In short: Nothing can be more disserviceable to Probity and Religion, than the management of the _Stage_. It cherishes those Passions, and rewards those Vices, which 'tis the business of Reason to discountenance. It strikes at the Root of Principle, draws off the Inclinations from Virtue, and spoils good Education: 'Tis the most effectual means to baffle the Force of Discipline, to emasculate peoples Spirits, and Debauch their Manners. How _many_ of the Unwary have these _Syrens_ devour'd? And how often has the best Blood been tainted, with this Infection? What Disappointment of Parents, what Confusion in Families, and What Beggery in Estates have been hence occasion'd? And which is still worse, the Mischief spreads dayly, and the Malignity grows more envenom'd. The Feavour works up towards Madness; and will scarcely endure to be touch'd. And what hope is there of Health when the _Patient_ strikes in with the Disease, and flies in the Face of the _Remedy_? Can Religion retrive us? Yes, when we don't despise it. But while our _Notions_ are naught, our _Lives_ will hardly be otherwise. What can the Assistance of the Church signify to those who are more ready to Rally the _Preacher_, than Practise the _Sermon_? To those who are overgrown with Pleasure, and hardned in Ill Custom? Who have neither Patience to hear, nor Conscience to take hold of? You may almost as well feed a Man without a Mouth, as give Advice where there's no disposition to receive it. 'Tis true; as long as there is Life there's Hope. Sometimes the Force of Argument, and the Grace of God, and the anguish of Affliction, may strike through the Prejudice, and make their way into the Soul. But these circumstances don't always meet, and then the Case is extreamly dangerous. For this miserable Temper, we may thank the _Stage_ in a great Measure: And therefore, if I mistake not, They have the least pretence to Favour, and the most, need of Repentance, of all Men Living. _THE END._ NOTES (In margin in the Original).[1] _Reflect upon_ Aristot. &c. [2] _Eurip. Hippolit._ [3] _Hamlet._ [4] _Don Quixot._ [5] _Relapse._ [6] _Love for Love._ [7] _Mock Astrologer._ [8] _Old Batchelour._ [9] _Mock Astrologer. Country Wife. Cleomenes. Old Batchelour._ [10] _Plaut._ [11] _Cistellar._ [12] _Terent. Eunuch._ [13] _Asinar._ [14] _Cistellar._ [15] _Bacchid._ [16] _Casin._ [17] _Mercat. Act. 3._ [18] _Persa._ [19] _Trucul._ [20] _Persa._ [21] _Trinum._ [22] _Act. 2. 1._ [23] _Act. 2. 2._ [24] _Casin._ [25] _Mil. Glor._ [26] _Pers._ [27] _Trucul._ [28] _Cistellear. A. 1._ [29] _Ibid. A. 2._ [30] _Heauton._ [31] _Eunuch._ [32] _Love Triump._ [33] _Heauton. A. 5. 4._ [34] _Eunuch A. 5. 4. 5._ _Adelph. A. 2. 3._ [35] _Eunuch._ [36] _Casaub. Annot. in Curcul. Plauti._ [37] _De A te Poet._ [38] _Var. apud. Nonium._ [39] _Corn. Nep._ [40] _Arist. Lib. 4. de Mor. cap. 14._ [41] _Vit. Eurip. ed Cantab. 1694._ [42] _Love for Love._ _Love Triump. &c._