Deut, 2 a. r.Cor.6. Queftions and Anfwers 7, Command' bed ofhis former meaner, than by making them to abridge themfelues ofthe ordi- naunce of God againlccthat euill. You haue feene alto how falfc this is , and that in godly matrimony as well as the fin gle life there is liked chality of the Lorde. You' haue feene,,that neither oftheft elates haue any preheminencyaboue the other in ref peel of greater piety , or merit , but both ofthem alike acceptable to God, iffor the parties they be expedient, onely inregardeofoutsvarde incumbrancesi, the one is more free than the other. Lally you fee the vertue of this commandement oppofed to adulterie to be chalitic, but how ? not to hue vnmaried , as the Papiles dreams, but both in mariage and out of it, to keepe bodie and foule vnfpotted of 6lthie Tuft and concupifcence. The other pointes of mariage it felfe, offecond mariages,ofpo- ligarnie , of diuorce , and fuch like ,which were idthis place to be handled, I thinke good to cut off,hauingtaried already too long in this commandement, and to referuc them till force other occafion. Quel. Yet aside fomething concerning thepuss mentofthem that break this com- mandment. Anfw. The law of God, as we all may fee, punifhed adultery with prefent death : Fornication withmariage ofthe parry ifthe parents would, and if they would not, with a dowry to be giuen. The Athcniaerpunifhed it with death. This land of ours in the daies of (annuso had a law to cut o$ the nofes and cares of adulterous women. And for the fpirituall punifhment of it, it was euer,is, and (hall be damnation of body and fouls in thepitte Obeli without repentance. . n ryoe,t, b9inr,mnvxit { 'lid . üil 10 ai ?', . :rìr3C,43 , , ifsm ,71c !, The Application. ! ±tr.:uatl ,L-i-tsm ad - O W then confiderwhat bath Beene faille, and even &r ye defire true fruit of the word of God unto our fades , let vs weigh our ewne eflate in eaery branche of this commaundement. The aft ofvncleannefe how it can accufe vs, that GOD dab káowe, who bath hell in hie hand to cali vs into it,ifwe hone finned. And therefore if either with married or unmarried we hare ester thus offended,lct his power be thoughtof,let hell be feared, and fofowle a fault from the very heart roots be earneflll lamented. Excrete it j not withyouth, or any circureance, carefe or occafion in the worlde,thefe fcoffngs ofthe Lord will not euer be borne, in youth we are Gods of veld as in age, and inyouthunePhotlldferne him afwelasin age : if we doe not men youtbfhall to hell afwell asfhanage. Sinnefeene and forrtwedfor, left anslforfaken hark pardon promifed: butf,nne idled at,and plaied withal! ¡bath vengeance threatned. It is the voice ofa Chriftian to fay I hauefsnned,but it i, the voice of a reprobate to fagil. I will f sine without remor fe. 'The beg May of end,but the bell can neuercontinue offending. And therefore take heck; and rfall can accufe vs, let it neuer hereafter be able to blame vs for fodaine and fearefall is the ven- geance from heauen that lighteth upon adulterers. From the aft let vs come to the inward,. thought, and as it is more prireie and we all more prone vnto it, fo let itbe more carefully weighed andfearched outmen ofvsall. Let vscall to minde with a feeling heart,howfouly,how fearefedly,and how essen continually we of nd the Lord by our hidden conceites. Howe quickly creepeth into vs attend! thought ,and howfwel- leth it within,when it once is there ? It tsar eth within vs , as a thing mofl firong, aura very fowly flatneth v. often ere we doe confider it. Tea our negligence in this behalfe dot! com demne vs before the Lord,andpronouncethagainftvs that we feare more men than God. For our oarward a,Slions we are careful of fo aseare as we can to keepe the blots of them rut offight, but our hearts being things hidden fronOtheeies of men,we cary little care osier them to keepe themclsane from impure cone .pts.Wbat manmay fee we are aJbamed that he¡hassld fee: but which
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