The custom of many is, if they can conceal themselves in this kind, and that they prove not with child, to the public reproaching of themselves before men, not at all to grieve for the sin committed, though it be nevertheless abominable in Gods sight, because of such concealing it; yea, some there be that add murder also to filthiness, using means of abortion to themselves, or of hindering themselves from conceiving, by wicked reaches, and devises: But the all-seeing eyes of God do discover their lewdness, and will make their offences known to all the world, and that so much the more to their disgrace, and destruction, by how much they have declared themselves to be more wicked, in fearing men, and not God. Indeed if the matter come to open knowledge, they weep, and take on, showing evidently, that ignominy goeth nearer to their hearts than sin, and that they care not how lewd they be, if their lewdness come not to light. But I say, be you careful to prevent secret sins in this kind, and tender the health of your souls more than the credit of your names, and undo that sin by unfeigned repentance, which will else make you odious to God, though you hide it never so closely from men. And let Parents also carry a watchful eye upon their daughters, not giving them liberty to range up and down at unfit times, to unfit places, lest it befall them as it did Dinah, Jacobs daughter, when she gave her self leave to gaze abroad to see the fashions of the daughters of the country. And I must also speak to young men, which go a wooing to young maidens, that they suffer not themselves to be so far transported with unlawful, and unruly desires, as to pollute those before marriage, or assay to solicit them whom they pretend to love so, as to make them their wives. If they love them, let them keep them so worthy to be beloved, and enter not into Gods Ordinance, ⟨p. 3⟩through the devils Portal, as I may call it; O be not so wicked, so injurious to the maid, and the friends of the maid with whom you seek to make affinity, as to lay a snare and blot upon your selves, and the kindred and parents of your selves, and of the Virgin to whom you pretend love and good will, but enter purely into Matrimony, that the blessing of God may accompany you in Matrimony. And so much for Rebekkahs chastity, she came an unspotted Virgin to the bed of marriage.
The custome of many is, if they can conceale themselves in this kinde, and that they prove not with childe, to the publique reproaching of themselves before men, not at all to grieve for the sin committed, though it be neverthelesse abominable in Gods sight, because of such concealing it; yea, some there be that adde murder also to filthinesse, using meanes of abortion to themselves, or of hindering themselves from conceiving, by wicked reaches, and devises: But the all-seeing eyes of God do discover their lewdnesse, and will make their offences knowne to all the world, and that so much the more to their disgrace, and destruction, by how much they have declared themselves to be more wicked, in fearing men, and not God. Indeed if the matter come to open knowledge, they weep, and take on, shewing evidently, that ignominy goeth nearer to their hearts than sin, and that they care not how lewd they be, if their lewdnesse come not to light. But I say, be you carefull to prevent secret sins in this kinde, and tender the health of your soules more than the credit of your names, and undoe that sin by unfained repentance, which will else make you odious to God, though you hide it never so closly from men. And let Parents also cary a watchfull eye upon their daughters, not giving them liberty to range up and down at unfit times, to unfit places, lest it befall them as it did Dinah, Iacobs daughter, when shee gave her selfe leave to gaze abroad to see the fashions of the daughters of the countrey. And I must also speake to young men, which goe a wooing to young maidens, that they suffer not themselves to be so far transported with unlawfull, and unruly desires, as to pollute those before marriage, or assay to solicite them whom they pretend to love so, as to make them their wives. If they love them, let them keep them so worthy to be beloved, and enter not into Gods Ordinance, ⟨p. 3⟩through the devils Portall, as I may call it; O be not so wicked, so injurious to the maid, and the friends of the maid with whom you seek to make affinity, as to lay a snare and blot upon your selves, and the kindred and parents of your selves, and of the Virgin to whom you pretend love and good will, but enter purely into Matrimony, that the blessing of God may accompany you in Matrimony. And so much for Rebekkahs chastity, she came an unspotted Virgin to the bed of marriage.
