A Practical Commentary on the Epistle of Jude

Again observe, That of all sins, the sin of uncleanness ¹or unlawful copulation is most defiling: it defileth the whole man, but chiefly the body: and therefore 'tis said [they defile the flesh] it staineth the soul with filthy thoughts, Matth. 15. 20. it staineth the Name, Prov. 33. But in a singular manner it polluteth the body, 1 Cor▪ 6. 18. in all other outward sins, though the body be the instrument, yet it is not the object of them; all other sins do abuse objectum extra positum (as Piscator explaineth it) as a Drunkard, Wine; an Epicure, Meats; a Worldling, Riches; all these are objects without us: but here the body is not only the instrument but the object, Rom. 17. 24. God gave them up to uncleanness to dishonour their own bodies. So see 1 Thess. 4. 4. it wasteth the strength, and beauty of the body, Prov. 5. 9, 10, 11. hindereth our serviceableness, and doth not consider that this body is consecrated to God, Rom. 12. 1. & 1 Cor. 6. 15 a Temple of the holy Ghost, 1 Cor. 6. 19. interested in hopes of Glory, ⟨p. 346⟩Phil. 3. 21. and therefore puts it to so vile an use as to be an instrument of lust. Christians, shall those^* eyes which are consecrated to God to behold his works be windows to let in sin? that body which is the holy Ghosts Temple be made the member of a Harlot? and so wasted in the service of lust, as to become a clog to us, and wholly useless, as to any gracious purposes: are not your beauty, health, strength, concernments too good to be spent upon so vile an interest? take heed then of all uncleanness, both conjugal consisting in excess, and immoderating of lust in the married estate, si vinim ex Apothecâ tuâ, &c. you may not be drunk with your own Wine; nor quench the vigour of nature by excess in those pleasure which the Laws of God and men do allow you: and also of uncleanness Adulterous, which is more brutish when men scatter their lusts promiscuously without confinement to one object.