SEI1MON XXVII. 375 nmòng the heathen nations; yet it-is trade necessary by the prin- ciples of the christian religion, and a strong and severeguard of prohibitions and threatenings is set all around to secure the prac- tice of it. Now that I may speak of this subject as becomes me, and recommend it in language prire and undefiled, I shall set before you some of these 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 many hundred thousands at once, they were ushered in with lightning, and pronounced with thunder. Ex. xx.. 14. Thoushalt not commit adultery. This is the seventhcommand: And that there may not be the least tendency toward this sin, the tenth command isset as apreservative and defence, thou shalt not somuch 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 com- mandments, you find this vice of impurity is twice forbidden ; once in the perfect act, and again in the criminal wish and inten- tion. Observe here, that though the words of these commands directly point to adultery, yet it appears by the very reason of things, as well as from other passages of scripture, that all un- chaste thoughts, words, and actions, are here forbidden, as our younger years have been taught in thecatechism. Nor is this a law that belonged only to the Jews, for the New Testament mentions and enjoins this commandwith the rest, which are of equal force under the gospel. The law forbids all manner of lust, and saith ; Thou shalt not covet; Rom. vii. 7. The greatapostle puts the Thessalonians in mind of what hehad taught them as the law of Christ. I Mess. iv. 2, 3, 4, 5. For ye knowwhat commandments we gave you by the Lord Jesus. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you should abstain from fornication: That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of' concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God. It is as much as if he had said, it is a dishonour to christianity, and a step of return to heathenism, to give a loose to impure lusts. He repeats the same thing; Eph. iv. 17-21, as This. I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentileswalk, in the vanity of'their minds, having the understanding darkened, and being alienatedfrom the life of God throughthe ignorancethat is in them ; because of the blind- ness of their heart: Who being past feeling, have given them- selvesover tolasciviousness, towork all uncleanness with greedi- ness. But ye have not so learned Christ ; " if so be ye have been led by him, and taught the truth as it is in Jest's.." In vain ye profess to have learned the truth as it is in Jesus, or
RkJQdWJsaXNoZXIy OTcyMjk=