The last preservative is to avoid the causes and occasions of lust and uncleanness. The first is idleness. This was one of the causes of the detested uncleanness of Sodom, as the Prophet Ezekiel showsu. And contrariwise diligence in our callings is a notable help to keep out inordinate desires, and vain thoughts, and commonly persons overtaken with uncleanness abound with idleness. The second is, fullness of bread, that is, by a synecdoche, excess in meats and drinks, either for the measure or daintiness of them. And contrariwise, to beat down our bodiesx, either by abstinence, or sobriety in the use of the creatures, is a notable means to quench and abate those flames if they be risen, and to keep them also from that special aptness to rise. The third is, the high estimation of earthly things, and the too great liking of them: for this love secretly brings in lust. Thus the Apostle to Timothy says, that the love of money and riches, breeds noisome lusts, which in short time drown man in perditiony. The like may be said of the estimation and too much viewing of apparel, beauty, &c. The fourth is ignorance and hardness of heart: for thus it was in those the Apostle mentions in the fourth to the Ephesiansz, that greediness to defile themselves with all sorts of uncleanness arose and increased in them by reason of the insensibleness of the heart, and the blindness and emptiness of their minds. And on the other side, lust cannot get such a head, so long as any sound measure of knowledge is stirring in the mind, or tenderness remains in the heart; lust desires both a dark house and a dark mind. The fifth is evil company: and therefore the holy Ghost gives this rule to those that would not be ensnared with the strange woman, Walk thou in the way of good men, and keep the way of the righteous. 5The last is care for the flesh. It is the liberty men take not only to feed themselves in contemplative wickedness, but also to plod and cast about how to satisfy & fulfil their lusts, that doth so much confirm them in the custom of uncleanness. And therefore the Apostles counsel is, take not care to fulfil the lusts of the flesh.6
The last preseruatiue is to auoid the causes and occasions of lust and vncleannesse. The first is idlenesse. This was one of the causes of the detested vncleannesse of Sodome, as the Prophet Ezechiel shewesu. And contrariwise diligence in our callings is a notable helpe to keepe out inordinate desires, and vaine thoughts, and commonly persons ouertaken with vncleannesse abound with idlenesse. The second is, fulnesse of bread, that is, by a synecdoche, excesse in meats and drinkes, either for the measure or daintinesse of them. And contrariwise, to beat downe our bodiesx, either by abstinence, or sobrietie in the vse of the creatures, is a notable meanes to quench and abate those flames if they be risen, and to keepe them also from that speciall aptnesse to rise. The third is, the high estimation of earthly things, and the too great liking of them: for this loue secretly brings in lust. Thus the Apostle to Timothie saies, that the loue of mony and riches, breeds noisome lusts, which in short time drowne man in perditiony. The like may be said of the estimation and too much viewing of apparell, beautie, &c. The fourth is ignorance and hardnesse of heart: for thus it was in those the Apostle mentions in the fourth to the Ephesiansz, that greedinesse to defile themselues with all sorts of vncleannesse arose and increased in them by reason of the insensiblenesse of the heart, and the blindnesse and emptinesse of their mindes. And on the other side, lust cannot get such a head, so long as any sound measure of knowledge is stirring in the minde, or tendernesse remaines in the heart; lust desires both a darke house and a darke minde. The fift is euill company: and therefore the holy Ghost giues this rule to those that would not bee ensnared with the strange woman, Walke thou in the way of good men, and keepe the way of the righteous. 5The last is care for the flesh. It is the libertie men take not only to feed themselues in contemplatiue wickednes, but also to plod and cast about how to satisfie & fulfill their lusts, that doth so much confirme them in the custome of vncleannesse. And therefore the Apostles counsell is, take not care to fulfill the lusts of the flesh.6
- uEzech. 46.49
- x1 Cor 9.27.
- y1 Tim. 6.9.
- zEph. 4.17.18
- 5Prou. 1.20.
- 6Rom. 13.14.
