4 I 2 Chap. 3 t. An Expatttion capon the Eoak_e of J o a. Vert. Bt. Firft , Becaufe it is awrong to any Common- wealth, and ma. ny wayes difturbes the peace ofit, by riots and quarrels. Secondly Becaufe it difturbes the peace offamilyes, andpro vokes implacable diffentions there.. Thirdly, Becaufeit provokes the wrath ofGod, and brings dreadf+rll calamities upon Nations. ( H-f. 4. 2.) God hath a. cojazioverfie with nations, and fends Judgements upon them for i ; Therefore it is an iniquitie that ought to be judged ; or, An ini- gui:ie to be punifbedby the judges. There areas many confidera- tions in thisliin, which cry toMagiftrates to pranifh it, and put a ftopto it, as there are in molt fins, ifnot in any fin, which lyeth within the verge of his power. And therefore in all ages and places whereMagiftracy bath been; this fin bath come under their (word and cenfure. Adultery is not only a very finfull fin, and a very fhamefull fin, but a fin againft which the very light Tacitaw de An. ofnature bath given fevereft fentence. Among the ancient Ger- tiquis Germa- manes,ifa wife were taken in adultery,the lawgave her up to the nit will ofher husband, todoe-with her what he would, not only to exercife feverity towards her, but even to put her to. death. They thought nothing crueltywhich was inflis ed for Adultery. The Sax,ns before their converfion to the Chriftian Religion; did fo deteft Adultery, that they ftrangled the Adultereffe, and then burnt her;and hung the Adultererover the fire till he dyed. The R,mans made many pcenal lawes again{# this fin. And it feemes the Cannanites had a law, or at leaft a cuttome among them, to punifh adultery with burnings ; when7udah heard that Tamar was with child by adultery, he prefently fentenced her to the fire (Cen.38.24.) And it came topa/je about threemoneths af- ter that it was told 7udah, faying,Tamar thy daughter in law bath played the harlot, andal /o beheld Jbe is with child by avboredome. fln ut Judex a.°nd fudah /aid, bring her forth and let her be burnt. This, I ita fiutuit , fed conceive 7udab fpake according to the cuáome of the place ex gentta i ,eas conJuetedine in where he lived ; for there was no fuch law then given by God Judicijs ieccp- tote. Patriarks. We read how thofe two falle Prophets Ahab to fiert proc:r and Zedih`i.ah were de:ivered by God into the hand of that Hea- ssauu. Me I. then Prince Nebuchadnezzar, who for this heinous crime put them both toexquifite torments by fire. And the judgement was fò remarkeable that it grew into aProverb (7er. 29. 22, 23. ) erd ofthem fliall be taken upa curie b) aüthecaptiviej of 7udah, which
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