A Body of Practical Divinity

(16.) Pray against this Sin. Luther gave a Lady this Advice, That when any Lust began to rise in her Heart, she should go to Prayer. Prayer is the best Armour of Proof. Prayer quencheth the Wild-fire of Lust. If Prayer will cast out the Devil, why may it not cast out those Lusts which come from the Devil?

Use ult. If the Body must be kept pure from Defilement, much more the Soul of a Christian must be kept pure. This is the meaning of the Commandment, Not only that we should not stain our Bodies with Adultery, but that we should keep our Souls pure. To have a chaste Body, but an unclean Soul, is like a fair Face with bad Lungs; or a guilt Chimney-piece, that is all Soot within. 1 Pet. 1.16. Be ye holy, for I am holy. The Soul cannot be lovely to God, till it hath Christ's Image stamped upon it, which Image consists in Righteousness and true Holiness, Eph. 4.14. The Soul must especially be kept pure, because it is the chief place of God's Residence, Eph. 3.17: A King's Palace must be kept clean, especially his Presence-Chamber. If the Body of the Temple, the Soul, is the Holy of Holies, this must be consecrated. We must not only keep our Bodies from Carnal Pollution, but our Souls from Envy and Malice.

Vse ult. If the Body must be kept pure from Defilement, much more the Soul of a Christian must be kept pure. This is the meaning of the Commandment, Not only that we should not stain our Bodies with Adultery, but that we should keep our Souls pure. To have a chaste Body, but an unclean Soul, is like a fair Face with bad Lungs; or a guilt Chimney-piece, that is all Soot within. 1 Pet. 1.16. Be ye holy, for I am holy. The Soul cannot be lovely to God, till it hath Christ's Image stamp'd upon it, which Image consists in Righteousness and true Holiness,