Sermons preached on several occasionsSermons preach'd on several occasions

7. The Reasons are specified of his rejecting her polluting Motion. Behold, my Master knows not what is with ⟨p. 6⟩me in the House, and he hath committed all that he hath to my Hands: there is none greater in his House than I; neither hath he kept back any thing from me but thee, because thou art his Wife: How then can I do this great Wickedness, and sin against God? 'Twas a complicated Crime of Injustice and Uncleanness; a most injurious Violation of the strongest Ties of Duty and Gratitude to his Master, and of the sacred Marriage-Covenant to her Husband, and the foulest Blot to their Persons: Therefore how can I commit a Sin so contrary to natural Conscience, and supernatural Grace, and provoke God? Thus I have briefly considered the Narrative of Joseph's Temptation; and that Divine Grace preserved him untouched from that contagious Fire, may be resembled to the miraculous preserving the three Hebrew Martyrs unsinged, in the midst of the flaming Furnace. The Patience of ⟨p. 7⟩Job, and the Chastity of Joseph, are transmitted by the Secretaries of the Holy Ghost in Scripture, to be in perpetual Remembrance and Admiration.

From this singular Instance of Joseph, who was neither seduced by the Allurements of his Mistress, nor terrified by the Rage of her despised Affection, to sin against God, I shall observe two general Points.

From this singular Instance of Joseph, who was neither seduced by the Allurements of his Mistress, nor terrified by the Rage of her despis'd Affection, to sin against God, I shall observe two general Points.

I. That Temptations to Sin, how alluring soever, or terrifying, ought to be rejected with Abhorrence. II. That the Fear of God is a sure Defence and Guard against the strongest Temptation.