SERMON XXVII. Christian Morality, viz. Chastity, &c. PHILIP. iv. 8.Whatsoever things are pure, Ste.think on these things. Ora ayra, &c. PURITY of heart and life, in the perfect beauty of it, belongs to no man since oar original apostacy. That foul and shameful departure from God, has rendered us all unholy and unclean. But we are recalled to seek our ancient glory, by the messengers of heaven, and the ministry of the gospel. The apostle exhorts us to it in the text. 1f theword pure be taken in its largest ex- tent, it may include in it temperance inmeats and drinks, as well as chastity in behaviour. You have heard already a discourseof temperance, with so hateful an accountof the crimes of gluttony, and drunkenness, that I hope myhealers have conceiveda sacred aversion of such sensualities. Let us now proceed to the second sense implied in the word, and that is, modestyand chastity of speech and behaviour. This is a most eminent, and most undeniablepart of that purity, which St. Paul here requires ; andthis, in many of his epistles he insists upon as necessary, in order to make up the character of a Chris- tian, and render it honourable ; and St. Peter recommends it to the pious women in his day, as a means of the conversion of their husbands, who were gentiles : That they who obeyed not theword of the gospel, migld be won to a good esteem of Chris- tianity, while they beheld the chaste conversation of their wives; 1 Pet. iii. 1, 2. This virtue stands in opposition to those several vices, which are distinguishedby different names in scripture, such as adultery, fornication, lasciviousness. 1. Adultery, when one of the per- sons who are guilty of impure embraces, is under the sacred bonds of marriage. By the commission of thissin there is injury done to another family, and thus it is not only an offence against the laws of purity, but aviolation ofthe laws of justice. 2. For- nication, when both the guilty persons are free and unmarried. Ithas been sufficientlyprovedby many writers, that this is utterly unlawful, however some haveattempted to varnish the guilt, and excuse the crime. 3. Lasciviousness, which consists in giving a
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