Sermons upon Deuteronomy

And moreover let us understand, that lechery in it self is so loathsome a thing before God, that although men make no great account of the punishing thereof; yet shall we not therefore make the better market, at leastwise when we come before the heavenly throne. For it is no small thing, that god banisheth all whoremongers and lechers out of his kingdom, as is said thereof both in the first Epistle of Saint Paul to the Corinthians,¹ (as we have seen not long since,) and also in the Epistle to the Hebrews. That is the thing in effect, which we have to bear in mind: namely that God will not have men to exceed in their fleshly lusts, by companying together like brute beasts; but that every man should live chastely in marriage, and have such regard of honesty in that behalf, as nature be not forgotten by the companying of the son in law with his stepmother, or of the father with his own daughter, or with his daughter in law, or by the marrying of the brother with his own sister, but that those degrees be observed. For without such order, what would come of it? Wherein should we differ from Bulls and Asses? Thus ye see what we have to gather upon the first point, in that our Lord hath here condemned all manner of unchaste dealings, and will not have men to behave themselves as lawless in those cases, but to dedicate themselves unto him, & consider that their ⟨p. 934⟩bodies are the Temples of the holy Ghost, and members of our Lord Jesus Christ;² and therefore that they must repress their wicked affections. Mark that for one point.

And moreouer let vs vnderstand, that lecherie in it self is so loathsome a thing before God, that although men make no great account of ye punishing thereof; yet shall wee not therefore make the better market, at leastwise when wee come before the heauenly throne. For it is no small thing, yt god banisheth all whooremongers and lechours out of his kingdome, as is sayde thereof both in the first Epistle of Saint Paule to the Corinthians,¹ (as we haue seene not long since,) and also in the Epistle to the Hebrewes. That is the thing in effect, which wee haue to beare in minde: namely that God will not haue men to exceede in their fleshly lustes, by companying together like brute beastes; but that euerie man should liue chastly in marriage, and haue such regard of honestie in that behalfe, as nature be not forgotten by the companying of the sonne in lawe with his stepmother, or of the father with his owne daughter, or wt his daughter in lawe, or by the marrying of the brother with his owne sister, but that those degrees bee obserued. For without such order, what woulde come of it? Wherein shoulde wee differ from Bulles and Asses? Thus yee see what wee haue to gather vppon the first poynt, in that our Lorde hath heere condemned all maner of vnchast dealings, and wil not haue men to behaue thēselues as lawlesse in those cases, but to dedicate themselues vnto him, & consider that their