Dispositions to Religion, who go but once
or twice in a Year to the _Play-House_, say, upon their Experience, that
they think the seeing of Plays is proper to encrease the Love of God in
Men, to fit them for holy Exercises, and to promote their spiritual
Welfare? or rather, Must they not own, that by the seeing of Plays they
are more indisposed for Religious Performances; that the Awe and
Reverence which they had for God and Religion, and the Horrour which
they had at the Sins which they there see Men divert themselves with,
and make a Jest of, does thereby wear off; that their sensual Desires
are more heightned and enflamed; that they are more alienated from God,
and more enamoured with the World?

VIII. Can Persons who are sensible of, and do heartily lament their want
of the Love and Fear of God, their too great a Love of the World, the
frequent Distractions of their Mind in Prayer, and the Unruliness of
their Lusts and Passions, delight to frequent a Place where they are
surrounded with Temptations to the Love of the World; where what can
excite to unlawful Desires and Actions is promoted; and the Arts of an
easie Defilement are studied? Can they think this consistent with the
Rules of keeping from all Appearance of Evil, of avoiding the Occasions
and Temptations to Sin, and that Watchfulness over their Thoughts, and
that Diligence in making their Calling and Election sure, as the Gospel
requires? Do they in any wise herein adorn their Profession, resemble
the Christians who lived in the first Ages of Christianity; or those who
in any Age since have been celebrated for their Virtue?

IX. Can Persons in good earnest pray, as they are directed in the
Lord's-Prayer, _Not to be led into Temptation_, and yet frequent the
Play-House, where they are assaulted with more and greater Temptations
than incounter them perhaps in any other Place?

X. Can such Persons as go to the _Play-Houses_ on Week-days, and appear
in our _Churches_ on the Lord's-day, and even at the Holy Sacrament,
where they declare, that they _present themselves, their Souls and
Bodies, as a reasonable, holy and lively Sacrifice to God_, be suppos'd
to attend upon these Holy Ordinances with a suitable Frame of Mind;
since the Language and Design of Sermons, and of our Liturgy, and of
Plays, are so different and even directly contrary to each other?

XI. Can Ladies really dislike Lewd Discourse in Conversation, and yet
like to see Lewdness represented in