The Players Scourge, Part 2 · Act 3 – Act 4
ACTVS 3.
I Now proceed to the 3. Consectary; That it is a sinfull, shamefull,That it is unlawfull to be a Spectator of Stage-playes. and unlawfull thing for any Christians to be Spectators, frequenters of Playes or Play-houses. In which I shall be very compendious, because I have so largely manifested it in the first part of this discourse. Now the reasons of the unlawfulnesse of beholding Stage-playes, are briefely these. First, because Playes themselves are evill, and the appearances, the occasions of evill; tSee 1 Thes. 5.22. Rom. 1.32. & 12.9.therefore the beholding of them must bee such: Secondly, uSee Rom. 12.17. 1 Cor. 10.31, 32. Phil. 4.8 & Act 7. thorowout.because it hath alwayes beene a scandalous, infamous and dishonest thing both among Christians and Pagans to resort to Stage-playes, and a thing of ill report: Thirdly, because it is xSee here, pag. 42. to 61.522. to 525.561. to 567.contrary to our Christian vow in baptisme, to forsake the Devill and all his workes, the pompes and vanities of this wicked world and all the sinfull lusts of the flesh, of which Stage-playes are not the meanest: Fourthly, because ySee here pag. 409.417, 418.it gives ill example to others, and maintaines, and hardens Stage-players in their ungodly profession, which else they would give over, were there no Spectators to encourage or reward them. Fiftly, because it is an apparant occasion of many great sinnes and mischiefes; as zSee Part 1. Act 6. thorowout.losse of time, prodigality, effeminacy, whoredome, adultery, unchaste desires, lustfull speculations, luxury, drunkennesse, prophanenesse, heathenisme, atheisme, blaspemy, scurrility, theft, murther, duels, fantastiquenesse, cheating, idle discourses, wanton gestures and complements, vaine fashions, hatred of grace, of holinesse, and all holy men, acquaintance with lewde companions, the greatest enemies to mens salvation; and a world of such like sinnes and mischiefes, as I have formerly proved at large, Act 6. thorowout. Sixtly, because it aSee Act 6. Scene 12.with-drawes mens mindes and thoughts from God and from his service unto vanity; and indisposeth them to all holy duties, making all Gods holy ordinances ineffectuall to their soules. Seve…thly, because it bSee Act 6. Scene 3… 4, 5.tends onelyonly to satisfie mens …leshly lusts which warre against their so…les; men being carried alwayes to the Play-house by the si…full carnall suggestions of the flesh; or by the …ollicitations of lewde companions; but never by the Dictate, the guidance of Gods holy Spirit or Word, cPsal 119.9. Psal. 73.24. Rom 8.1, 14, 15. Gal 5.16, 18, 25. c. 6.16.by which all Christians must be wholy guided, even in all their actions. Eightly, because all Christians ought to turne away their eyes from beholding vanity. Psal. 119.37. (a text dSee here, pag. 52.547, 548.applyed by the Fathers unto Stage-playes:) and what greater, what worser vanities can men behold, then th… …cting of lascivious Enterludes? Ninthly, because Stage-playes are eSee part 1. Act 1.2.but Pagan Heathenish pastimes, yea the ordinary recreations of Devill-Idols, of Idolatrous voluptuous Pagans, whose pleasures and sports no Christians ought to practise. Lastly, because the fAct 7. Scene 1. to 7. & Act 6. Scene 1. to 20.Primitive Church and Saints of God, together with the very best of Christians, of Pagans in all places, all ages, have constantly abandoned the beholding of Stage-playes themselves, and condemned it in others, the very worst of Pagans onelyonly, or men unworthy the name of Christians, and few or none but such alone affoording them their presence, as the fore-quoted Authorities plentifully evidence. Act 4. Scene 1.2. Act 6. Scene 3.4, 5. & Act 7. Scene 1.2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7. Which severall reasons with all the rest that I have formerly produced against Stage-playes in the first part of this Play-condemning Treatise, will be a su…ficient conviction of the unlawfulnesse of beholding, of frequenting Stage-playes, gNusquam enim & nunquā excusatur quod Deus damnat, nusqu…m & nunquam licet, quod semper & ubi que non licet. Tertul. De Specta… c. 20.as well in private houses, as in publike Theaters: Which should cause all Christians, all Play-haunters to abandon Stage-playes, as all the fore-alleaged Fathers, Councels, and Authors doe advise them; and that especially upon Lords-dayes and Holi-dayes, on which Stage-playes and dancing are especially prohibited by this pious Decree of Pope *Iuo Carnotensis. Decret. pars 11. c. 77. fol. 162. & pars 4. cap. 13. pag. 117.Eugenius c. 35. with which I shall cloze up this Act. Ne mulieres festis diebus vanis ludis vacent. Sunt quidem & maxime mulieres, quifestis ac sacris diebus, at que sanctorum natalicijs, quibus debent Deo vacare, non delectantur ad ecclesiam venire, sed balando ac verba turpia de…antando, ac choreas ducendo, similitudinem Paganorū peragendo advenire procurant. Tales enim si cum minoribus veniunt ad ecclesiam, cum majoribus peccatis revertuntur. In tali enim facto debet unusquis que Sac…rdos diligentissime populum admonere, ut pro sola oratione his diebus ad ecclesiam recurrant, quia ipsi qui talia agunt, non solum se perdunt, sed etiam alios d…perire attendunt. *Nota.Die autem Dominica nihil aliud àgendum est, nisi Deo vacandum: nulla operatio in die illa honesta comperiatur, nisi tantum hymnis & psalmis, & canticis spiritualibus dies illa transeatur. Which I would wish all grosse prophaners of this sacred Day now seriously to consider.