wherein many Fathers agree with him, they being harmonious in condemning Stage-plays, as being ordinarily stuffed with the names, histories, persons, f bless, rites, ceremonies, villainies, incests, rapes, applauses, oaths, imprecations, and invocations of the Idol-gods; as when ⟨image 21⟩the Actors cry, Help Jove, Juno, Apollo, Bacchus, &c. and exclaim, O Jove! O Cupid! O Venus! O Apollo! O Mars! O ye Gods! &c. and swear by Jove, Mars, Venus, the celestial Gods, &c. (beside all these, they are often fraughted in these days with wicked and profane scoffs and jests, abuses of Scripture, and bitter invectives against piety) and as drawing men on to Profanity, Idolatry, and Atheism. In •ine, to show the perfect agreement betwixt the Primitive and Protestant Church anent such Plays, i • will neither be impertinent, nor I hope unedifying, to subjoin here the judgment of the famous Reformed Protestant Church of France (from which other reformed Protestant Churches in this do not differ, yea, the stream of Protestant Divines runneth this way) declared in a National Synod held at Rochelle, Ann. 1571. where this Canon was unanimously framed; 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 (mark well) at any Comedies▪ Tragedies, Plays, Interludes, or any other such sports, either in public or in private Chambers, considering that they have always been opposed, condemned, and suppressed, in and by the Church, as bringing along with them the corruption of good manners, especially when as the holy Scripture is profaned, which is not delivered to be acted or played, but only to be preached. What useth now to be said in Apology for, and defence of Stage-plays, and for reforming of them, yet so as to retain them still, was long since objected by the witty and voluptuous Pagans, and solidly answered, and strongly confuted by the Fathers; as it hath been by several Modern Writers, particularly Doctor John Reynolds, Mr. Stubs, and notably by Mr. Pryn (to whose indefatigable diligence in collecting, and great judgment in disposing of many of the particulars here discoursed, I profess my self much beholden;)
wherein many Fathers agree with him, they being harmonious in condemning Stage-playes, as being ordinarily stuffed with the names, histories, persons, f •bles, rites, ceremonies, villanies, incests, rapes, applauses, oaths, imprecations, and invocations of the Idol-gods; as when ⟨image 21⟩the Actors cry, Help Jove, Juno, Apollo, Bacchus, &c. and exclaim, O Jove! O Cupid! O Venus! O Apollo! O Mars! O ye Gods! &c. and swear by Jove, Mars, Venus, the coelestial Gods, &c. (beside all these, they are often fraughted in these dayes with wicked and prophane scoffs and jests, abuses of Scripture, and bitter invectives against piety) and as drawing men on to Profanity, Idolatry, and Atheisme. In •ine, to shew the perfect agreement betwixt the Primitive and Protestant Church anent such Playes, i • will neither be impertinent, nor I hope unedifying, to subjoyn here the judgment of the famous Reformed Protestant Church of France (from which other reformed Protestant Churches in this do not differ, yea, the stream of Protestant Divines runneth this way) declared in a National Synod held at Rochel, Ann. 1571. where this Canon was unanimously framed; 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 (mark well) at any Comedies▪ Tragedies, Playes, Interludes, or any other such sports, either in publick or in private Chambers, considering that they have alwayes been opposed, condemned, and suppressed, in and by the Church, as bringing along with them the corruption of good manners, especially when as the holy Scripture is prophaned, which is not delivered to be acted or played, but only to be preached. What useth now to be said in Apology for, and defence of Stage-playes, and for reforming of them, yet so as to retain them still, was long since objected by the witty and voluptuous Pagans, and solidly answered, and strongly confuted by the Fathers; as it hath been by several Modern Writers, particularly Doctor John Reynolds, Mr. Stubbs, and notably by Mr. Pryn (to whose indefatigable diligence in collecting, and great judgment in disposing of many of the particulars here discoursed, I profess my self much beholden;)
