Monthly Archives: January 2017

A Relevant Piece of History

The following is a copy of a Bill which was struck up at Richmond, on Saturday the 4th of June, 1774, close to the Play-Bill for that day; the design of which was to divert the minds of the dissipated and gay from the vain Amusements of the Theatre, and to fix their attention to the awful Circumstances which shall usher in and succeed THE GREAT AND TERRIBLE DAY OF THE LORD.—Search the Scriptures.—The Scriptures cannot be broken. JOHN.

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By Command of the KING OF KINGS, and at the desire of all who

love his appearing.

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At the THEATRE of the UNIVERSE,

On the EVE OF TIME, will be performed,

The GREAT ASSIZE, or DAY OF JUDGMENT.

The SCENERY, which is now actually preparing, will not only surpass every thing that has yet been seen, but will infinitely exceed the utmost stretch of human conception. There will be a just representation of all the Inhabitants of the World, in their various and proper colours; their customs and manners will be so exactly and minutely delineated, that the most secret thought will be discovered. For God will bring every work to Judgment, with every secret thing, whether it be good or whether it be evil. Eccles. xii. 14.

This Theatre will be laid out after a new plan, and will consist of Pit and Gallery only; and, contrary to all others, the Gallery is fitted up for the reception of people of high (or heavenly) birth; and the Pit for those of low (or earthly) rank. The Gallery is very spacious, and the Pit without bottom. To prevent inconvenience, there are separate Doors for admitting the company; and they are so different, that none can mistake them who are not totally blind. The Door which opens into the Gallery is very narrow, and the Steps up to it are somewhat difficult; for which reason there are seldom many people about it. But the Door that gives entrance into the Pit is very wide and commodious; which causes such numbers to flock to it that it is generally crowded.

The strait Door leads toward the RIGHT hand, and the broad one to the LEFT.

It will be in vain for one in a tinfelled coat, and borrowed language, to impersonate one of high birth, in order to get admittance into the upper places; for there is ONE of wonderful and deep penetration, who will search and examine every individual; and all who cannot pronounce shibboleth, in the language of Canaan, or have not received a white Stone and a new Name, or cannot prove a clear title to a certain portion of the LAND OF PROMISE, must be turned in at the left hand door.

THE PRINCIPAL PERFORMERS

Are described in 1 Thess. iv. 16. 2 Thess. i. 7,8,9. Matt. Xxiv. 30, 31. and xxv. 31, 32. Daniel vii. 9,10. Jude 14, 15. Rev. xx. 12 to 15 &c.

(But as there are some People much better acquainted with the Contents of a PLAY BILL then the Word of GOD, it may not be amiss to transcribe a verse or two for their perusal.)

The Lord Jesus shall be revealed from Heaven with his mighty Angels, in flaming Fire, to take Vengeance on them that obey not the Gospel, but be glorified in his Saints. A fiery stream issued and came forth from before him: a thousand ministered unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stood before him: the Judgment was set, and the Books were opened; and whoever was not found written in the Book of Life, was cast into the the Lake of Fire.”

Act FIRST, of this Grand and Solemn Piece,

WILL BE OPENED BY AN ARCHANGEL, WITH THE TRUMP OF GOD,

For the Trumpet shall sound and the Dead shall be raised. I Cor. xv. 52.

Act SECOND,

Will be a PROCESSION of SAINTS in WHITE, with GOLDEN HARPS, accompanied with Shouts of Joy and Songs of Praise.

Act THIRD,

Will be an Assemblage of all the UNREGENERATE. The Music will consist chiefly of Cries, accompanied with Weeping, Wailing, Mourning, Lamentation and Woe.

To conclude with an Oration by the SON OF GOD:

It is written in the the 25th of Matthew, from the 34th verse to the end of the chapter; but for the sake of those who seldom read the Scriptures, I shall here transcribe two verses. “Then shall the King say to them on his right hand, Come, ye blessed of my Father, inherit the Kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the World: Then shall he say also unto them on his left hand, Depart from me, ye cursed, into everlasting fire, prepared for the Devil and his Angels.”

After which the Curtain will drop.

Some rais’d on high, and others doom’d to /Hell!

These praise the Lamb, and sing redeeming love,

Lodg’d in his bosom all his goodness prove:

While those who trampled under foot his grace,

Are banish’d now forever from his face;

Divided thus, a gulf is fix’d between,

And closes to ETERNITY the scene.

* *TICKETS for the PIT, at the easy purchase of following the vain Pomps and Vanities of the fashionable World, and the Desires and Amusements of the Flesh: To be had at every flesh-pleasing assembly.— “If ye live after the flesh, ye shall die.” Rom. viii. 13.

TICKETS for the GALLERY, at no less rate than being Converted, forsaking all, denying self, taking up the Cross and following Christ in the Regeneration. To be had nowhere but in the Word of God, and where that Word appoints ——— “He that hath ears to hear, let him hear. And be not deceived; God is not mocked: For whatsoever a man soweth, that shall he also reap.” Matt. xi. 15. Gal. vi. 7. —— No money to be taken at the Door; nor will any Ticket gain admittance into the Gallery but those sealed by the Holy Ghost, with Emmanuel’s signet. ——— “Thus will I do unto thee, O Israel; and because I will do thus unto thee, PREPARE TO MEET THY GOD, O ISRAEL!” Amos 4.

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