'In earnest Christian, our time for Entertainment is not yet:[486] you are two craving and ill managed if you are so violent for Delight. And let me tell you, no wiser than you should be, if you count such Things Satisfaction. Some Philosophers placed their Happiness in bare Tranquillity. Easiness of Thought, and Absence of Pain, was all they aim'd at. But this it seems won't Satisfie Thee. Thou liest sighing and hankering after the _Play-house_. Prethee recollect thy self: Thou knowest Death ought to be our Pleasure, And therefore I hope Life may be a little without it. Are not our Desires the same with the Apostles, _To be Dissolv'd and to be with Christ_. Let us act up to our pretentions, and let Pleasure be true to Inclination. 'But if you can't wait for Delight; if you must be put into present Possession, wee'l cast the Cause upon that Issue.[487] Now were you not unreasonable, you would perceive the Liberalities of Providence, and find your self almost in the midst of Satisfaction. For what can be more transporting than the Friendship of Heaven, and the Discovery of Truth, than the Sense of our Mistakes, and the Pardon of our Sins? What greater Pleasure can there be, than to scorn being _Pleas'd_? To contemn the World? And to be a Slave to Nothing? 'Tis a mighty satisfaction I take it, to have a clear Conscience; To make Life no Burthen, nor Death any Terror! To trample upon the _Pagan_ Deities; To batter _Principalities_ and _Powers_, and force the Devils to Resign![488] These are the Delights, these are the noble Entertainments of Christians: And besides the advantage of the Quality, they are always at hand, and cost us nothing.' _Clemens_ _Alexandrinus_ affirms[489] 'That the _Circus_ and _Theatre_ may not improperly be call'd the _Chair_ of _Pestilence_.----Away then with these Lewd, Ungodly Diversions, and which are but Impertinence at the Best. What part of Impudence either in words or practise, is omitted by the Stage? Don't the Buffoons take almost all manner of Liberties, and plunge through Thick and Thin, to make a jest? Now those who are affected with a vitious satisfaction, will be haunted with the Idea, and spread the Infection. But if a man is not entertain'd to what purpose should he go Thither? Why should he be fond where he finds nothing, and court that which sleeps upon the Sense? If 'tis said these Diversions are taken only to unbend the Mind, and refresh Nature a little. To this I answer. That the spaces between Business should not be fill'd up with such Rubbish. A wise man has a Guard upon his Recreations, and always prefers, the Profitable to the Pleasant.' _Minutius Felix_ delivers his Sense in these Words:[490]