A Key to the Key of Scripture, Chapter 1 · Exposition of verse 24
Verſe 24. Wherefore alſo God gaue them vp to their hearts lustes, vntounto vncleanneſſe, to defile their owne bodies betweene themſelues.
NOw followeth the puniſhment of this ſinne. Wherein we are to conſider the puniſhment it ſelfe; which is corporall vncleannes, and fornication: ſecondly the maner of inflicting, gaue them vp: thirdly, the inflicter God.
Where firſt obſerue, Obſer. that ſinnes ſometimes hauehave the nature of puniſhments. See Exod. 9. 2 Theſ. 2. 1 Reg. 22. Hoſ. 4.12. and this is confeſſed by all Diuines popiſh, and orthodoxall: the ſcriptures alſo are pregnant for this purpoſe.
And it may ſerue to arme vsus againſt that Argument that hath often troubled many: Ʋſe. (viz.) againſt the prouidence of God, and his care of the things of this life: drawne eſpecially from the preſent proſperitie of wicked and vngodly men; whom it pleaſeth the Lord to feede fat with the things of this life. Now if wee would conſider, and well weigh the matter, we ſhould eaſily perceiue that they are not without their iudgement: for their very ſinnes and their lying in them, is as great a iudgement as may be inflicted in this life: to liue in drunkenneſſe, whoredome, &c. what puniſhment can be greater, ſeeing it defaceth Gods image: ſecondly, hardeneth the heart: thirdly, prepareth for deſtruction.
But ſee we the Authour of this puniſhment, and the manner of inflicting it. The Authour is God: God gaue them vp. See Exod. 10.17. 2 Theſ. 2. Yet that wee erre not, conſider we a little, how God inflicts it.
Anſ. Not by infuſing any new wickednes into them. See Iam. 1.13. but firſt, by denying, or withdrawing his grace, by which they might hauehave beene withholden from ſuch ſinnes: as Gen. 2….6. which Diuines call ſpirituall deſertion. In which regard they make God in in this caſe, Cauſam remouentem prohibens. of theſe ſins whereunto they ruſh, after their ſtay and hold-back is remoued: ſecondly, by tradition or deliuering them vp to the power of Sathan, and head-ſtrong ſwinge of their own corruptions. See 1. Reg. 22.22. thirdly, which is accidentally onelyonly, by giuing them meanes of reſtraint, which falling vponupon a heart thus forſaken of God become vntounto them occaſions of greater violence in wickednes; as the Law. Rom 7.8. As impediments caſt to hinder the current of a violent ſtreame rather increaſe the violence thereof▪ then any way ſtop the paſſage: fourthly, after ſuch abuſe of theſe meanes of reclaiming, by denying vntounto them thoſe meanes of reſtraint. Read. Hoſ. 4.14.
Hence therefore it will eaſily follow, that there is ſome act of Gods will extended to the being of ſinne it ſelfe, in reſpect of the euent. Firſt, that God willeth that there be ſinne, though not qua peccatum; yet as a meanes to manifeſt his merciemercy in pardoning▪ iuſtice in puniſhing; and as the iuſt and operatiue permiſſion thereof in men is an act of God, as a iudge puniſhing ſome former tranſgreſſion thereby. And why men ſhould now be ſo abhorrent from this doctrine ſo long ſince taught in the Church of God I ſee not: yea, the very idle permiſſion they talke of, implies as much: for what God permits, hee wils to permit, and ſo wils to be.
Vſe 2 But let this be our warning, to beware of all plagues, of this ſpiritual iudgement, of being giuegive… vp to our luſts: ſurely, except God ſhould preſently ſend vsus downe to the place of our iniquitie, where is paine endleſſe, caſeleſſe, and remedileſſe, a greater iudgement cannot befall vsus.
And as we are fearfull of the iudgement: ſo eſpecially take we heed of the cauſes thereof, they are, firſt, vnthankefulnes for graces receiued: ſecondly, ill vſe of gifts beſtowed: thirdly, not profiting by meanes vouchſafed. Confer Iſay 1 5. Heb. 6.8. Ezech. 24.13.
Neither is it to be omitted, Obſer. that the Lord ordinarily puniſheth ſpirituall fornication with bodily vncleanneſſe: Confer Hoſ. 4.12. as alſo we ſee at this day come to paſſe in the Church of Rome: wherein how ſuch vncleanneſſe hath been practiſed, tolerated yea defended, as leſſe euil then marriage copulation, which the Lord teacheth to be vndefiled, their bookes and practiſe ſufficiently witneſſe.
But laſt of all, Obſer. conſider here the nature of fornication, it is an vncleanneſſe which diſhonoureth the bodie. The bodie of man, it is in it ſelfe and by Diuine dignation, a moſt honourable creature; but is ſpoiled of all honour, by this beaſtly ſinne of whoredome. The honour of the bodie ſtands in foure things eſpecially; firſt, the health of it. Col. 2.23. and indeed what ſenſible creature hath the world ſo full of comelineſſe and maieſtie as the bodie of man preſerued in health? And how this ſinne aboue others depriues it of this honour Salomon, teſtifyeth Prouerb. 5.9.10.11. and ordinarie experience teacheth; there being no ſinne that brings vvith it a more preſent blemiſhing of beautie, impayring of ſtrength, rotting of the marrow. A ſecond honour of the bodie is to be a ſacrifice, holy and acceptable vntounto GOD. Rom. 12.1.2. A third to be a member of Chriſt. 1 Cor. 6.15. A fourth to be a Temple for the holy Ghoſt to dwell in. 1 Cor. 6.19. of all which high honours wee depriue our bodies, when wee giuegive them vp to this filthy vncleannes.
Ʋſe. Let vsus therefore be exhorted as the Apoſtle exhorts vsus, of all ſinnes to flye fornication: there is in this ſinne ſomething ſingular aboue others: whereas all other ſinnes are without the bodie, he that committeth fornication ſinnes againſt his owne bodie: that is,1 Cor. 6.18. whereas all other euen outward ſinnes, though the bodie be the inſtrument of them, yet is it not the obiect of them; in this a man ſinnes againſt his owne bodie, ſpoiling it of that excellent honour whereto GOD both in nature and grace hath aduanced it. Conſider if thou wilt, with what ſtrange, and incurable diſeaſes GOD hath in all times plagued this ſinne, pockes, dropſies, &c. and many others at the naming whereof many times wee tremble. And how many excellent perſonages both of men and women, renowmed for beautie, and comely feature of bodie, (a worthy bleſſing of GOD) haſt thou ſeene vtterly disfigured, and ſo quite deformed? that there hath not beene left the leaſt foote prints of what formerly appeared in them: flye fornication.