The Players Scourge, Part 1 · Act 7 · Scene 1

The Players Scourge · Part 1 · Act 7 · Scene 1

p. 545SCENA PRIMA.

HAving thus at large related the various 1grounds and reasons of the unlawfulnesse of Stage-playes in such a perspicuous manner,The Canonicall and Apocryphall Scripture condemns Stage-playes. as I hope will satisfie the judgement, the conscience of every impartiall Reader; I come now to a particular summary enumeration of those Authorities, that concurre together with me in condemning Playes and Enterludes, which I shall marshall into seven distinct Squadrons.

The first Squadron consists of such texts of holy Scripture, as are produced by the Fathers and latter Writers against Stage-playes: some of them oppugning them in one kinde, some in another. If we survey the originall Authours, Patriots, Frequenters, Actors; together with the primary use of these theatricall Enterludes; (a)(a)See Act. 1, 2 and 3. Act. 6. Scene 3, 4, 5. & Act. 4. Scene 1, 2.Acts 1:2Acts 1:3Acts 6Acts 4which were at first invented, acted, fostered, frequented by Divel-Idols, Pagans, Idolaters, lascivious dissolute gracelesse persons; and devoted wholly to Idolatry, Idols, Divels, and the lusts of carnall wicked worldly men: wee shall finde these severall Scriptures that oppugne them, condemne them:(b)(b)See Act. 1, 2, 3. Where these Scriptures are quoted and applied at large.Acts 1:2Acts 1:3 viz. Levit: 18.30. Deutr: 7.2.3, 4, 16, 25, 26. c: 12.3, 29, 30. c: 20.16, 17, 18. Iosh: 7.12. c: 11.12. Iudges 2.2. Numb: 33.52. Psal: 16.4. Ier: 10 1, 2, 3. Acts 15.20.29. Rom: 12.2. c: 13.12, 13, 14. 1 Cor: 8.1. to 11. c: 10.7, 20, 21. 2 Cor: 6.14, 15, 16. Ephes: 2.2, 3. c: 4.17. to 25. c: 5.3, 4, 11. Col: 2, 8, 20, 21, 22. Titus 2.13, 14. c: 3.3. 1 Pet: 4.2, 3. & 1.14, 15, 18. Iam: 1.21, 26, 27. c: 4.7, 8 9, 10. c: 5.1, 5. 2 Pet: 2.7, 8, 10, 13, 14, 19, 20, 22. 1 Ioh: 2.15, 16. c: 3.8. c: 5.21. Iude 4.7, 8, 12, 13, 16, 18, 23. Rev: 2.20. c: 21.8, 27, c: 22.11.15. All which, though they condemne not Stage-pla…es in precise tearmes, (c)(c)Plane nusquam invenimus ita aperte prohibitum in sacris Scripturis; non in Circum ibis, non in Theatrum… quemadmodum non occides, non maechaberis, attamen occulte prohibentur: in Ps: 1. v. 1, &c nam specialiter quaedam prolata generaliter sapiunt. Tertul: De Spectaculi… lib: cap: 3, 4: Vide ibidem.(which no Canonicall Scripture p. 546doth:) yet they positively prohibit and censure them under the names, of Idolatry: things consecrated unto Idols: the Cup and Table of Divels: the monuments, reliques, ceremonies, customes, rites, delights, of Idols and Idolaters: the way and fashion of the Heathen: the will of the Gentiles: the things, the course, and custome of the world: carnall worldly lusts and pleasures: the lusts of our former ignorance, and our vaine conversation received by tradition from our Fathers: revellings, banquettings, and abominable idolatries: the rudiments, traditions, ordinances, sports and customes of the world, of worldly sensuall men: the workes, the will, the lusts of the Divell, &c. (d)(d)See Tertul. de Spectac c 3. to 25. Cyprian de Spectaculis …ib. Chrysost. H 6, 7, 38, & 69, in Matth. With the moderne Writers, Act. 1, 2, 3. & Act. 6. Scene 5.Acts 1:2Acts 1:3Acts 6under which these Stage-playes are as really, as absolutely comprised as any part is under the whole, or any Species under its proper Genus. Hence Saint Cyprian peremptorily concludes, (e)(e)Scriptura, inquam, omnia ista spectaculorum genera damnavit, quando idololatriam sustulit ludorum omnium matrem… unde haec vanitatis et levitatis monstra venerunt. Cyprian. De Spectacu…is lib: Edit, Pamelij Coloni… Agrip. 1617, p. 243, 244. Vide Ibid.That the Scripture hath everlastingly condemned all sorts of Spectacles and Stage-playes, even then when it tooke away Idolatry the Mother of all playes, from whence all these monsters of vanity, of lewdnesse have proceeded. Which assertion of his is seconded by (f)(f)De Spectaculis lib. c. 3. to 1.2. De Corona militis lib. & de Idololatria lib.Tertullian, (g)(g)De Vero Cultu l. 6, c 20.Lactantius, (h)(h)Catechesis My…tagogica 1.Cyrill of Ierusalem, (i)(i)Hom. 6, 7, 38, & 69 in Matth. Hom. 15, 21, & 62, ad Pop: Antiochiae; & Hom. 8… de Poenitentia.Chrysostome, (k)(k)De Civit. Dei, l. 2, c. 3… to …5, 28, 29. De Symbolo ad Catechumenos, l. 2, c. 1, 2. & l. 4, c. 1.Augustine, (l)(l)De Gubernatione Dei lib. 6.Salvian, with (m)(m)See Act. 1, 2, 3, & Chorus.Acts 1:2Acts 1:3others of ancient and moderne times, who doome all Stage-playes from these very Scriptures. If wee consider the nature, the materialls, the circumstances, the concomitants, the effects, the fruites and ends of Stage-playes; together with the manner, the circumstances of their Action; the quality of the persons that act, or else frequent them: all which I have at large displayed in the (n)(n)See Act. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, throughout.Acts 1:2Acts 1:3Acts 1:4Acts 1:5Acts 1:6foregoing Acts: (where (o)(o)See Act. 3, 5, and 6.Acts 3:5Acts 3:6their obscenity, vanity, effeminacy, lasciviousnesse, prodigality… and lewd pernicious consequences are laid open to the full:) wee shall soone discover, that not onelyonly p. 547the seventh com…andement, (as (p)(p)Bp. Babington, Perkins, Dod, Elton, Downham, Brinsly, Lake, Williams, Bp. Andrewes, and others, quoted Act, 6, Scene 3… 4 & 5.most moderne Expositors of it witnesse;) but even, Exod. 32.6.19. c. 23.13. Deutr. 22.5. Iosh. 23.7. Iob 21.11, 12, 13. Numb. 15.39. Psal. 16.4. Psal. 101.3. to the end. Psal. 1.1. Psal. 24.3, 4. Isay 3.16, 17. cap. 5.12. cap. 33.15, 16. cap. 55.2, 7. cap. 58.3. Hosea 2.17. Ecclesiastes 2.2. cap. 7.4, 5, 6. c. 11.9. Prov. 12.11. c. 14.9 c. 21.17. Amos 6.1. to 11. Zech. 13.2. Matth. 12.36, 37. Rom. 13.12, 13, 14. 1 Cor. 5.7. to 12. c. 6.8, 9. Gal. 5.16. to 26. Ephes. 2.2, 3, 4. c. 4.29, 31. c. 5.1. to 18. Luke 1.74, 75. 2 Cor. 12.21. Phil. 3.17, 18, 19, 20. Col. 3.1. to 11. c. 4.5, 6. 1 Thes. 5.15. to 24. 2 Thes. 3.6, 11, 14. 1 Tim. 4.7. c. 5.6. 2 Tim. 3.4. Hebr. 11.25. 1 Pet. 1.13, 14, 18. c. 2.11, 12. Gal. 6.8.14. 1 Ioh. 2.5, 15, 16, 17: with infinite other Scriptures, condemne all Stage-playes in regard of their subject matter, circumstances, fruites and manner of Action, &c. as I have more particularly demonstrated in the precedent Scenes. Hence Tertullian positively informes us, (q)(q)Similiter impudicitiam omnem amoliri iubemur: hoc etiam modo a Theatro seperamur, quod est privatum consistorium impudicitiae, &c. Habes igitur et Theatri interdictionem de interdictione impudicitiae. De Spectac. lib. cap. 17.That the Scripture hath interdicted all Playes and Enterludes under the prohibitions of lewdnesse and lasciviousnesse: and that (r)(r)De Spectaculis lib. cap. 3… 4, 14.17, & 23.those texts of Scripture which condemne all worldly concupiscence, all idle words, all scurrility, all foolish filthy talking and jecting: all standing in the way of sinners, and sitting in the seate of the scornefull: (t)(t)See here, Act. 5, Scene 1, p. 160.Acts 5together with hypocrisie and dissimulation; the making of any Idols image or likenesse, and (v)(v)See Act. 5, Scene 6, p. 187.Acts 5the putting on of womens apparell by men: doe expresly inhibit and condemne both Playes themselves, resort to Play-houses, and the very acting and beholding of all theatricall Enterludes. If we peruse (x)(x)In their Enarrations and Commentaries on Psal. 118. Octona 5, v. 37, & Cyrillus Hierusol. Catechesis Mystagogica 1. See Act 3, Scene 7, p. 128, 129.Ps 118Acts 3St. Hilary, St. Ambrose, Chrysostome, Cyril of Ierusalem, St Augustine, and others, wee shall finde them encountring Stage-playes with that of Psalme 119. v. …7. Turne away mine eyes from beholding vanity, and quicken me in thy word. If we reflect on (y)(y)See Act 6, Scene 3, 4, 5… where their words are quoted: & Act 7, Scene 4, ….Acts 6Acts 7Clemens Alexandrinus, Lactantius, p. 548Nazianzen, Basil, Hierom, Salvian, zzLectio. 77. in Proverb. Salomonis.Thomas Gualesius, Gualther, Petrarcha, aaLectio 172. in Lib. Sapientiae.Holkot, Bishop Babington, Mr. Northbrooke, Dr. Reinolds, Mr. Stubs, and all the rest which I have formerly quoted in the 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 Scenes of the foregoing Act; we shall see them battering downe Playes and Play-houses, with the seventh commandement: Ephes. 5.3, 4. Deutr. 22.5. Prov. 14.9. c. 21.17. Eccles. 2.2. c. 7… 3, 4, 5. Rom. 13.13, 14, 15. 1 Thes. 5.22. 1 Ioh. 2.14, 15: and all the forequoted Scriptures: which (if all their judgements may be credited) doe either directly, or by way of consequence, conclude all Stage-playes to be sinfull, yea utterly unlawfull unto Christians. If we adde Apochryphall Scriptures unto these Canonicall, we shall finde such expresse authoritie against Stage-playes, as must needes put all their Patriots, their Actors and Spectators to eternall silence: For in the bbSee Rabanus Maurus & Lyra on this chapter; and Iosephus Antiqu. Iudaeorum l. 12. c. 6.first Booke of the Maccabees, c. 1. v. 11, 12, 13, 14: we reade thus: That in the dayes of Antiochus Epiphanes there went out of Israel wicked men, who perswaded many, saying; Let us goe and make a covenant with the Heathen that are round about us, for ccSee Ier. 44.17.25.Jer 44:17Jer 44:25since we departed from them we have had much sorrow: so this device pleased them well. Then certaine of the people were so forward therein, that they went to the King, who gave them licence to doe after the **Which was prohibited expresly, by Deut. 12.30, 31, 32. & condemned, by 2 Kings 17.15. to 20. 2 Chron. 32.2. & 36.14. Psal. 106.35. Ier. 10.2. Ezek. 11.12. c. 23.30, 31. c. 25.8.Deut 12:30Deut 12:31Deut 12:322 Kgs 17:15–202 Chr 32:22 Chr 36:14Ps 106:35Jer 10:2Ezek 11:12ordinances of the Heathen: Whereupon they built a place of exercise at Ierusalem, according to the customes of the Heathen, and made themselves uncircumcised, and f…rsooke the holy covenant, and joyned themselves to the Heathen, and were solde to doe mischiefe. Which storie is thus further **See likewise the 2. of Maccabees, c. 6. v. 7, 8, ….amplified, and more particularly related in the 2. of the Maccabees. cap. 4. v. 7. to 18. Where we reade; That Iesus… who stiled himselfe Iason, and symoniacally purchased the High-priesthood of Antiochus Epiphanes, promised to assigne this wicked King 150 talents of silver, if he might hauehave licence to set him up a place of Exercise, ddAntiq. Iudae. orum l. 11. c. 6.Iosephus stiles it, foreign, and the Latine translations render it Gymnasium, p. 549which as eeIn their D…ctionaries, Gymnasium, & Gymnica ars.Calepine, Holioke, and before them both, ffOriginum l. 18. c. 16. to 25. & l. 15. cap. 2.Isiodor Hilpalensis, witnesse; signifieth, a publike place, where vaulting, wrestling, running, dancing, throwing of the stone, and all kinde of ggSee Clemens Constit. Apost. l. 2. c. 65, 66. Cyprian de Specta…ulis lib. Chrysost. Hom. 6, 7, 38, & 69. in Matth. & Hom. 15, 17, 18, 19, 21, 62. ad Pop. Antiochiae accordingly.Playes and Enterludes were practised:) for the training up of the Iewish youth in the fashions of the Heathen, Which when the King had granted, and hee had gotten into his hand the rule, he forthwith brought his owne Nation to the Greekish fashion: and putting downe the governments that were according to the Law, hee brought up new customes against the Law: For hee built gladly a place of Exercise (in hhSee e, and f, before.nature of a Theatre, where Playes and sports were acted) under the Tower it selfe; and brought the young men under his subjection. Now such was the height of Greeke fashions and increase of heathenish manners through the exceeding profanesse of Iesus, that ungodly wretch; that the Priests had no more courage to serve any more at the Altar, but despising the Temple, and neglecting the sacrifices, hastned to be partakers of the unlawfull allowance in the place of Exercise, after the game of Discus called them forth: iiSee Isiodor. Hilpalensis Originum, l. 18. cap. 16. to 25. Caelius Rhodiginus Antiq. Lectionum l. 13. c. 17. Alexander ab Alexandro lib. 3. c. 21. Adrianus Turnebus Adversariorum l. 7. c. 9.(which one kinde of Exercise is put for all the Graecian Playes and Pastimes) not setting up the honours of their Fathers, but liking the glory of the Graecians (who **See Plutarch De Gloria Atheniensium. Cyprian de Spectaculis. Tatianus Oratio adversus Graecos. August. De Civit. Dei lib. 2. cap. 10, 11, 13, 14. & lib. 4. cap. 28.were much devoted unto Stage-playes) best of all. By reason whereof sore calamitie came upon them; for they had them to be their enemies and avengers, whose customes they followed so earnestly, and unto whom they desired to be like in all things: for it is not a light thing to doe wickedly against the Law of God: Which Apochryphall passage, kkSixtus Senensis Bibl. Sanct. l. 1. p. 22. to 34. Andradius de Libris Canonicis lib. 3.the Papists allowing to be Canonicall Scripture, and llDr. Reinolds, Whitaker, Danaeus, Willet and others, De Libris Apochryphis et Canone Script. Controversiae. Bp. Mortons Protestants Appeale lib. 3. cap. 2. Dr. Field Of the Church, Booke 4. cap. 22, 23, 24.Protestants p. 550approving to be an undoubted storie, though not canonicall Text, infallibly assures us;mmSee Act. 1. Scene 2. p. 17. Horace de Arte Poetica. Dionysius Hallicarn. Antiqu. Rom. l. 7. sect. 9. & 2 Mac. 6…7, 8, 9.Acts 12 Macc 6:72 Macc 6:82 Macc 6:9 First, that these Playes and Enterludes had their originall from the Idolatrous dissolute Pagan Greekes; and that they were the exercises, ordinances and customes of the Heathen. Secondly, that they were never in use among the Iewes till this wicked Iasons time, nnSee Iosephus Antiqu. Iudaeorum lib. 12. cap. 6.who is the first wee reade of that erected a Theatre or place of exercise for these and such like pastimes in Ierusalem, about 174 yeares before our Saviours Nativitie; where ooIosephus Antiqu. Iudaeorum l. 15. c. 11. See cap. 13. & lib. 16. cap. 9.Herod likewise set up a Theatre and Amphitheatre for stage-playes, sword-playes, cirque-playes, and such other Roman sports, about some 25 yeares before our Saviours birth; till which times the Iewes were utterly unacquainted with these heathenish spectacles. Thirdly, that those who brought in these Playes among the Iewes, were ff1 Mac. 1.11, 15.1 Macc 1:111 Macc 1:15desperate wicked men, who made themselves uncircumcised, forsooke the holy covenant, and joyned themselves to the Heathen, being solde to doe mischiefe. Fourthly, that the gg2 Mac. 4.8.10. to 16.2 Macc 4:82 Macc 4:10–16bringing in of these Playes withdrew the Iewes from God, and from his Law, to open, yea, professed Paganisme and Idolatry: Fifthly, that these Playes are hh1 Mac. 1.15. & 2 Mac. 4.11, 14, 17.1 Macc 1:152 Macc 4:112 Macc 4:142 Macc 4:17directly against the holy covenant, and good Law of God, and that those who practise or approve them doe wickedly against Gods Law. Lastly, that ii2 Mac. 4.15, 16, 17. & 1 Mac. 1, 2, 20, to 64.2 Macc 4:152 Macc 4:162 Macc 4:171 Macc 1:21 Macc 1:20–64the introducing of Stage-playes was the cause of Gods bringing in of sore calamity upon the Iewes, and of those sundry judgements and afflictions which they suffered. If we adde to this the apocryphall kkConstit. Apostol. l. 2. c. 65, 66 & l. 8. c. 38.Constitutions of the Apostles, recorded by Clemens Romanus; we shall finde them expresly condemning and prohibiting Stage-playes, with all those Graecian Enterludes which Iason introduced; commanding all Christians to withdraw themselves from them yea wholly to renounce them as the very inventions and pompes of the Divel: nay we shall see llClemens Romanus Constitutionum Apostolicarum lib. 8. cap. 38. apud Surium Concil. Tom. …. p. 120. the Title of which 38 chapter is this; Canones Varij Pauli Apostoli. See Scene 3. towards the end.St. Paul himselfe, expresly excommunicating and p. 551casting out of the Church, all Stage-players, and Play-haunters, whether male or female, till they shall utterly renounce their profession, and take their everlasting farewell of Stage-playes. It is evident then by all these Canonicall and Apochryphal Scriptures, & by the Apostles constitutions; that Stage-playes are directly contrary to, and condemned by the very sacred …aw and word of God; which administers unto us this 46. Play-condemning argument, against which there can be no averment, from which there can be no evasion.

That which is fully and really condemned by sundry sacred texts both of canonicall and apochryphall Scripture, mmDeut. 27.26 2 Kings 17.15. Deutr. 12.30, 31, 32. Rom… 14… 23.Deut 27:262 Kgs 17:15Rom 14:23must certainly be sinfull, and altogether unlawfull unto Christians, who nnExod. 15.26. Gen. 39.9. Levit. 18.5. Deutr. ….6.4…. c. 5.1. c. 6.2. c. 7.12. Dan. 3.12. to 19. Iosh. 24.15.Exod 15:26Gen 39:9Lev 18:5Dan 3:12–19Josh 24:15must never allow, or practise that which the very word of God condemnes.

Bvt Stage-playes are fully and really condemned by sundry sacred texts both of canonicall and apochryphall Scripture; as is undeniably evident by the premises.

Therefore they must certainly be sinfull, and altogether unlawfull unto Christians:

Who if for no other reason, yet for this alone, should now at last **De quibus apertissime divina Scriptura sanxit, non differenda sententia est, sed potius exequenda. Concil. Aquisgra…ense sub …udo vico Pi… Can. 61.without more delayes, renounce, suppresse all Stage-playes, which the sacred Scripture (the very ppRom. 10.8.17. Luke 24.25.Rom 10:8Rom 10:17Luke 24:25ground and object of our faith, the qqPsal. 119.9. Gal. 6.16.Ps 119:9Gal 6:16very rule, the square both of our lives and thoughts) hath thus condemned.