In the _6th._ Book of his Comentary on _Ezechiel_ he lets us understand;[497] 'That when we depart out of _Ægypt_ we must refine our Inclinations, and change our Delights into Aversion. And after some other Instances, He tells us we must decline the _Theatres_, and all other dangerous Diversions, which stain the Innocence of the Soul, and slip into the _Will_ through the Senses.'
St. _Augustine_ in his _5th_. Epistle to _Marcellinus_ will afford us something upon the same Argument.
'The prosperity of Sinners is their greatest Unhappiness. If one may say so, They are most Punish'd when they are overlook'd. By this means their bad Temper is encourag'd, and they are more inclin'd to be false to themselves; And we know an Enemy _within_, is more dangerous than one _without_. But the perverse Reasonings of the Generality, make different Conclusions. They fancy the World goes wonderfully well when People make a Figure. When a Man is a Prince in his Fortune, but a Begger in his Vertue; Has a great many fine Things about him, but not so much as one good Quality to deserve them. When the _Play-Houses_ go up, and Religion go's down. When Prodigality is admir'd, and Charity laugh'd at. When the _Players_ can revel with the Rich Man's purse, And the Poor have scarse enough to keep Life and Soul together.----When God suffers these Things to flourish, we may be sure he is most Angry. Present Impunity, is the deepest Revenge. But when he cuts off the Supplies of Luxury, and disables the Powers of Extravagance, then as one may say, he is mercifully severe.'
In his _1st._ Book _de consensu Evangelistarum_,[498] He answers an objection of the _Heathens_, and comes up to the Case in Hand.
'Their Complaint as if the Times were less happy since the Appearance of Christianity is very unreasonable. Let them read their own Philosophers: There they'l find those very Things censured, which they now are so uneasy to part with; This Remark must shut up their Mouths, and convince them of the Excellency of our Religion. For pray what Satisfactions have they lost? None that I know of, excepting some Licentious ones, which they abused to the Dishonour of their Creatour. But it may be the Times are bad because the _Theatres_ are Tumbling almost every where. The _Theaters_ those _Cages_ of _Uncleaness_, and publick Schools of Debauchery.----And what's the Reason of their running to Ruine? Why 'tis the Reformation of the Age: 'Tis because those Lewd Practises are out of Fashion, which first built and kept them in Countenance. Their own _Tully_'s Commendation of the _Actor Roscius_ is remarkable. He was so much a Master (says he) that none but himself was worthy to Tread the _Stage_. And on the other hand, so good a Man, that he was the most unfit Person of the Gang to come There. And is not this a plain Confession of the Lewdness of the _Play-House_; And that the better a Man was, the more he was obliged to forbear it?'