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…

reports from Zozimus concerning Constantine the Great, when he returned victorious over the Germans to Milan, That he quite neglected and contemned such Plays, to the great grief of the Heathens, who alleged that these Plays were instituted by the Gods for the cure of the pestilence and other diseases, and for averting of wars. From all which it is manifest, that the original of these Stage-plays and such others, was from the Devil, and celebrated by the Heathens to the honour and worship of their Devil-Gods in way of religious Sacrifices to them, either as pacificatory or gratificatory; with whom in their Idolatries and Superstitions, the Scriptures forbid all symbolizing and fellowship. Let us hear now in the next place some more of these Fathers speak their own and the Churches thoughts a little more particularly of Stage-plays, with respect to such grounds, having heard some of them already: Clem. Al •x. orat. adhort. adv. Gentes, calls Stage-plays, Comedies, and amorous Poems, teachers of Adultery, and defilers of mens •ars with Fornications; and says, That not only the use, the sight, the hearing, but the very memory of Stage-plays should be abolished: And elsewhere (for I do here purposely fo bear very particular citations▪ because ordinary Readers will not much, if at all, search af •er them; and the Learned that have a mind to it, will easily find them out) tells Christian youths, That their Pedagogues must not lead them to Plays or Theatres, that may not unfitly be called the chairs of Pestilence, because these Conventicles, where men and women meet together promiscuously to behold one another, are the occasion of lewdness, and there they give or plot wicked counsel. Cyprian de spect. stiles Theatres the stews of public Chastity, the mastership of obscenity, which tea •h these sins in public, that men may more usually and easily commit them in private, he learneth to commit who accustometh himself to behold the theatrical representations of uncleanness: It is not lawful for faithful Christians, yea, it is altogether unlawful, to be present at these Plays: And elsewhere he saith, She that p •rcha •ce came a chaste Matron to the Plays, goes away a Strumpet from the Play-house: (We may here notice what the Satirical Poet Juvenal says ⟨image 20⟩