Scripture's silence is modesty, not permission

The argument, then, is for stirring up virtue, not a permission or freedom to watch pagan error. Its purpose is that the mind may be kindled more toward evangelical virtue for the sake of divine rewards, when through the calamity of all labors and pains one strives to arrive at earthly gains. For the fact that Elijah is the charioteer of Israel does not plead the case for watching circus games: he ran in no circus. And the fact that David danced in the sight of God does nothing to help faithful Christians sitting in the theater: he did not distort his limbs with obscene movements and dance out a story of Greek lust. Harps, lyres, flutes, tambourines, and citharas sang to God, not to an idol. So it will not be commanded that the forbidden be watched. By the devil's artifice, holy things have been changed into forbidden things. Let modesty, then, command these matters, even if the holy Scriptures cannot. For Scripture provides more for certain things by commanding. Having suffered shame, it forbade more because it was silent, lest the truth, if it should descend even to these things, would have thought very badly about its faithful ones. For often in precepts certain things are more usefully passed over in silence. They often warn while they are forbidden. So also they are passed over in silence while they are written in the divine writings, and in place of precepts severity speaks, and reason teaches what Scripture has kept silent about. Let each person only deliberate with himself and speak with the character of his own profession, and he will never do anything indecorous. For conscience will have more weight, which will owe itself to no one else but itself.