Representation of the Impiety and Immorality of the English Stage | Page 8

think the Beauty of the Mind does far surpass the gay Appearances
of the most splendid Outside: But yet, it must be confessed, that there
are others, (and those not a few) whose Lives are almost one continued
Circle of Vanity and Folly. Such as divide the best and most precious
part of their Time between their Toilet, the Exchange, and the
_Play-House_. This, I believe, upon Enquiry, will appear to be no
unjust Censure; tho' at the same time, Madam, I must freely own to you,
that I think it a most amazing thing, that the Ladies (at least those who

make any Pretensions to Virtue and Goodness) should ever be seen at
the last of these Places; where they find themselves so scandalously
treated. I am apt to think, that very few of 'em have read Mr. Collier's
'View of the Stage'; if they had, they would there see the Corruptions
of the Plays set in so clear a Light, that one would believe, they should
never after be Tempted to appear in a Place where Lewdness and
Obscenity (not to mention other Immoralities) are so great a part of the
Entertainment; a Place that is now become the Common Rendezvouz of
the most Lewd and Dissolute Persons; the Exchange, (if I may so call it)
where they meet to carry on the vilest and worst of Practices. 'Tis the
Nursery of all manner of Wickedness, where the Seeds of Atheism and
Irreligion are sown, which Weak and Tender Minds too readily
cultivate, and from thence are easily led into a Contempt of all that's
Serious. It is impossible to say, how many, and how great the Mischiefs
are that spring from thence; which if a Man should take a View of, it
would perhaps, be one of the most Melancholy Prospects that ever he
beheld. To look into our Modern Plays, and there to see the Differences
of Good and Evil confounded, Prophaneness, Irreligion, and Unlawful
Love, made the masterly Stroaks of the _fine Gentleman_; Swearing,
Cursing, and Blaspheming, the Graces of his Conversation; and
Unchristian Revenge, to consummate the Character of the _Hero_;
Sharpness and Poignancy of Wit exerted with the greatest Vigor against
the _Holy Order_; in short, Religion and all that is Sacred, Burlesqu'd
and Ridicul'd; To see this, I say, and withall, to reflect upon the fatal
Effects which these things have already had, and how much worse are
likely to follow, if not timely prevented, cannot but fill the Minds of all
good Men with very dismal Apprehensions.
And are these then the Entertainments for a Christian to be pleas'd with;
for one whose Salvation is to be wrought out with Fear and Trembling?
Will the Strictnesses of Virtue and Religion be ever relished by a Mind
tinctur'd with such Licentious Representations? Must not such
Diversions (to say no worse of 'em) insensibly steal upon the Affections,
especially of the _Younger sort_; give their Minds quite a wrong Biass,
and disarm them of that Severity which is their greatest Guard, and
which, when once lost, leaves 'em an easie Prey to every Temptation?
Will not those Lewd Scenes of Love, wherewith almost every Play is
fraught, inflame the Fancy, heighten the Imagination, and render a

Person thus prepar'd, a fit Subject for ill designing People to work on?
But suppose it were possible to be so armed as to be Proof against all
these Dangers; yet let any that have the least Regard to what is Serious,
tell me how they can answer it to God, or their own Consciences, to be
any ways Instrumental towards the Support of so much Wickedness?
Do they think it a Sin to give the least Encouragement to Vice, and at
the same time believe themselves Innocent, when by their Persons, and
their Purses, they contribute to the cherishing the very _Seed-Plot_ of
Irreligion? 'Tis to no purpose for such to say, That they are cautious
what Plays they see, and always go to the best and that the
_Play-Houses_ would thrive whether they frequented them or no. This
may he true, but what then, Will this excuse them? Suppose a powerful
Rebellion is begun in a Nation, and carried on successfully, for some
time; and a Man should not only appear sometimes among the Rebels,
but should, now and then, send them a Supply (tho' never so little) of
Money and Arms: Could such a one pretend that he was no ways
Instrumental in this Rebellion, nor Accessary to the Mischiefs that
attended it, and that because it was not only begun, but would have
_prosper'd_ too, without him; and altho' he did sometimes appear
among the Authors of it, yet it was with the Party which did the least
Mischief? Do you think, Madam, this a