A practical exposition of the X. Commandments with a resolution of several momentous questions…A practical exposition of the X. Commandements with a resolution of several momentous questions…

and commandeth them to walk circumspectly, accurately, even with spiritual preciseness and strictness, not as fools, but as wise, redeeming the time, woefully wasted away, and miserably mispe •t this way; to abstain from all appearance of evil; to rejoice in the Lord; and when they are merry, to sing Psalms, and to vent and express their mirth in Songs of praise of God, and not in this wanton way; and assureth them withal, that evil communications corrupt good manners. 6. As being a corruption of manners, incentives to lightness and lust, and seminaries and nurseries of wantonness and uncleanness. And 7. as holding their pedigree, original, and institution from the Devil, the Inventer of them; and being at first Idolatrously and superstitiously celebrated to the honour, and for many hundreds of years together, dedicated and devoted and appropriated to the worship and service of the Heathen-Devil-Gods; Who (as Augustine affirmeth, lib. 4. de Civ. D •i, cap. 36. intituled De ludis Scenicis, &c. that is, concerning Stage-plays which the Gods required to be celebrated to them by their worshippers) did themselves importunately demand these Plays to be exhibited to them for their honour, fiercely and cruelly command them, denounce calamities if they were not exhibited, avenge most severely if any thing about them was neglected, and if they amended what ⟨image 18⟩was formerly omitted or neglected in them, show themselves pacified and well pleased. Which may further appear by these few instances taken out of famous Writers, whereof the first may be that which is mentioned by Pol. Virg. de invent. rerum, l. 4. cap. 14. pag. 375. where he says, That Plays were chiefly celebrated for the health and safety of men with lectisternes (that is, beds that were dressed up in their Temples for •ulling and rocking (as it were) their Gods asleep when they raged with anger) the beginning of which Plays (says he) it is manifest was the work of the Devil; For (says he) there was one Valesius a wealthy Roman (sometime before the institution of the Consular office) who had three sons desperately sick of the Pestilence, for whom, when he prayed to his household Gods, he was by them bidden go to Tarentum, and take water from before or from beside the Altar of Pluto and Proserpina, and give them to drink (or as others, to wash them in) which he having done, they were restored to health;