A20559:554
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A…
The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandments gathered from the mouth of a faithful pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholar in Cambridge.The bright star which leadeth wise men to our Lord Jesus Christ, or, A familiar and learned exposition on the ten commandements gathered from the mouth of a faithfull pastor by a gracious young man, sometime scholler in Cambridge.
London: printed by John Harison for Thomas Man, 1603London: printed by Iohn Harison for Thomas Man, 1603
Title page typeset from the transcription.
Modern spelling is a reading aid: the words are the author’s, only the spelling is modernized. Original shows the page as printed, with the transcription marks.
The outward breach of this commandment hath many branches. But the chief are comprehended by the Apostle. Galat. 5. Where he saith, the fruits of the flesh are, adultery, fornication, uncleanness, wantonness. These are the chief outward branches of this commandment. And first for adultery. That is, when the party offending, is either married or contracted, for if he be either joined by marriage or contraction, that commits the act, then it is adultery. This is a very high breach of this commandment. For when they have been either married or contracted, then they break the covenant of God. For when they come together in either of these knots, they do make a covenant not only one with an other, but with God himself, that hath appointed the ordinance, that will faithfully & truly keep their fidelity one to the other, and therefore if they deal unchastly, it is not only unjustly done one to another, but they forfeit their bond to God, even their salvation, and provoke his curse both on their soul and body. And this is a thing peculiar to adulterers, that having come in the sight of God and before men and Angels, to make a covenant, & there ⟨image 152⟩also in the face and by the voice of the congregation craved a blessing of God upon their proceedings, they abuse god, angels men and all, if after they break this covenant and pollute their bodies.
The outward breach of this commandement hath many branches. But the cheife are comprehended by the Apostle. Galat. 5. Where he saith, the fruites of the flesh are, adulterie, fornication, vncleannesse, wantonnesse. These are the cheefe outward branches of this commandement. And first for adulterie. That is, when the partie offending, is either maried or contracted, for if he be eitheir ioyned by mariage or contraction, that commits the act, then it is adulterie. This is a verie high breach of this commandement. For when they haue beene either married or contracted, then they breake the couenant of God. For when they come together in either of these knots, they doe make a couenant not only one with an other, but with God himselfe, that hath appointed the ordinance, that wil faithfully & truly keepe their fidelitie one to the other, and therfore if they deale vnchastly, it is not only vniustly done one to another, but they forfeit their bond to God, euen their saluation, and prouoke his curse both on their soule and bodie. And this is a thing peculiar to adulterers, that hauing come in the sight of God and before mē and Angels, to make a couenant, & there