'As for us, who rate our Degree by our Virtue, and value our selves more upon our Lives, than our Fortunes; we decline your Pompous _Shews_, and publick Entertainments. And good Reason we have for our Aversion. These Things have their Rise from Idols, and are the Train of a false Religion. The Pleasure is ill Descended, and likewise Vitious and ensnaring. For who can do less than abominate, the Clamorous Disorders of the _Race-Ground_, and the profession of Murther at the _Prize_. And for the _Stage_, there you have more Lewdness, tho' not a jot less of Distraction. Sometimes your _Mimicks_, are so Scandalous and Expressing, that 'tis almost hard to distinguish between the _Fact_ and the _Representation_. Sometimes a Luscious _Actor_ shall whine you into Love, and give the Disease that he Counterfeits.' St. _Cyprian_ or the Author _de Spectaculis_, will furnish us farther. Here this Father argues against those who thought the _Play-House_ no unlawful Diversion, because 'twas not Condemn'd by express _Scripture_. 'Let meer Modesty (says he) supply the _Holy Text_: And let _Nature_ govern where _Revelation_ does not reach. Some Things are too black to lie upon _Paper_, and are more strongly forbidden, because unmention'd. The Divine Wisdom must have had a low Opinion of _Christians_, had it descended to particulars in this Case. Silence is sometimes the best Method for Authority. To Forbid often puts People in mind of what they should not do; And thus the force of the Precept is lost by naming the Crime. Besides, what need we any farther Instruction? Discipline and general Restraint makes up the Meaning of the Law; and common Reason will tell you what the Scripture has left unsaid. I would have every one examine his own Thoughts, and inquire at Home into the Duties of his Profession. This is a good way to secure him from Indecency. For those Rules which a Man has work'd out for himself he commonly makes most use of.'----And after having describ'd the infamous Diversions of the _Play-house_; He expostulates in this Manner. 'What business has a Christian at such Places as these? A Christian who has not the Liberty so much as to think of an ill Thing. Why does he entertain himself with Lewd Representations? Has he a mind to discharge his Modesty, and be flesh'd for the _Practise_? Yes. this is the Consequence. By using to see these Things, hee'l learn to do them.----What need I mention the Levities, and Impertinence in _Comedies_, or the ranting Distractions of _Tragedy_? Were these Things unconcern'd with Idolatry, Christians ought not to be at them. For were they not highly Criminal, the Foolery of them is egregious, and unbecoming the Gravity of _Beleivers_.----