'Should a Man have a Stage at Home, would not his Reputation suffer extreamly, and all people count him a notorious Libertine? most undoubtedly. Now the Place does not alter the Property. The Practise at the _Play-House_ is the same thing, only there he has more Company to keep him in Countenance. 'A well work'd _Poem_ is a powerful piece of Imposture: It masters the Fancy, and hurries it no Body knows whither.----If therefore we would be govern'd by Reason let us stand off from the Temptation, such Pleasures can have no good Meaning. Like delicious Morsels they subdue the Palate, and flatter us only to cut our Throats. Let us prefer Reality to Appearance, Service, to Show; and Eternity to Time.[494] 'As God makes Virtue the Condition of Glory, and trains men up to Happiness by Hardship and Industry. So the Devils road to Destruction lies through Sensuality and _Epicurism_. And as pretended Evils lead us on to uncounterfeited Bliss; So Visionary Satisfactions are the causes of Real Misery. In short, These Inviting Things are all stratagem. Let us, take care the softness and Importunity of the Pleasure does not surprise us, nor the Bait bring us within the snare. The Senses are more than _Out-Works_, and should be defended accordingly.' I shall pass over St. _Ambrose_,[495] and go on to St. _Chrisostome_. This _Father_ is copious upon the Subject, I could translate some _Sheets_ from him were it necessary. But length being not my Business, a few Lines may serve to discover his Opinion. His _15 Homily ad Populum Antiochenum_, runs thus. 'Most People fancy the Unlawfulness of going to _Plays_ is not clear. But by their favour, a world of Disorders are the Consequences of such a Liberty. For frequenting the _Play-House_ has brought Whoring and Ribaldry into Vogue, and finish'd all the parts of Debauchery.' Afterwards he seems to make the supposition better than the _Fact_, and argues upon a feign'd Case. 'Let us not only avoid downright Sinning, but the Tendencies to it. Some Indifferent Things are fatal in the Consequence, and strike us at the Rebound. Now who would chuse his standing within an Inch of a Fall; or swim upon the Verge of a Whirlpool? He that walks upon a Precipice, shakes tho' he does not tumble. And commonly his Concern brings him to the Bottom. The Case is much the same in reference to Conscience, and Morality. He that won't keep his Distance from the Gulph, is oftentimes suck'd in by the Eddy; and the least oversight is enough to undo Him.' In his 37 Homily upon the Eleventh Chapter of St. _Matthew_ he declaims more at large against the Stage.