Casuistical morning-exercises the fourth volume /

Thirdly, Profaneness is of that cursed Nature and Tendency, that it is not to be tolerated, being contrary to the Light and Law of Nature, and therefore hath been condemned and punished among Heathen Nations, specially such of them as have been civilized, and made any improvement of those [Greek or Hebrew], common Notions, and Principles that had been impressed upon their Souls, and took any care to demean and carry themselves according to the ducture and guidance of them. How much more contrary is it to the greater and more excellent Light of Scripture and Gospel-revelation, which God hath caused to so eminent a degree to shine among us, and which doth so expressly and abundantly condemn, and denounce the Wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men? Who can sufficiently tell how odious it is to Persons who are moralized, and yet more to all them who have been savingly enlightened, and had their ⟨image 166⟩blindness cured by some of Christs eye-salve? And by consequence how greatly ought it to be abhorred, and totally abandoned in all those Places, Countries and Nations, unto whom God hath sent the magnalia legis, the great things of his Law, and also the precious things of the Everlasting Gospel; what Agreement is there, what Concord between Light and Darkness, between Righteousness and Unrighteousness, or what Communion hath Christ with Belial? Without all peradventure this is a Work of Darkness, and that is not a fit employment for them that dwell in a Land of Light. In Ephes. 4.18, 19. The giving of themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness with greediness, is spoken of by the Apostle, as the work of those who have their understandings darkened, and are alienated from the Life of God, through the Ignorance that is in them because of the blindness of their Hearts; and altogether indecorous and unbecoming them who have learned Christ, and been trained up in the Gospel-School. Shall then such things be winked at, allowed, or countenanced in a Valley of Vision? No, no, say I, for as these are the sins, so they are the ignominy and shame both of those that do them, and of those that suffer them. As Gospel Truths and Ordinances and the ordering of a Conversation aright in suitableness to them, are (as the dying Wife of Phinehas said of the Ark) the Glory of Israel, so Immorality is it's disgrace.

Thirdly, Prophaneness is of that cursed Nature and Tendency, that it is not to be tolerated, being contrary to the Light and Law of Nature, and therefore hath been condemned and punished among Heathen Nations, specially such of them as have been civilized, and made any improvement of those , common Notions, and Principles that had been impressed upon their Souls, and took any care to demean and carry themselves according to the ducture and guidance of them. How much more contrary is it to the greater and more excellent Light of Scripture and Gospel-revelation, which God hath caused to so eminent a degree to shine among us, and which doth so expresly and abundantly condemn, and denounce the Wrath of God against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men? Who can sufficiently tell how odious it is to Persons who are moraliz'd, and yet more to all them who have been savingly englightned, and had their