A Body of Practical Divinity

(9.) Take heed of Lascivious Books, and those Pictures that provoke to Lust. 1. Books. As the reading of Scripture doth stir up Love to God, so reading of bad Books doth stir up the Mind to Wickedness. I could name one who published a Book to the World full of effeminate, amorous and wanton Expressions; before he died he was much troubled for it, and did burn that Book which did make so many burn in Lust. 2. And to Lascivious Books, I may add Lascivious Pictures, which bewitch the Eye, and are the Incendiaries of Lust. They secretly convey Poison to the Heart. Qui aspicit innocens aspectu fit nocens. Popish Pictures are ⟨p. 374⟩not more prone to stir up to Adultery, than unclean Pictures are to stir up to Concupiscence.

(9.) Take heed of Lascivious Books, and those Pictures that provoke to Lust. 1. Books. As the reading of Scripture doth stir up Love to God, so reading of bad Books doth stir up the Mind to Wickedness. I could name one who publish'd a Book to the World full of effeminate, amorous and wanton Expressions; before he died he was much troubled for it, and did burn that Book which did make so many burn in Lust. 2. And to Lascivious Books, I may add Lascivious Pictures, which bewitch the Eye, and are the Incendiaries of Lust. They secretly convey Poyson to the Heart. Qui aspicit innocens aspectu fit nocens. Popish Pictures are ⟨p. 374⟩not more prone to stir up to Adultery, than unclean Pictures are to stir up to Concupiscence.

(10.) Take heed of Excess in Diet. When Gluttony and Drunkenness lead the Van, Chambering and Wantonness bring up the Rear. Vinum fomentum libidinis; any Wine inflames Lust: And Fullness of Bread is made the Cause of Sodom's Uncleanness, Ezek. 16.49. The rankest Weeds grow out of the fattest Soil. Uncleanness proceeds from Excess.