drink, or whatsoever ye do, do all to the glory-of God. For the time past of our life may suffice us to have wrought the will of the Gentiles, when we walked in lasciviousness, lusts, revellings, and abominable idolatries. Be ye, therefore, followers of God, as dear children; and walk in love as Christ also loved us. But-all uncleanliness -let it not be once named among you, as becometh Saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting which are not convenient. In correspondence with these directions, the church ordained that no play-actor should be admitted to communion without renouncing his profession. If he ever afterwards returned to his former employment he was excommunicated. The Theatre gave way, as christianity prevailed among the nations, and, in process of time, disappeared from Christendom. Nor did it * re-appear, until superstition succeeded in spreading her sable mantle

*It is a fact worthy of observation, that the Emperor Julian when, about the middle of the fourth century, he tried to restore paganism as the religion of the Roman Empire, Ordained-"That none of the priests, or those employed at the altars, should be allowed to attend the Theatres, or be seen in company of a charioteer, player, or dancer" He gave this reason for it-that the Gallileans had gained their ascendency by their priests and peo. ple avoiding such causes of corruption, and the profligacy to which they lead. Do christiaus consider, as wisely as did Julian, the tendency of the Theatre? See Milner, Vol. 2. p. 123, 124.

over the christian nations. Dramatic representations were then enlisted in her service as they had originally been devoted to the worship of Heathen Gods. Certain parts of scripture history became the subject of the Drama, and afforded carnal amusement under pretence of promoting the knowledge and practice of religion. The Church of Rome, however, by her councils repeatedly raised her voice against the Theatrethe Protestant Churches with one accord condemned it, and the most faithful and pious inen of every country set their faces against this evil. Irreligious and wealthy men in the European nations first introduced into their own houses such exhibitions; and when luxury and a false, as well as a licentious taste, became prevalent, the public stage obtained, in such nations, a permanent establishment. From the European continent it was introduced into England, and thence was imported into this part of America.

2. The Theatre under its present constitution in our own country, is in its nature criminal.

In order to determine whether Christians may consistently give it their presence and support, the Stage must be considered as we find it organized. It must be examined, not, as an imaginary system, but, as it, in fact, now exists.

And the followers of Christ, will require nothing more, to dissuade them from supporting it, than evidence that it is, in its nature, Sinful. evidence is of easy attainment.

Such

Tried, by the laws of the Christian religion, the Theatre is obviously criminal, as it respects both the actual performance of Plays, and the very Profession of a Play-actor. This trial however cannot justly depend on the merits of one Play, or the personal character of an individual Actor. The System must he examined as a whole.

As it respects, in the first place, the actual performance of plays it is sufficient to observe in evidence of criminality, That, although there is no tragedy or comedy whatever, performed on the stage, that recommends morality upon the principles of the Gospel of the grace of God, or recommends at all to practice, the christian graces, there is scarcely one which does not contain obscene allusion, false morality, or a profanation of the name of God. And can you christians support by your presence, and by the property which God has conferred upon you for good, a set of men in the very work of conferring ornament on pernicious sentiment, in rendering licentiousness agreeable to the audience, and in violating the third commandment for your own

amusement? Will you consent to pay them for treating with disrespect your Creator and Redeemer, and think yourselves guiltless? It is impossible.

In the second place, the very profession of a Play-actor, is a criminal one. It was esteemed infamous even in Pagan Rome, and in every civilized society it is still disgraceful. In the light of the Gospel it is sinful.

By habitually acting in a fictitious character, truth and integrity are banished the profession, and insincerity is reduced to a system. By rendering mimicry a trade, and the amusement of men perishing in sin the principal purpose of life, the play-actor is guilty of a prostitution of the talents God has for his own glory conferred on his creatures. By repeated exertions to enter into the spirit of the character to be represented, and accordingly cherishing the feelings and the passions of the vicious, it is the play-actor's trade to cultivate the propensities which he ought to mortify; and it is not surprising that he usually exemplifies, in his own deportment, the impiety which he has so often represented on the public stage.

These evils are essential to the Theatre, and suffice to prove that the institution is in its nature sinful.

3. It is, under

every

form in which it can be

presented, useless.

In endeavouring to dissuade you christians from attending the Theatre, we do not ask of you a great sacrifice. We do not call upon you to the performance of a hazardous duty, in which health, or property, or life can be endangered. On other occasions you may justly be urged to resist even unto blood striving against sin; but in this instance we recommend to you to relinquish only that which you will yourselves admit to be every way useless.

The Theatre cannot profit you in either body or soul. It has nothing calculated to promote your interest in time or through eternity. Its entertainments are all adapted to the taste of the vain, the idle, and the profligate, and will never aid you in obtaining the end of your creation. Were it of any use, as a school of morality, it would have been sanctioned by a recommendation from the Supreme Law-giver. It would recommend itself by its fruits in the distinguished virtue and piety of both the play-actors themselves, and those who habitually attend on their performances. As an intellectual exercise, instead of increasing knowledge, and invigorating genius, it dissipates, it enfeebles, and unfits the mind for the one thing needful.