ON THE PUBLIC SHOWS. 223 contestof the Caestus,and of our wrestleagainstthespiritual thingsof wickedness. Again, when he borrows hisillustra tionsfrom the racecourse,he alsoproposesthe prizeof the crown. Why, then,may not a faithfulChristianman gaze upon thatwhich the divinepen might writeabout? " At this pointI might not unreasonablysay thatitwould have been far betterfor them not to know any writingsat all,than thus to read the writings[of the Scriptures].For words and illustrationswhich are recordedby way of exhortation to evangelicalvirtue,are translatedby them intopleasfor vice; because those things are written of,not that they should be gazed upon, but thata greatereagernessmight be aroused in our minds in respectof thingsthatwillbenefitus, seeing that among the heathens there ismanifestso much eagernessin respectof things which willbe of no advan tage. 3. These are thereforean argument to stimulatevirtue, not a permissionora libertyto lookupon heathen error,that by thisconsiderationthe mind may be more inflamedto gospel virtueforthe sake of the divinerewards,sincethrough the sufferingof alltheselaboursand painsitisgrantedto attain to eternalbenefits.For thatEliasisthe charioteerof Israel isno defenceforgazing upon the publicgames ; forhe ran his race in no circus. And that David in the presenceof God ledthe dances,isno sanctionfor faithfulChristiansto occupy seatsin the publictheatre; for David did not twist his limbs about in obscene movements, to representin his dancing the storyof Grecian lust. Psalteries,horns,pipes, drums, harps,were used in the serviceof the Lord, and not of idols. Let itnot on thisaccountbe objectedthatunlawful things may be gazed upon ; for by the artificeof the devil these are changed from things holy to things unlawful. Then letshame demur to these things,even if the Holy Scripturescannot. For thereare certainthingswherein the Scriptureismore carefulin givinginstruction.Acquiescing in the claimof modesty,ithasforbiddenmore where ithasbeen silent. The truth,if it descended low enough to dealwith such things,would thinkvery badly of itsfaithfulvotaries.