A Body of Practical Divinity

4. Consider the Sad Farewell this Sin of Adultery leaves; it leaves an Hell in the Conscience. Prov. 15.4. The Lips of a strange Woman drop as an Honey-comb, her End is bitter as Wormwood. The Goddess Diana was so artificially drawn, that she seemed to smile upon those that came into her Temple, but frown on those that went out. So the Harlot smiles on her Lovers as they come to her, but at last comes the Frown and Sting, A Dart strikes through their Liver, Prov. 7.23. Her End is bitter. When a Man hath been virtuous, the Labour is gone, but the Comfort remains. But when he hath been vicious and unclean, the Pleasure is gone, but the Sting remains. Delectat in momentum, cruciat in aeternum. Jerome. When the Senses have been feasted with unchaste Pleasures, the Soul is left to pay the Reckoning. Stolen Waters are sweet. But as Poison, tho' it be sweet in the Mouth, it torments the Bowels. Sin always ends in a Tragedy. Memorable is that which Fincelius reports of a Priest in Flanders, who enticed a Maid to Uncleanness. She objected how vile a Sin it was. He told her, By Authority from the Pope he could commit any Sin. So at last he drew her to his wicked purpose. But when they had been together a while, in came the Devil and took away the Harlot from the Priest's side; and notwithstanding all her crying out, carried her away. If all that are guilty of Bodily Uncleanness in this Nation, should have the Devil come and carry them away, I fear more would be carried away than would be left behind.

4. Consider the Sad Farewell this Sin of Adultery leaves; it leaves an Hell in the Conscience. Prov. 15.4. The Lips of a strange Woman drop as an Honey-comb, her End is bitter as Wormwood. The Goddess Diana was so artificially drawn, that she seemed to smile upon those that came into her Temple, but frown on those that went out. So the Harlot smiles on her Lovers as they come to her, but at last comes the Frown and Sting, A Dart strikes through their Liver, Prov. 7.23. Her End is bitter. When a Man hath been vertuous, the Labour is gone, but the Comfort remains. But when he hath been vicious and unclean, the Pleasure is gone, but the Sting remains. Delectat in momentum, cruciat in aeternum. Jerom. When the Sences have been feasted with unchaste Pleasures, the Soul is left to pay the Reckoning. Stollen Waters are sweet. But as Poyson, tho' it be sweet in the Mouth, it torments the Bowels. Sin alwas ends in a Tragedy. Memorable is that which Fincelius reports of a Priest in Flanders, who enticed a Maid to Uncleanness. She objected how vile a Sin it was. He told her, By Authority from the Pope he could commit any Sin. So at last he drew her to his wicked purpose. But when they had been together a while, in came the Devil and took away the Harlot from the Priest's side; and notwithstanding all her crying out, carried her away. If all that are guilty of Bodily Uncleanness in this Nation, should have the Devil come and carry them away, I fear more would be carried away than would be left behind.