0,88 €
Mehr erfahren.
- Herausgeber: WS
- Kategorie: Religion und Spiritualität
- Sprache: Englisch
I am sensible that the Title of this little Book will, to the Generality of People, seem too high a Flight; that it will be looked upon as the Effect of a fanatical Spirit, carrying Matters higher than the Sobriety of Religion requires. I have only one Thing to ask of such People, that they will suspend their Judgment for awhile, and be content to read so small a Treatise as this is, before they pass any Judgment, either upon the Merits of the Subject, or the Temper of the Writer.
Das E-Book können Sie in Legimi-Apps oder einer beliebigen App lesen, die das folgende Format unterstützen:
Seitenzahl: 98
Veröffentlichungsjahr: 2015
Ähnliche
The Absolute Unlawfulness of the Stage-Entertainment
William Law
I am sensible that the Title of this little Book will, to the Generality of People, seem too high a Flight; that it will be looked upon as the Effect of a fanatical Spirit, carrying Matters higher than the Sobriety of Religion requires. I have only one Thing to ask of such People, that they will suspend their Judgment for awhile, and be content to read so small a Treatise as this is, before they pass any Judgment, either upon the Merits of the Subject, or the Temper of the Writer.
Had a Person some Years ago, in the Time of Popery, wrote against the Worship of Images, as a Worship absolutely unlawful, our Ancestors would have looked upon him as a Man of a very irregular Spirit. Now it is possible for the present Age to be as much mistaken in their Pleasures, as the former were in their Devotions, and that the allowed Diversions of these Times may be as great a Contradiction to the most essential Doctrines of Christianity, as the Superstitions and Corruptions of the former Ages. All therefore that I desire, is only a little Free-thinking upon this Subject; and that People will not as blindly reject all Reason, when it examines their Pleasures, as some blindly reject all Reason, when it examines the Nature of their Devotions.
It is possible that something that is called a Diversion, may be as contrary to the whole Nature of Religion, as any invented Superstition, and perhaps more dangerous to those that comply with it. As the Worship of Images was a great Sin, though under a Pretence of Piety, so the Entertainment of the Stage may be very sinful, though it is only intended as a Diversion.
For if the Worship of Images did not cease to be sinful, though it was intended for pious Purposes, it must be great Weakness to imagine, that the Entertainment of the Stage cannot be any great Sin, because it is only used as a Diversion.
Yet this is a Way of reasoning that a great many People fall into: They say, Diversions are lawful; that the Stage is only a Diversion; that People go to it without meaning any Harm, and therefore there can be no Sin in it.
But if these People were to hear a Man say, that Religion is lawful; that the Worship of Images was an Act of Religion; that he used Images as a Means of religious Devotion, and therefore there could be no Sin in it; they would mightily lament the Bigotry and Blindness of his Mind. Yet surely this is as wise and reasonable, as for a Person to say, I go to a Play only as to a Diversion: I mean no Harm, and therefore there can be no Sin in it. For if Practices may be exceeding sinful, though they are intended for pious Ends, certainly Practices may be very abominable, though they are only used as Diversions.
When therefore we condemn the Blindness of some Christian Countries, for conforming to such gross Corruptions of Religion, we should do well to remember, that they have thus much to be pleaded in their Excuse, that what they do is under a Notion of Piety; that it is in Obedience to the Authority both of Church and State, and that they are at the same time kept entire Strangers to the Scriptures. But how justly may the same Blindness be charged upon us, if it should appear, that without having any of their Excuses, our Public Stated Diversions are as contrary to Scripture, and the fundamental Doctrines of Religion, as any of the grossest Instances of Superstition? If we hold it lawful to go to wicked sinful Diversions, we are as great Strangers to True Religion, as they who are pleased with buying Indulgences, and worshipping Pieces of holy Wood.
For a Sinful Diversion is the same Absurdity in Religion, as a Corrupt Worship, and it shews the same Blindness of Mind, and Corruption of Heart, whether we sin against God in the Church, or in our Closets, or in the Play-House. If there is anything contrary to Religion in any of these Places, it brings us under the same Guilt. There may perhaps be this difference, that God may be less displeased with such Corruptions as we comply with through a blind Devotion, than with such as we indulge ourselves in through a Wantonness of Mind, and a Fondness for Diversions.
The Matter therefore stands thus: If it should appear that the Stage-Entertainment is entirely sinful; that it is contrary to more Doctrines of Scripture than the Worship of Images; then it follows, that all who defend it, and take their Share of it, are in' the same State as they who worship images, and defend Drunkenness and Intemperance. For to defend or support any sinful Diversion, is the same Thing as supporting or defending any other sinful Practice. It therefore as much concerns us to know whether our Diversions are reasonable, and conformable to Religion, as to know whether our Religion be reasonable and conformable to Truth. For if we allow ourselves in Diversions that are contrary to Religion, we are in no better a State than those whose Religion is contrary to Truth.
I have mentioned the Worship of Images, because it is so great a Corruption in Religion, so contrary to Scripture, and so justly abhorred by all the Reformed Churches; that the Reader may hence learn what he is to think of himself, if the Stage is ever his Diversion: For I am fully persuaded, that he will here find Arguments against the Stage, as strong and plain as any that can be urged against the Worship of Images, or any other Corruption of the most corrupt Religion.
Let it therefore be observed, that the Stage is not here condemned, as some other Diversions, because they are dangerous, and likely to be Occasions of Sin; but that it is condemned, as Drunkenness and Lewdness, as Lying and Profaneness are to be condemned, not as Things that may only be the Occasion of Sin, but such as are in their own Nature grossly sinful.
You go to hear a Play: I tell you, that you go to hear Ribaldry and Profaneness; that you entertain your Mind with extravagant Thoughts, wild rants, blasphemous Speeches, wanton Amours, profane Jests, and impure Passions. If you ask me, Where is the Sin of all this? You may as well ask me, Where is the Sin of Swearing and Lying? For it is not only a Sin against this or that particular Text of Scripture, but it is a Sin against the whole Nature and Spirit of our Religion.
It is a Contradiction to all Christian Holiness, and to all the Methods of arriving at it. For can anyone think that he has a true Christian Spirit, that his Heart is changed as it ought to be, that he is born again of God, whilst he is diverting himself with the Lewdness, Impudence, Profaneness, and impure Discourses of the Stage? Can he think that he is endeavouring to be holy as Christ is holy, to live by his Wisdom, and be full of his Spirit, so long as he allows himself in such an Entertainment? For there is nothing in the Nature of Christian Holiness, but what is all contrary to the whole Spirit and Temper of this Entertainment. That Disposition of Heart which is to take Pleasure in the various Representations of the Stage, is as directly contrary to that Disposition of Heart which Christianity requires, as Revenge is contrary to Meekness, or Malice to Good-will. Now that which is thus contrary to the whole Nature and Spirit of Religion, is certainly much more condemned, than that which is only contrary to some particular Part of it.
But this is plainly the Case of the Stage: It is an Entertainment that consists of lewd, impudent, profane Discourses, and as such is contrary to the whole Nature of our Religion. For all the Parts of Religion, or its whole Nature has only this one Design, to give us Purity of Heart, to change the Temper and Taste of our Souls, and fill us with such holy Tempers, as may make us fit to live with God in the Society of pure and glorious Spirits.
An Entertainment therefore which applies to the Corruption of our Nature, which awakens our disordered Passions, and teaches to relish Lewdness, immoral Rant, and Profaneness, is exceeding sinful, not only as it is a Breach of some particular Duty, but as it contradicts the whole Nature, and opposes every Part of our Religion.
For, this Diversion, which consists of such Discourses as these, injures us in a very different manner from other Sins. For as Discourses are an Application to our whole Soul, as they entertain the Heart, and awaken and employ all our Passions, so they more fatally undo all that Religion has done, than several other Sins. For as Religion consists in a right Turn of Mind; as it is a State of the Heart; so whatever supports a quite contrary Turn of Mind and State of the Heart, has all the Contrariety to Religion that it can possibly have.
St. John says, Hereby we know that he abideth in us by the Spirit which he hath given us. There is no other certain Sign of our belonging to Christ; every other Sign may deceive us: All the external Parts of Religion may be in vain; it is only the State of our Mind and Spirit, that is a certain Proof that we are in a true State of Christianity. And the Reason is plain, because Religion has no other End, than to alter our Spirit, and give us new Dispositions of Heart, suitable to its Purity and Holiness. That therefore which immediately applies to our Spirit, which supports a wrong Turn of Mind, which betrays, our Hearts into impure Delights, destroys all our Religion, because it destroys that turn of Mind and Spirit, which is the sole End and Design of all our Religion.
When therefore you are asked, Why is it unlawful to swear? You can answer, Because it is contrary to the Third Commandment. But if you are asked, Why is it unlawful to use the Entertainment of the Stage? You can carry your answer farther, Because it is an Entertainment that is contrary to all the Parts, the whole Nature of Religion, and contradicts every holy Temper which the Spirit of Christianity requires. So that if you live in the use of this Diversion, you have no Grounds to hope that you have the Spirit and Heart of a Christian.
Thus stands the first Argument against the Stage: It has all the Weight in it. That the whole Weight of Religion can give to any Argument.
If you are only for the Form of Religion, you may take the Diversion of the Stage along with it. But if you desire the Spirit of Religion, if you desire to be truly religious in Heart and Mind, it is as necessary to renounce and abhor the Stage, as to seek to God, and pray for the Guidance of his Holy Spirit.
Secondly. Let the next Argument against the Stage be taken from its manifest Contrariety to this important Passage of Scripture: Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good, to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers. And grieve not the Holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed to the day of redemption.
Here we see, that all corrupt and unedifying Communication is absolutely sinful, and forbidden in Scripture, for this Reason, because it grieves the Holy Spirit, and separates Him from us. But if it be thus unlawful to have any corrupt Communication of our own, can we think it lawful to go to Places set apart for that Purpose; to give our Money, and hire Persons to corrupt our Hearts with ill Discourses, and inflame all the disorderly Passions of our Nature? We have the Authority of Scripture to affirm, that evil Communication corrupts good Manners, and that unedifying Discourses grieve the Holy Spirit.
