Theol. There be five special causes of it: The first is our natural corruption: for the very spawn and seed of all sin is our corrupt nature: and this, of all other, is a most inherent sin, as witnesseth the Apostle James, saying,1 When lust hath conceived, ⟨p. 64⟩[…] ⟨p. 65⟩[…] ⟨p. 66⟩it bringeth forth sin: and sin when it is perfected bringeth forth death.
The second is gluttony, and fullness of bread: for when men have filled their bellies, and crammed their paunches as full of good cheer, wine, and strong drink, as their skins can hold; what are they meet for, or what mind they else, but adultery and uncleanness? And therefore well saith one, Great nourishment and gross food is the shop of lust. The Heathen Poet could skill to say, Sine Cerere & Baccho s•ige• Venus, without meat and drink lust waxeth cold. And to this effect the wise King saith,2 that their eyes shall behold strange women, whose hearts are set upon wine and belly cheer. And therefore he adviseth all men, not to look upon the wine when it appeareth red, when it showeth his colour in the cup, or stirreth very kindly: and that for fear of this after-clap. An ancient writer saith to the same purpose:3 He that delicately pampereth his belly, and yet would overcome the spirit of fornication, is like to him that will quench a flame of fire with oil.
Therefore to close up this point, sure it is, though men pray, hear, and read much, and be otherwise well disposed: yet except they be abstemious in diet, they will be much troubled with lust.
⟨p. 67⟩The third cause of adultery is Idleness: for when men are lazy, luskish, and idle, having nothing to do, they lye wide open to adultery; and lust creepeth into them. Some Historiographers write, the Crab-fish is very desirous to eat Oysters: but because she cannot perforce open them, she watcheth her time when they open themselves unto the sun after the tide, and then she puttereth in her claw, and pulleth out the Oyster: Even so Satan watcheth his opportunity against us, that he may infect and breathe into us all filthy lusts, and adulterous desires, when we lye open unto him by idleness. Wisely therefore to this point saith the Greek Poet:4 Much rest nourisheth lust. And another Poet saith:
Quaeritur Aegisthus quare sit factus adulter:
In promptu causa est; d•sidiosus erat.
Slothfull lazinesse is the cause of adultery:
Theol. There be five speciall causes of it: The first is our naturall corruption: for the very spawne and seed of all sinne is our corrupt nature: and this, of all other, is a most inherent sinne, as witnesseth the Apostle James, saying,1 When lust hath conc•ived, ⟨p. 64⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 65⟩〈…〉 ⟨p. 66⟩it bringeth forth sinne: and sin when it is perfected bringeth forth death.
The second is gluttony, and fulnesse of bread: for when men have filled their bellies, and crammed their paunches as full of good cheere, wine, and strong drinke, as their skinnes can hold; what are they meete for, or what minde they else, but adultery and uncleannesse? And therefore well saith one, Great nourishment and grosse food is the shop of lust. The Heathen Poet could skill to say, Sine Cerere & Baccho s•ige• Venus, without meat and drinke lust waxeth cold. And to this effect the wise King saith,2 that their eyes shall behold strange women, whose hearts are set upon wine and belly cheere. And therefore he adviseth all men, not to looke upon the wine when it appeareth red, when it sheweth his colour in the cup, or stirreth very kindly: and that for feare of this after-clap. An ancient writer saith to the same purpose:3 Hee that delicately pampereth his belly, and yet would overcome the spirit of fornication, is like to him that will quench a flame of fire with oyle.
Therefore to close up this point, sure it is, though men pray, heare, and read much, and be otherwise well disposed: yet except they be abstemious in diet, they will bee much troubled with lust.
⟨p. 67⟩The third cause of adultery is Idlenesse: for when men are lazie, luskish, and idle, having nothing to doe, they lye wide open to adultery; and lust creepeth into them. Some Historiographers write, the Crab-fish is very desirous to eate Oysters: but because shee cannot perforce open them, shee watcheth her time when they open themselves unto the sun after the tide, and then shee putreth in her claw, and pulleth out the Oyster: Even so Satan watcheth his opportunity against us, that hee may infect and breathe into us all filthy lusts, and adulterous desires, when wee lye open unto him by idlenesse. Wisely therefore to this point saith the Greeke Poet:
- 1James 1.15.
- 2Prov 23 •. & 35
- 3Gregori•s N•••an•.
- 4Hesiodus.
