Page:Iniquity of balls and stage-plays, discovered.pdf/4

[ 4 ] to be ſpread abroad in the world, plays and play-houſes, the very caves of filthineſs, went to ruin almoſt in every city, as inconſiſtent with it; whence the Heathens, ſays he, complained of the times of Chriſtianity, as evil and unhappy times. Chryſoſtom ſays, That nothing brings the oracles and ordinances of God into ſo great contempt, as admiring and beholding ſtageplays; and that neither ſacraments, nor any other of God's ordinances, will do a man good, ſo long as he goes to them. Salvian de Gub. Dei, ſays, That in ſtage-plays there is a certain apoſtacy from the faith. For what is the firſt confeſſion of Chriſtians in their baptiſm, but that they do renounce the Devil, his pomps, ſpectacles and works: Know thou, Chriſtian, ſays he, when thou doſt wittingly and knowingly return to plays, thou returneſt to the Devil.

The Fathers are harmonious in condemning Balls and Plays, I. As being a breach of the third and ſeventh commandments, they being ordinarily ſtuff'd with fables, rites, villanies, inceſts, rapes, oaths, imprecations; beſide all which, they are often fraughted in theſe days, with wicked and profane ſcoffs and jeſts, abuſes of ſcripture, and bitter invectives againſt piety and religion. The ſynod of the reformed Proteſtant church of France, held at Rochel, Anno 1571, enact, “That congregations ſhall be admoniſhed by their miniſters, ſeriouſly to reprehend and ſuppreſs all dances, mummeries and interludes, and it ſhall not be lawful for any Chriſtians to act, or to be preſent at any comedies, tragedies, plays, interludes, or any other ſuch ſports, either in publick or private chambers, conſidering that they have always been oppoſed, condemned, and ſuppreſſed, in and by the church, as bringing along with then the corruption of good man-