XI. Augustine,[50] more famous for his many books, and knowledge in church affairs, whose sentences are oracles with some, gives this as his opinion of plays, and the like recreations, that they were more pernicious and abominable than those idolatrous sacrifices, which were offered in honour of the pagan gods. Doubtless he thought the one not so offensive to reason and the impressions divinity hath made on every understanding, as the other were very pleasant to the senses, and therefore apt to steal away the mind from better things; for it was his maxim,[51] that everything a man doth, is either a hindrance or furtherance to good. This would be esteemed intolerable doctrine in a poor Quaker, yet will the Quaker rejoice, if it be esteemed and followed as good doctrine in Augustine. [50] August. de Civit. Dei. l. ii. c. 7. [51] De ira Dei. l. 9, c. 7. XII. The council of Carthage, though times began to look somewhat mistier, and the purity and spirituality of religion to be much declined by the professors of Christianity; yet there was so much zeal left against the worst part of Heathenism, that I find an express canon against the reading of vain books and comedies of the Gentiles, lest the minds of the people should be defiled by them. But this age either hath no such canon, or executeth it not, to the shame of their profession. XIII. Cardan more particularly relateth,[52] how even Gregory the Great was so zealous of preserving purity of manners among Christians, who lived almost two hundred years after the Carthaginian council, that he caused many Latin authors to be burned, as vain and lascivious; as Cæcilianus, Affranius, Navius, Licinus, Ennius, Attilius, Victor, Lucian's Dialogues; nor did Plautus, Martial, and Terence, so much in request both in the schools and academies of the land, escape their honest zeal, although the multitude of copies so far frustrated their good intentions, as that they are multiplied of late. [52] Cardan de Sapient. l. 2. XIV. Gratian also[53] had such like passages as these, "We see that the priests of the Lord, neglecting the gospel and the prophets, read comedies or play-books, and sing love verses, and read Virgil," a book in which are some good expressions. Strange! that these things should have been so sincerely censured of old, and that persons whose names are had in so much reverence, should repute these their censures the constructions of Christ's precepts, and the natural consequences of the Christian doctrine; and yet that they should be so far neglected of this age, as not to be judged worthy an imitation. But pray let us hear what doctrine the Waldenses teach in this affair. [53] Jac. Laurentio de lib. Gentil. p. 40, 41.