A Short View of the Immorality, and Profaneness of the English Stage / Together with the Sense of Antiquity on this Argument

A SHORT
VIEW
OF THE
Immorality, and Profaneness
OF THE
English Stage,
TOGETHER
With the Sence of Antiquity upon this Argument,
By JEREMY COLLIER , M.A.
London , Printed for S. Keble at the Turk's-Head in Fleetstreet , R. Sare at Gray's-Inn-Gate , and H. Hindmarsh against the Exchange in Cornhil . 1698.
THE
Being convinc'd that nothing has gone farther in Debauching the Age than the Stage Poets, and Play-House, I thought I could not employ my time better than in writing against them. These Men sure , take Vertue and Regularity, for great Enemies, why else is their Disaffection so very Remarkable? It must be said, They have made their Attack with great Courage, and gain'd no inconsiderable Advantage. But it seems Lewdness without Atheism, is but half their Business. Conscience might possibly recover, and Revenge be thought on; and therefore like Foot-Pads, they must not only Rob, but Murther. To do them right their Measures are Politickly taken: To make sure work on't, there's nothing like Destroying of Principles; Practise must follow of Course. For to have no good Principles, is to have no Reason to be Good. Now 'tis not to be expected that people should check their Appetites, and balk their Satisfactions, they don't know why. If Virtue has no Prospect, 'tis not worth the owning. Who would be troubled with Conscience if 'tis only a Bugbear, and has nothing in't but Vision, and the Spleen?