A Golden Chain, Chapter 26
CHAP. 26. Of the seuenth Commandement.
THe seuenth Commandement sheweth how we may preserue the chastitie of our selues, and of our neighb…ur.
The words are these: Thou shalt not commit adulterie.
The Resolution.
Adulterie] To commit adulterie, signifieth as much, as to doe any thing, what way soeuer, whereby the chastitie of our selues, or our neighbours may be stained. Math. 5.28.
The negatiue part.
Thou shalt no way either hurt, or hinder thy neighbours chastitie.
In this place are prohibited:
I. The lust of the heart, or the euill concupiscence of the flesh. Matth. 5.28. I say vntounto you, whosoeuer looketh on a woman to lust after her, he hath already committed adulterie with her in his heart. Colos. 3.5. Mortifie your members which are on earth: fornication, vncleannesse, the inordinate affection, euill concupiscence.
II. Burning in the flesh, which is an inward feruencie of lust, whereby the godly motions of the heart are hindered, ouerwhelmed, and, as it were, with contrarie fire, burnt vp. 1. Cor. 7.9. If they cannot abstaine, let them marrie: for it is better to marry then to burne.
III. Strange pleasures about generation, prohibited in the word of God: the which are many.
I. With beasts. Leuit. 18.23. Thou shalt not be with any beast, to be defiled therwith, neither shall any woman stand before a beast to lie downe thereto: for it is an abomination.
II. With the diuel, as witches do by their own confession. For why should not a spirit as well hauehave societie with a witch, as to eate meate?
III. With one of the same sexe. Leuit. 18.22. Thou shalt not lie with the male as one lieth with a woman: for it is abomination. This is a sinne which they commit, whome God hath giuen ouer into a reprobate sense. Rom. 1.26. For this cause God gaue them vp to vile affections: for euen their women did change their naturall vse into that which is against nature. 27. And the men left the naturall vse of the women, and burned in their lusts one toward another, and man with man wrought filthinesse. It was the sinne of Sodome. Gen. 19. where it was so common, that to this day it is tearmed Sodomie.
IV. With such as be within the degrees of consanguinitie or affinitie, prohibited in the word of God. Leuit. 18.6. None shall come neere to any of the kinred of his flesh, to vncouer her shame. I am the Lord.
V. With vnmarried persons. This sinne is tearmed fornication. Deut. 22. 28. If any man finde a maide that is not betrothed, and take her and lie with her, and they be found. 29. Then the man that lay with her, shall giuegive vntounto the maides father fiftie shekels of siluer: and she shall be his wife, because he hath humbled her: he cannot put her away all his life. 1. Cor. 10.8. Neither let vsus commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and fell in one day one and twentie thousand.
VI. With those, whereof one is married, or at the least betrothed. This sin is called adulterie: and God hath inflicted by his word the same punishment vponupon them, which commit this sinne, after they be betrothed, as he doth vponupon such as are alreadie married. Deut. 22.22. If a man be found lying with a woman married to a man, then they shall die euen both twaine: to wit, the man that lay with the wife, and the wife: so thou shalt put away euill from Israel. 23. If a maide bee betrothed to an husband, and a man finde her in the towne and lie with her. 24. Then shall yee bring them both out vntounto the gates of the same citie, and shall stone them to death with stones. This is a marueilous great sinne, as may appeare in that it is the punishment of idolatrie. Rom. 1.23. They turned the glory of the vncorruptible God, to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, &c. 24. Wherefore God gaue them vp vntounto their hearts lusts, vntounto vncleannes. Yea, this sinne is more hainous then theft. Prou. 6.30. Men doe not despise a theefe, when he stealeth to satisfie his soule when he is hungrie: 32. But he that committeth adulterie with a woman, is destitute of vnderstanding, he that doth it, destroyeth his owne soule. Againe, the adulterer breaketh the couenant of marriage, which is Gods couenant. Prou. 2.17. Which forsaketh the guide of her youth, and forgetteth the couenant of her God. Adulterers dishonest their owne bodies. 1. Cor. 6.18. Flee fornication, eueryevery sinne that a man doth, is without the bodie: but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his owne bodie. And bereaue their neighbours of a great and vnrecouerable benefit: namely of chastity. As for the children which are begotten in this sort, they are shut out from that preheminence, which they otherwise might obtaine in the congregation. Deut. 23.2. A bastard shall not enter into the Congregation of the Lord: euen to his tenth generation shall he not enter into the congregation of the Lord. He maketh his familie a stewes, as appeareth in Dauid, whose adultery was punished by Absoloms lying with his fathers cō cubines. 2. Sam. 16.21. Achitophel said to Absolom, Goe to thy fathers concubines, which he hath left to keepe the house. Iob. 31.9. If mine heart hauehave beene deceiued by a woman, or if I hauehave laide waite at the doore of my neighbour: let my wife grind vntounto another man: and let other men bowe downe vponupon her. Mans posteritie feeleth the smart of this sinne. Iob. 31. 12. This (adulterie) is a fire that shall deuoure to destruction, and which shall roote out all mine increase. To conclude, though this sinne be committed neuer so closely, yet God will reueale it. Numb. 5. from the 12. verse to the 23. And it vsually hath one of these two, as companions: namely, dulnesse of heart, or a marueilous horror of conscience, Hose. 4.11. Whordome, and wine, take away their heart. As for the Patriarkes Polygamie, or marrying of many wiues, albeit it cannot be defended, yet it may be excused: either because it serued to the enlarging of the number of mankind, when there were but fewe: or at the least, to the propagation of the Church of God.
VII. With man and wife. They abuse their libertie, if they know each other so long as the woman is in her flowers. Ezech. 22.10. In thee hauehave they discouered their fathers shame: in thee hauehave they vexed her that was polluted in her flowers. Leuit. 18.19. Thou shalt not goe vntounto a woman to vncouer her shame, as long as she is put apart for her disease. Ezek. 8.6. If a man hath not lien with a menstruous woman. Ambros. lib. de Philos. which Augustine citeth, lib. 2. contra Iulian saith, that he committeth adulterie with his wife, who in the vse of wedlocke hath neither regard of seemelines, nor honestie. Hierome in his 1. book, contra Iulianum, saith: A wise man ought to rule his wife in iudgement, not in affection. He will not giuegive the bridle vntounto headstrong pleasure, not headily company with his wife. Nothing (saith he) is more shamelesse, then to make a strumpet of his wife.
VIII. Nocturnall pollutions, which arise of immoderate diet, or vnchaste cogitations, going before in the day. Deutr. 23.10. Onans sinne (Gen. 38.8.) was not much vnlike these.
IX. Effeminate wantonnesse, wherby occasions are sought to stir vp lust. Galat. 5.19. The workes of the flesh are manifest, which are adulterie, fornication, vncleannesse, wantonnesse. Of this kind are, 1. eyes full of adulterie. 2. Pet. 3.14. Hauing eies full of adulterie, and that cannot cease to sinne. 2. Idlenes, 2. Sam. 11. 2. When it was euening tide, Dauid arose out of his bed, and walked vponupon the roofe of the kings palace: and from the roofe he sawe a woman washing her selfe: and the woman was very beutiful to looke vponupon. 3. And Dauid sent, and inquired what woman it was: and one said, Is not this Bethsheba the daughter of Elian, wife to Vriah the Hittite? Then Dauid sent messengers, and tooke her away: and shee came vnte him, and he lay with her. 3. Riotous and lasciuious attire. 1. Tim. 2.9. The women shall array themselues in comely apparell, with shamefastnes and modestie, not with broydered haire, or gold or pearles, or costly apparell, but (as becommeth women that professe the feare of God) with goodworkes. Esay 3.16. Because the daughters of Zion are hautie, and walke with stretched out necks, and with wandring eies, walking and minsing as they goe, and making a tinkeling with their feete. 17. Therefore shall the Lord make the heades of the daughters of Zion balde, and the Lord shall discouer their secret parts. 18. In that day shall the Lord take away the ornament of the slippers, and the caules, and the round tyers, 19. The sweete balles, and the bracelets, and the bonnets, 20. The tyers of the head, and the sloppes, and the headbands, and the tablets, and the earings, 21. The rings and the mufflers, 22. The costly apparell and the vailes, and the wimples, and the crisping pinnes, 23. And the glasses, and the fine linnen, and the hoodes, and the launes. And no maruaile if the Prophet be so sharp against excessiue and wanton apparell: for this is, I. a lauish and prodigall wasting of the benefits of God, which might well be employed vponupon better vses. II. It is a testimonie, and, as it were, the cognisance or ensigne of pride, whereby a man would hauehave himselfe in greater reputation then an other. III. It is a note of great idlenesse and slouthfulnesse. For commonly such as bestow much time in tricking and trimming themselues vp, doe quite neglect other busines, & of all things, can not away with paines.
IV. It argueth leuitie, in deuising eueryevery day some new fashion, or imitating that which others deuise. V. It maketh a confusion of such degrees and callings as God hath ordained, when as men of inferiour degree and calling, cannot be by their attyre, discerned from men of higher estate. 4. Fulnesse of bread and meate, which prouoke lust. Ezech. 16.45. This was the iniquitie of thy sister Sodome, pride, fulnesse of bread, and idlenesse was in her, and in her daughters. Luk. 16.19. There was a certaine rich man, which was cloathed in purple and fine linnen, and fared well and delicately eueryevery day. Rom. 13.13. Walke honestly, as in the day time, not in gluttonie and drunkennesse, neither in chambring and wantonnesse. 5. Corrupt, dishonest, and vnseemely talke. 1. Cor. 15.33. Erre not, euill talke corrupteth good manners. Such are vaine louelove-songs, ballades, enterludes, and amorous bookes. This is the thing we are carefully to shunne in the reading of Poets, yet so, as mariners doe in nauigation, who forsake not the sea, but decline and flie from the rockes. 6. Lasciuious representations of louelove matters, in Playes and Comedies. Eph. 5.3,4. Fornication and all vncleannesse, let it not once be named among you, as it becommeth Saints, neither filthinesse, nor foolish talking, neither iesting, which are things not comely. 7. Vndecent and vnseemely pictures. 1. Thess. 5. 22. Abstaine from all appearance of euill. 8. Lasciuious dauncing of man and woman together. Mark. 6.22. The daughter of the same Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod, &c. 9. Companie with effeminate persons. Prou. 7. 25. Let not thine heart decline to her waies: wander thou not in her paths.
V. To appoint some light or sheet-punishment for adulterie, such as that Romish Synagogue doth. For this is nothing els, but to open a gap for other lewd persons, to runne headlong into the like impietie.
The affirmatiue part.
Thou shalt preserue the chastitie of thy neighbour.
Chastitie is the puritie of soule and bodie, as much as belongeth to generation. The minde is chaste, when it is free, or at the least, freed from fleshly concupiscence. The bodie is chaste, when it putteth not in execution the concupiscences of the flesh. 1. Thess. 4.…. This is the will of God, euen your sanctification, and that ye should abstaine from fornication. 4. That …uery one of you should knowe how to possesse his vessell in holines and honour, 5. And not in the lust of concupiscence, euen as the Gentiles, which know not God. 1. Cor. 7.34. The vnmarried wom…n careth for the things of the Lord, that shee may be holy both in bodie and spirit.
There are two especiall vertues which preserue chastitie, Modestie, and Sobrietie. Modestie is a vertue which keepeth in each worke an holy decorum, or comelines: and it is seene, I. in the countenance and eyes, namely, when they neither expresse, nor excite the concupiscence of the heart. Iob. 31.1. I made a couenant with mine eye, why then should I thinke on a maid? Gen. 24.64. Rebekah lift vp her eyes, and when she saw Izhak, she lighted downe from the camel. 65. So she tooke a vaile, and couered her face. Prou. 1….13. Shee caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said vntounto him, &c. II. In words: when a mans talk is decent, in speaking of such things, we cannot but be ashamed of. Gen. 4.1. Then Adam knew Heuah his wife: who, &c. Psal. 51.1. A Psalme of Dauid, when the Prophet Nathan came vntounto him, after he had gone into Bethsheba. Esay 7.20. In that day shall the Lord shaue with a rasor that is hired, euen by them beyond the riuer, by the King of Ashur, the head and the haire of the feete, and it shall consume the beard. Iudg. 3.24. When he was gone out, his seruāts came: who seeing that the doores of the parlar were shut, they said, Surely he couereth his feete, (that is, he doth his easement) in his summer chamber. Againe, a mans talke must be little and submisse Matth. 12.19. Behold my seruant whome I hauehave chosen, he shall not striue, nor crie, neither shall any man heare his voice in the streetes. Prou. 10.19. In many words there cannot want iniquitie: but he that refraineth his lips is wise. And it is a note of a strumpet to be a giglot, and loud tongued. Prou. 7.11. Shee is babling and loud. In apparell, we must obserue an holy comelinesse. Tit. 2.…. The elder women must be of such behauiour, as becommeth holinesse. Holy comelinesse is that which expresseth to the eie the sinceritie, that is, the godlines, temperance, and grauitie either of man or woman. This decencie wil more plainly appeare, if we consider the endes of apparell, which are in number fiue. 1. Necessitie, to the ende that our bodies may be defended against the extremity of parching heate, and pinching colde. 2. Honestie, that that deformitie of our naked bodies might be couered, which immediately followed the transgression of our first parents. 3. Commoditie, whereby men, as their calling, worke, and trade of life is different, so do they apparell themselues: and hence it is, that some apparell is more decent for certaine estates of men, then other. 4. Frugalitie, when a mans attire is proportionable to his abilitie and calling. 5. Distinction of persons, as of sexe, ages, offices, times, and actions. For a man hath his set attire, a woman hers, a young man apparelled on this fashion, an olde man on that. And therefore it is vnseemely for a man to put on a womans apparell, or a woman the mans. Deut. 22.5. The woman shall not weare that which pertaineth to the man, neither shall a man put on womans raiment: for all that doe so, are an abomination to the Lord thy God.
To set downe precisely out of Gods word what apparrell is decent, is very hard: wherefore in this case, the iudgement and practise of modest, graue, and sincere men, in eueryevery particular estate, is most to be followed, and men must rather keepe too much within the bounds of measure, then to step one foot without the precincts. Concerning the purging of excrements of nature, care must be had, that they bee cast foorth into some separate and close place, and there also couered. Deut. 23.12. Thou shalt hauehave a place without the host, whither thou shalt resort. 13. And thou shalt hauehave a paddle among thy weapons, & when thou wouldest sit downe without, thou shalt digge therewith, and returning, thou shalt couer thine excrements. 14. For the Lord thy God walketh in the middest of the camp to deliuer thee: therefore thine host shall be holy, that he see no filthy thing in thee, & turne away from thee. 1. Sam. 24.4. And he came to the sheepe-coats by the way, where there was a caue, and Saul went in to couer his feete.
Sobrietie is a vertue, which concerneth the vsage of our diet in holines. For the better obseruation thereof, these rules may serue: I. The cheifest at the banket, let him consecrate the meates to God, by saying grace. 1. Sam. 9.13. The people will not eate, till he (that is, Samuel) came, because he wil blesse the sacrifice: and then eate they, that be bidden to the feast. Mark. 6.39. He commanded thē to make them all sit downe by companies vponupon the grasse, &c. 41. And he tooke the fiue loaues and two fishes, and looked vp to heauen, and gaue thankes. Act. 27.35. When he had thus said, he (that is, Paul) gaue thankes in the presence of them all, & when he had broken bread, he began to eate. II. It is lawefull to furnish a table with store of dishes not onelyonly for necessity, but also for the good entertainment of a friende, and for delight. Luk. 5. 29. Leui made him (that is, Iesus) a great feast in his owne house, where there was a great company of Publicans, and of other that sate at tabe with him. Psal. 104.15. He giueth wine that maketh glad the heart of man, & oyle to make the face shine, & bread that strengtheneth mans heart. Ioh. 12.2. There they made him a supper, and Martha serued, but Lazarus was one of them that sate at table with him. 3. Then tooke Marie a pound of oyntment of Spikenard, very costly, and annointed Iesus feete. III. Choose the lower roome at a banquet, and rather then be troublesome, sit as the master of the feast assigneth thee. Luk. 14.7. He spake a parable to the guests, when he marked howe they chose out the chiefe roomes, and said, 8. When thou shalt be bidden of any man to a wedding, set not thy selfe downe in the chiefest place, least a more honourable man then thou be bidden of him. 9. And he that bade both him and thee, come and say, GiueGive this man roome. 10. But goe and sit downe in the lowest roome, that when he that bade thee, commeth, he may say vntounto thee, Friend, sit vp higher. Prou. 25.5. Stād not in the place of great mē, &c. IV. Man must eate at due times, not at vnseasonable houres. Eccl. 10.16. Woe be to thee, O land, whē thy Princes eate in the morning. 17. Blessed art thou, O land, when Princes eate in time. V. Man must eate and drinke moderately, so that the body may receiue strength thereby, & the soule be more fresh and liuely, to performe the actions of godlines. Luk. 21. 34. Take heede to your selues, least at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfetting and drunkennesse. Prou. 23.29. To whome is woe? &c. Euen to them that tarry long at wine, to them that goe and seeke mixt wine. 3. Looke not thou vponupon the wine when it is red, and when it sheweth his colour in the cup, and goeth downe pleasantly, &c. Prou. 25.16. If thou hast found hony, eate that is sufficient for thee, least thou be ouer full, and vomit. Prou. 31.4. It is not for Kings to drinke wine, nor for Princes strong drinke. 5. Least he drinke and forget the decree, and change the iudgement of all the children of affliction. VI. We must then especially regard these things, when we eate at great mens tables. Prou. 23.1. When thou sittest to eate with a ruler, consider diligently what is before thee. 2. Put the knife to thy throate, if thou be a man giuen to thine appetite. 3. Be not desirous of his dainty meates: for it is a deceiueable meate. VII. Godly mirth at meate is tollerable. Act. 2.46. They did eate their meat togither with gladnes and singlenes of heart. VIII. Table talke (according as occasion of talke is offered) must be such as may edifie. Such was Christs talke at the Pharises table. Luk. 14. from th… 1. verse to the 16. verse. IX. See that after the banquet ended, the broken meate be not lost, but reserued. Iohn 6.12. When they were satisfied, he said vntounto his Disciples, Gather vp the broken meate which remaineth, that nothing be lost. X. At a feast leaue somwhat. Ruth. 2.14. Shee did eate, and was sufficed, and left thereof.
Chastitie is double: one of single life, another in wedlocke. They that are single, must I. with great care keepe their affections and bodies in holinesse. Psal. 119. 9. Howe shall a young man purge his waies! by directing the same after thy word. 1. Ioh. 2. 13. I write vntounto you fathers, because ye hauehave knowne him, that is from the beginning. I write vntounto you young men, because ye hauehave ouercome that wicked one. 14. I write vntounto you babes, because ye hauehave knowne the Father. Eccl. 12.1. Remember thy creator in the daies of thy youth, whiles the euill daies come not, nor the yeares approch, wherein thou shalt say, I hauehave no pleasure in them. II. They must fast often. 1. Cor. 9.27. I beate downe my bodie, and bring it into subiection, least by any meanes, after I hauehave preached to others, I my selfe should be reprooued. III. They must take heede they burne not in lust: for, 1. Cor. 7.9. It is better to marry then to burne.
Chastitie in wedlocke, is when the holy and pure vse of wedlocke is obserued, Heb. 13.4. Mariage is honourable among all, & the bed vndefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will iudge. To preserue puritie in wedlocke, these cautions are profitable: I. Contracts must be in the Lord, and with the faithful onelyonly. Malac. 2.11. Iudah hath transgressed, and an abomination is committed in Israel, and in Ierusalem: for Iudah hath defiled the holinesse of the Lord, which he loued, and hath maried the daughter of a strange god. 1. Cor. 7.39. If her husband be dead shee is at libertie to marrie with whome shee will, onelyonly in the Lord. II. Both parties must separate themselues in the time of a womans disease, and at appointed fasts. Ezech. 18.6. 1. Cor. 7.5. Defraud not one another, except it be with consent for a time, that ye may giuegive your selues to fasting and praier, and againe come together, that Satan tempt you not for your incontinencie. III. Wedlocke must be vsed rather to suppresse, then to satisfie that corrupt cōcupiscence of the flesh, and especially to enlarge the Church of God. Rom. 13.14. Put on the Lord Iesus Christ, and take not care of the flesh to satisfie the lusts thereof. IV. It must bee vsed with prayer and thanksgiuing. 1. Tim. 4.3,4.