SERM. CHRISTIAN' 4SOR.ALITY, VIE. CHASTITY, &C. $45 This virtue stands in opposition to those several vices, which are distinguished by different names in scripture, such as adultery, fornication, lasciviousness. 1. Adul- tery, when one of the persons who are guilty of impure embraces, is under the sac-red bonds of marriage. By the commission of this sin there is injury done to another fa- mily, and thus it is not only an offence against the laws of purity, but a violation of the laws ofjustice. 2. Par- nication, when both the guilty persons are free and isn- married. It has been sufficiently proved by many wri- ters, that this is utterly unlawful, howsoever some have attempted to varnish the guilt, and excuse the crime. S. Lasciviousness, which consists in giving a loose to those impure thoughts, words, and actions, which have an apparent tendency toward the sins beforementioned. Besides these, there are other names and instances ofun- clean abominations, which I wish could be utterly rooted out from 'human nature, by burying them in everlasting silence. If I were to fetch arguments from reason and the light of nature, I might make it appear that these things are criminal, and contrary to those rules of morality, which were written in the heart of man. And perhaps they would have appeared in the same guilty colours to alt men, if the light ofnature were not obscured by corrupt passions, and licentious appetite. The practice ofthese impure vices is inconsistent with the great ends for which God has formed our natures, has raised us above the beasts that perish, and bas inclined mankind to form themselves into societies for mutual benefit. The brutes, who have no nature superior to the animal are not go- verned by the same laws : But the God of nature, who as made us compound beings and, shall I say? ,hash joined an animal and an angel together to make up a earl, expects that the angel should govern the animal in all its natural propensities and confine it within the rules of religion and the social life. These vices are also contrary to the solemn ordinances of marriage, which the blessed God instituted in para- dise in a state of innocency, and designed to continue through all generations, If these impurities of conver- sation were publicly permitted, all the tender and most engaging names of relation and kindred, such as father, 0
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