but also generally to be chaste, to walk §20in pureness of life, and not to give our selves the bridle to any uncleanness or dishonesty. And why? The reasons that I have alleged, ought much to move us thereunto. And therefore look what hath bin said already concerning adultery: let us apply it likewise to this present case: Namely that we hold all our senses in awe with such staidness, as the devil may always be driven back when he tempteth us to any unchastnesse, and not get any entrance §30into us.1 There was a certain heathen man that could well skill to say, that it was not enough for a man to have stay of his hands, (that is to say, that he could refrain from ravine, outrage, and doing of wrong:) but also that he ought to have stay of his eyes, that is to say, that he ought not to caste any unchaste look. If the blind and ignorant wretches were able to teach us thus much: what shall become of us when it is told us (as I said afore,) that God hath done §40us so much honour, as to repair for himself, not only our souls but also our bodies, notwithstanding that they be corruptible, and that (as we see) there is nothing but rottenness in them? Seeing then that God taketh them for his own, and vouchsafeth to dwell in them: ought we not to learn to live warily, that no uncleanness or filthiness be committed that may drive God away from us, when as he would have us to be his dwelling place and holy §50temple? Yea and we must call to mind how S. Paul saith,2 that all other sins are committed outwardly of mans body: but whoredom is committed in the body it self. For it is right certain that we defile our hands by robbery and stealth (as is avowed in the holy scripture:) insomuch that when we do any man wrong, we have bloody hands,3 as saith the prophet Isaiah. But Saint Paul very well perceiving whoredom to be yet more shameful, and that men have §60so much the more need to beware of it: telleth them that there remaineth some scar thereof still printed in the body of the whoremonger, so that his body is put to reproach by it. Surely we would be very chary of the preserving of our honesty, and it would greatly grieve us that it should be stained or blemished by any man: & why then do we make so light account of it, as to stein and imbrue it with infamy, before God, before his Angels, & before men?
but also generally to bee chaste, to walke §20in purenesse of lyfe, and not to giue our selues the bridle to any vncleanenesse or dishonestie. And why? The reasons that I haue alledged, ought much to moue vs thereunto. And therefore looke what hath bin sayd already concerning aduowtrie: let vs apply it lykewise to this present case: Namely that we hold al our senses in awe with such stayednesse, as the diuell may alwayes bee driuen backe when he tempteth vs to any vnchastnesse, and not get any enterance §30into vs.1 There was a certeine heathen man that coulde wel skil to say, that it was not enough for a mā to haue stay of his hands, (that is to say, that hee coulde refraine from rauine, outrage, and doing of wrong:) but also that he ought to haue stay of his eyes, that is to say, that hee ought not to caste any vnchaste looke. If the blinde and ignorant wretches were able to teach vs thus much: what shall become of vs when it is tolde vs (as I sayd afore,) that God hath done §40vs so much honour, as to repayre for himselfe, not onely our soules but also our bodies, notwithstanding that they be corruptible, and that (as wee see) there is nothing but rottennesse in them? Seeing then that God taketh them for his owne, and voutsafeth to dwell in them: ought we not to learne to liue warely, that no vncleanenesse or filthinesse bee committed that may driue God away from vs, when as he would haue vs to be his dwelling place and holy §50temple? Yea and we must call to minde how S. Paule sayth,2 that all other sinnes are committed outwardly of mans body: but whoredome is committed in the body it selfe. For it is right certeine that wee defile our handes by robberie and stealth (as is auowed in the holy scripture:) insomuch that when we do any man wrong, we haue bloudy handes,3 as sayth the prophet Esay. But Saint Paule very well perceiuing whoredome to bee yet more shamefull, and that men haue §60so much the more neede to beware of it: telleth them that there remaineth some scarre thereof still printed in the bodie of the whoremonger, so that his body is put to reproch by it. Surely wee would be very chare of the preseruing of our honestie, and it would greatly greeue vs yt it shoulde be steyned or blemished by any man: & why thē doe we make so light account of it, as to steyne and imbrewe it with infamie, before God, before his Angels, & before men?
- 1P•ticles.
- 21. Cor. 6.18.
- 3Esa. 1.15. & 59.•.
