The law unsealed

POSTSCRIPT.

Christian and Candid Reader,

Thou seest that in this Epistle, which for the most part of it was written above two years ago, I have spoken a word of Stage-plays, profane Interludes, Comedies, &c. at that time, and several years before, much in use amongst us; whereto I would now add a few words more, and deduce a little their infamous, idolatrous, devilish, and damnable Pedigree and Original, and give thee a brief account of the judgement of the ancient Christian Church about them; that the Actors in them, with the Patrons and haunters of them, may with the greater dissatisfaction reflect on there own by-past unsuitable and disconform practise, and that all others may for ever hereafter learn to fear, and to do no more so unchristianly: To which I am the rather induced, that the worthy Author of this Treatise, hath only in passing made mention of them as a breach of the seventh Command, they being then utterly in desuetude with us, and it having not so much as once entered into his thoughts, that after so bright and glorious a Sun-shine of Gospel-light, the Generation would ever, let be so quickly, have so far degenerated, as to suffer themselves to be tempted to have any fellowship with such unfruitful works of darkness: I say then, that Stage-plays, in their several sorts, were prohibited, reprobated, and condemned, and the Actors in them appointed to be excommunicated by the Canons of several more particular, and of some general Councils (which Canons I forbear for brevities sake, to set down at length) as namely, by the fifth Canon of the first Council at Arles in France, Anno 314. in the time of Constantine the Great; by the twentieth Canon of the second Council held there, Anno 326. or more probable 389. as Fr. Longus a Coriolano reckoneth in his sum of all the Councils; by the fifty seventh, sixty second, and sixty seventh Canons of the Eliberine Council in Spain, Anno 305. by the eleventh and thirty fifth Canons of the third (to wit, from Constantine's time as Spondanus reckoneth) Council of Carthage, Anno 397. the very same with the thirteenth and thirty fifth Canons of the Council of Hippo in Afric, held Anno 393. as Longus a Coriolano showeth; who sets down the sum of the Canons framed at Hippo at the close of the Canons made in this third Council of Carthage; by the twelfth Canon of the African Council held Anno 408. where Augustine was present;