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diff --git a/14047-0.txt b/14047-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..298f3c9 --- /dev/null +++ b/14047-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1288 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14047 *** + +Note: H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. (1906-1978) was a professor at the University + of California (Los Angeles). In 1946 he, Edward N. Hooker, and + Richard C. Boys founded the Augustan Reprint Society, with + Swedenberg as general editor. The Society reprinted many rare + works, drawn largely from the collections of the University of + California's library. The two anonymous essays here were part of a + series of essays on the stage. + + + + + +Series Three: Essays on the Stage + +No. 1 + +A LETTER TO A.H. ESQ; CONCERNING THE STAGE (1698) + +and + +THE OCCASIONAL PAPER: NO. IX (1698) + + +With an Introduction by H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. + +The Augustan Reprint Society +September, 1946 + +Price: 75c + +Membership in the Augustan Reprint Society entitles the subscriber to +six publications issued each year. The annual membership fee is $2.50. +Address subscriptions and communications to The Augustan Reprint +Society in care of the General Editors: Richard C. Boys, University of +Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan; or Edward N. Hooker or H.T. Swedenberg, +Jr., University of California, Los Angeles 24, California. Editorial +Advisors: Louis I. Bredvold, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, +Michigan, and James L. Clifford, Columbia University, New York. + + + + + + + + +INTRODUCTION + + +In the spring of 1698 the rumblings against the excesses of the +English stage broke into a roar with the publication of Jeremy +Collier's _Short View of the Immorality and Profaneness of the English +Stage_. A wild joyousness marked Collier's attack, and at times it +seemed as though the zeal of the Lord had eaten him up. But he was no +enthusiast without plan or reason. A man of some learning, he used it +for all it was worth to confound the playwrights and the critics. + +Collier was careful to make good use of accepted and honored critical +principles. He contended that the purpose of the stage is to instruct; +he argued for poetic justice; he discussed the unities; he spoke of +propriety of manners and language; and he warned of the danger of +fancy's overriding judgment--"the Fancy may be gain'd, and the Guards +corrupted, and Reason suborn'd against itself." Unfortunately for +Collier, however, such argument from reason and critical theory was +only part of his book. He pretended to be attacking the current +excesses, but a reading of his entire book gives the definite +impression that he was really opposing the stage as an institution. +His enemies were quick to point this out. He also weakened his +argument by finding bawdry where there was none, overlooking the many +unquestionably off-color passages in the Restoration plays. +Furthermore he was extremely touchy about the clergy, arguing +violently that no priest should ever be satirized. In short, Collier +weakened a strong position by immoderate demands and contentions. + +After a short, uneasy silence, the defenders of the stage began to +answer. By the end of the summer, ten rejoinders had appeared, among +which was the anonymous _A Letter to A.H. Esq; Concerning the Stage_. +The initials in the title have been identified as those of Anthony +Hammond, pamphleteer, small poet, and politician, whom Bolingbroke +characterized as "silver-tongued Hammond." Charles Hopkins has been +suggested as the probable author of the pamphlet (E.N. Hooker, _Modern +Language Notes_, LIV [1939], 388). Hopkins was a wit, a friend of +Hammond, as of Dryden, Congreve, Dorset, Southerne, and Wycherley, a +clever fellow who loved the bottle and the ladies so much that, +according to Giles Jacob, he died at 36, "a Martyr to the cause." _His +Epistolary Poems_, published in 1694, had been dedicated to Hammond +and had included an effusive poem addressed to him. Some other wit +among Hammond's friends might have been the author of the pamphlet, +however, for Hammond yearned for immortality through the works of +others and frequently asked writers of his acquaintance to mention +him. + +Whoever the author was, he spotted the weaknesses in Collier's +arguments, at the same time pointing out the essential usefulness of +the _Short View_ as a corrective. He was not particularly original, +for many of the points he made were considered public property by +writers in the controversy. Thus, along with Dennis and others, the +writer admitted the necessity for reform, but opposed Collier's +apparent desire to abolish the stage. He pointed out the fallacy of +Collier's argument from the authority of the church fathers and the +absurdity of his contentions about the ridicule of the clergy. And +using ancient doctrine, he defended the stage as an instrument of +instruction in manners and morals. Of particular interest is his +belief that the stage had contributed to the improvement of the +language, especially in dissuading the clergy from a fantastic, +conceited rhetoric. + +The fury of Collier's attack seemed to dull the wits of the defenders +of the stage. Too often they allowed themselves to be drawn into +quibbling over trivialities. None of them distinguished himself with a +brilliant answer. With the exception of Dennis's _The Usefulness of +the Stage_, the _Letter to A.H. Esq._ is as suave and sensible as any +of the answers, and considerably better then many. + +Among the pamphlets taking the part of Collier was _The Occasional +Paper: Number IX_, attributed to Richard Willia, Chaplain to William +III and later Bishop of Winchester. In this paper the approach of +literary criticism is abandoned completely, the author feeling that +the controversy over the stage has already been obscured by wit and +learning. He concerns himself with religion and morality, and argues +the danger of going to plays. Though he admits that good plays are +possible, it is clear that he considers the stage a bad influence upon +Christians. Collier might veil his true attitude toward the theater, +but Willis makes no pretense of hiding his. Plays are bad. + +The _Letter to A.H. Esq._ was announced in the _Post Man_ of June +11-13, 1698; _The Occasional Paper: Number IX_ was noted in the same +journal for May 19-21, 1698. The copy of the _Letter to A.H. Esq._ +reprinted here is owned by the University of Michigan. _The Occasional +Paper: No. IX_ is reproduced by permission of the The Huntington +Library, San Marino, California. + +H. T. Swedenberg, Jr. + +University of California, Los Angeles + + + + +A LETTER TO +A.H. Esq; +Concerning the STAGE. + + +LONDON, +Printed for A. Baldwin, near the Oxford-Arms in Warwick-Lane, +1698. + + + + +(I) + +TO A.H. Esq; &c. + +SIR, + +Forgive me if I think it Ill-nature in you to leave the Town, at a +Time when it wants your Company, and seems to beg your Assistance: How +can you propose to live at Ease in the Country, when so many of your +Friends, the Wits, are engag'd here in open War? Let Mr. _Collier_ say +what he pleases of Mr. _Dryden_, I begin to think 'twas his prophetick +Genius mov'd him to declaim against Priests; and there is great reason +to complain of their being the Incendiaries of the People, when they +set the World on fire by Preaching, which they were only sent to warm. +But what can Mr. _Collier_ mean by exposing the Stage so? he wou'd not +surely have it silenc'd: That wou'd be a little too barbarous, and too +much like Cant to be entertain'd by Men of Thought or Ingenuity. I +wou'd rather suppose he design'd a Reformation; and that is so +reasonable, I wonder any Man should put his Face in disorder, or study +a Revenge for the Attempt. But it may be ask'd, Cou'd he not have done +that without exposing so many great _Genius_'s? Had it not been +better to have let Mr. _Durfey_ alone? Tho' even this Method wou'd not +have pleas'd every body; for whate'er Effect it has had on Mr. +_Vanbroug_ and _Congreve; Motteux_ and _Guildon_ resent it to the last +degree. Is their nothing in their Works Illustrious, or that cou'd +merit Censure? Indeed some People are not to be reclaim'd by Ridicule; +and Mr. _Collier_ knowing their Vertues, with how much Compos'dness +and Resignation they can bear a Hiss, out of Compassion, took Example +by the Town and neglected both. + +It is the Observation of some, That whereever the State flourishes, +the Theatre has never fail'd of Encouragement; and that 'tis hardly +possible the State shou'd suffer without the others sinking in its +Reputation. It is Pity that _England_ shou'd be the only Exception, +and since we have some of our Nobility, who have a Taste of Eloquence, +and all those Vertues which adorn the Stage, that It shou'd want their +Assistance by whom it was at first rais'd, and since maintain'd: If it +has fallen from its Purity, or never arriv'd to what they fully lik'd, +let it not want their Countenance, without whom 'tis impossible to be +any thing at all, and by whom it may become all that we can wish. They +alone can free it from Contempt and Censure, by maintaining such an +Awe, that the least Glymps of Profaneness and Immorality shou'd not +dare to appear on the Stage; and this may be done by encouraging none +but those who write well: for when a good Poet takes on him to +instruct, we need fear no Immodesty; for 'tis impossible in a Regular +Play, he shou'd find room for an Indecency. I know you'll ask, Why +shou'd I appear so zealous in desiring the Favour of the Nobility for +what is deny'd to be lawful; and that I ought not to wish an +Encouragement of the Stage, when 'tis affirm'd that from Thence we +derive our Corruption of Manners. Mr. _Collier_ has endeavour'd to +prove this from the Looseness of some of our Plays, and then has +brought the Opinion of the Fathers to condemn the Theatre in general. + +As to the _First_ Objection, _That the Debauchery of the Town is to be +attributed to the Looseness of our Plays and Stage_. + +If this were true, it is an Objection only against the present +Corruption of the Theatre; and is of no force against a regulated +Stage; for that admits of nothing Immodest or Immoral. + +As to the _Second_ Objection brought from Councils and Fathers, if +what is quoted were really design'd by them against the Theatre in +general, yet it can have but little effect with the People, I mean the +Men of Probity and Learning; for they are not to be mov'd by the +Opinions of others no longer than those Opinions are agreeable to +Reason: No Man ought to pay such a Respect either to Councils or +Fathers, as to submit his Judgment contrary to his Reason. Their +saying so in this Case ought to have no more effect with us than if +they had at the same time given us their Opinion of the Truth of +_Transubstantiation_. + +I think the Matter ought to be disputed by it self; for the Opinion of +the Fathers cannot alter the Nature of the Thing. Sir, give me leave +to make this Digression: 'Tis my Opinion, even in Matters of Religion, +the preaching up the Fathers so much has been of fatal Consequence. If +we run out of our selves to search for Truth, we are expos'd to be +deceiv'd; and relying too much upon another's Judgment, may be the +occasion of an Errour in our own. A false Quotation or Interpretation +by a Man of some Figure, to an easie Credulous Bigot, has been the +Conversion of a great many, and of excellent Service in the Church of +_Rome_: They cannot attack any without a Father or Council, and that +to a Person who knows nothing of the matter, is as good as a +Demonstration. The Fathers were but Men, and as capable to be deceiv'd +as others: And I do not know why the Bishop of _Worcester_ may not +deserve an equal Esteem; he understands the Languages, and has as much +Sincerity as any of them; and why then shou'd he not be able to give +the Sense of the Scripture as well. + +I have a Veneration for them as good Men, and where their Opinion is +a Consequent of true Reason, it ought to be embraced; but where 'tis +not, I need not say it ought to be rejected; and I think any Man may +be allowed to dispute whether it be so or no. The Bishop of +_Worcester_ cannot publish a Book, but you'll have an Answer to it. +It would indeed be of Reputation to the Councils and Fathers, some of +them at least, if what were objected against them were of no more +force. His Philosophy is too rational to be weak'ned by Sophistry, +his Divinity too solid to be shook by Heresie: He seems to have been +predestinated to Glory, and the appointed Instrument to deliver us +from Popery, Atheism, Deism, and Socinianism, with all those spurious +Sectaries which have been spawned into the Worlds: What can resist +the Power of his Arguments? And who is able to abide his Force. But +to return, I think the Controversie, in short, is this: + + _Whether the Allowance of a Theatre in a Christian Country, is + consisting with the Christian Religion._ + +The Answer to this Question may be this: + + That whatever is approved by lawful Authority, and is not against + any positive revealed Law of God, is consisting with the Christian + Religion. + +Now it lies upon the Adversaries of the Stage to prove, That the +Theatre is against Law or Scripture. + +'Tis unfair to take the advantage of the present Corruptions, and cry +down the Stage, because Men make an ill use of it. The Priests Won't +allow this Argument in another Case; and I think an ill Poet is no +more an Objection against the Stage, than a Clergyman's being a +Blockhead, is to the Pulpit. 'Tis our Misfortune to have too many in +both Vocations; tho', as bad as the Stage is, I don't doubt but the +World has receiv'd a great many Advantaged from it. I shall name you +some, and the first may be the reclaiming the Manners of the Clergy. + +'Tis certain, since the Stage has used the Gown freely, and the Laity +have not been afraid to look into their Faults, that they are more +humble, and less publickly vicious: They know if _Tom D'urfey_ can +light upon a frail Priest, he won't scruple to expose his Infirmities, +tho' he is not the only _Whipping Tom_ of the Stage; if they had not +others to fear, they wou'd soon grow too many for him. I believe they +wou'd be angry, if they thought the People gave the Honour of their +Reformation to the Stage; tho' you can't believe otherwise, if +you consider the difference of the former and present Clergy, what a +strange alteration there is where the Knowledge of Plays have come (I +wou'd be understood only of those who needed a Reformation) There are +now, and have always been, Men among them able and fit to give Laws, +and from whom the World was glad to receive them, who appear'd as +burning and shining Lights in their Generation; and it was from them +we learnt the difference; it was their Light which expos'd the other, +and the Stage only took their evil Deeds, to shew them truly the Evils +of them. But besides their Reforming of Manners, the Stage has taught +them to speak English, and preach more like Ambassadors of their great +Master. It has taught them to argue rationally, and at once mended +their Stile, and Form of their Sermons. How did Religion labour under +heavy Language, and how many People rather absented the Church, than +come to hear the Word of God Burlesqu'd? In what a ridiculous Dress +did Religion appear? When to spin out the time in old Proverbs, and +wretched Puns, a Fellow wou'd run it up to _Six and thirtiethly_, +before he came to his _Use_ and _Applications_. In short, the +Drunkenness, Whoring, Insolence, and Dulness that has appear'd under a +Black Coat on the Stage, have made the Men of the same Colour of it +keep within Bounds: And that a Man might not teize them with the +Representation, they have endeavour'd to appear in as differing a Form +as possible. + +If what Mr. _Collier_ says was true, That when a Clergyman is brought +on the Stage, it is with a design to ridicule the Function, it wou'd +be abominable, and as bad as the Town is, wou'd be hiss'd off the +Stage. I dare say, whatever the Intention of the Poet is, 'tis not +receiv'd so by the Audience. For at this rate, every foolish Peer who +Is brought on the Stage, must be suppos'd to intend a Reflection on +all the Men of Condition; and an Alderman, who is a Cuckold, must be +look'd on as the Representative of his Brethren. 'Tis absurd to make +no distinction; as if a particular Vice in a particular Man, cou'd not +be expos'd without a design'd Reflection on all who belong to him. It +ought to touch no body but whom it concerns; and it has its end, if it +reclaims where it was design'd, and prevents others, by shewing the +Danger: And this is the Design of Comedy. But the Question is, Whether +our Poets have managed it as they ought? Whether they have not pick'd +out a particular Person, and expos'd the Character in general, under +the Notion of one Man? I answer to this, That whatever the Design of +the Poet has been, it has not had the effect with the People: For who +disbelieves the Authority of their Function, or thinks the worse of +Good, Learned, and Ingenious Men among them? Are not the Religious +very much reverenc'd? Has any Body thought the worse of +_Stillingfleet_, _Tillotson_, and _Burnet_, upon this Account? Who can +believe, that when Mr. _Vanbroug_ disguises a Parson, that he thought +of these Men, or any who lives soberly, and makes Religion their +Business, and at the same time, don't make it inconsistent with good +Manners? The Good among them know the People love them, and that +nothing but their own mis-behaviour draws them into Contempt. Any +Minister, tho' he was but of mean Understanding, yet if he had other +good Qualities, if he liv'd soberly, and did his Duty religiously, +that ever such a Man was pickt out to be the Scandal of his +Neighbours, or a Ridicule of the Stage. Whence is it then, that the +Clergy are so angry? If you hook but one of them, all the rest are +upon your Back, and you can't expose his Vices without being an Enemy +to the Church: And in this, _Priests of all Religions are the same_. + +But after all, why shou'd Mr. _Collier_ blame Mr. _Dryden_ for making +_Dorax_ exclaim against the _Mahometan_ Priest? Or how can that be a +Prejudice to the Character of the Christian Clergy? Is it not natural +for such a one as _Dorax_ to say as much, and especially against such +a one as the _Mufti_ in the Play? And does Mr. _Collier_ blame Mr. +_Dryden_ for writing naturally? I think it is a Fault throughout Mr. +_Collier's_ Book, that in his Criticisms of the Plays, he never +considers the Person who speaks; that is, Whether 'tis not natural for +a Man of such a Character, to say such a thing? It wou'd have been of +more Service to have proved, That no Person is to be brought on the +Stage to say an ill thing, and then he had thrown away all the +Profaneness, which is so much an Offence, at once. But if such Persons +are to be represented, there is not so much Reason against any of our +present Plays, as is urg'd by Mr. _Collier_; for you must allow a +Coquett to talk like her self, a Lover to vent his Passion in +Raptures, and a Rake to speak the Language of the Town. + +I have already told you, That I am far from vindicating the present +Stage. I don't know a regular Play, or that ought to be represented on +a regular Stage; yet I know a great many Plays that I would not loose +for want of that Regularity. Who wou'd not have Sir _G. Etheridge_, +Mr. _Wicherly_, and even some of Mr. _Dryden_'s Plays? Who would +reject the _Orphan_, because Mr. _Collier_ objects against a loose +Speech in it. + +But Mr. _Collier_ has laid other things to the Poet's Charge besides +the Abuse of the Clergy; and that the profane Characters in the Play, +has had an ill Effect on the Age, by promoting of Immorality and Vice. +This I very much question; for I can't apprehend so much danger even +in the present Stage as Mr. _Collier_ wou'd suggest. The greatest +Faults of our Plays are their being generally, in one part or other, +unnatural: That which is regular in any of them can never be an +Offence; and where that Monster appears, it rather frightens than +allures; so that we are not in so much danger, even from our very bad +Plays: For the more monstrous, the less Power it has to please; and +whatever looses the Power, can never do much damage. So that if Mr. +_Collier_ should make a Collection of _D'urfey_'s Works, who is there +that wou'd become a Convert? And who wou'd turn Parson to be drunk and +beat the Watch? Or who wou'd be proud of an Imitation of any of his +Heroes? Has any Body brought themselves under his Character, in hopes +to recommend them to the World? It would be happy if the World had +learnt no more Irreligion from the Pulpit than it has from the Stage; +at least, the Consequence of the first has been more fatal. What +dismal Effect has the holy Cant had upon the Multitude: What +Rebellion, Blood-shed and Mischief have been encourag'd under the Name +of _Sanctity_, _Religion_, and the _Good old Cause_. Whoever learnt to +cut a King's Throat by seeing of Plays? But by going to Church, the +People were instructed to _bind the King in Chains, and his Nobles in +Fetters of Iron, That the Kingdom ought to be taken away, and given to +the Saints_; And who wou'd not be a Saint for such an Inheritance? Who +cou'd refuse resisting of Authority, when instead of _Damnation_, it +was _coming forth to the Help of the Lord against the Mighty_? But +this is but one Mischief of the Pulpit; this is only putting a Kingdom +in Civil Broils, intestine Wars, and unnatural Murthers. But when Men +of debauch'd Principles shall become the Teachers of the Nation, what +may we not expect from their Industry and Sedition. + +After all, my Lord _Foppington_ was never design'd to teach People to +speak or act like him; nor was it intended that the Ladies shou'd be +byass'd by the Example of _Berinthia_ to turn Coquetts. These and the +like Characters in other Plays, are not propos'd as a Direction for +the _Gallant Man_, or the _Vertuous Lady_; but that seeing how such +Persons behave themselves on the Stage, that they may not make the +like Figure in the World; but if any body shou'd rather be in love +than terrified by these Examples, 'tis their Fault, and not the Poets, +since the best things are liable to Corruptions. But it may be +objected, That our Poets don't make Persons speak like themselves. +That indeed is a Fault, and I can't say any thing to excuse it but +this; That they who, have the Judgment to know when a Poet speaks +improperly, ought to have so much Judgment, as not to be byassed by +his Irregularities: The People who don't understand it, generally +suppose, that what is Vertuous is to be imitated, and what is Vicious +is to be avoided. That this is the general Observation of those who +frequent Plays, may justly be inferr'd from the Practice of the Town: +For I challenge any Man to prove, That any one Vice, now in being, +took its Rise from the Stage. The Stage takes Examples from the Town. +The Scene must be really acted in the World before it comes to be +expos'd: So that whatever appears Vicious or Ridiculous, is owing to +the Wickedness of the Times, and not to the Theatre. It may be +objected, That what is generally acted on the Stage, if it was done +before; yet it was done in private, but the Stage publishes it. To +this I answer, That it does not intend to license it, only to set it +in a true Light, that it may be expos'd and shunn'd. + +As to those Objections, That the Actors are generally debauch'd, and +of leud Conversation; and that no Person who is a known Adulterer, or +Profane, ought to be encouraged. That the Play-house is a Resort of +vicious Persons, and gives Opportunity to such who have wicked +Inclinations. All these wou'd fall upon the advancement of a regular +Stage; but as 'tis, the Objections are not levell'd Right; for the +State is chargeable with the Immoralities. There are Laws for the +Punishment of Vice; and if the Magistrate neglect his Duty, he must +answer for it. I don't know that any body is oblig'd to a Conversation +with the Players; and their Lives can influence only their Associates; +and such they wou'd find, whether they are Players or not. When they +are on the Stage they are confin'd to the Poets Language: And if we +shou'd see Mr. _Powel_ acting a Brave, Generous and Honest Part; or +Mrs. _Knight_, a very Modest and Chaste one, it ought not to give us +Offence; because we are not to consider what they are off the Stage, +but whom they represent: We are to do by them as in Religion we do by +the Priest, mind what they say, and not what they do. Tho' the Stage +is not so abandon'd but that there are some Honest and Vertuous, for +any thing the Town can say to the contrary. And I wou'd leave it to +themselves, whether they don't find their Account in it; whether the +Town is not more favourable on any Occasion; so that it ought to be an +Encouragement to persist in their Vertue. + +The Objection against the Play-House it self, because it gives +Opportunities for Wickedness, is so trifling, it is hardly worth +answering, for they who are viciously inclin'd will find an +Opportunity; and as long as the Toleration Act is in force, there is +never a Meeting in Town but will afford extraordinary Hints of that +kind; the Morning and Evening Lectures are precious Seasons, Mr. +_Doelittle_ may thresh his Heart out, there will be Tares among the +Wheat; and those Houses are haunted with a sort of Spirits that are +not to be cast out with Prayer and Fasting. + +I think from the little I have said, it is certain the Town has not +been debauch'd by the Stage, and that 'tis much easier to demonstrate +the Good, than prove the Evil Effect even of our bad Plays. I have +shew'd that there has been a Vertue in them; and we might very well +pardon them if it were only for that one Benefit, of being so +serviceable to the reclaiming of the Clergy. If they can give me an +Instance of any Play, whose Vices have had so ill Effect with the +People as to counter-balance the Good it has wrought in them, I shou'd +set my self against the Stage too; but then as to other Advantages +which we have receiv'd from the Plays of the first Rank, we are +certainly very much in debt to them. The Refinement of our Tongue is +principally owing to them; Good Manners and good Conversation is owing +to our Comedy; and I don't doubt but some of our Tragedies have fired +some with a Greatness of Spirit, and taught to act the Hero with +Prudence, Vertue and Courage. + +I shall conclude this part of my Letter with this Observation, that if +the present Stage has not been so terrible an Enemy to Christianity, +but on the contrary, has afforded a great deal of good to the World; +that a Regulated Stage wou'd be of infinite Service to the Nation. + +I have proposed it as an Argument in Defence of a Regular Stage, that +it lies on its Adversaries to prove it against Law or Scripture, and +so might leave it justify'd till some Person or other make the +Discovery to the World: But because 'tis my Opinion 'tis utterly +impossible, I shall give you some Reasons why I think it not only +lawful in it self but very necessary in this populous City. And, +First, if we consider the Matter that ought to be represented, whether +it be Tragedy or Comedy; there is nothing in either that can offend +Religion or Good Manners. + +Tragedy is a Representation of an Action by some Great Man, teaching +us to regulate our Passions with exactness, and by shewing the strange +and differing Accidents of Life, to which the most important Persons +are subject; proving to us that Vice never goes unpunished; and that +true Happiness does not chiefly consist in the Enjoyment of this +World. + +Comedy is a Representation of common Conversation; and its Design is +to represent things Natural; to shew the Faults of Particular Men in +order to correct the Faults of the Publick, and to amend the People +thro' a fear of being expos'd, with this Observation, That the +Ridiculous of the Stage is to be only a Copy of the Ridiculous found +in Nature. + +In short, 'tis the Property both of Tragedy and Comedy to instruct: +The Characters in both are to be Natural; and the Persons concern'd in +the whole Action, are to be such whose Vertues ought to provoke us to +an Emulation, or whose Vices ought to deter us from imitating their +Example, The Language and Sentiments are to be suitable to each +Character: A Wife, Good, and Great Man is to say nothing but what is +natural for such a one to say: The Gallant Man is to appear with all +the Qualities of a Man of Honour: and the Fool in his proper colour'd +Coat. The Vices of the Wicked are not to be represented so nicely, as +punish'd severely; that is, a Vicious Person is not to be allow'd to +plead in favour of his Vices, or to represent his Villany so calmly as +to tempt any Man to try Practices in another Place. Vice is only to be +brought there to be condemn'd, and the reason of this is, that our +Terrour may be excited, and all our Passions vent themselves with +Strength and Reason. Our Pity is not to be extended in a wrong place. +In short, The Disposition of the play is to be such that all the +Characters have a proper Effect with us. Our Fear, Love, and Anger are +to be exerted with Justice; and we are to learn from a just Fable how +to behave our selves in earnest. Thus may we exercise our Souls by +examining our reasonable Faculties, and try how we can love to +extremity, and yet without a Fault; to be angry and sin not; to be +just without partiality, and rejoyce with them that rejoyce. We are +there instructed to Love, Hate, and Fear within measure, how we may be +Men without debasing our Souls; and all this by moving Examples, which +in spite of Stubbornness, will force its Impressions; and 'tis our own +Fault if they are not lasting. This certainly must recommend the Stage +to the Vertuous; and Piety can't be offended at the decent reproving +of Vice, and the insinuating recommendation of Vertue. Here we find +Morality urg'd by Precept and Example, and the Stage reprehending +those Follies which the Pulpit wou'd blush to correct; for tho' the +Church is the Place to declaim against Sin, yet there are some sorts +of Wickedness which can't be so decently reprov'd there; so that the +Stage is serviceable on this account, to supply the Defects of the +Pulpit. In short, whatever may be objected against the present +management of the Stage, is of no force against such Proceedings as +these. Religion and Morality can receive no Damage here; for as long +as these Rules are observ'd, they strictly include both. + +It was the Opinion of a great Master of Reason, that Tragedy conduces +more to the Instruction of Mankind, than even Philosophy itself, +because it teaches the Mind by Sense, and rectifies the Passions by +the Passions themselves. And there is this further Advantage, that we +have always the Example of great Men before us, and are generally +inclinable to take our Manners from them. There has indeed Authorities +been produc'd against the Stage, tho' there don't want as ancient +Advocates for it; and some of the Fathers themselves writ Plays, +however Mr. _Collier_ came to forget it. + +If the Theatre is capable to give us such Advantage, it will easily be +prov'd of what necessity there is for its encouragement in this +Populous City: If there were no Politick Reasons, yet the Good to +Religion that may be done by it, is a convincing Argument at once for +its Lawfulness and Use. I know the Gravity of some can't dispense with +so much time to be spent in Diversion, tho' I can't think this a +reasonable Objection where so much Profit may attend our Delight. If +it be lawful to recreate our selves at all, it can never be amiss to +frequent such a Diversion, that only takes up our Time to make us +wiser. I wou'd to God all of them were directed to the same End. No +Man is to employ himself so as to exclude the Duties of Religion; and +there is as much danger in minding too much the Business of the World, +as the Pleasures of it; both of them are to be kept within bounds, and +both subservient to Religion. The Passions of Men are active and +restless; and 'tis the Prudence of every State to encourage some +publick Exercise to keep them at quiet. If the Theatre was down, the +Churches wou'd not be the fuller for't. Or if they shou'd, Religion is +not always the design of them who come there; so that I cannot see +that any thing can be allow'd for the publick Diversion with so much +Innocence and so much, Advantage. I'm only afraid that such a +Regularity wou'd be too Vertuous for the Age; and I don't doubt but +the Beaux and Poetasters wou'd be full of Exclamation: For it wou'd be +a dreadful Time if the Ladies should regard the Play more than their +Beaux Airs; and how wou'd _Vanbroug_ be able to pass a Comedy on them, +if they shou'd once be so nice in their Taste as to disgust Obscenity; +this indeed wou'd be a Vexation, and such a Delicacy which Mr. +_Congreve_ cou'd not be pleased with: And if the Town shou'd be so +refin'd to admit of nothing but what is Natural, we can't expect that +ever he will gratifie us with another Tragedy. _Durfey_ and _Motteux_ +wou'd write no more Farces; _Guildon_ and _Tom_. _Brown, &c._ wou'd be +the Saints with wry Mouthes and scrue'd Faces: Mr. _Guildon_ indeed +has Philosophy enough to support himself under such a Calamity, and +knows a Method to prevent starving; for who can think that he who writ +_Blunt_'s Life can be at a loss for a decent dispatch of his own? 'Tis +a deplorable Case, indeed, and I pity a Man who cannot get Bread by +Writing, and yet must beg or starve without it. + +The Prince of _Conti_ believ'd the _French_ Stage wou'd not have been +so bad if the Priests had begun sooner to declaim against it: It is +possible that some of our Defects may be owing to such a Negligence. +However 'tis never too late to mend; and since Mr. _Collier_ has took +up the Cudgels, I wish the rest of the same Coat wou'd so far as is +just and reasonable, stand his Second: He has his Faults, but they are +such as I wou'd not have lost his Book for. I know there are some +violent Wits, who will not allow him either Wit or Style, but, in +plain terms, to be a Fool. I hope none of them will go about to prove +it. I confess he has kept ill Company of late; but surely they don't +ground a Conjecture upon that, especially when a Man only converses to +convince. The naming Mr. _Durfey_, or examining his Works, is not so +contagious as to stain a Man's Reputation. We are indeed to answer for +evil Communication; and tho' I cannot justifie a Man who wou'd read +Mr. _Durfey_ with too much Delight, because we must not set our +Affection on things below, yet I wou'd pardon any who wou'd read him +only to forewarn others of the Danger. + +'Tis a Misfortune to have good Poets stand in need of Assistance; but +'tis very much aggravated when they are deny'd it. A Man who is +oblig'd to write for his Bread, is forc'd to be very hasty to prevent +starving; And every Man's Genius is not so sharp as his Appetite. This +may be one Reason we have so many things appear Abortive. Some Poets +have not so much as to save their longing; and if their Muse miscarry, +or come with an ugly Mark into the World, are rather to be pity'd than +condemn'd. In what Pangs have I seen some poor Creatures to be +deliver'd, when at the same time they have fear'd the Poverty of their +Brats, and that the World wou'd discover they were very sick in the +breeding. A good Poet ought never to want a worthy Patron; and our +Nobility and Gentry ought to be Industrious in the Advancement of +Letters. They might do it with great ease and little Expence; for the +Number is not so great who deserve their Countenance. In vain we +complain of the Irregularity of the Stage, if they who cou'd support +its Honour, want support themselves: So that one great Step to advance +the Theatre, is to take care, that they who write for the Stage, do +not want for Encouragement. + +You see, Sir, I have given my Thoughts freely: I wish they may receive +your Approbation; because I wou'd never think but to please you. I +dare not now think of excusing any thing I have writ, for I was +resolv'd to tie my self to no Method, but to think as much as I cou'd +for the advantage of the Stage, which I must believe very lawful, for +any thing I have yet met to the contrary. Nor can I be perswaded, that +our Plays have had so ill effect as some wou'd imagine. The best of +our Plays have nothing in them that is so scandalous; and for the +worst, I wou'd not allow them the Credit, nor the Authors the Vanity +to think they could influence any one Man. The evil Conversation of +some of them wou'd frighten a Man from being vicious; so that they are +serviceable against their Wills, and do the World a Kindness through +mistake. I dare not stay any longer with you, tho' I have a great +Inclination to beg you'd excuse the roughness of my Stile: But you +know I have been busie in _Virgil_; and that they say, at _Will_'s, is +enough to spoil it: But if I had begg'd a more important thing, and +ask'd you to forgive the length of my Letter, I might assure my self +you wou'd oblige, + +Your Humble Servant. + + +FINIS. + + + + +THE Occasional Paper: +Number IX. + +Containing some +CONSIDERATIONS ABOUT THE DANGER +Of going to PLAYS. + + +In a Letter to a Friend. + + +LONDON, +Printed for M. Wotton, at the Three Daggers in Fleet Street. +1698. + + + + +SIR, + +Being well assured that you sincerely desire to live as becomes a +Christian, though you are not in Holy Orders; and that your complying +with some things in use among those with whom you converse, is rather +from a care to avoid being over-nice to the prejudice of Religion, +than any want of a due Concern for the Interest of it: I cannot refuse +the letting you see all at once, my thoughts of that, which having +been at several times discoursed on between us, was never yet brought +to a perfect Conclusion. + +I have always found you doubting the _Lawfulness_, at least the +_Expedience_ of going to _Plays, as they are now acted amongst us_; +and sometimes you have seem'd to think it did not consist with the +Faith of the _Gospel_, considering the Outrage committed there for the +most part upon it, in one instance or other. And a fresh sense of this +I perceive has been given you, by the late _lively Account of the +Stages_, the natural colours of which indeed are so black as to be +more than enough to affright those who have any _Fear of Him that +ought to be feared_, or any Dread of the Ruin of Men. + +But for as much as the thread of that serious _Design_ may seem broken +too often with Observations of Learning, and Reflections of Wit, to be +closely follow'd by those who are either not used to the one, or too +fond of the other; the same good End may perhaps be helped forward a +little, by setting this matter in a less interrupted Light, and a +Simpler View. + +And if things are as bad as they are there represented apart, looking +on them together, you will scarce think those expressions too hard, +which in a more large and general State of the Case, you sometimes +thought did a little exceed. And very possibly the Zeal of some may +have proceeded too far in running down to the ground, all _Diversions +of this kind_ without any distinction: Tho' at the same time 'tis +easie accounting for that seeming distance between those who agree +that _Vertue_ shall be their common Design. + +For they that are most for condemning these Entertainments, do not +deny but some proper Instructions for civil Conduct at least, might +thereby be gently instill'd; nor are they wholly against _Unbending_ +the Mind, as if they suppose the Spirits of Men wou'd carry them +through the Business of Life without any Relief: But they think these, +as they stand, are _dangerous Schools_: And, as for _Refreshment_, +they see none in that which _unfits_ us for our respective duties. And +thus much is granted by those who wou'd shew a regard to the weakness +of Nature, and not be over severe upon the Practice of those they +think well enough of in other Respects. + +Whenever you have inclined to savour these _Idle Amusements_, you have +set them before you in an Innocent Dress, and contended for nothing +but what might _Please_ without giving _Offence_, you never design'd +that what was _Prophane_ or _Immodest_, should have your _Protection_; +or to allow your self or your Friends a _Conversation_ that was apt to +_Corrupt_. You always hoped such _Spots_ might be separated from those +things you took in to _Divert_, and when you had made them as clear as +you cou'd, you was easie to own, they might still be too freely +indulged: For which reason I do not believe we shall differ much when +we come to the End. + +Taking then these _Plays_ at the best, _pure_ from all those _defiling +Ingredients_, and _free_ from the blemish of a _Vicious Resort_, a +condition so perfect as we never yet saw the _Theater_ in: All this +would not make it a Place to be greatly frequented by those, that +desire to keep their Minds in a suitable frame. No one wou'd chuse to +converse always with _Fiction_ and _Show_, that cared to preserve +something _Real_ within; Mens Minds in effect being nothing else but +their usual Thoughts, which passing continually through them with +repeated delight, are sure to leave their Image upon them; as we can't +but observe the _Admirers_ of _Scenes_ to have something Romantick in +all that they do. + +Were we daily to be in the _House_ of _Feasting_ and the soberest +Mirth, our Spirits wou'd grow by degrees so frothy and light, that we +shou'd not easily bring them to settle again on any thing that was +worthy our care: Without something now and then to raise them a +little, they wou'd be dull and unactive, but _all_ Relaxation wou'd +make them too airy, and of no sort of Use. They wou'd not serve to +keep up our Souls from sinking under the pleasures of sense, but so +unawares betray us into them, by loosning the strength we have to +resist, and improving the Charm, that tho' we supposed the whole +Concern of the _Stage_ to set out all Virtuous at first, we cou'd not +expect its continuing long in that primitive State, before it run into +some foolish Excess. For if Mens coming often and many together, on +business, or kind and friendly Occasions, is apt to lay a snare in +their Way; Nay if _Societies_ form'd for the very promotion of Virtue; +and ti'd to all the Discipline of it, are yet hardly kept from growing +irregular: What can we hope from such places of Concourse, where +Imagination expects to be rais'd, and the End is Delight? + +But I doubt we never began so fairly as this, because our present +_Corruption_ is greater, than can well be conceiv'd to have sprung +from a _Root_ that had at first no _Bitterness_ in it. + +Was there nothing _ill_ in the _Representations_ themselves, yet there +is so much of that by agreement of All, in the Vain _Behaviour of +those that are there_; that they must needs be very fond of a _Play_, +that can bring themselves to sit often and long in such _Company_ for +it. + +And yet one wou'd think sufficient care had been taken by those on the +_Stage_, to heighten and please the most vicious _Tast_. They appear +to have study'd all the _Arts_ of an easie _Defilement_, and to have +left out no _Colours_ that were likely to _Stain_. And that these may +be sure to sink deep enough, their business is to discharge the Heart +of all its pure and _native Impressions_, that it may be the better +disposed to receive what _Tincture_ they please. + +Men must here begin to _unlearn_ what their _Parents_ and grave +_Instructors_ have told them in the very tenderest part of their care; +and learn to suspect some of their first and plainest Notions of +things. They are now to be taught how they might _Be_, without a +Creator; and how, now they are, they may live best without any +Dependance on his Providence. They are call'd to doubt of the +_Existence_ of _God_, or if that be allow'd them, 'tis only to +question what _Notice_ he takes: His Wise _Providence_ at every turn +is charged with _Neglect_, and often not for, that which has something +of Precedent, supporting the Wicked, but which is _dreadfully New_ +disappointing their _Lusts_. Things they are no longer ashamed of, but +publickly own, without so much as pretending to hide them from _God_, +whom they are not afraid to treat as blind, or as giving _Consent_. + +Thus is His _Holiness_ turn'd to the vilest Reproach, his perfect +_Knowledge_ mention'd with scoffing, and his infinite _Power_ +despised. + +Had we nothing to oppose to this; but that sense of things which is +natural to Us, and which even with all these Arts is not quickly +defaced, we could not but stand amazed at such Presumptions as these, +in so poor, and ignorant, and short lived a Creature as _Man_; who +came naked but lately out of the Earth, and must soon return to that +condition again; who finds his sight bounded in every thought, and +meets with a thousand stops in all his Designs; who every step that he +takes, wants some one to help him, and can scarce avoid being +conscious of that Hand to which he ows his Support. And yet as if it +was honour to rave, this impotent Wretch must still be daring at +something above him, as if he reckon'd it weakness to own of what he +was made, and thought any submission too great a price to pay for +being preserv'd. + +This cou'd not be accounted less than a Monstrous _Extravagance_, had +we no other _Rule_ than that of _Reason_ to measure it by; and a Man +with only his senses about him, would have a horrour to be thus +Entertain'd. How then shall he that professes the _Christian +Religion_, be able to bear so licentious a Treatment of all that is +Good? a little degree of _temperate Zeal_ wou'd turn him against such +_Abuses_ as these, and a middle proportion of _Faith_ spread over the +World, wou'd keep these Places from being so throng'd in their present +State as they shamefully are. + +They whose Dependence is on them, are so apprehensive of this; that +they are very industrious to weaken the force of that _Revelation_ +which darts it's rays so strongly against them, and discovers the +vileness of that, they wou'd have Men admire. _Redeemer_ and _Saviour_ +are Titles bestow'd upon infamous persons, which shews what sense they +have of the want of him to whom they belong: And for what they are +pleas'd to mention as _Sins_, they are sure to find as slight an +_Attonement_. They make very bold with the _Grace_ of God, and crave +_Inspiration_ to serve the ends of _Lust_ and _Revenge_: In which that +they may have nothing to check them, all _Flames_ but their own are +meer _Fancies_ and _Dreams_; the sickly Thoughts of a future Account +must be banish'd away, and _Conscience_ dismissed as a weak and +_Cowardly_ thing. + +That nothing may bind it, the Holy _Scripture_ is used as a _Fable_, +and at every turn brought out in disguise to be the better exposed: +They will allow it to be but one of these two, either _Imposture_ or +_Madness_. And they who profess to make it their _Rule_, and to lead +others by it, are scorn'd and traduc'd as running into _Frenzy_ or +_Cheat_, that no body else may have any regard to them or their way. + +And when the _Fences_ are thus broken down, what hopes can we have any +_Virtue_ shou'd stand without being impair'd at the least? Nor do they +stick to pursue their design, but go on overturning the natures of +things as fast as they can, and they have met but with too much +success. + +The _Sense of God_ being pretty well laid, the next thing to be sunk +is all Respect to Superiours here; A _Prince_ seldom appears to +advantage, and 'tis easie to guess what use of this the Subjects will +make. Imposing on _Parents_, and despising their Age is made a Mark of +Spirit and Wit, and few are brought in _dull_ enough to _Obey_. False +Notions of _Honour_ are here proposed as the ground of Esteem, and +something of _Wildness_ must go to the gaining _Applause_. To set up +for themselves is the first thing young People must learn, and to +think it brave to trample on all that stands in their Way: No +_Greatness_ like a thorough _Revenge_, nor any Spirit so _Mean_ as +that which _forgives_; _Abusing_ those that honestly help them with +their _Labour_, or _Goods_, has briskness and _Reach_, and a lively +_Cheat_ go's off with more _Reputation_ than paying ones _Debts_. + +Their _Friendships_ are built upon serving their Pleasures, and so +cannot but be as loose as that which holds them together: They who are +Constant in breaking their _Vows_, shall here be caress'd as +_Faithful_ and _True_; but to shew _Fidelity_ where it is ow'd, is too +_formal_ a business for those who have the _sense_ to be _free_, and +can relish nothing but what is forbid. + +This makes them treat all _Regular Love_ with that Stile of contempt, +as if keeping of Measures was unbecoming our nature; and it was a +shame to have the _Bed undefiled_. They mix with _Marriage_ all the +disagreeable things they can find to turn the _single_ against it, and +make those that are in weary and sick of so flouted a _State_: To +increase their uneasiness under which Holy and Prudent Restraint, +wandring Images are dressed up with all possible skill to affect them, +and their heads are filled with the ways, of bringing these strange +Desires to pass. + +If this be the Case in the Main, as it plainly appears from the +_Account_ above mention'd, and might further be shewn by a very great +addition of proof; then whether all this can be found at any one time, +or whether some Days may not possibly be pretty clear of it all but +what is brought thither, is not very material, more than to determin, +what particular _Plays_ should always be chosen by those that will go +to Any. For the fitness of allowing this Custom, or giving it any +Encouragement, will not depend upon it's not being faulty alike in +every Part; but 'tis enough to condemn it, if what has been said is +the general Scope, tho' I doubt a Tryal wou'd shew that All offend in +one thing or other. + +Matters, then, being so, you will readily grant that they who go to be +pleased, with any of those things which are hardly fit to be named; +are wickedly bent, and live to the _Scandal_ of that _Religion_ they +still make some shew to profess: Tho' not enough to give any hopes of +their being reclaim'd, until we can find them perswaded indeed, that +there is such a thing as _Sin_ in the World, which will certainly have +its _Wages_ at last. + +But for those who are satisfied of this, and wou'd be loath to savour +so much as the _Appearance of Evil_, they must be beg'd to consider, +what _Vows_ they are under, and _whereof they are made_, and How much +Weaker still many _Others_ may be, and What _Mankind_ must come to in +time if this _Humour_ prevails, and How much the _next Life_ must be +at this rate more wretched than this! + +Who that reflected what it was to _Renounce_ the _World_, the _Flesh_, +and the _Devil_, wou'd play with the sharpest Weapons of these, and +offer themselves to such apparent _Danger_ in _Sport_? there's not one +of these _Enemies_ but know how to take the utmost advantage, and will +be sure to hit all the Blots that they give, they cannot without +receiving some hurt, be so much as a Minate off from their _Guard_; +and sure they do not come hither to _Watch_. + +Who that had engaged to believe the _Christian Faith_, cou'd be +content to see it exposed in every branch? To have their _Lord_ and +_Master_ affronted for pretending to _Save_, and his _Ministers_ +scorn'd for the work he gave them to do! to hear a _Moment_ preferr'd +to the hopes of Eternity, and the _Judgment to come_ thrown off with a +Jest! + +Who that had promised _Obedience_ to God in all his Wise and Holy +_Commands_, would bear the seeing them not only broken with ease, as +often as Mens Inclinations rose up against them, but charged as +unconcernedly too with harshness and folly! Their _Souls_ one wou'd +think shou'd be _vex'd_ at such daring _Impieties_, and their _Spirits +stirr'd_ in them to see such Vices Adored; to find _Lewdness_ vaunting +it over Religion and Virtue, and usurping their place in a bold +recommending itself to the affections of Men, with all those +Advantages God design'd for the Adorning of Things that were really +Good. + +And who wou'd lightly endure all this, that from their Vows went on to +reflect of what they were made? I suppose they wou'd find as they +often complain, that they are Weak and Infirm, that while this _Flesh +and Blood_ is about them, their _Souls_ are heavy, apt to decline, and +seldom continue long in one posture and stay; that the World is upon +them where ever they go, and the Devil busily marking their steps in +every Path. That their _Faith_ wavers upon many Surprises, their +_Hopes_ languish, and their _Fervour_ decays; that in such cold +seasons as these, their Spirits move but stiffly about, and seldom +rise into any earnest petitions for Grace, but sink under the burden +of _Prayer_, or steal away to some Trifle, or other for a little +Relief. That in such cases they have no _Heart_ to go on with the rest +of their Duties, all the Commandments of God growing grievous upon +them, and _Repentance_ beginning to have a discouraging face: That +they know not how to follow their Master, wheresoever he goeth with +all this Oppression, the _Cross_ being now too much for them to take +up, and they feeling now no _Ease_ in his _Yoke_. + +And when they often find it thus to their grief, even where they think +they take care to prevent it, wou'd one ever believe they shou'd act, +as if they desir'd these Gloomy Returns, or thought the present Light +they enjoy'd cou'd never be obscured again? How shall we do to think +them sincere in their daily bewailings of _Human Infirmities_, while +they continue to lay new weights on their Nature, as if the common +Occasions of Life afforded not tryal enough for their faith, unless +they call'd in _Temptations_ to prove how much they coul'd bear? + +Wou'd they that desired to be _fervent in Prayer_, and _attend_ on the +Lord with as little _Distraction_ as their State would admit, fill +their Heads with a crowd of extravagant thoughts, and run to see +_Devotion_ it self ridiculed, as if nothing was in it but Solemn +_Pretences_? Or wou'd they that proposed to have their _Affections_ in +order, and their Appetites calm, chuse to thrust in themselves, where +_Moving the Passions_ is the business in hand, and such things are +rendred inviting, to which the Heart is but too much inclined? + +It cannot sure be safe for any to let _Errours_ come often before them +in such shapes, as may make them wish they were true. It must needs +enfeeble their Minds, to have those Spirits divided that want to be +fixed; and to converse with _loose Manners_ brought down into fashion, +and dress'd up with intent to deceive, is much too great a hazard to +run in that little ground that is left to hope for the grace and +assistance of God, where his _Spirit is griev'd_, and his _Being_ +deny'd. + +And it is to be feared that they who come freest from any of that +Pollution, which is in such quantities scattered there, have at least +some dust to wipe off before they get home: 'Tis hard staying so long +in such a Cloud of black vapours and smoak, without having so much as +a soiling remain; great odds it is, but something will stick for a +sober reflection to banish, and a Prayer to correct. And who is there +that wants more work of that nature than He has already. + +But tho' these shou'd be well enough armed to go away as clear as they +came, yet Methinks they shou'd have some concern for the _Weakness of +Others_, and the heat of their blood, as not to lead them into so +_Contagious_ a _Place_. All that go thither as yet uncorrupted, are +not however so fully prepar'd, as to be above taking any Infection: +Their Experience is little, and their Aversions to Evil but +imperfectly setled; that it can't be expected they shou'd be proof +against all the Assaults that are made in a pleasing Disguise. That +_Root of Vanity_ that secretly twists it self with their natures, is +drawn out by degrees, and they are carryed on to the hopes of their +_Liberty_ and of being _Admired_. + +Now were they to find no Company here, but such as were lost to good +manners and shame, they wou'd suspect some deceit in the whole, and +look well to themselves: But going under the shelter of many that have +names for Religion, and I trust have it indeed; they are emboldned to +think they are very secure, and that there is no need of being so +Nice. Thus while those, by whose Example these are encouraged, +preserve it may be themselves from the _Danger_ they run; these unwary +beholders take all that glisters for Gold, and are sadly betray'd. + +[Sidenote: 1 Cor. 8, 9, 10, 11, 12.] + +St. _Pauls_ advice to those that were strong, in another case is so +fitted to this, that I cannot forbear the letting you have it at +large. _Take heed_ (says he) _least by any means this Liberty of yours +become a Stumbling-block to them that are weak. For if any Man see +thee which hast knowledge, sit at Meat in the Idols Temple, shall not +the Conscience of him that is weak, be emboldned to eat those things +that are offered to Idols: And through thy knowledge shall the weak +Brother perish, for whom Christ dyed? But when ye sin so against the +Brethren, and wound their weak Consciences, ye sin against Christ_. + +And as forreign as this Instance may seem, was there any comfort in +drawing the _Parallel_, we shou'd find but too great a Similitude +between the _Places_ in question, and the _Idolatrous Temples_; while +the other difference that is in the case seems to lie on the side I am +writing, that if Christians might sin in the use of their _Liberty_ to +the offence of their Brethren, much more wou'd they do so in such a +Point as we have before us, where their own Consciences can hardly be +clear, as we shall think it more difficult for them to be, if we +consider yet further what _Mankind_ will come to at last if this +_Humour_ prevails. + +It is confess'd on all hands, that we live in a sad degenerate Age, +and though some have suggested other causes of our horrid Declension, +yet most considering People have the fairness to own, that the _Stage_ +has gon furthest in running us down to this low and almost Brutal +condition; nor will there remain much question of this, if we can but +agree what _Corruption_ is. + +If Exposing Religion with the Persons and things design'd for the +keeping it up in the World, will pass for disorder; or if the Increase +of Pride and Injustice, Blood and Revenge, are any signs of our being +_Depraved_; or if want of Modesty, Obedience, and Love, contempt of +Marriage, and neglect of it's Bonds may serve to shew the +_foundations_ of things to be at all _out of Course_. I think we have +sufficient warrant to lay the confusion at that _Door_, which opens to +these. + +That these things are taught there, and found in the World, can be no +way deny'd, and then it is not of any great use to enquire, whether +strictly speaking they were at first brought from thence, or carryed +thither. For when our Bodies and Minds are much out of order at once, +'tis hard saying where the Distemper began; and the less material to +know, when both must have their Cures apply'd, and it is to the +advantage of neither, that they go on to hurt one another. If the ill +humour does not begin in the place we suppose, it is there at least +increased to a head, and thrown out again into all parts of the body, +many of which to be sure first have it from thence, tho' they +afterwards help to keep up the Spring: And if this pestilent Matter, +be not only thus suffered to circulate, but assisted to spread, the +_Sickness_ will quickly be _unto Death_. + +For whatever some fancy, a Nation can never live long without any +Religion, nor Religion subsist without some to attend it as their +principal Care: So that shou'd it indeed come to pass, that no body +minded what Men of this Character said, as these _Teachers_ would have +it, Darkness with all it's hideous works wou'd soon cover the face of +the Land, and make it fit for the Stroke. + +We are already almost advanced to the brink of the Pit, by People's +unlearning only what once they were taught, of the Honour and +Advantage of _Marriage_, and the mutual Duties of Husbands and Wives, +which are indeed so grosly forgot, that the Offenders have well nigh +made their own Doctrine against it, appear to be true: But then it +cannot confuse it self better, then by bidding so fair to destroy all +the Comfort and Use of a _Social Life_: For if Mankind cannot indeed +be happy in Wedlock, they are in a very deplorable State. + +It was deservedly thought a Monstrous Error in those that declaimed +against Marriage of old, as bringing more Creatures into the World to +Sin, and be punished for it; tho' Salvation and Purity were their +design: How much then above these are they to be blamed, who wou'd +fain bring it into discredit, without any intent to keep Souls from +Miscarrying, or set an unspotted life in it's place; but on purpose to +spread their _Abominations_ the wider, in defiance of all the +Threatnings of God denounced against them, and those they defile. + +And who then that had any serious concern for the Glory of God, or the +welfare of Men in this life or the next, wou'd not stop and consider a +while with themselves, how far they shou'd give any countenance to +such _Recreations_, as tend to disturb even the best of their present +Enjoyments and Peace, and lead to extreme _Despair_ in the _End_? For +however Men may with vain words be sadly deceived, _the Wrath of God +cometh upon the Children of Disobedience, because of these things_, +and when they have mock'd all they can, they will find that He is _a +Consuming fire_. + +Compassion, then, one wou'd think, shou'd work upon those that are +good, to discourage by all their Endeavours, such Customs as bring on +the ruine of many, and do hurt to the whole, tho' they shou'd have +strength to go in, without being tainted themselves: Not that they can +pretend to be safe even from taking _Infection_, if once their +_Preservatives_ come to be frequently used, and to lose their Virtue, +as they will by degrees. At least they will want a great deal of +fulfilling the duty incumbent upon them to _Adorn their Holy +Profession_, and can hardly assure themselves of their being redeemed +from the vain Conversation they had in the World. Those allowances to +this, at best, _careless spending of time_, which a little share in +it, will bring them to make, cannot chuse but abate a great part of +their _Zeal_, and slacken their pace in their spiritual Course; to +which these _Entertainments_ are so flat a Reverse, that _Dying +daily_, and going to them, set out as they are, can scarce have their +good Opinion together. + +And who then that desired to perfect their natures, by a patient +_striving for Mastery_ over their Lusts, and following the _Captain_ +of their _common Salvation_ thro' all the Paths of an humble +Obedience, wou'd care to appear under so different a _Banner_, and +encumber their Souls with more than they need, of what must again be +thrown out of their way, or hinder their winning the _Prize_. + +This being the case, good Christians certainly cannot have the much +easier thoughts of such freedoms as these, for not finding them in so +many words expresly forbid. Such as these will consider the end and +design of the Gospel, and the frailty of Man, and think themselves +obliged to be jealous of any fashion that tends to increase the +weakness of one, and lessen the force of the other: When this plainly +appears to be the Consequence of any Indulgence, they allow it to lay +as full a Restraint, as cou'd be set by one or two particular Texts, +which a corrupt understanding wou'd be at less pains to evade. + +And yet if it blemishes any opinion to be Earthly and Sensual, or if +_Evil Communications_ are ever the worse for their effect upon +_Manners_: If to cherish a _Mind that is at Enmity with God_, and +declared to be _Death_, be opposing his Will, and endangering the +Souls of them that support the Resistance; Accusations abound against +the Custom that passes for so inoffensive a thing. + +If _casting down Imaginations, and every high thing that exalteth it +self against the knowledge of God, and bringing into Captivity every +thought to the Obedience of Christ_, be the Warfare of those that +wou'd go by his Name; If arming themselves against the _Lust of the +Flesh, the Lust of the Eye, and the pride of Life_, be that Task he +has set them to do; If a _chast Conversation coupled with fear_, and +_letting their Light so shine before Men_, that they may see 'em _do +all to the glory of God_, be the duty of Christians; we have places +enough to shew them of what importance it is, to withdraw from those +that walk so very disorderly, as wou'd not have been in the times of a +livelier Faith, allow'd the outward Communion of Saints. + +Nor is the Case so mightily altered from what it was then, unless it +be for the worse; as that we shou'd from thinking them wholly unworthy +to come into our _Assemblies_, run flocking to theirs: For what +vileness has ever offended the World, which is not exceeded if +possible there? Can the Burlesquing an absurd Religion, or Mocking it +upon the Stage be so bad as defying one that is reasonable and wise, +or paying Honour to _Gods that were not_, be like the blaspheming him +that is _True_? This cannot sure in reason be thought, whatever +Excuses People may find to palliate that which they cannot find in +their Hearts to condemn. + +Nor is that primitive Spirit so wholly extinct, but that some in our +days, and of _that Religion_ which carries more marks of the World, +then God be thanked are met with in ours, have dared to appear +directly against that vain Practice, which notwithstanding sits easie +on many of so much a _stricter Communion_ than theirs. And this +Instance is so far from being the worse for coming from _France_, that +it is a great deal the more fit to be urged in the present debate. For +if, in a Country disposed to a _lighter Temper and Air_, where the +_Church_ has greater Corruption, and the _Theater_ fewer, there can +yet be whole Bodies of _Casuists_ found, disallowing the sight of +their _Modester Plays_; Methinks it shou'd not be thought an Absurdity +here, to go about to disswade so _thoughtful_ a _People_ as we reckon +our selves, from going to ours which shew so little of that +Reformation to which we pretend. + +[Sidenote: P. of _Conde_. _Vid. traite de la Comedie_.] + +And least this should seem to be only the sense of some retired +_Divines_, I beg leave to observe that the same censure is also pass'd +by a _Prince of the Blood_, as highly Esteem'd for his _Learning_ as +_Birth_. And I wish his Example were follow'd here, that the shameful +_Indignities_ put upon Persons of the _Highest Descent_ by those of +the _Meanest_, wou'd stir up some excellent Spirit of that Eminent +Rank, to shew them how much beneath them it was, to stoop so low to be +thus coarsly entertained: And that it betray'd a want of _Honour_ as +well as _Religion_, tamely to see themselves as well as their _Maker_ +abused, and to seem pleased with that in a Croud, which said or done +before them any where else, they wou'd be obliged to resent as the +highest Affront. + +At least I hope that one way or other, they will be convinced how much +it concerns them to put a stop to this Insolent Course, and find out +some other _Diversions_, till these at least are reform'd, more +suitable to the Christian Religion, and less threatning their Virtue +and Fame. And such no doubt may be found, tho' some perhaps will be +apt to reply, that, at this way of talking, all are condemn'd. + +But this I conceive is not fair, nor rightly deduced from what has +been said; good reasons I know are sometimes press'd with these kind +of Extremities, when Men have not a mind to admit their natural force; +and to hinder inferring any thing from them, they frowardly insist on +their proving too much: And thus I think it wou'd be in those, who +shou'd offer to urge that this sort of arguing puts an end to all kind +of Mirth. + +For are then all Diversions alike? And can there be none without such +follies, as no Man in his sense wou'd endure? Must all easie +Conversation be lost, unless Men have leave to be loose and profane? +And can there be no coming together of Strangers or Friends, but some +naked Vice must dance and be praised, or some Virtue made a Sacrifice +of, to fill up the Feast? + +There may very well be, and no doubt but there is, in most +Conversation, a great deal of that which shou'd never be there; and +this is what one cannot wholly avoid without leaving the World. But +can this be reason why we must let People make to themselves new and +needless Occasions of Vanity, and lay dangerous snares in the way of +unwary People? I shou'd rather think the Argument lay; that since +there were so many faults, in all parts of the World and divertion of +life, Men shou'd not look out for more of this Trash to offend their +Company with, and foment the Disease, but get clear away from all the +Infection they cou'd, and lay in a Stock of such agreeable and wholsom +provisions, as might enable them to treat others with Safety and Ease, +and sometimes to correct the ill humours they found. + +But then they must not go to such _Books_ and prescriptions for these, +as are full of the leaven they shou'd put out from amongst them, and +can serve for nothing else but to poyson their Food: To converse with +Impiety here, is to give it all the advantage they can, it is to +surrender the Mind entirely up to whatever assaults it, without being +able to save so much as a stragling thought. For they whose _Closets_ +are fill'd with nothing but these, do not even pretend to resist the +force they call in, and a good Book standing idly by, will be little +security, against the strong Delusions of those they read with +concent: And therefore they who wou'd have their own virtue preserved, +and see more in the World, must not only avoid ill commerce abroad, +but reject it at home, and employ their Retirements in preparing +themselves to appear in publick without danger, and to some kind of +life. + +This care, I am sure, of our selves, and this Compassion one of +another, God and Nature and the Gospel require; and how much or how +little soever others may be affected at this, you Sir, I dare say, +will think best of your self, when you tread most in the steps of your +_Saviour_, and like him, _go about doing good_: When you relieve the +Afflicted, assist your Neighbours, and comfort your Friends; when you +please and benefit those that desire to hear you, and Reverence and +Kindness and Truth, are the Law of your Tongue. When a meek and quiet +Spirit adorns you, and Piety gives the grace to your looks, when your +Religious Example shines so lovely and clear, as to draw those after +you, to whom it shews the beautiful way, and Vanity has not the face +to appear; then, and not much before then, will you think you have +made some Advance to Peace and a Crown. + +In hopes of that desired Success, + +I am, + +SIR, + +Your, &c. + + +FINIS. + + + + +These sermons preach'd upon several Occasions. By the Right Reverend +Father in God, Richard Lord Bishop of Bath and Wells. + +Remarks upon an Essay concerning Humane Understanding: In a Letter +address'd to the Author. + +Second Remarks upon an Essay concerning _Humane Understanding_; In a +Letter address'd to the Author. Being a Vindication of the _First +Remarks_, against the Answer of Mr. _Lock_, at the End of His _Reply +to the Lord Bishop of_ Worcester. + +_The Occasional Paper_: Numb. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. + +A Guide to the Devout Christian in 3 Parts. By _John Inett M.A._ +Chanter of the Cathedral Church in _Lincoln_. + +A Guide to Repentance, or the Character and Behaviour of the Devout +Christian in Retirement. By _John Inett, M.A._ + + +Printed for _Matt. Wotton_, at the _Three Daggers_ in _Fleetstreet_. + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 14047 *** |