First, the mind must be filled with godly meditations, and the word of God must dwell in our hearts plenteously: for unchaste lusts1 2do therefore arise in our hearts, because we are idle minded, and empty of Gods word: if that were truly engrafted in us, these wicked desires could not enter, or at least take no place in us. Secondly, we must3 often give our selves to the spiritual exercises of faith, repentance, and new obedience; as to the usual hearing, reading, and meditating in Gods word, to the often receiving of the Lords supper, and to continual prayer, not only publicly, but privately especially: for these confirm Gods graces in the heart, and do even nip in the head all ungodly motions whatsoever. Thirdly, we must use sobriety in meat,4 drink, and apparel: for ungodly lusts are kindled, fed, and nourished with too much pampering of the body: Sodom and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim sinned most grievously in this kind through fullness of bread; and therefore we must use a moderation in these things, that grace may be strengthened, and all evil lusts weakened in us. Fourthly, we must always be doing some good thing, either in5 our general calling of a Christian, or in our particular calling: yea, in our lawful recreation we must intend and practise good: for when men are idle, Satan fills their hearts with evil thoughts, and so defiles the same. Fifthly, men and women must not privately converse together,6 without warrant so to do, either from their general, or particular calling, so as with good conscience they can say, the Lord doth call them so to converse: for the mutual conversing of men and women, is the cause of many noisome lusts: and therefore neither men nor women without good warrant, should thrust themselves into such occasion of temptations. Remember what the Apostle saith, aEvil conversings, corrupt good manners. The Apostle Peter felt tho smart of this boldness, though in an other case: for coming to warm himself in Caiaphas hall, without good warrant so to do, when a silly maid demanded of him, whether he was not one of Christs company, he denied him flatly, and that with cursing: and so many men and women conversing without warrant where they should not, do fall into many noisome sins; and when they think themselves most strong, then with Peter, have they the greatest falls.
First, the minde must be filled with godly meditations, and the word of God must dwell in our hearts plenteously: for vnchast lusts1 2doe therefore arise in our hearts, because we are idle minded, and emptie of Gods word: if that were truly ingraffed in vs, these wicked desires could not enter, or at least take no place in vs. Secondly, we must3 often giue our selues to the spirituall exercises of faith, repentance, and new obedience; as to the vsuall hearing, reading, and meditating in Gods word, to the often receiuing of the Lords supper, and to continuall prayer, not onely publikely, but priuately especially: for these confirme Gods graces in the heart, and doe euen nippe in the head all vngodly motions whatsoeuer. Thirdly, we must vse sobrietie in meat,4 drinke, and apparell: for vngodly lusts are kindled, fedde, and nourished with too much pampering of the bodie: Sodome and Gomorrah, Admah and Zeboim sinned most grieuously in this kinde through fulnesse of bread; and therefore we must vse a moderation in these things, that grace may be strengthened, and all euill lusts weakened in vs. Fourthly, we must alwaies be doing some good thing, either in5 our generall calling of a Christian, or in our particular calling: yea, in our lawfull recreation we must intend and practise good: for when men are idle, Satan fills their hearts with euill thoughts, and so defiles the same. Fiftly, men and women must not priuately conuerse together,6 without warrant so to doe, either from their generall, or particular calling, so as with good conscience they can say, the Lord doth call them so to conuerse: for the mutuall conuersing of men and women, is the cause of many noysome lusts: and therefore neither men nor women without good warrant, should thrust themselues into such occasion of temptations. Remember what the Apostle saith, aEuill conuersings, corrupt good manners. The Apostle Peter felt tho smart of this boldnes, though in an other case: for comming to warme himselfe in Caiphas hall, without good warrant so to doe, when a silly maide demanded of him, whether he was not one of Christs companie, he denied him flatly, and that with cursing: and so many men and women conuersing without warrant where they should not, doe fall into many noysome sinnes; and when they thinke themselues most strong, then with Peter, haue they the greatest falls.
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- 2Rules for the preservation of chastity.Rules for the preseruation of chastitie.
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- a1. Cor. 15. 33.
