act the filthinefs in words when they cannot de 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 these. 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 immodeft geftures, If. iii. 16. indecent poftures, contrary to religion and good manners. Thefe are hellifh mat

ters 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 neceffity, to cover our fhame and nakednefs; 2.) to diftinguish fexes; 3-) to diftinguifh callings, the more noble from the

This has been the

meaner fort. The devil has found out the fourth, to be enticements to luft. (2.) Keeping ill company. ruin of 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 mistress. Whatever the company be, people should beware that they caft not themfelves into fnares.

(3.) Idlenefs, 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 borfes 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 fhe was dealt with as an harlot. This practice feems to be ftruck at by thefe fcriptures, Rom. xiii. 13. Let us walk--not in chambering and wantonnefs. 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.) Unjuft divorce, Matth. v. 33.; wilful defertion, I 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.

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(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 sense 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 those that ftand take heed left they fall. Labour to get your hearts poffeffed with a dread of this fin, and watch againft it, efpecially ye that are young people, feeing it is a fin moft incident to youth, when the paffions are most 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 feen alas! too many that have made public fatisfaction for that fin; but allow me to fay, I have feen very few by whofe 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 those 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. It dishonours and debafes the body, 1 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 baftard 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 VOL. III.

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as to David, 2 Sam. xi. 2. and to Joseph's mistress, Gen. xxxix. 7.

(2.) The ears. The corruption of the heart makes people liable to be chained with Satan's fetters by the ears as well as the eyes; as appears from Prov. vii. 21. 22. With her much fair fpeech fhe caufed him to yield, with the flattering of her lips fhe forced him. He goeth after her ftraightway, as an ox goeth to the flaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the stocks. And curious liftening to rotten speeches, or whatsoever has a tendency to corrupt the heart, is to open the door to let out our purity.

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2. Temperance, a sober use of meat, drink, sleep, and recreations. Hence our Lord warns his difciples, Luke xxi. 34. Take heed to yourselves left at any time your hearts be overcharged with furfeiting and drunkenness. Temperance is a neceffary hedge for chastity, and the breaking over that hedge is a near way to facrifice the other. See Acts xxiv. 24. 25. And after certain days, when Felix came with his wife Drufilla, which was a Jewess, he fent for Paul, and heard him concerning the faith in Chrift. And as be reafoned of righteousness, temperance, and judgement to come, Felix trembled. Why did the apostle chuse that fubject before thefe great perfons? Why, truly it was very fit. Hiftorians tell us, that this Drufilla was a moft libidinous woman, and had left her hufband Aziz king of Emeneffa; and while he was yet living, fhe was married to Felix, who was taken with her beauty; and fo they lived together in adultery. The body being pampered becomes a luxuriant beaft; and thofe that cram their bellies with meat or drink, are but one remove from and in near difpofition to filthinefs; for one fenfuality makes way for another.

On this account it is that fafting and prayer may be to people a duty of this command; for as fome devils are not caft out, fo fome are not held out but by fafting and prayer. They that would keep them