charge his Modesty, and be flesh'd for the Practice? Yes,
this is the consequence, by using to see these things, he'll learn
to do them; what need I mention the Levities and Impertinencies in
Comedies, or the Ranting distractions of Tragedy, were these things
unconcern'd with Idolatry, Christians ought not to be at them, for
were they not highly Criminal, the foolery of them is Egregious,
and unbecoming the gravity of Believers.

And then again, before he is out of breath,

A Christian has much better Sights than these to look at, he has
solid Satisfactions in his power, which will please and improve him
at the same time. Would a Christian be agreeably refresh'd, let him
read the Scriptures, here the Entertainment will suit his Character,
and be big enough for his quality. Ah, Beloved, how noble, how
moving, how profitable a thing is it, to be thus employ'd, to have
our expectations always in prospect, and be intent on the glories
of Heaven!

Very good, and who is he so reprobated, that will not allow this
to be devout, and admirable good Counsel? But now let us see how the
_Absolver_, for all Pious quotation, has follow'd St. _Cyprian_'s
Advice; that holy Father charges him not to entertain himself with such
lewd things as Plays, and he very dutifully reads a thousand as fast as
he can; nay, scans and weighs 'em, and, no doubt, not without tickling
satisfaction, at the present, for all his Saturnine Remarks at last.
Now if his Answer to this is, That it belongs to his Office, as a
Church-man, and that he could not reprehend the Vices in 'em without
reading the Books themselves, I must tell him, That St. _Cyprian_, nor
the rest of the Fathers, did not allow that, neither do we find they did
it themselves, for all their inveighing against the Stage; so that he
makes his own Quotation altogether invalid, _He not being to do ill
that good might come of it._

And therefore, why may not a Poet now, who, perhaps, is a greater Votary
to St. _Cyprian_ in other Matters than the _Absolver_ is in this, rally
him thus, and turn his Quotation upon himself, Phrase by Phrase? "What
business has a Parson with such Books as these? A Parson who has not the
liberty so much as to think of an ill thing? Why does he entertain
himself with lewd Comedies? Has he a mind to discharge his Priestcraft,
and flesh himself up for a Poet? Yes, this is the consequence, by using
to see these _smutty_ things, he'll learn t