A Body of Practical Divinity

(2.) The thing Forbidden in the Commandment, i. e. Infecting our selves with Bodily Pollution and Uncleanness, Thou shalt not commit Adultery. The Fountain of this Sin is Lust. Since the Fall, Holy Love is degenerated into Lust. Lust is the Fever of the Soul. There is a two-fold Adultery. 1. Mental. Matth. 5.28. Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her, hath committed Adultery already with her in his Heart. As a Man may die of an inward Bleeding, so he may be damned for the inward boilings of Lust, if they be not mortified. 2. Corporal Adultery; when Sin hath conceived and brought forth in the Act. This is expressly forbidden, under a Sub poena, Thou shalt not commit Adultery. This Commandment is set as an Hedge to keep out Uncleanness, and they that break this Hedge, a Serpent shall bite them. Job calls Adultery an heinous Crime, Job 31.11. Every Failing is not a Crime, and ⟨p. 370⟩every Crime is not an heinous Crime, but Adultery is Flagitium, an Heinous Crime. The Lord calls it Villainy. Jer. 29.23. They have committed Villainy in Israel, and have committed Adultery with their Neighbours Wives.

(2.) The thing Forbidden in the Commandment, i. e. Infecting our selves with Bodily Pollution and Uncleanness, Thou shalt not commit Adultery. The Fountain of this Sin is Lust. Since the Fall, Holy Love is degenerated into Lust. Lust is the Fever of the Soul. There is a two-fold Adultery. 1. Mental. Matth. 5.28. Whosoever looketh on a Woman to lust after her, hath committed Adultery already with her in his Heart. As a Man may die of an inward Bleeding, so he may be damn'd for the inward boylings of Lust, if they be not mortify'd. 2. Corporal Adultery; when Sin hath conceiv'd and brought forth in the Act. This is expresly forbidden, under a Sub poena, Thou shalt not commit Adultery. This Commandment is set as an Hedge to keep out Uncleanness, and they that break this Hedge, a Serpent shall bite them. Iob calls Adultery an heinous Crime,