? What contentment can a man take in any thing; in all the riches, honours, pleasures, contentments of this world, whiles **Quicquid nobis adest praeter Deum nostrum non est dulce. Nolumꝰ omnia quae dedit, si non dat seipsum qui omnia dedit. August. in Psal. 85. pag. 66.Ps 85his soule can draw no comfort, no heavenly refreshment from his God? Better can the inferiour world subsist without the light and influence of the Sunne, or the body of a man without the heart, then the soule of any Christian without the satisfactory **Animae vita, Dei cultus, ac vita eo cultu digna. Chrysost. De Orando Deo. lib. 1. Tom. 5. Col. 592. A.soule-inlivening presence of his God, his Saviour, which is never found but in rrIsay 57.15. Non enim temerè in ster…ore Deus habitat, sed in caenaculo scopis mundato. Chrysost Hom. 22. ad Pop. An…och. Tom. 5. Col. 170. C.Isa 57:15those broken humble spirits, who se…ve him in syncerity, and tremble at his Word. As therefore we ever desire to please, to serve our blessed God according to his will; or to enjoy the heart-ravishing consolations of his most blisfull presence; let us presently abandon Stage-playes; which as they hinder us in the service, so they utterly deprive us of the face and favour of our God, which are ssPsal. 4.6, 7. Psal. 65.4. Psal. 6….3, 4.Ps 4:6Ps 4:7Ps 65:4Ps 6:3Ps 6:4able to make us more then happy in the middest of all our deepest miseries. The pleasures, the refreshments that men reape from Stage-playes, as they shut out better contents, so they ttHeb. 11.25.Heb 11:25abide no longer then the Playes are acting, (and sometimes scarce so long) and then they oft-times leave a sting behinde them, which gaules and prickes the soule for ever after. If then that love of Christ which uu2 Cor. 5.14, 15. Tit. 3.3, 4, 5.2 Cor 5:142 Cor 5:15Titus 3:3Titus 3:4Titus 3:5constrained holy Paul, to bid adue to all carnall pleasures, will not enforce us to say thus to Stage-playes: as David sometimes did to his lewde companions; xxPsal. 6.8. & Psal. 119.115.Ps 6:8Ps 119:115Depart from me yee wicked, yee workers (yee producers) of iniquity, p. 530for I will keepe the Cōmandements of my God; yet let the comfort that Gods service wil bring unto our soules, and this consideration joyned with it; that we yyAnima nisi prius dedicerit terrena contemnere, caelestia mirari non poterit: & eco… tra, donec re… rena miratur necess…riò caelestia spernit ac despicit. Chrys. De Compunctione Cordis. lib. 2. Col. 501. B.cannot serve God with any s…ncerity of heart, as long as we delight in cursed Stage-playes, now at last enforce us to bid this farewell to them, that so we may be enabled to please that holy blessed God, who created, redeemed us at first, and hath evermore preserved us since, zzLuk. 1.74, 75. Rom. 14.7, 8. 1 Cor. 6.19, 20. 2 Cor. 5.15.Luke 1:74Luke 1:75Rom 14:7Rom 14:81 Cor 6:191 Cor 6:202 Cor 5:15that we might doe him service.

Secondly, as Stage-playes indispose men to, so they likewise withdraw and keep them from Gods service, aaSee Nicholaus De Clemangijs. De Novis Celebritatibus non Instituendis. l. p. 143. to 160. & Ioannis Lang. hecrucius De Vita & Honestate Ecclesiasticorum. lib. 2. cap. 11.12.especially on Lords-dayes, Holy-dayes, and solemne Festivals; which should be wholy and onelyonly consecrated to his more speciall worship; and spent in duties of devotion, in lawding and blessing him for his more speciall favour…. And doth not our owne experience beare witnesse to this truth? Are not our Play-houses oft-times more crowded, more coached and frequented then many of our Churches? and are they not full oft-times, when our Churches are but empty? Are there not many hundreds serving the Devill daily in our Theaters, even then when as they should be serving God in his Temples? Doe not more commonly resort to Playes, then Lectures, which is ill? yea doe not too too many neglect to come to Sermons, that they may runne to Stage-playes, which is worse?**See 5. & 6. Edward 6. c. 3. Indeed our bbSee the Exhortation in the Booke of Common-prayer, as the end of publike and priv…te baptisme. See Canon 45. which enjoyneth every benef…ced Minister that is a Preacher to preach once a Sunday at least, either in his owne or some other adjoyning parish.Church of England (out of the great respect it yeelds to Preaching, and the absolute necessity of it to salvation) enioynes God-fathers and God-mothers, to call upon their God-children, to heare Sermons; (which some prophane ones now begin to loath and speake against, as if we had too much preaching:) that so they may the better forsake the Devill and all his workes, mortifie all their unholy corrupt affections, and daily proceed in all vertue and godlinesse of living. Yea the Saints of God in ancient times, were quickning and calling upon one another in this manner: **…al. 95.1, 2, 6.O co…e let us sing unto the Lord, let us make a ioyfull noyse unto the Rock… of our Salvation. Let us come b… fore his presence with Thankesgiving, and make a ioyfull noyse unto him with Psalmes, &c. O come let us worship and fall downe and kneele before the Lord our maker? ddPsal. 96.1, 2, 3, 8, 9. See Psal. 97.1. Psal 99.9. Psal. 100.1, 2.Ps 96:1Ps 96:2Ps 96:3Ps 96:8Ps 96:9Ps 97:1Ps 99:9Ps 100:1Ps 100:2O sing unto the Lord a new Song, sing unto the Lord all the earth. Sing unto the Lord; blesse his Name; shew forth his salvation from day to day. Declare his goodnesse among the Heathen, his wonders among all people. Give unto the Lord (O yee Kindreds of the people;) give unto the Lord glory and strength. Give unto the Lord the glory due unto his Name; bring an Offring and come into his Courts. O worship the Lord in the beauty of holinesse, feare before him all the earth: eeIsay 2.3, 5. Psal. 122.1.Isa 2:3Isa 2:5Ps 122:1Come yee, and let us goe up to the Mountaine of the Lord, and to the house of the God of Iacob, and he will teach us of his wayes, and we will walke in his pathes, &c. But now alas in stead of calling upon one another to heare Sermons, and of these encouragements to goe up to the house of the Lord to blesse and prayse his Name (which is now no better then a brand of Puriranisme) we heare nought else among many who professe themselves Christians; but, come let us goe and see a Stage-play: let us heare such or such an Actor; or resort …o such and such a Play-house: (and I would I might not say unto such a Whore or Whore-house;) where we will laugh and be merry, and passe away the afternoone: As for any resort to such or such a Lecture, Church, or pious Preacher; its a thing they seldome thinke, much l…sse discourse of. Alas, that any who prosesse themselves Christians should be thus strangly, (that I say not atheistically) infatuated, as to forsake the most sacred Oracles, the soule-saving Word, the most blessed Sacraments, house and presence of their God; to runne to Playes and Play-houses, the abominable ffSee Act 1.2. & p. 10.52, 67, 68Acts 1:2Spectacles, Lectures, Pompes, and Syn…gogues of the Devill: as thus ggProv. 2.13, 14.Prov 2:13Prov 2:14to leave the pather of uprightnesse, to walke in the wayes of darknesse; reioycing to doe evill, and delighting in the frowardnesse of the wicked; even then when as they should solace their p. 531very soules in God. Yet this is the most desperate deplorable condition of many hundred prophane ones in this age of light; who admire who respect the very basest Stage-players, more then the devoutest gravest Preachers; and would rather heare the most lascivious Comedy, then the best soule-searching Sermon: their very practise proclaiming as much unto the world (if not their words;) they being oftner weekely in the Play-house then in the Church; reading over three Play-bookes at the least, for every Sermon, for every Booke or Chapter in the Bible. O that the execrable sinfulnesse of this prodigious profanesse would now at last awake us! then those who thinke a Stage-play once a day (at leastwise three aweeke) too little, a Sermon once or twice a weeke, a monethmonth, too much; would change their tune for shame; thinking one Play a yeere to much, **See Reformatio Legum Ecclesiasticarum ex authoritate Regis. Henrici 8. & Edwardi 6. Londini 1571. Tit. De Divinis Officijs c. 4…6, 9, 10, 12. fol. 43.44, 45. which appoints two Sermons a day in Citties on Lords…dayes & Holi-dayes. See Canons 1604. Canon 45. which enjoynes all licensed Preachers to preach one Sermon every Sunday at the least.one Sermon a weeke, a monethmonth to little for Christians, concluding in the words of that blessed Martyr of our Church, Iohn Hooper Bishop of Glocester (who constantly hhMaster Fox, Booke of Martyrs. Edit. 1610. pag. 1366. Col. 11. Line 77.78.preached in his **O that our Bishops and Ministers would doe thus now.Dioces most times twice, or at leastwise once every day thorowout the weeke without faile) in the iiImprinted by Iohn Day Anno 1550.Confession and protestation of his Faith, Dedicated to King Edward the sixt, and the whole House of Parliament, in the yeere of our Lord, 1550. where we writes thus. What Realme soever will avoyd the evill of Sedition and contempt of Godly Lawes, let them provide the Word of God, to be diligently and truely preached… and taught unto the Subjects and Members thereof. kkLet such now who cry downe preaching, Lectures and Lecturers, as the cause of Sedition, consider …his.The lacke of it is the cause of sedition and trouble, as Salomon saith; llProv. 29.18.Prov 29:18Where Prophecy wanteth, the people are dissipated. Wherefore I cannot a little wonder at the opinion and doctrine of such, as say, a Sermon **Let …asie Ministers, & carelesse Christians, who cry downe Lecture, and cry up Stage-playes, note this well.ONCE IN A VVEEKE, IN A MONETHMONTH, OR IN A QVARTER OF A YEERE, is sufficient for the people. Truely it is injuriously and evill spoken against the glory of God and the salvation of the people. But se…ng they will not be in the whole as good unto God as before they have beene unto the Devill, neither so glad to remove false doctrine from the people, and to continue them in the true; where as they did before occupie the most part of the forenoone, the most part of the afternoone, yea and a great part of the night, to keepe the estimation and continuance of dangerous and vaine superstitions, were it much now to occupie ONE HOVRE IN THE MORNING, AND AN OTHER HOVRE TOVVARDS NIGHT, to occupie the people with true and earnest prayer unto God in Christs Blood, and in preaching the true Doctrine of Christ, that they might know and continue in the true Religion, and faithfull confidence of Christ Iesu? Fifteene Masses in a Church daily were not too many for the Priests of Baal; and SHOVLD ONE SERMON EVERY DAY BE mmLet all our Prelates and Ministers consider well of this.TOO MVCH FOR A GODLY BISHOP, AND EVANGELICALL PREACHER? I wonder how it can be too much opened unto the people? If any man say, labour is lost, and mens businesse lyeth undone by that meanes. Surely it is ungodly spoken: for those that beare the people in hand of such a thing, knoweth right well, that there was neither labours, cares, needs, necessity, nor any things else, that heretofore could keepe them from hearing of Masse, though it had beene said at 4. a clocke in the morning. Therefore as farre as I see, people were content to lose more labour, and spent more time then to goe to the Devill, then now to come to God: (as our common Players and Play-haunters doe.) But my faith is, that both Master and Servant shall fin… gaine thereby at the yeeres end; THOVGH THEY HEARE MORNING SERMON, AND MORNING PRAYERS EVERY DAY OF THE VVEEKE. Thus farre this reverend Bishop, whose words and practise I would the nnSee the Historicall Narratiō, &c. printed. An. 1631. The Copy of an answer to a Letter, &c. Imprinted by stealth in the beginning of Queene Elizabeths Raigne: without any Authors or Printers name unto it; was answered verbatim by Robert Crowly, and printed by Authority. Anno 1566. which shewes the shamelesnesse of him who durst now lately in his new Narration to publish it as the received Opinion of the Church of England: it being penned by one Champ…eis, who if Iohn Veron may be credited, in his Apologie in Defence of his Treatise of Predestination, was both a Papist and a Pelagian too.grosse and shamelesse perverters of his doctrine in the points now controverted, p. 532(he being a professed Anti-Arminian, and Anti-Pelagian, and that in terminis, as his ooSee his Confession and Protestation of the Christian Faith, Dedicated to Edward the 6. & the whole Parliament. Anno 1550. His Comfortable Exposition upō certaine Psalmes. London 1580. fol. 22.23, 24, 29, 46, 55, 56… 57, 60, 63, 64, 65, 78 105. and his Articles upō the Creed. London 1581. Article 3. to 15, 17, 20, 21, 25, 29, 30, 33, 36, 38, 39, 40, 42. to 52, 55, 62, 67, 78, 91, 93, 94, 97, 98. where he concludes point-blanke against the Arminian Tenets which some men cast upon him.printed Workes most positively demonstrate, however some pervert them:) together with our constant Play-haunters would now seriously consider: especially in these our dayes; wherein Stage-playes almost cry down Sermons, and Play-books finde so quicke a sale, that (if Stationers doe not misinforme me) there are at least a dozen Play-bookes vented for one printed Sermon: so that I may safely affirme, that Stage-playes exceedingly withdraw and keepe men from Gods service: especially on Lords-dayes, Holi-dayes, and solemne Festivals, **Hanc ob rem maximus ille Moses aequum c…nsuit ut omnes ascripti ejus Civitati, jus naturae sequentes celebrarent hunc diem (Sabbatum) otio festis que hilaritatibus, intermissis laboribus & opificijs quaestu…rijs nego…i…s que victū paranubꝰ ablegata etiā tantisper ceu per inducias solicitudine anxia, ut vacarent non ludicris (sicut quidam) ridendisque spectaculis mimorum saltatoru que , quae insanum vulgus amat perdite, &c. sed soli philosophiae verae, &c… Philo Iudaeus. l. 3. De Vita Mos…s p. 932.set apart for better purposes: which experimentall truth is so visible to the eyes, the consciences of all men, that it needs no further proofe. If any man be so uncredulous as not to believe experience, let him then attend to sundry Councels, Fathers, and other moderne Authors, who affirme: that Stage-playes withdraw men from the Church, and keepe them from Gods service, especially on Lords-dayes, Holi-dayes, and solemne Festivals which were set apart for pious exercises. For Councels, See the 4. Councell of Carthage, Canon 88. with sundry others here recited. Act 7. Scene 3. For Fathers, Clemens Romanus, in the 2. Booke of Apostolicall Constitutions. cap. 64.65. complaines; uuTu verò relicto fidelium caetu, Dei Ecclesia ac legibus ad Graecorum ludos curris, & ad Theatra properas; expetens unus ex venientibus eò numerari, & parti…eps fieri audi…ionum turpium, ne dicam abominabilium: nec audisti Hieremiam dicentem. Domine, non sedi in concilio ludentium, sed timui a conspectu manus tuae …neque Iob, dicentem… similia. Ibid. Surius Concil. Tom. 1. pag. 68.That many leaving the Congregation of the Faithfull, with the Church and Lawes of God, did runne to the Playes of the Grecians, and hasten unto Theaters, desiring to be numbred among those who resorted thither and to be made partakers of filthy, that I say not abominable words and spectacles: neither doe they heare the Prophet Ieremy, saying: **Ier 15.17.Jer 15:17Lord I have not sate in the assembly of Players or Mockers, but I was afraid at the sight of thy hand: nor yyIob 31.1, 5, 7. an excellent place.Job 31:1Job 31:5Job 31:7Iob, who speakes the like words, &c. Clemens Alexandrinus, in his 3. Booke of the Paedag…ge. cap. 11. fol. 52.53. complaines; That divers after they are departed from the Church, laying aside that divine inspiration which was in it, assimulate themselves to the company in which they are; or rather laying aside the false and counterfeit visour of gravity, they are found to be such, as they were before unknowne to be: and when as they have reverenced that Word which was spoken of God, they leave it where they heard it, running unto Play-houses, the chaire of pestilence; and delighting themselves abroade with wicked measures and amorous songs; being filled with the noyse of pipes, with clapping of hands, with drunkennesse, with all kinde of filth and dirt. zzHoc autem dum cantant & recantantij qui immortalitatem anteà celebrabant, tandem perniciosissimam mali malè canunt p…linodiam; Comedamus, & bibamus, cras enim morimur. Ii autem, non cras verè, sed jam Deo mortui sunt, sepelientes suos mortuos, hoc est, seipsos in mortem infodientes, &c. Ibidem.But whiles they chaunt and rechaunt this; those who before did celebrate and extoll immortality, doe at last wickedly sing, that most pernicious palinody; Let us eate and drindke, for to morrow we shall die. But they not to morrow, but even now already are truely dead to God, burying their dead, that is, interring themselves in death, &c. A dreadfull speech, which I would our Dancers, Play-haunters, and voluptuous persons would lay neere their hearts. Saint Augustine informes us; aaLoqu…mur tamen & ad illos, quos frequenter ab Ecclesiae conventu spectacula voluptuosa subducunt, &c. August. Hom. 21. Tom. 10. p. 592. See Enar. in Psal. 80. Tom. 8. pars 2. p. 3.4, 8, 13, 18.Ps 80That voluptuous Playes and Spectacles oft-times withdraw men from the Assemblies of the Church: and bbHanc, inquam, pudendam, verae que religioni adversandam & detestandam talium numinum placationem, has fabulas in Deos illecebrosas atque criminosas, haec ignominiosa Deorum facta sceleratè turpiter que conficta, sed sceleratius turpius que commissa oculis & …uribus publicis Civitas tota disce…at, &c. De Civitate Dei. l. 2. c. 27.that the whole Citty of Rome did with publike eyes and eares, learn… those alluring criminous fables, and those ignominious deeds which were wickedly and filthily fained of their Idol-gods, and more filthily, more wickedly committed by them, neglecting in the meane time p. 533better things. Saint Chrysostome in ccHom. 3. De Davide & Saul. Tom. 1. Col. 511.512. Hom. De Verbis Isaiae. Vidi Dominum sedentem, &c. Tom. 1. Col. 1281. to 1284. Hom. in Psal. 118. v. 151.152. Tom. 1. Col. 1030.1931. & Hom. 7. in Matth. Tom. 2. Col. 58.59. & Hom 15. & 21. Ad Pop. Antioch.Ps 118:151Ps 118:152sundry of his Homilies complaines: That men did oft-time leave the Church and runne to Playes; preferring Stage-play-meetings before the Church Assemblies, and chusing rather to see an Harlot or Player in the Theater, then the Body and Blood of Christ himselfe in the Church. Pope Leo the first laments. ddMajorem obtinent insana spectacula frequentiam, quā bea…a martyria. Sermo in Octav… Petri & Pa…li. cap. 5. fol. 165.That Stage-playes, and unruly Spectacles were more frequented then the blessed solemnities of the Martyrs. Saint Asterius, in his Homily against the Feast of the Kalends, complaines: eeBibl. Patrum. Tom. 4. p. 705. D. E.That many preferring their vaine Stage-playes, pleasures, and imployments, absented themselves from the Church, and holy Sermons on Festivals and Holi-dayes, and on the Feast of Kalends. ffSed proh dolor, quamplurimi inter Christianos hanc Iudaeorum amentiam & improbitatem imitantur, qui diebus festis, aut ludis illiberalibus, crapula, choreis, aut alijs mundi vanitatibus dediti, quum Deo diligentius obsequium exhibere, quum templa Dei frequentare, orationibus insistere, atque Ecclesiastico interesse officio deberent, tunc maxime Deum suis dissolutissimis moribus irritant. Idnè est ô Christiani, celebrare diem festum, indulgere ventri, & inconcessis voluptatibus habenas laxare? Si prohibetur die festo opus, quod manu exerceatur ad vitae necessitatem, ut integrius divinis rebus vacare possitis, nonne potiori jure prohibita sunt ea, quae non nisi cum peccato committi po…unt, & gravi offensione Dei? Diebus ad exercenda opera servilia concessis, unusquisque suo intentus est operi, & abstinet à crapula, ludis & vanitatibus. Diebus autem festis passim currunt ad cauponā, …d ludos spectacula & choreas, in irrisionem divini nominis, & diei praevaricationem: quum tamen eo gravius sit peccatum, quo sanctiori tempore committatur: Resipiscant igitur… & id zi…anium, quod inimicus homo superseminavit in agro Domini prorsus extirpare… & a se evellere laborent. Cyril. Alex. in Ioan. Evang. l. …. c. 5 p. 595.Alas for griefe (writes Cyril Arch-bishop of Alexandria) very many among us Christians imitate this madnesse and dishonesty of the Iewes: who upon Holi-dayes and solemne Festivals giving themselves over to dishonest Playes, to drunkennesse, to dancing, or other vanities of the world; when as they ought to serve God more diligently, to frequent the Churches of God more earnestly, to be instant in prayers, and to be present at Ecclesiasticall duties, doe then most of all provoke God with their most dissolute manners. Is this O Christians to celebrate an holy day, to pamper the belly, and to let loose the reines to unlawfull pleasures? If worke bee prohibited on Holi-days, which must be used for the necessary sustenance of life; that so you may the more intirely devote your selves to heavenly things; are not those things then much more forbidden which cannot bee committed without sinne and great offen…e to God? On dayes that are allowed for servile worke, every one is intent upon his owne businesse; and hee abstaines from drunkennesse, pastimes, and vanities. But on Holi-dayes (loe here the true genious picture of our present age) men every where runne to the Ale-house, to Playes, to Enterludes, and dances, to the very derision of Gods Name, and the prevarication of the day: where as in truth the sinne is so much the more hainous, by how much the more holy the time is in which it is committed. Let them therefore repent, and labour utterly to extirpate and pull up this tare, which the envious man hath sowne in the Field of the Lord. Iohn Damascen out of Eusebius informes us. ggQui Domini metu praediti sun…, dominicū diem expectāt, u… Deo praeces adhibeant, …c co…pore & sanguine Domini fruantur. Inertes autem & socordes Dominicum diem …xpectant, ut ab opere feriati, vitijs operā dent. Quod autem non mentiar, res ip…ae fidem faciant. Alio die in mediū prodi & neminem invenies. Die Dominico egredere, at que alios cithara canentes, alios applaudentes & …altantes, alios sedentes, ac proximos maledictis insectantes, alios deni que luctantes reperies. Praeco ad Ecclesiam vocat? & omnes segnitie torpent, ac moras nectunt. Cithara aut tuba personuit? & omnes tanquam alis instru…ti currunt. Damascen. Parallelorum. l. 3. c. 47 p. 208.That those who are endued with the feare of God, long for the Lords day, that so they may pray unto God, and be made partakers of the Body and Blood of the Lord. But sluggish lasie persons looke for the Lords day, for no other end but that being loosed from their worke, they may give themselves over to their vices. Now that I lie not, the very things themselves doe make it credulous. Walke forth upon any other day, and thou shalt finde no man idle or playing. Goe forth upon the Lords day, and thou mai…t finde, some playing upon and singing to the Harpe: others shouting and dancing; others sitting, and reviling their neighbours, others wrestling. Doth the Preacher call to the Church? all of them grow lasie, and make delayes. Doe the Harpe or Trumpet sound? all of them presently runne as if they were winged. **Ecclesiae spectacula cernimus, Dominum Christum in mens… recumbentem prospicimus, Seraphinos te… sanctum Hymnum canentes, Evangelicas voces, Spiri…us sancti praesentiam, Prophetas resonantes, Angelorum Hymnum, Alleluia, omnia spiritual…a omnia salute digna, omnia caeleste regnū conciliantia. Quid autem cernit qui a… …heatra currit? Diabolicos cantus, mulier…las saltitantes, vel, ut rectius loquar, Daemonis intemperijs agitat…s. Quid enim saltatriae facit? Caput, quod Paulus perpetuò tegi jussi…, impudenter aperit: collum invertit: comā huc at que illuc expandit. Haec porrò etiàm ab ea …iunt, quam Daemon obsessam tenet. Citharaedus autē tanquam… Daemon, cū ligno conflictatur. Tale nimirum Herodis quo que convivium erat. Herodiadis filia ingressa, tripudiavit, ac Ioannis Baptistae caput amputavit, & subterranea inferni loca haereditatis loco cōsecuta est. Quocirca qui choreas & saltationes amant, cum ea portionem habent. Vae his qui Dominico di… cythara ludunt, aut operantur. Ad mercenariorū & servorum requietem hic dies concessus est. Haec enim Dies, inquit ille, quam fecit Dominus: exultemus & laetemur in ea, &c. Idem. Ibidem.We behold p. 534the Spectacles of the Church; we see the Lord Christ lying on the Table, the Ceraphyns singing a thrice holy song, the words of the Gospell; the presence of the holy Ghost, the Prophets ecchoing, the Angels singing, Alleluia, all things spirituall, all things worthy salvation, all things procuring the Kingdome of Heaven. These things heares he that enters into the Church. But what seeth he who runnes to Play-houses? Diabolicall songs, dancing Wenches, or that I may speake more truely, Girles tossed up and downe with the furies of the Devill: (A good discription of our dancing females.) For what doth this Dancer…sse? She most impudently uncovers her head, which Paul hath commanded to be alwayes covered: Shee turnes about her necke the wrong way; She througheth about her haire hither and thither; Even these things verily are done by her whom the Devill hath possessed. But the Fidler, like a Devill, conflicteth with woodden instruments. Such verily was the feast of Herod. The Daughter of Herodias entred in and danced, and cut of the head of Iohn Baptist, and obtained the subterraneous places of Hell for her inheritance. Therefore those who love Charantoes and Dances, have their portion with her. Woe unto those who play upon the Harpe on the Lords day, or doe any servile worke. This day was allotted for the rest of servants and hirelings: For this saith he, is the day of the Lord, let us reioyce and be glad therein, &c. Salvian is yet more punctuall to our purpose: heare but his words for all the other Fathers, iiNos Ecclesijs Dei ludi…ra anteponimus; nos Altaria spernimus, & Theatra honoramus. Omnia deni que amamus, omnia colimus, solus nobis in comparatione omnium Deus vilis est… Deni que praeteralia quaeid probant, indicat hoc etiam haec res ipsa quā dico. Si quando enim venerit, quod scilicet saepè evenit, …t eodem die, & festivitas ecclesiastica, & ludi publici agantur, quaero …b omnium conscientia, quis locus majores Christianorum virorum copias habet? caveanè ludi publici, an Atrium Dei? & Templum magis omnes sectentur, an Theatrum? Dicta Evangeliorum magis di…igant, an thymelico…um: verba vitae, an verba mortis? Verba Christi, an verba mimi? Non …st dubium quin illud n… gis amemus, quod anteponimus. Omni onim ferarium ludicrorū die, si quae libet Ecclesiae festa fuerint, non solū ad Ecclesiam non veniunt, qui Christianos se esse dicunt: …ed si qui nescij fortè venerint, dum in ipsa Ecclesiasunt, si ludos agi audiunt, Ecclesiam …erelinquunt. Spernitur Dei templum ut concurratur ad Theatrum; Ecclesia vacuatur, Circ…s impletur. Christū in Altario demittimus, ut adulterantes vi…u impurissimo oculos ludicrorum turpium fornicatione pascamus Salvian De… Guber. Dei. l. 6. p. 195.196.We preferre (saith he) pastimes before the Curch of God: We despise the Lords Table, and honour Theaters. Finally, besides other things which prove the same, this which I now say manifests it to be true. For if it fall out (as often it doth,) that at one and the same time an Holi-day be kept, and common Playes proclaimed; I demand of every mans conscience, which place hath greater troopes of Christians? whether the Yard of the publike Play-house, or the Court of Gods house; and whether men flocke to most; to the Temple, or to the Theater? Whether doe they most affect, the sayings of the Evangelists, or of Stage-players? the words of life, or the words of death? the words of Christ, or the words of a foole in a Play? Doubtlesse wee love that most which we preferre. For if the Church keepe any feast on that day when there are solemne Playes; those, who say they are Christians, doe not onelyonly not come to the Church, but if any not thinking of the Playes come casually thither, if they heare whiles they are in the very Church, that there are Playes acting abrod, they leave the Church, and repaire to them. The Temple of God is dispised to runne unto Theaters: the Church is emptied, the Play-house filled: We leave Christ upon the Table, to feed our adulterous eyes with the impure and unchaste sight of most filthy Enterludes. kkDeni que cujus…ibet civitatis incolae Ravennam aut Romam venerint, pars sunt Romanae plebis in Circo, pars sunt Ravennatis in Theatro. Ac per hoc nemo se loco aut absentia excusatum putet. Omnes turpitudine rerum unum sunt, qui sibi rerum turpium voluntate sociantur. Et blandimur tamen nobis de probitate morum, blandimur nobis de turpitudinum raritate. Ibid. p. 201.What stranger soever either commeth to Ravenna, or to Rome; shall finde a part of the Romanes at Stage-playes, and a part of the Ravenians at Theat…rs. And although any be either absent or distant by place, yet is he not excused thereby: for as many as are ioyned together in likenesse of affection, are guilty alike of the same wickednesse that either doth commit. Yet for all this, wee flatter our selves of our good behaviour, and of the rarenesse of our impurity, &c. Thus farre these Fathers llDe Inventoribus Rerum. lib. 5. cap. 2. pag. 384.385.Polydor p. 535Virgil complaines. That in his time holy dayes were most acceptable to youth for no other reason, but that they had then leasure to lead about dances; especially among the Italians, who after the custome of the ancient Pagans, did usually exhibite Spectacles and Playes unto the people; reciting Comedies, and personating the lives and martyrdomes of the Saints in Churches; in which that all might receive equall delight, they acted them in their Mother-tongue. Thus was it heretofore among the ancient Romanes, who on their solemne Festivals recited the Poems of Poets in open Theaters, and made divers Spectacles of beasts and Sword-players in Amphitheaters; with sundry other Playes thorowout the Citty, with which the people were delighted. mmDe Vanitate Scientiarum. c. 59. De Festis.Agrippa complaines, and so likewise doth nnIn his Sermons. fol. 1….BB. Latimer our renowned Martyr, and ooOnus Ecclesiae. c. 28. sect. 6. In festis pro divino cultu institutis visitamus taberna & choreas seu tripudia, spectacula & aliter circa illicita occupamur, exercitia spiritualia penitus detestantes, &c. Ibidem. See cap. 27. sect. 7. & 17.Episcopus Chemnensis: That that waster of equity, that subverter of all order and decency, that author of all evill things, the Devill, endevouring daily to pull downe what ever the holy Ghost doth build up, hath alwayes quite demolished this fortification: The greatest part of Christian people so spending the holy rest of Holy-dayes, not in meeting together to pray, or heare Gods Word, nor yet to performe those other duties for which they were first ordained; but wasting it in all kinde of corruptions of good manners, and of Christian doctrine, in Dances, in Comedies, in Stage-playes, in ribaldrous Songs, in sports, in drunken meetings, in spectacles, in all kinde of worldly and carnall workes contrary to the Spirit and holinesse: And as Tertullian saith of the solemnity of the Caesars or Romane Emperours; they are wont then to performe a notable piece of service, to make Bonefires and Dances in the streets, to feast from house to house, to turne the whole Citty into the forme of a Taverne, to force wine downe their throates, to runne earnestly to misdemeanors, to impudencies, to irritations, and enticements of lust: thus is the publike ioy expressed by a publike shame: so may it be said of our Festivals. Are we not th…refore worthily to bee condemned who thus celebrate the solemnities of Christ and of his Saints? Not to remember the Statute of 17 Edward 4. cap. 3. which informes us, that the Holi-dayes and Su…dayes were spent in Dice-play, Kayles, Bowles, and such other unlawfull ungracious and incommendable Games. Nor to recite the words of the authorized **Part. 2. Booke of Homilies. pag. 126.Homily of the time and place of Prayer: which complaines: That it too evidently appeares that God is more dishonoured, and the Devill better served on the Sunday, then upon all the dayes of the weeke besides. Nor yet to recite the lamentable complaint of qqDe Vita & Honest…te Ecclesiasticorum lib. 2. cap. 11. thorowout.Ioannis Langhecrucius: That Lords-dayes and Holi-dayes in his time were for the most part spent in drunkennesse, dancing, wantonnesse, Stage-playes, and the like: in so much that the very Singing-men and Choristers of the Church (such was their blindnesse and madnesse) did spend and honor the sacred feast-day of the Virgin Martyr Caecilia, not in sackcloth and fastings; but in gluttony, in drunkennesse, in dancing, in lascivious and unchaste songs; being then more prone to all lasc…vious wickednesse, then to the reformation of their lusts, or to fasting and prayer: rrAt que hunc ferè in modum omnes artifices ac opifices aliquem sanctorū in patronū sibi deligerunt colendum. Ita ut hujusmodi cultu ac ritu ad ethnicismū seu atheismū relabi videamur. Ibidem. p. 252.And that almost all Artificers and T…ades-men had chosen some one Saint or other to be a Patron to them, which Saints they worshipped in a deboist Bacchanalian manner: so that by this kinde of worship and custome, men seemed to have relapsed to Heathennisme or Atheisme. I shall truely transcribe a notable passage out of Nicholaus de Clemangis to the like effect; in his Treatise: ssIn his Works. Lugduni Bat. 1613. p. 143. to 150.De Novis celebritatibus non instituendis: where he writes thus: Every one may perceive with what devotion Christian people doe at this day celebrate their Festivals and Holi-dayes. They seldome come to Church, they most seldome heare the Masse, and that for the most part but by piece-meale, &c. Yea they leave the Church, and runne away. One goeth to a Farme, another to his worldly affaires: a great companie resorts to faires, which now are never kept in a publike and solemne manner but on the most eminent Festivals: ttQuosdam histrio delectat, nonnullos Theatra occupan…, plurimos pila tenet, permultos alea, &c. Ibidem. pag. 143.the Stage-player delighteth some, p. 536Play-houses take up others; Tennis-courts many, Dice very many. Festivals are celebrated by the richer sort with great gawdinesse of apparell; and provision of banquets: but betweene rich cloathes and pompous feasts, the conscience lies unadorned in uncleanesse. The outward house is cleansed with beasoms, the floores are swept, greene boughes are placed at the doore, the ground is strowed with hearbes and flowers, uuOmnia nitent exteriora, sed miser interior homo illius minime particeps exultationis, in suis interim spurcitijs contabescit, quanto que inter vana gaudia effusior est laetitía, tanto ingentioribus urgetur aerumnis, majoribusque peccatorū sanciatur aculeis. Ibidem.all outward things are cleane and trim: but the miserable inward man not partaking of this exultation, pines away in the meane time in his filthinesses, and by how much more excessive the laughter is in the middest of vaine delights, by so much the more is it afflicted with greater sorrowes, and wounded with sharper prickes of sinnes. But to omit these: let us see what the prophane vulgar doth in the meane time, and the youth in our times corrupted with luxury. I have fitly said, the prophane vulgar, according to the thing which is done; because then doub…lesse they are farre from the Temple; and as they ar… farre from the Temple, so likewise farre from home xxAnd are not our Holi-daies spent thus too?For Holi-dayes are not celebrated by them in the Temple, nor in their houses; all the solemnities of their celebration are in Tavernes and Ale-houses, They resort thither almost at Sunne-rising, and oft-times they abide there untill midnight; they sweare, forsweare, blaspheme God, and curse all his Saints, they roare, they wrestle, they wrangle: they sing, they rage, they shrecke, they make a tumult, and seeme to be as mad as Bedlams. They strive who shall overcome one another in drinking: they drinke merrily one to other; they earnestly provoke and stirre up one another to drinke: And when as they have glutted themselves, and are drunke, then they rise up to play, &c. What shall I relate the vanities of publike Playes and spectacles upon Holi-dayes: The crosse-wayes sound againe with dances? the Vilages and streets, yea the whole Citty rebound with the voyces of Singers, the shoutes, the clamours of Dancers, the confused sound of the Harpe, the Tabre…, the Psaltery, and all other musicall Harmonies. There mind… being moved with the fla…eries of laughter, the thumping of the feet, the glances of the eye, the gropings of the hands, and with the alluring sweetnesse of Verses and Harpes, yyThese are the f…uits of Playes and dancing.Wax effeminate, become vaine, and grow hot to luxury and incontinency. There the consultations of whoredomes and adulteries are handled; oportunities are taken, places, times, and conditions are appointed. And because the day is not sufficient for their lewdnesse, Girles and espoused Women are there oft-times voluntarily or against their wils ravished in the darknesse of the night. I know places, yea famous Citties, in which on Holi-dayes and Lords-daies it is lawfull for Maides in a publike manner to runne abrode to their Lovers, yea to their Panders, which promised liberty they diligently study to preserve without controll, and speedily as soone as ever the houre of dinner is past, they earnestly call themselves together, and march in troopes to their corrupters with incredible wantonnesse and malepartnesse. We see in Wakes or Festivities of Country Villages, zzLoe here the effects of Revels, Wakes, Morrices, Whitson-ales, & May-poles, which some so much approve and plead for.how Harlots come from all quarters out of the neighbour Townes and Citties, and Country Youthes flocking thither by troopes, who perhaps were free from such uncleanesse all the yeere, casting away the bridle of modesty in the solemnity of their Patron (the Saint to whose honour their Church is dedicated) publikely commit adultery. There Youth hath first cast off its Chastity; there yong men are polluted, there Children are corrupted, and they learne the experiment of a most impure contagion. There they continually provoke and invite one another to that most filthy pleasure, and he that will not follow the rest to destruction is accounted a **But we stile such a one a Puritan.wretch, a sluggard, an unprofitable person, good for nothing. aaAnd would they not think so of our Bacchanalian riotous Grand-Christmasses too? to which all these passages may be wel applyed.What Heathen skilfull of sacrilegious Feastivals (if he should happen to be present) would not rather beleeve that the Floralia of Venus, or the feasts of Bacchus were kept, then the solemnities of any Saint; when as he should there behold such uncleanesses as were wont to be acted in the Festivals of those Idols. Neither doth the filthy obscenity onelyonly of Bacchus and Venus seeme to bee exercised there, but likewise of Mars and Bellona too. For it is …w a common fame, that p. 537it is an unseemely Holi-day which is not sprinkled with fighting and effusion of blood. Neither is it strange if that Mars be made a companion of Bacchus and Venus. For mindes provoked with wine and lust are wont to be easily provoked to fight; Whence Venus Martia was fained by the Poets to be coupled with a cunning and insoluble knot. bbAnd may we not apply this to our disorderly Christmasses?What, is the Patron of the Village to be worshipped by the Inhabitants on his birth-day in such a manner, that so he might be propitious to them all the yeere? What Noble or great man would not be displeased that his birth-day should be defiled with such a pollution? Who may not see, how much honester, how much better it were to observe no Holi-dayes, then to keepe them in this manner? Whose heart is so estranged from reason, so devious from the truth through perverse error, that he may not understand it to be lesse evill to goe to plow, or to digge, to sow, or doe other Country workes on the solemnities of the Saints, then not to honour, but to prophane their solemne Festivals with such horrible obscenities? And yet if any one oppressed with never so great penury of necessaries for his family be found to have done any thing in his Field or Vineyard, he is cited, severely punished, reprehended, condemned as guilty of violating an Holi-day. But he who shall commit these worser things condemned by the Lawes and Commandements of God, shall want both punishment, and an accuser. And why is this, but because there is no man who will take revenge on those who transgresse the Precepts of the Lord? They have their Officials (whose office ccOfficialis Episcopi, ministerium damnatissimae villicationis. Credo huiusmodi Officiales non ab officio, nomine, sed ab officio verbo, mutasse vocabulum: nam genus hoc hominum, quod dicunt offici perdi. Tota Officialis intentio est, ut ad opus Episcopi suae jurisdictioni commissas miserimas oves quasi vice illius tondeat, emungat, excoriet. Isti enim sunt Episcoporū sanguisugae evomentes alienum sanguinem quam biberunt. Quia testimonio Scripturae, divitias quas congregavit impius evomet: & de faucibus illius extrahet eas Deus. Isti sunt quasi s…ongia in manu prementis, quasi quae dam colatoria divitias suis dominis influentes, & execrandis acquisitionibus nihil sibi praeter peccati sordem & faeculentiam retinentes, Quod enim aggregant per oppressionē pauperum, Episcopis quidem ad delicias cedit, Officialibus ad tormentum. Sic vos non vobis, mellisi…atis apes. Sic vos non vobis accumulatis opes. I…ti sunt secretiora illa ostiola, per quae ministri Belis sacrificia quae super mensam ponebantur à Rege, clanculum asportabant. Sic Episcopus quasi longa manu bona aliena deripit, & notam criminis à se removens, suis Officialibus culpae & infamiae discrimen impingit. Ideo quasi sub umbra Episcopi, & obtētu justitiae palliatae subditos exprimunt, Ecclesias gravant redditus alienos violenter invadunt, oculos habent ad munera, pupillae & viduae non intendunt, &c. Officium Officialium, hodie est, jura confundere, suscitare lites, transactiones rescindere, innectere dilationes, supprimere veritatem, fovere mendacium, quaestum sequi, aequitatem vendere, inh…are exactionibus, versutias concinnare. Isti sunt, qui hospites suos gravant superflua evectione, & multitudine clientelae. Q…aerunt d…licatos & superfluos cibos… cum scriptum sit, comedentes & bibentes quae apud illos sunt. De alieno enim prodigi, de proprio sunt avari, verborum insidiatores & aucupes syllabarum tendunt laqueos & pedicas in capturam pecuniae, jura int…rpraetantur ad libitum, & ea pro voluntate sua, nunc abdicunt, nunc admittunt: bene dicta depravant, prudenter allegata pervertunt, rumpunt faedera, nutriunt dissimulationes, fornicationes dissimulant, matrimonia distrahunt, adulteria fovent, penetrant domus, & mulieres oneratas peccatis captivas ducunt; diffamant innoxios, & nocen…es absoluunt. Et ut multa sub verborum paucitate concludam, dum omnia venaliter agunt filij avaritiae, servi mammonae, se Diabolo venales exponunt. Si mihi credis, imò si credis in Deum, relinque maturius Officialis officium, ministerium damna…ionis, rotam malorum, & spiritum vertiginis, qui te ad inania circumvoluit. Miserere animae tuae placens Deo, cui placere non potes cum isto perditionis officio… Petrus Blesensis. Epist. 25. ad Offi…ialem Episcopi Ca…notensis. Bibl. Patrum. Tom. 12. pars 2. pag. 724.725, vid. Ibidem.Petrus Blesensis hath excellently characterized) they have Archdeacons, they have Promoters, they have Apparitors, who enforce their Episcopall Edicts to be kept with most grievous penalties. They runne thorow the Dioces, they craftily examine and enquire, if any Vine-dresser or Husbandman hath wrought or carried any thing upon an Holi-day: an… if it shall appeare that hee hath done any such thing, he is accused and punished, not so often according to the quality of the offence, as at the will of the Iudge. But yet Christ hath none or very few Proctors who cause his Commandements to bee kept, &c. ddEnarratio in Psal. 3….Ps 3Saint Augustine saith; that hee would rather goe to Plow on the Lords-day, then Dance: not that it is lawfull then to goe to Plow, or that hee that goeth to Plow should be pardoned, but because hee who danceth offends more grievously: because dancing it selfe is oft-times a sinne, and oft-times enforceth men to occasions of worser sinnes. Consider what hee would have said of those other things, which now are commonly done upon our Holi-dayes. And yet notwithstanding, if any one goeth to Plow on the Lords-day, hee is not onelyonly most severely punished, but he is welnigh reputed an Infidell: but hee who danceth excellently, not onelyonly hath no reproofe, but he is likewise p. 538plausibly received with applause and gratulation even by the Censors themselves, &c. Now what a thing is it for men to intangle themselves in greater villanies, on those dayes that are appointed for reconciliation and remission of sinnes, and on which men wholy cease from terrene actions, that they may give themselves to the contemplation of Heavenly things with a pure heart? What confidence can such have of the suffrage of the Saints, who defile their Holidayes with most foolish vanities, most impure pollutions… most wicked debacchations, and sacrilegious execrations? Verily they deserve to have them, not most pious furtherers, but most deadly accusers. **O that Christians would consider this, especially those who abuse the Feast of our Saviours Nativity.For what greater iniury can bee done to a Saint, then to dishonor his birth-day, wherein he was carried into Heaven and Paradice, with such uncleanesses? and with every such sacrilegious custome wherewith Devils were wont to be attoned by their superstitious worshippers? What doe we thinke the ancient holy Fathers would say, who appointed the solemnities of the Saints to be observed in the Church for the foresaid ends, if they were now alive, and should see those vanities and counterfeit fooleries that are done upon them? I doubt not but they would take care of the soules that are like to perish, neither would they suffer such things on the holy dayes of the Saints as were not permitted to be done in the Bacchanalia themselves. Either therefore, they would recall the people by the censure of discipline from such most unworthy obscenities, or would compell them to celebrate Festivals with due honesty; or if they could not breake the force of pernicious custome, they would rather abolish the feasts themselves, lest they should bee an occasion of so great wickednesses; which as it seemes to agree with the safety of soules, according to the variety of manners and times, are either to be discharged from observance, or else more stricktly to be tied to an honest observance, lest they should doe farre more hurt by being ill observed, then well omitted, &c. By all which di…course of this learned Author, (who hath much more to the selfesame purpose, which suites punctually with the practise of our present times) wee may easily discerne, how Stage-playes and dancing avocate and with-hold men from Gods worship, especially on Lords-dayes, and the most solemne Christian Festivals, which of all other times are most abused, to the eternall ruine of many thousand Christians soules. To passe by Bucer in Psal. 92. Master Gualther. Hom. 88. in Acta Apostolorum. cap. 13. Master Iohn Calvin, on Deut. 5. Sermo. 34. Doctor Bownde, of th Sabbath. London 1595. p. 135.136, 283, 284. Master Beacon, Hooper, Babington, Brinsly, Perkins, Dod, Lake, Downham, Andrewes, Williams, Ames, and most other Writers upon the 4. Commandement, and the Sabbath: who make the selfesame complaint, that the Lords-day, and Holi-dayes are prophaned and oft-times spent in Stage-playes, Dancing, Drinking, Masques, and Pastimes. Which complaint I finde likewise seconded by learned ffDe Praeceptis Decalogi. c 7. Operum Parisijs. 1606. pars 2. Col. 264. & Sermo. Domin. 3. Adventus. pars 4. Col 332.333, 334.Iohn Gerson, ggSpeculū Morale. lib. 3. Distinct. 6. pars 9. fol. 251.252.Vincentius Bellovecensis, and hhConcio. 6. De Dominic…. 3. Adventus & Concio. 19. De Dominica. 1. Quinquages. Operum. Coloniae Agrip. 1617. Tom. 6. Col. 60.61, 204, 205.Cardinall Bellarmine himselfe; who as they condemne all Stage-playes, Enterludes, Masques, with all mixt lascivious amorous dancing, (against which Vincentius and Bellarmine have largely written) at all times, so especially on Lords-dayes, Holi-dayes, and solemne Festivals, on which they are most execrable. The Author of the 3. Blast of Retrait from Playes and Theaters is very copious in this point. iiPag. 62. to 78.God (writes he) hath given us an expresse kkExod. 20.8, 9, 10, 11. Workes which God requireth on the Sabbath.Exod 20:8Exod 20:9Exod 20:10Exod 20:11Commandement, that we should not violate the Sabbath day, and prescribed an order how it should bee sanctified, namely in holinesse, by calling into minde the spirituall rest, hearing the Word of God, and ceasing from worldly businesse. Whereupon Isaiah the Prophet, shewing how the Sabbath should be observed, saith, llIsay 58.13, 14. Dominico die à labore terreno cessandum est, atque omnimodo orationibus insistendum, ut si quid negligentiae per sex dies agi…ur, per diem resurrectionis Dominicae praecibus expie…r. Greg. Magnu…. Epist. lib. 11. Indict. 6. cap. 3. fol. 452… F.Isa 58:13Isa 58:14If thou tu…ne away thy foote from the Sabbath, from doing thy will on mine Holy-day, p. 539and call the Sabbath a delight, to consecrate it as glorious to the Lord: and shalt honour him… not doing thing owne wayes, not seeking thine owne will, nor speaking a vaine word; then shalt thou delight in the Lord, and I will cause thee to mount upon the high places of the earth, and feed thee with the heritage of Iacob thy Father, for the mouth of the Lord hath spo…en it. **How the Sabbath day it consumed.Here we see how the Lord requireth that this day should be observed, and what rest hee looketh for at our hands. But, alas, how doe wee follow the order which the Lord hath set downe? **See here, pag. 242.Is not the Sabbath of all other dayes most abused? which of us on that day is not carried whether his affections leades him, unto all d…ssolutenesse of life? How often doe we use on that day unreverend speech? which of us hath his heart occupied in the feare of God? who is not led away to the beholding of those Spectacles, the sight wher…of can bring but con…usion to our bodies and soules? Are not our eyes ( **At Playe… every member of man is def… led.there) carried away with the pride of vanity? our eares abused with amorous, that is, lecherous, filthy, and abominable speech? Is not our tongue which was given us onelyonly to glorifie God with all, there imployed to the blas…eming of Gods holy Name, or the commendation of that is wicked? Are not our hearts through the pleasure of the flesh, the delight of the eye, and the fond motions of the minde, withdrawne from the service of the Lord, and meditation of his goodnesse? So that albeit it is a shame to say it, yet dovbtlesse whosoever will marke with what multitudes these idle pl…ces are replenished, and how empty the Lords Sanctuary is of his people, may well perceive what devotion wee have. We may well s…y we are the servants of the Lord, but the slender service wee doe him, and the small regard we have of his Commandements, declares our want of love towards him. rrIohn 14.…5.John 14:5For if yee love mee (saith Christ) keepe my Commandements. Wee may well bee Hir…l…ngs, but wee are none of his Houshold Wherefore abuse not the Sabbath day, my Brethren: leave not the Temple of the Lord: sit not still in the quagm…re of your owne lusts: but put to your strength to helpe your selves before your owne waight sincke you downe to Hell. ssEphes. 5.16.Eph 5:16Redeeme the time for the dayes are evill. Alas what folly is it in you, to purchase with a penny damnation to your selves? why seeke you after sinne as after a banket? **None delight in common Spectacles but such as would be Spectacles.None delight in those Spectacles, but such as would bee made Spectacles. Account not of their drosse: their treasures are too base to be laid up in the rich Coafers of your minde. Repentance is farthest from you when you are nearest to such May-games. All of you for the most part doe lose your time, or rather wilfully cast the same away, contemning that as nothing which is so precious as your lives cannot redeeme. **Time would not bee lost.I would to God you would bestow the time you consume in these vanities, in seeking after vertue and glory. For to speake truely, whatsoever is not converted to the use wherefore it was ordained, may be said to bee lost. **End of mans creation.For to this end was man borne, and had the benefit of time given him, that hee might honour, serve, and love his Creator, and thinke upon his goodnesse. For whatsoever is done without this, is doubtlesse cast away. Oh, how can you then excuse your selves for the losse of time! doe you imagine that your carelesse life shall never bee brought into question? Thinke yee the words of Saint Paul the Apostle were spoken in vaine, when hee saith, tt2 Cor. 5.10.2 Cor 5:10We must all appeare before the Iudgement Seate of Christ, that every man may receive the things which are done in his body, whether it be good or evill. When that account shall bee taken, I feare me your reckoning will bee to seeke, &c, **Pag. 76.77, 78…By such infamous persons as Players much time is lost, and many dayes of honest travell are turned into vaine exercises; Youth corrupted, the Sabbath prophaned, &c. **Why the Emperour Traian ordain…d but 22. Holi dayes thorowout the yeere.It was ordained in Rome by the Emperour Trajan, that the Romanes should observe but 22 Holi-dayes thorowout the whole yeere. For hee thought without doubt, that the gods were more served on such dayes as the Romans did labour, then on such dayes as they rested; because the vices were more then which they did commit, then the sacrifices they did offer. **God worst served on the Sabbath dayes.And trust mee I am of that opinion, that the Lord is never so ill served as on the p. 540Holi-dayes. For then Hell breakes loose. Then wee permit Youth to have their swinge; and when they are out of the sight of their Masters, such government have they of themselves, that what by ill company they meete withall, and ill examples they learne at Playes, I feare me, I feare me their hearts are more allienated from virtue in two houres, then againe may well be amended in a whole yeere. Thus hee; yea and thus M. xxIn his Schoole of Abuses: and Playes Con…uted.Gosson, M. yyTreatise against Vaine Playes and Enterludes.Northbrooke, M. zzAnatomy of Abuses. p. 101. to 107.Stubs, M. aaThird part of the True Watch. cap. 11. Abomination. 30. p. 302.Brinsly, and others too tedious to transcribe, together with the expresse words of the Statute of 1. Caroli. cap. 1. which informes us; That the holy keeping of the Lords-day in very many places of this Realme hath beene and now is prophaned and neglected, by a disorderly sort of people, in exercising and frequenting Beare-bayting, Bul-bayting, Enterludes, common Playes, and other unlawfull exercises and pastimes, neglecting Divine Service both in their owne Parishes, and elsewhere. All which concurrent testimonies are a su…ficient confirmation of this experimentall truth; that Stage-playes avocate, with-hold, and keepe men from Gods worship, house & ordinances, especially on Festivals, Holi-dayes, and those solemne times which should bee more peculiarly devoted to his service. And no wonder that it should be so: First, because the vulgar people, (who are commonly inamored with childish pleasures, and pompous vanities,) are exceedingly delighted with Enterludes and Stage-playes; as bbPopulus ac vulgus imperitorum ludis magnopere delectantur; sunt enim populi ac multitudinis comitia. Populo ludorum magnificentia voluptati est, Ludis delectamur & capimur. Lex haec quae ad ludos pertinet est omniū gratissima. Delectant homines mihi crede ludi. Id autem spectaculi genus erat, quod omni frequentia, at que omni genere hominum celebratur; quo multitudo maximè delectatur. Oratio pro Muraena. p. 463. B.C. & Oratio pro …. Sextio. p. 561. A.Tully, ccVt primum positis nugari Graecia bellis Caepit, & in vitium fortuna labier aequa, Nunc athletarum studijs mire arsit aequorum. Nunc tibicinibus, nunc est gavisa tragaedis, Sub nutrice puella velut si luderet infans. Epist. lib. 2. Epist. 1. pag. 280. His nam plebecula gaudet. Verum equitis quo que jam migravit ab aure voluptas Omnis ad incertos oculos & gaudia vana, &c. Nam quae pervincere voces Evaluere sonum referunt quem nostra Theatra? Garganum mugire putes nemus, aut mare Tuscum, Tanto cum strepitu ludi spectantur. Ibidem. pag. 283.284.Horace, ddNam qui dabat olim Imperium, fasces, …egiones, omnia, nunc se Contin…t, at que duas tantū res anxius opta…, Panem, & Circenses. Iuvenal. Satyr. 10 p. 94. Maestit…a est, carvisse anno Circensibus uno. Satyr. 11. pag. 106. Ac mihi pace Immēsae nimiae que licet si dicere plebis, Totam hodie Rom…m Circus capit, & fragor au…em Porcutit. Ibidem. pag… 111.Iuvenal, eeP…pulo votū est talia convenire. Cassiodorus Variarum. lib. 1. Epist. 51.Theodoricus, ffDe Arte Amandi. lib. 1.Ovid, with ggTerentij Eunuchus. Marcus Aurelius. Epistle 12. to Lambert August. De Ci…. Dei. l. 1. c. 31.32. l. 2. c. 4. to 29. M. Northbrooke, and M. Stubs, qua supra.sundry others testifie: they are, as the Apostle speakes; ii2 Tim. 3.4.2 Tim 3:4Lovers of pleasures more then lovers of God: Gods presence, Sacraments, Temple, Word, and service are not so gratefull, so delightfull to them, as these: No wonder therefore if they neglect the one, (which are but a kkMat. 11.29.30.Matt 11:29Matt 11:30yoke, a llMal. 1.13.Mal 1:13wearisomnesse, a mm1 Ioh. 5.3.1 John 5:3paine, a burthen to them,) to enjoy the sinfull plea…ures of the other, which are suitable to their vaine voluptuous humour. Secondly, because these Stage-play pleasures are the very chiefest baites, the strongest, the most prevailing Engins which the Devill hath, to with-draw mens hearts from God: They were so in former ages, as nnDe Spectac. lib.Tertullian, ooDe Spectac lib.Cyprian, ppHom. 6. & 7. in Matth.Chrysostome, qqDe Vero Cultu. c. 20.21.Lactantius, rrDe Civit. Dei. l. … c. 32. l. 2. c. 3. to 19. De Symbolo ad Catechumenos l. 2. c. 1.Augustine, and ssDe Gubernat. Dei. lib. 6.Salvian teach us; no wonder therefore if they bee so now.

Thirdly, as Stage-playes thus with-draw men from Gods-service; so they bring the Word, the ordinances, the worship, Ministers, and sincere service of God into contempt and scorne. Witnesse Saint Chrysostome, who expresly avers it. ttNulla res enim aequè eloquia Dei in contemptum adducit, ut spectaculorum quae in Theatris proponuntur, admiratio. H…mil. De Verbis Isaiae. Vidi Dominum. Tom. 1. Col. 1283. C. vid. Ibidem. & Oratio. 7. Tom. 5. Col. 1484. B.That nothing brings the Oracles and Ordinances of God into so great contempt, as the admiration and beholding of Stage-playes. Hence uuDe Vero Cultu. c. 21.Lactantius, and xxEpist. 22. c. 3. See Scene 3. & 11.Hierom informe us; That those who are accustomed to rhetoricall Stage-playes, to sweet polished Orations and Poems, despise the plaine common phrase and humble stile of the S…riptures, as base and sordid; seeking after that which may delight their senses. Hence Gregory Nazianzen informes us; **Oratio. 39. p. 605. Quoniam autem sermone Theatrum repurgavimus, &c.That Stage-playes make men unfit to heare Gods Word, and cause them to contemne it. And p. 541yySicut Circos & Theatra, ita divina quoque mysteria pro ludo habent. Oratio. 31. I… Laudem Athanasij. pag. 525.that the Inhabitants of Constantinople who delighted much in Stage-playes; accounted the Divine Mysteries and Oracles of God, but a meere sport, as they reputed their Stage-playes and Cirque-playes: implying thereby that Play-haunters for the most part, contemne Gods Word, his ordinances, and all spirituall things; as meere toyes and trifles. This truth is likewise confirmed, by zzConfessioni…. lib. 3. cap. 1.2.Saint Augustine, aaDe Gubernatione Dei. l. 6. qua Supra.Salvian, with other Fathers and Councels, in the two precedent clauses: by Rodolphus Gualther, one of the eminentest Divines that the reformed Churches have bred, who records: bbOmnem religionem in contemptum adducunt. Homilia 11. in N…hum.That Stage-playes, and common Actors bring all Religion into contempt; and that Plato banished them out of his Common-weale for this reason among others; because they would breed a contempt of the Gods. By the Author of the 3. Blast of Retrait from Playes and Theaters; by M. Gosson, Master Northbrooke, and M. Stubs, in their Treatises against Playes; by Master Brinsly, in the third part of his True Watch. cap. 11. Abomination 30 pag. 302. and ccD. Iohn White, in his Sermon at Pauls Crosse 1615. sect. 11.by sundry others too tedious to recite. And doth not our owne experience suffragate to this truth? Alas who more vilifie Gods ordinances; or more slight his Word, his Ministers, his Servants, ddSee Act 4. Scene 1…2.Acts 4then Players and Play-haunters? who so atheistically irreligious, so gracelesse, so godlesse, so negligent of all holy duties, so little acquainted or inamored with Gods Word, his worship, his service; as they? Whence is it, that men and women are lately growne so cold, so heartlesse in religion; so remisse, so carelesse in all religious duties; so regardlesse of Gods Word, his Sacraments, his service: so lukewarme, yea so frozen in their love to God, his Saints, his Ordin…nces? it is not from their late extraordinary resort to Playes and Play-houses, which is now more frequent then in former times? For my owne part I can impute it originally to nought else but it. Sure I am that religion is no where more scorned and jested at, that religious men are never more traduced, then on the **…am etiam ad scenā us que pro dijmus, quod propemodū … chrymis refero, & cum perditissimis obscaenissunis que ridemur, nec ullū tam j…cundum est spectacu…ū, quam Christianus comicis cavillis suggillatus. Nazianzen Oratio… 21. p. 412.Stage: that there are no such Seminaries of **See M. Brinsl… his true Watch. part 3. chap. 11. Abomination 30. pag. 302.atheisme, irreligiousnesse, blasphemy, idolatry, Heathenisme and prophanesse, as Playes and Play-houses: This the Authors in the eeSee Act 3. Scene 3. & 5. accordingly.Acts 3precedent Acts doe fully testifie: It is more then probable therefore, that they are the primary fundamentall causes of this most desperate lewde effect.

4Lastly, Stage-playes make all the meanes of grace and salvation, all the ordinances of God ineffectuall to mens soules. Men heare, men read, pray, receive the Sacraments, and come to Church in vaine, as long as they continue Actors or Spectators of Stage-playes. This all the Fathers, Councels, moderne Christian Authors, with the severall reasons alleaged in the three precedent particulars, abundantly evidence; revolue them, and you shall finde it true. Saint Chrysostome is punctuall to this purpose: ffEcce jejunij labor & jejunij fructus nusquā est, cum iniquitatis Theatra conscendimus, &c. Quae utilitas cum illuc hinc abis? ego corrigo, ille corrumpit: ego medicinas morbo adhibeo, ille cau…am morbi ministrat: ego naturae flamam extinguo, ille libidinis flammam accendit. Quae utilitas, dic mihi? unus aedificans, & unus destruens quid sibi labore proficer…nt? De Paenitentia. Hom. 8. Tom. 5. Col. 750.751.Wee lose (saith hee) all the labour, all the fruit of our fasting whiles wee resort to Stage-playes: yea wee reape no benefit at all from the Word of God. What profit reape you whiles you goe from hence to the Theater? I reprove you; the Player corrupts you: I apply medicines to your disease; hee ministers the fewell and occasion of the disease… I extinguish the fire of nature; hee kindles a flame of lust: I build up, and hee puls downe: Yea hee plainely informes us, ggHom. 3 De Davide & Saule Hom. De Verbis Isaiae. Vidi Dominum, &c. & Hom. 38. in Matth.that neither the Sacrament, nor any other of Gods ordinances will doe men any good, so long as they resort to Stage-playes. Saint Augustine informes us of himselfe: hhConfessionum. l. 3. c. 1.2.That as long as hee delighted in Stage-playes (which did nourish irritate and foment his lusts) iiTalis vita mea, nunquid vita …rat Deus meus? Ibid.God was not then his life, and that his life was not a life, but a death. kkNam quare quotidie muscipulam spectaculorum, insaniam stadiorum ac turpiū voluptatum proponit, nisi ut his delectationibus capiat, quos amiserat, ac laetetur denuò se invenisse quod perdiderat? Fugite dilectissimi spectacula, fugite caveas turpissimas Diaboli, ne vos vincula teneant maligni. August De Symbolo ad Catechum. lib. 2. cap. 1. Tom. 9. pars 1. pag. 1393.1394. vid. Ibidem.For Stage-playes (writes hee) are the p. 542very baites, the snares, the dens, and chaines of the Devill, wherewith he takes and reintraps the soules of those whom he hath formerly left. Flie therefore Stage-playes, O beloved, the filthiest dens of the Devill, lest the bands of that malignant one hold you captive. llCohibeat se à spectaculis mundi qui perfectam vult consequi gratiam remissionis. De Vera & falsa Paenitentia. lib. c. 25.Whosoever hee bee that will obtaine perfect remission of his sinnes, let him keepe and withdraw himselfe from these spectacles of the world: which l…st sentence of his is approved both by mmSecunda secundae. Quaest. 108. Artic. 2. & 3.Aquinas himselfe, and by nnDestructoriū Vitiorum. pars 4. c. 23. sect. 2.Alexander Fabricius, for good Divinity: If then Players and Play-haunters bee thus spiritually dead; if they are in the very chaines of the Devill; and uncapable of the full remission of their sinnes, as long as they delight in Stage-playes, or resort unto them, as this Father writes; needs must Gods holy Ordinances bee altogether unprofi…able to their soules whiles they resort to Playes. A plaister never heales, as long as there is an Arrowes head, or poyson in the wound: Stage-playes are an Arrowes head, ooSee p. 39. y. accordingly.a venomous poyson to the soules of men; they are cankers to their graces, ppSee Act 3. Scene 1. thorowout. & Act 7. Scene ….4.Acts 3Acts 7meere fire and fewell to their lusts: no wonder then if Gods Ordinances never cure their sou…es, whiles they resort to Stage-playes. It was the qqTheodoret Contra Graecos Infideles. De Martyribus lib. 8. Tom. 2. p. 390. Concil. Arelatense 1. Can. 4.5. & Arelatense 2. Can. 20. Elibertinum. Can. 62. Constantinopol. 6. Can. 62. Primasius. Comment. in Romanos. f. 53. Antonini Chronicon. pars 2. Tit. 15. c. 10. sect. 13. fol. …32.use of Players and Play-haunting Pagans in the Primitive Church, as soone as ever they were converted to the Christian Faith; to renounce and utterly abandon Stage-playes; as altogether incompatible with their Christian profession; and making all the meanes of grace ineffectuall to their soules. Doubtlesse the very …e…fesame course must be taken now. Hee that would thrive in grace and holinesse; hee that would have the Word, the Sacraments, fasting, prayer, or any other of Gods ordinances effectuall to his soule, must bid an eternall farewell unto Stage-playes. Thus did **M. Stephen …osson, & the Author of the 3. Blast of Retrait from Playes and Theaters.two eminent Play-poets and Play-haunters of our owne; upon their very first conversion unto God, as rrMaster Gosson, in his Schoole of Abuses, and in his Playes Confuted: The Epistles to it, and Action 1. The 3. Blast of Retrait from Playes and Theaters. pag. 49. to 54.themselves record; they abandoned Playes and Play-making, as inconsistent with salvation, with Christianity, with the grace, the service, the ordinances of God: resolving never to returne unto them more; but to their powers to oppugne them, as formerly they had admired, composed & frequented them, which they did accordingly in ssThe Schoole of Abuse. Playes Confuted in 5. Actions. The 3. Blast of Retrait from Playes and Theaters.severall printed Bookes: Wherefore from all these severall premises thus confirmed by reason, by authority, I may safely frame this 38. Syllogisme against Stage-playes.

That which unfits and indisposeth men to the acceptable holy performance of all religious duties: that which either with-drawes, or keepes men from Gods service at times of greatest holinesse and devotion, and brings the Word, the worship, with all the ordinances of God into contempt; making them vaine and ineffectuall to mens soules; must needs bee sinfull, and utterly unlawfull unto Christians. See Hebr. 12.1. Iam. 1.21. 1 Pet. 2.1, 2. accordingly.

But **Neque enim offerri poterit. Deo oculus scortationi serviens, nec pedes Theatra visitantes, &c. Chrysostom. Hom. 20. in Rom. 12. v. 1. Tom. 4. Col. 195. C. Heri in amphitheatro, hodie in Ecclesia: Vespere in Circo, mane in altario; dudum fautor histrionum, nunc virginum consecrator. Hierom. Epist. 83. Oc…ano. c. 4. p. 208.Rom 12:1this doe Stage-playes, as is evident by the premises.

Therefore they must needs bee sinfull and utterly unlawfull unto Christians.