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446
CHRISTIAN MORALITY,
Cl2,
CHASTITY,
í%Cr
ESERM.
X&VIf.
sister,
and brother,
would be
confounded,
and
almost
abolished among
mankind;
and
what
dismal conse-
quenceswould
hence ensue
?
In
what
helpless
circum-
stances would
children
be
then
brought
into
this world
?
And many
of
the ends
of human
society would become
frustrate
and vain.
I
confess, indeed,
that
several
of
these
vices
were
practised
in
the
heathen
world
without
any inward
re-
morse
pf
the
mind,
without private
reproof
or public
shame.
Some
of
these
impurities
were allowed
by
the
laws
of
their country
;
some
were indulged
at
festivals,
and
sometimes they were mingled
With
their
religious ce-
remonies, and made
part of
the worship
of
their
gods
Idol
gods! Abominable religions'.
Base
andshameful
worshippers
!
For it
is
a
shame, saith the apostle, even to
speak
of
those things
that are
done
in
secret;
those
un-
fruitful
works
of
darkness.
Eph.
v.
II,
12.
Yet
there
have been
several of
the
grave, the sober,
and the
wisest
among the
gentiles,
who being
constrained
by
the mere
force
of
reason,
have
spoken
against
these
corrupt prac-
tices,
and
have
adorned the virtue
of
chastity with many
honourable
encomiums.
But
how
doubtful
soever this duty hath been reckoned
among the
heathen
nations, yet it
is
made necessary
by
the
principles
of
the
christian
religion,
and a
strong
and
severe
guard of prohibitions
and
threatenings
is
set
all
around
to
secure the practice
of
it.
Now
that
I
may
speak
of
this
subject as
becomes
me,
and recommend
it
in language
pure
and
undefiled,
I
shall
set before you
some
of
those
scriptures, that bear
witness,
against
all
the
violations
of
it,
under
the following
heads
:
I.
The
express
precepts of
the
law
of
God
demand the
first place
in
this
catalogue
of
divine testimonies
against
impurity,
for
they were delivered
at mount
Sinai to ma-
ny
hundred thousands
at
once,
they were
ushered
in
with
lightning,
and pronounced
with
thunder.
Ex.
xx.
14.
Thou
shalt
not
commit
adultery. This
is
the
seventh command
:
And
that
there
may
not
be
the
least
tendency
toward this
sin,
the
tenth
command
is
set
as
a
preservative and
defence,
thou shalt
not
só
much
as
covet
thy neighbour's
wife,
verse
17.
In
this epitome
and
sum
of
the
laws
of
God,
whereby
he rules
his
creatures,
which
is
called the decalogue
or ten
commandments,
IMM