I could go on, much farther with St. _Augustine_, but I love to be as brief as may be. I could likewise run through the succeeding _Centuries_, and collect Evidence all along. But I conceive the best Ages, and the biggest Authorities, may be sufficient: And these the _Reader_ has had already. However, one Instance more from the _Moderns_ may not be amiss. _Didacus de Tapia_ an eminent _Spaniard_, shall close the _Evidence_. This Author in debating the Question whether _Players_ might be admitted to the _Sacrament_, amongst other things encounters an Objection. Some People it seems pretended there was some good to be learn'd at the _Play-House_. To these, he makes this reply. 'Granting your Supposition, (says He) your Inference is naught. Do People use to send their Daughters to the _Stews_ for Discipline? And yet it may be, they might meet some there lamenting their own Debauchery. No Man will breed his Son upon the _High-way_, to harden his Courage; Neither will any one go on board a Leaky Vessel, to learn the Art of shifting in a Wreck the better. My conclusion is, let no body go to the Infamous _Play-House_. A place of such staring Contradiction to the Strictness and Sobriety of Religion: A Place hated by God, and haunted by the Devil. Let no man I say learn to relish any thing that's said there; For 'tis all but Poyson handsomly prepared.' [499] Thus I have presented the _Reader_ with a short View of the Sense of _Christianity_. This was the opinion of the _Church_ for the first 500 Years. And thus she has Censured the _Stage_ both in _Councils_, and Single _Authorities_. And since the Satir of the _Fathers_ comes full upon the _Modern Poets_, their Caution must be applicable. The parity of the Case makes their Reasons take place, and their Authority revive upon us. If we are _Christians_, the _Canons_ of _Councils_, and the Sense of the Primitive _Church_ must have a weight. The very Time is a good argument of it self. Then the _Apostolical Traditions_ were fresh, and undisputed; and the _Church_ much better agreed than she has been since. Then, Discipline was in Force, and Virtue Flourish'd, and People lived up to their _Profession_. And as for the _Persons_, they are beyond all exception. Their _Station_, their Learning, and Sufficiency was very Considerable; Their Piety and Resolution, extraordinary. They acted generously, and wrote freely, and were always above the little Regards of Interest or Danger. To be short; They were, as we may say the _Worthies_ of _Christendom_, the Flower of Humane Nature, and the Top of their _Species_. Nothing can be better establish'd, than the Credit of these _Fathers_: Their Affirmation goes a great way in a proof; And we might argue upon the strength of their _Character_.