This is the Opinion, _Madam_, of that Excellent Man: and, one would think, it should put those Persons who are the Encouragers of Plays, and the Frequenters of them, when they read it, upon an Enquiry, What it is they are doing? Whether they are not carrying on the Designs of the great Enemy of Mankind? But if that will not prevail upon them, let 'em reflect upon the late Instance of God's _severe Displeasure_ against us, and tell me then, whether they think it consistent with that _Humiliation_ and _Repentance_ which this great Judgment ought to awaken in us, and which _Her Majesty_, by Her late Gracious _Proclamation_, calls upon us to Exercise, to be ever again present at a _Place_, where they must often hear the Name of _God_ Prophaned, and every thing that is _Serious_ made a Jest of? A _Place_ which they cannot but know, and must own, (if put to the Question) has contributed so much to the _Corrupting_ the present Age; and which, 'tis to be fear'd, is one of those _accursed things_, that has provok'd the Almighty to be so angry with us. These are things, _Madam_, of no trifling Importance; they are such as deserve the serious Reflections of all _good_ Christians, whatever the _Pretenders to Gaiety_ may think. And though some may, perhaps, misconstrue and ridicule such Considerations by the Names of _Preciseness_ and _Fanaticism_; yet, 'tis to be hop'd, that all who have any regard for the _Honour_ of God, the _Welfare_ of their Countrey, and the _Interest_ of our _Established Church_, will not be laugh'd out of their _Duty_, but be perswaded, not only to withdraw _themselves_ from a Place of so much Danger, but advise _others_ to do the like; that the Stage may no longer Triumph in the _Spoils_ of Virtue and Religion. 'Tis now the time to begin such an _Undertaking_: We have a powerful Enemy _abroad_, and a more formidable one at _home_; I mean that _Looseness_ and _Irreligion_ which so abounds: and what will it avail us to _subdue_ the one, while we _encourage_ the other? The _Hand of God_ has been lifted up against us, we have seen the _Terrors of the Lord_, and felt the _Arrows of the Almighty_; and what can all this mean, but to awaken us to a due Sense of our _Danger_? And, 'tis to be hop'd, the Nation has already taken the Alarm, and begin to think how to avert God's Displeasure. The _Stage_ is called in Question, and Papers are dispers'd to warn us of its Mischiefs; and it is not improbable that the _Licentious_ and _Unbounded Liberty_ the Players have taken of late years, and particularly in their daring to Act THE TEMPEST within a very few Days after the late dreadful Storm, has rais'd in the Minds of Men such an Abhorrence and Indignation, that we may possibly be so happy as to see the Stage (if not _totally suppress'd_) yet brought under such a _Regulation_, both as to the _Plays_ that are Acted, and the _Company_ that Resort to them, that Foreigners may no longer _stand amaz'd_ when