From the first crime here specified [giving themselves 1over to Fornication] That Adulterous uncleanness doth much displease God. When they were given over to fornication, they were given over to judgement. 1. This is a sin that doth not only defile the Soul but the Body, 1 Cor. 6. 18. Every sin that a man doth is without the body, but he that committeth Adultery sinneth against his own body: most other sins imply an injury done to others, to God or our Neighbour: this more directly an injury to our selves, to our own bodies: 'tis a wrong to the body considered either *as our vessel, or as the *Temple of the holy Ghost: if you consider it as our vessel or instrument for natural uses, you wrong it by uncleanness: namely, as it destroyeth the health of the body, quencheth the vigour of it, and blasteth the beauty, and so 'tis self-murder: if you consider it as Temple of the Holy Ghost, 'tis a dishonour to the body to make it a channel ⟨p. 329⟩for lust to pass through, shall we make a sty of a Temple? abuse that to so vile a purpose which the Holy Ghost hath chosen to dwell in, to plant it into Christ, as a part of his mystical body, to use it as an instrument in Gods service, and finally to raise it out of the grave, and conform it to Christs glorious body? The dignity of the body well considered, is a great preservative against lust. 2. It brawneth the soul, the softness of all sensual pleasures hardeneth the heart, but this sin as being the consummate act of sensuality much more, Hosea 4. 11. Whoredom and Wine take away the heart; these two are mentioned, because usually they go together, and both take away the heart, besot the conscience, take away the tenderness of the affections: so that men are not ashamed of sin, insensible of danger, and unfit for duty; and so grow sapless, careless, senseless. 3. Next to the Body and Soul, there is the name, now it blotteth the name, Prov. 6. 33. a wound and a dishonour shall •e get, and a reproach that shall not be wiped off. Sensual wickedness is most disgraceful, as having turpitude in it, and being sooner discerned then spiritual. 4. It blasteth the estate, Heb. 13. 4 Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge; he will •udge others, but surely these, and that remarkably in this life 5 This doth exceedingly pervert the order of humane societies, Solomon maketh it worse then theft. Prov. 6. 29, 30, 31. 32.
From the first crime here specified [giving themselves 1over to Fornication] That Adulterous uncleanness doth much displease God. When they were given over to fornication, they were given over to judgement. 1. This is a sin that doth not onely defile the Soul but the Body, 1 Cor. 6. 18. Every sin that a man doth is without the body, but he that committeth Adultery sinneth against his own body: most other sins imply an injury done to others, to God or our Neighbour: this more directly an injury to our selves, to our own bodies: 'tis a wrong to the body considered either *as our vessel, or as the *Temple of the holy Ghost: if you consider it as our vessel or instrument for natural uses, you wrong it by uncleannesse: namely, as it destroyeth the health of the body, quencheth the vigour of it, and blasteth the beauty, and so 'tis selfemurder: if you consider it as Temple of the Holy Ghost, 'tis a dishonour to the body to make it a channel ⟨p. 329⟩for lust to passe through, shall we make a sty of a Temple? abuse that to so vile a purpose which the Holy Ghost hath chosen to dwell in, to plant it into Christ, as a part of his mystical body, to use it as an instrument in Gods service, and finally to raise it out of the grave, and conform it to Christs glorious body? The dignity of the body well considered, is a great preservative against lust. 2. It brawneth the soul, the softnesse of all sensual pleasures hardneth the heart, but this sin as being the consummate act of sensuality much more, Hosea 4. 11. Whoredom and Wine take away the heart; these two are mentioned, because usually they go together, and both take away the heart, besot the conscience, take away the tenderness of the affections: so that men are not ashamed of sin, insensible of danger, and unfit for duty; and so grow saplesse, carelesse, senselesse. 3. Next to the Body and Soul, there is the name, now it blotteth the name, Prov. 6. 33. a wound and a dishonour shall •e get, and a reproach that shall not be wiped off. Sensual wickednesse is most disgraceful, as having turpitude in it, and being sooner discerned then spiritual. 4. It blasteth the estate,
- 1Observ. 5.
- *1 Thes, 4. 4.
- *1 Cor. 6. 9.
