By this he meant that the pleasures of the theatre,
and others of a similar nature, were in direct opposition to the
pleasures of religion. The former were from the world worldly. They were
invented according to the dispositions and appetites of men. But the
latter were from the spirit spiritual. Hence there was no greater
difference between life and death, than between these pleasures. Hence
the human mind was made incapable of receiving both at the same time;
and hence the deeper it were to get into the enjoyment of the former,
the less qualified it must become of course for the enjoyment of the
latter.
SECT. V.
_Theatre forbidden--because injurious to the happiness of man by
disqualifying him for domestic enjoyments--Quakers value these next to
the pleasures of religion--sentiments of Cowper--theatre has this
tendency, by weaning gradually from a love of home--and has it in a
greater degree than any other of the amusements of the world._
The Quakers, ever since the institution of their society, have abandoned
the diversions of the world. They have obtained their pleasures from
other quarters. Some of these they have found in one species of
enjoyment, and others in another. But those, which they particularly
prize, they have found in the enjoyment of domestic happiness; and these
pleasures they value next to the pleasures of religion.
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