act the filthinefs in words when they cannot do it otherwife. Neither will the art fome have in dreffing up their filthy notions in figurative terms excufe; but these in fome fort are most dangerous, because the devilifh wit defplayed in them makes them more sticking; and fo by means of the like phrafes occurring in holy exercifes, they are the readier even to defile thefe. Of this fort are filthy fongs and ballad finging; and the delightful liftening to fuch things, as the fimple youth did to the fpeeches of the adulterous whore, Prov. vii. 18.-21.

3. Uncleanness in actions. Besides the grofs acts, there are others leading thereunto, which are here alfo forbidden. As,

(1.) Wanton looks: there are eyes' full of adultery, 2 Pet. ii. 14. wanton eyes, If. iii. 16. Even a look for unlawful carnal delight is the venting of the impurity of the heart; and though it be only from levity and curiosity, it is finful, as a mean leading to evil.

(2.) Impudent and light behaviour, and immodest geftures, If. iii. 16. indecent poftures, contrary to religion and good manners. Thefe are hellish matters of fport, that defile the actors, and those that are witneffes to them without abhorrence. And on this ground ftage-plays and filthy pictures are amongst the things forbidden in this command, Ezek. xxiii. 14. 15. 16.

(3.) Luxurious embraces and dalliances. These are as fmoke going before the flame, and were practifed by the adulterous whore, Prov. vii. 13.

Now, as all these are here forbidden, fo all occafions and incentives to luft are forbidden, all that has a tendency to corrupt our own or neighbour's chastity.. (1.) Immodeft apparel, Prov. vii. 10. God appointed apparel, 1.) for neceflity, to cover our fhame and nakednefs; 2.) to diftinguifh fexes; 3) to diftinguifh callings, the more noble from the

meaner fort. The devil has found out the fourth,

to be enticements to luft.

(2.) Keeping ill company.

ruin of

This has been the many therefore Solomon advifes, Prov. v. 8. Remove thy way far from her [a ftrange woman, or whore]; and come not nigh the door of her house. It was Jofeph's commendation, that he fled from his miftrefs. Whatever the company be, people should beware that they caft not theinfelves into fnares. (3.) Idleness, the nursery of all filthinefs, Ezek. xvi. 49. This expofeth to many temptations; for Satan will be ready to find idle people work. Gadding and vaguing abroad can hardly mifs to have an unfavoury end.

(4) Intemperance, gluttony, and drunkennefs. Thefe have a tendency to murder, which is forbidden in the fixth command, and to uncleannefs, forbidden in the one under confideration, Prov. xxiii. 30. 31. 33. Notable to this purpofe is that fcripture, Jer. v. 8. They were as fed horfes in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.

(5.) Promifcuous dancing, or dancing of men and women together. This entertainment, however reckoned innocent among many, is evidently an incentive to luft, If. xxiii. 15. 16. 17. It is fuppofed, that it was to a dancing match among the daughters of the land that Dinah went forth, when she was dealt with as an harlot. This practice feems to be ftruck at by these fcriptures, Rom. xiii. 13. Let us walk-not in chambering and wantonness. 1 Pet. iv. 3. where mention is made of walking in revelling, It is offenfive to the grave and pious, is condemned by our church, yea and has been condemned by fome fober Heathens.

(6.) Undue delay of marriage, 1 Cor. vii. 7. 8. 9.; for they that refufe the remedy, ftrengthen the difeafe.

(7.) Unjust divorce, Matth. v. 33.; wilful defertion, 1 Cor. vii. 12. 13.; want of conjugal affec

tion, and all harfhnefs and unkindness betwixt married perfons. These are to be avoided, as incitements to uncleannefs.

(8.) Lastly, The Popish doctrine and practice of forbidding lawful marriages, i Tim. iv. 3.; difpenfing with unlawful marriages, Mark vi. 18.; tolerating of stews or bawdy-houses, Deut. xxiii. 17.; and entangling vows of fingle life, Matth. xix. 10.

II.

I fhall next make fome improvement of this fubject.

1. Let those that have fallen into the fin of uncleanness, repent, and walk humbly all the days of their life under the fenfe of it. There are alas! not a few amongst us to whom this exhortation belongs. And perhaps, if their eyes were opened, they would fee fomething in their lot that God has fent to go along with them, as a mark of his dif pleasure against that their fin; wherein they might with no great difficulty read their old fin in a continued punishment. That fin may be forgotten with us that is not fo with the Lord.

2. Let thofe that ftand take heed left they fall. Labour to get your hearts poffeffed with a dread of this fin, and watch against it, especially ye that are young people, feeing it is a fin moft incident to youth, when the paffions are moft vigorous; which yet may ftick faft with the blue marks of God's difpleasure upon you when you come to age. For motives, confider,

(1.) It is not only a fin, but ordinarily, if not always, a plague and punishment for other fins. It is a mark of God's anger against the perfon that is permitted to fall into it, Prov. xx. 14. The mouth of a Strange woman is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the Lord, fhall fall therein. This is a heavy mark of God's indignation, which is worfe than to fall into a fever or fome lingering diftemper; for a perfon may

recover of these in a fhort time, but it is not fo eafy to recover of the other.

(2.) It is a fin that very few ever get grace to repent of. It ftupifies the confcience, and waftes all fenfe of fin from it, Hof. iv. 11. I have seen alas! too many that have made public fatisfaction for that fin; but allow me to fay, I have feen very few by whose repentance I was much edified. Hear what the Spirit of God fays of thefe unhappy people, Prov. ii. 19. None that go unto her, return again, neither take they hold of the paths of life: None, that is, very few; but fome indeed do, as among the Corinthians, 1 Cor. vi. 9. 11. And be not offended, but cautioned, if I fay, that few women particularly ever get grace to repent of it. Solomon faid it before me, Eccl. vii. 28. A woman among all thofe bave I not found. And obferve what is faid Acts xxiv. 25. that Felix trembled when Paul preached, though he repented not; but there is not a word of Drufilla's being moved.

3. Ít difhonours and debafes the body, i Cor. vi. 18. Our bodies are the members of Chrift or should be; but how are they debafed, being made members of a harlot? And how low and contemptible a thing is fuch a wretched crcature even in the eyes of those that join with them?

(4.) It leaves an indelible ftain upon their reputation; their honour is funk, and there is no recovering of it, Prov. vi. 33. Though the fin may be pardoned before God, yet the blot lies on their name, while they have a name on the earth. Yea, and when they are dead and gone, their bastard pofterity ftill lie under the ftain, whereof they

could be no caufe.

(5.) Poverty and want oft-times follow it. It natively tends to poverty, Prov. v. 1o.; and there is a fecret curfe of that nature that often accompanies it, Prov. vi. 26. By means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread. How many

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have been made miferable by it, who have had occafion as long as they lived to remember they had ruined themselves?

(6.) Laftly, It is ruining to the foul, Prov. vi. 32. He that doth it [commit adultery with a woman], destroyeth his own foul. It ruins it here, in fo far as it defiles the confcience, fetters the affections, blinds the mind, utterly unfits for communion with God, till the guilt be washed off by the application of Chrift's blood, after a frightful awakening of the confcience. And if they do not repent of this fin, it will deftroy the foul for ever. Let thefe fcriptures imprint a horror of it in the minds of all, Heb. xiii. 4. 1 Cor. vi. 9. Gal. v. 19. 21. Rev. xxi. 8.

I close with a few directions, in fo many words. 1. Give yourselves away foul and body to Jefus Chrift, and learn to live by faith, fenfible of your own weakness, and relying on his promised strength; for without him ye can refift no fin, nor temptation to, fin.

2. Beware of a carnal frame, of floth and lazinefs. Labour to be fpiritual and heavenly in the frame of your heart, Gal. v. 16. Walk in the Spirit, fhall not fulfil the luft of the flesh.

and

ye

3. Watch over your heart and fenies. Make a covenant with your eyes, as Job did, that ye may avoid unlawful looks; and never venture on the devil's ground, otherwife ye will fall into the fnare.

4. Study mortification of all your unruly lufts and paffions, and beware of all occafions, and incentives to this wickedness.

5. Keep at a diftance from immodeft company, and be not too frolicfome and foolish, light and airy in your difcourfe.

6. Lafly, Pray fervently and importunately, that the Lord may fave you from this foul fin, and all temptations to it; faying with David, Pfal. cxix. 37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity.