principles and sentiments, or we are not fit to live in the world, to converse with our fellowcreatures, or to read any book whatever. The foundation being once laid, with "the law of his God in his heart," (Psalm xxxvii. 32.) the Christian will distinguish true from false virtues; and where can he exercise his judgment with so little danger as in fictitious representations? At every step in his passage through life, he will be called "to refuse the evil and chuse the good." It is not on the Stage alone, that false honour will wear a pleasing form, that beauty will smile to betray, and that wit will be employed in opposition to virtue; but it is on the - Stage alone, that he will be a cool spectator of these abuses. In the world he must act as well as think; and there it is to be feared that he will no longer form an unprejudiced judgment beween pleasure and virtue." (Ditto, p. 25.)*

With these views, then, let us consider, What are the Subjects and Characters proper for exhibition on the Stage. Certainly they are those in which the great majority of mankind are most concerned; not so much in the fate of Kings and Empires, not in the Deities and Heroes of the heathen world, but in the daily transactions of life as they affect CHRISTIANS. Pity and Terror" were considered, by the

66

* Note R.

+ Note S.

Note T.

ancients, as the great engines of the Drama; but all the virtues, passions, and affections, are interesting to all men. "The exercise of the social affections," is one of the principal sources of human happiness; the interruption of these, indeed, produces, when in a small degree, pity, when in a greater, terror.† All instances, then, of the exercise of the relative duties, — Of Husband and Wife, of Parent and Child, of Brother and Sister, of Kindred, in its various branches, of Magistrate and Subject, of Master and Servant, of Rich and Poor,-All the social duties, all morals and all virtues, set forth as examples to copy, and all deviations from these, as examples to be avoided, are proper lessons for the Stage to exhibit; and there are many instances of these being well and instructively pourtrayed. It must be acknowledged, however, that it would be difficult to point out instances, in which our best plays are not corrupted by the bad leaven; but there is sufficient good, to shew, that good may be exhibited so as to interest, and would still interest, were the evil separated from it. ‡

+

It will, however, no doubt, be said by many, that the Drama, under these regulations,

* See Paley's Moral Philosophy, vol. i. ch. vi.

+ Note U.

Note V.

will be very flat and uninteresting.* So, in the same manner, if you speak of temperance to him, who hath been accustomed to drink his bottle of wine daily; he will exclaim against the doctrine as dull and spiritless, and say, that, were he to attempt to practise accordingly, the effect would be to bring on melancholy, and that it would be to the injury of his health, Let him, however, but once set about the reform with prudence and firmness, effecting the change by degrees; and when he is fairly returned within the bounds of temperance, he will find his reward in improved health, alacrity of spirit, and the answer of a good conscience. When Paul reasoned with Felix "of righteousness, temperance, and judgment to come, he trembled." (Acts xxiv. 25.) He deferred his repentance, however, to "a more convenient season," which never arrived. Let not this be done in the present case. The reform will

leave us all the interest of striking incident and marked character, beautiful and instructive sentiment, and pure and brilliant wit and humour, and all these set off by the graces of elocution, and the charms of painting and music. Oratorios, (Sacred Dramas, performed with music, but without the aids of action and scenery) are sufficiently interesting to attract all

* Note W.

Our

ranks of persons: and, be it said to our praise, that some of our best Dramas are the most popular.* Much- very much-perhaps incalculable mischief hath been done to multitudes by our corrupt plays; yet, it may reasonably be supposed, where the good hath lighted upon good ground, that it hath produced good effects; nay, when we consider, that many, who frequent plays, never go to a church, or any where else, where they might learn that which is good; we are, perhaps, indebted to the good sentiments and good examples exhibited upon the stage, that those persons learn some good, and that men are not worse than they are.† The place where we are now assembled does not seem to authorize descending to particulars; but, besides the instances to which I have before alluded, it may be said in general, That the Stage hath, in these times, contributed much to maintain in the minds of the people sentiments of Patriotism and Loyalty, and sentiments of Generosity and Philanthropy. The Stage, I believe, hath had a very considerable part in influencing the public mind with respect to the state of the Negroes, and the infamous traffic of the Slave-trade: Nor hath Religion, the purity and superiority of the .CHRISTIAN Religion, been wholly neglected in some few of our Dramas. ‡

* Note X.

+ Note Y.

+ Note Z,

The Stage, in short, it must be allowed, partakes of the Character of the World, and of the Times in which it exists. There is much in it worthy of commendation, too much, alas! which a sense of duty, and a regard to truth, must censure; and which a sense of duty and of truth, we hope, will earnestly endeavour to reform. The first step towards reformation is to be aware of the necessity of it, and the next is to wish to carry it into effect; were this but once to prevail in all parties concerned in it, the task were easy. What hath been done, shews what may be done, and gives us hope, that it will be attempted.

The most probable means of carrying the design into effect must be the subject of a future discourse. In the mean time, let us reflect, that it is not from the Stage alone, that we are to expect this blessed effect; all persons are concerned in it, and all must unite their efforts: above all, let the teachers of Christianity exert themselves to spread the purity of the Gospel in their several spheres; and in proportion as Christianity prevails, so will heathenism and vice disappear, wheresoever and howsoever disguised, "evil communications" will cease to "corrupt good manners," and men will learn, "Whether they eat or drink, or whatsoever they do, to do all to the glory of God."