Four Treatises Dissuading from Four Heinous and Common Sins, Treatise 3 · Chapter 10
CHAP. X. That whoredome is the cauſe of many grieuous puniſhments.
BVt as whoredome is the puniſhment of other ſinnes;§. Sect. 1. That God himſelfe puniſheth whoredome when men winke at it. ſo alſo it ſelfe as a grieuous ſinne is puniſhed with Gods heauy iudgements. And becauſe men who are Gods deputies doe oftentimes winke at it, and careleſſely paſſe ouer the due executiō of iuſtice in the puniſhment of this ſin; therefore the Lord oftentimes taketh the cauſe into his owne hands, and proceedeth againſt theſe filthy perſons, not onelyonly as a Iudge and witneſſe againſt them, but as the executioner of that iuſt ſentence which himſelfe hath pronounced. So he ſaith that he would come neere vntounto the Iſraelites to iudgement, and be a ſwift witneſſe againſt the whoremongers.Mal. 3.5. Heb 13.4. Mal. 3.5. and Heb. 13.4, it is ſaid that whoremongers and adulterers, God himſelfe will iudge. Yea, ſo odious is this ſinne in the ſight of this vpright Iudge, that though he bee infinite in merciemercy, yet hee profeſſeth that he could not in his iuſtice let this ſinne goe vnpuniſhed:Ier. 5.7. Ier. 5.7. How ſhall I ſpare thee for this? thy children hauehave for ſaken me, &c. And though I fed them to the full, yet they committed whoredome, and aſſembled themſelues by companies in harlots houſes, &c. A notable example of this ſeuere execution of iuſtice for this ſin, we hauehave Numb. 25.Numb. 25. where by Gods expreſſe commandement 24000. were ſlaughtered for committing whoredome with the daughters of Moab; and ſo the burning heate of their filthie luſts was quenched with a large ſtreame of their owne blood.
But that we may deſcend to more particulars,§. Sect. 2. That God puniſheth fornicators with ponertie and beggerie. the ſinne of fornication is puniſhed by God both in this life, and in the life to come. In this life the Lord inflicteth on it both priuate and publicke puniſhments. The puniſhments which are impoſed vponupon priuate men are either temporall or ſpirituall: The fornicatour is puniſhed with temporall puniſhments both in his ſtate, perſon and poſteritie; in his ſtate hee is puniſhed with pouertie and extreme beggerie; for this burning luſt is as a conſuming fire, which deuoureth all the ſubſtance, and bringeth men of great wealth to ſuch extreme penurie,Prou 6.26. that they are (as the Wife man ſaith) glad to beg a peece of bread. And this commeth to paſſe firſt and principally, becauſe the curſe of God is vponupon his ſtate and labours for this ſinne,Iob 14.18. ſo that nothing he hath doth proſper, nothing he doth well ſucceedeth vnderunder his hand:Pſalm. 127.1.2 and partly becauſe his minde is ſo beſotted with his filthie luſts, that hee neglecteth his ſtate not caring which end goes forward, ſo hee may enioy his beaſtly pleaſure, and partly by reaſon that this ſinne is exceeding coſtly, and though it be moſt baſe and brutiſh, yet is compaſſed and bought at the higheſt prices. For much is ſpent vponupon filthie bawdes and pandors, which are their inſtruments and factors which they vſe for the compaſſing of their deſires; much is conſumed vponupon their harlots in gifts and rewards, as money, apparell, iewels, ornaments, in muſicke, dancing, reuelling, feaſting and banquetting, all which is beſtowed to pleaſe their ſtrumpets, and to inflame their owne luſts, which naturally would ſoone languiſh and faint, if they were not reuiued, and anew reinforced by theſe incitements and prouocations, which are the fuell of luſt whereby it is kindled and nouriſhed. In all which reſpects the harlot is like vntounto a bottomleſſe gulph, into which men being carried with the tempeſtuous ſtormes of their owne luſts and paſſions, doe make ſhipwrack of their whole eſtate, they in the meane time being neuer the richer vponupon whom it is beſtowed. And this the Wiſe man obſerued in his time: Prou. 29.3. He that feedeth harlots, wasteth his ſubſtance. Prou. 29.3.Neither is a wife, many children, and a great familie ſo chargeable as one harlot, nor ſo ſoone bring a man to want and miſerie. For he that with the prodigall ſonne doth banquet and reuell it among harlots, will within a while be glad to bee a fellow commoner with ſwine,Luk. 15. and to make a hogſtie his dining parlour.
Secondly, the fornicatour is puniſhed in his perſon,§. Sect. 3. God puniſheth fornicators with infamie and diſcredit. and that diuerſly, as firſt in his name; for as hee doth diſhonour God many waies by his ſinne, ſo doth the Lord cauſe him to be diſgraced amongſt men, and inflicteth vponupon his name and credit ſuch a deepe and incurable wound of diſhonour, Prou. 6.33.that his reproch ſhall neuer be put away. With this accordeth the ſaying of the ſonne of Syrach, chap. 9.9.Eccleſ. 9.9. EueryEvery woman that is an harlot ſhall be troden vnderunder foote as dung, of eueryevery one that goeth by the way. The which although it may ſeeme a ſmall puniſhment to thoſe who hauing ſet their credit to ſale, are become ſhameleſſe and impudent; yet it is farre otherwiſe with thoſe who are of an ingenuous and honeſt diſpoſition, who as they preferre their life before riches, ſo they make more precious account of their good name then of their liues, chuſing much rather to die, then to outliue their credit and reputation.
Againe,§ Sect. 4. The fornicator is made a ſlaue to his owne luſts. the Lord puniſheth the fornicatour, by making him a wretched ſlaue, not only vntounto his owne vncleane luſts, but alſo to filthie harlots. For whereas the Lord hath appointed reaſon as the chiefe viceroy in the little world of man, whereby all his parts and members are to be ruled and gouerned, as it were obedient ſubiects; the fornicatour ioyning with his baſeſt parts, euen his vncleane luſts, rebelleth againſt his lawfull Soueraigne, and thruſting reaſon out of his throne, ſubiecteth himſelfe to be gouerned by his vnruly paſſions and filthie affections. In which vſurped tyrannie will only ſtandeth for a law, and tumultuous luſts rule and mannage all things according to their owne appetite. Whereof it commeth to paſſe that there is nothing ſo abominable which is not thought tolerable, nothing ſo ſhamefull which will cauſe bluſhing, nothing ſo diſhoneſt and outragious which they are not readie to act for the pleaſing and ſatisfying of their luſts. For howſoeuer things were vntounto them free and arbitrarie, before they had yeelded themſelues as ſlaues to their vile affections, yet when they are once inthronized in their hearts, they tyrannically impoſe vponupon them an vnreſiſtable neceſſitie of obedience. To which purpoſe Auguſtine ſaith fitly, that, Ex voluntate peruerſa facta eſt libido, & dum ſeruitur libidini facta eſt conſuetudo, Lib. Confeſſ.& dum conſuetudini non reſiſtitur facta eſt neceſſitas: Peruerſe will turneth vntounto vnbridled luſt, and while luſt is obeyed there groweth cuſtome, and cuſtome being not reſiſted becommeth neceſſitie.
And this ſlauerie vntounto their owne luſts yeeldeth them ouer as vaſſals and bondſlaues vntounto another as baſe a bondage,§ Sect. 5. The fornicator becommeth a ſlaue to his harlots. euen the miſerable thraldome of their filthie harlots, who whileſt vncleane affections and paſſions beare any ſway in their deuoted vaſſals, hold them after a tyrannicall manner vnderunder the moſt ſlauiſh and baſe ſubiection. Her face is to her filthie louer his chiefe heauen; her ſmiles the ſun-ſhine of all his comfort; her frownes like blacke clouds threatning a ſtorme, and the ſtorme ſhipwrack; her faire ſpeeches like the Syrens ſongs rauiſh him with bewitching delight; her threats like dreadfull thunderclaps, or pearcing darts which wound euen to the very heart. Her command is his chiefe law, her diſpleaſure his moſt intollerable puniſhment. If ſhe calleth hee muſt come; if ſhe ſendeth, her very commaund addeth wings to his haſte; if ſhe biddeth depart, hee dare not abide in her companie, though a ſhort abſence ſeemeth vntounto him a tedious baniſhment; if ſhe biddeth ſtay, he remaineth vnderunder her arreſt, and hath no libertie to depart. If ſhe want, his purſe muſt bee at her commandement; if ſhe maligne, his perſon muſt bee expoſed to all dangers in reuenge of her quarrell. That I may ſay nothing of his continuall hopes, feares, deſpaire, griefe, ielouſies, quarrels, truces, wherewith he is no otherwiſe tormented, then if hee were daily vponupon a torturing rack, ſauing that himſelfe chuſeth his tormentor, and voluntarily indureth this helliſh puniſhment. In which reſpect this ſinne of vncleannes is by one compared to an infernall fire, Hierom. O ignis infernalis luxuria! cuius materia gula, &c.whoſe matter or nouriſhment is gluttonie and drunkenneſſe, the flame burning luſt, the ſparkles corrupt ſpeeches and filthie communication, the ſmoke infamie and diſgrace, the aſhes vncleane filthineſſe, and the end hell torments.
Neither are baſe and effeminate men onelyonly ſubiect to this tyrannical ſlauerie, but euen the moſt ſtrong and valiant,§. Sect. 6. That the moſt vviſe and valiant become ſlaues to their harlots, being firſt conquered vvith their owne luſts. the wiſeſt and beſt qualified are in no better caſe, when they hauehave giuen themſelues ouer to bee ruled with their filthie affections: for to ſay nothing of the thrice valiant Hercules, who hauing vanquiſhed many monſters, was afterwards made through the violence of his luſts a baſe ſlaue to Omphale, and changed his club and lions skinne into a ſpindle and diſtaffe, receiuing his worke by taske among her maides; nor of Sardanapalus the great king of Aſſyria, who was ſo baſely inthralled with his luſts, that he vſed to weare womens apparrell and to ſpinne amongſt his harlots; the Scriptures themſelues doe offer vntounto vsus two notable examples, the one of the ſtrongeſt, the other of the wiſeſt amongſt meere men, who being firſt made ſlaues to their owne luſts, were afterwards ſubiected in the baſeſt thraldome vntounto their concubines and harlots. The ſtrong Sampſon who with the iaw bone of an aſſe ſlew a 1000. men, was ſo baſely deuoted to the harlot Dalilah, that when he was bewitched with her allurements, he could not conceale from her his chief ſecret, which imported him no leſſe then his life, though he had often experience of her treacherie & falſehood. And Salomon ſo much admired for his wiſedome, was ſo beſotted vponupon his wiues and concubines, that they withdrew his heart from God, who had inriched him aboue all other with his gratious benefits, and inticed him to ioyne with them in their groſſe idolatry. So that no ſtrength is able to incounter the violence of theſe fleſhly luſts; no wiſdome can priuiledge men from being deluded and abuſed with the cunning wiles of theſe filthie harlots.
Thirdlie,§. Sect. 7. God puniſheth the fornicators bodie vvith lothſome diſeaſes. God puniſheth the fornicator in his bodie with grieuous ſickneſſes and lothſome diſeaſes; for ſo wiſely hath he ordred it by his wiſdome and prouidence, that they who who will taſte the honie of this ſinne, ſhall alſo feele the ſting of puniſhment; for it ſpendeth the vitall ſpirits, conſumeth and extinguiſheth the naturall heate and moiſture, which are the onelyonly preſeruers of health, ſtrength and life; whereof followeth the corruption of the blood, diſſolution of the ſinewes, rottennes of the marrow, aches in the ioynts, cruditie in ſtomacke, paine in the head, lameneſſe in the limnes, gouts, palſies, and innumerable diſeaſes. Beſides all which naturall and ordinarie ſickneſſes and infirmities, the Lord hath of late puniſhed this ſinne with that moſt lothſome and deſperate diſeaſe, which is ſo odious euen to carnall men, that all nations are aſhamed to owne it; whereof it is, that it is diuerſlie called by diuers people, as the Neapolitan, Indian and French diſeaſe, which was neuer heard of in the daies of our anceſtours, till men in an vnuſal manner multiplying their filthie luſts, the Lord not much aboue an hundred yeeres-ſince, brought vponupon them this vnuſuall puniſhment, which is now growne almoſt as common as the ſinne. The conſideration whereof ſhould mooue all-men, whoſe liues are more deere vntounto them then their luſts, and whoſe health and ſtrength is more valued then a ſhort and brutiſh pleaſure to leaue this ſin, and loath theſe harlots; who in this reſpect may not vnfitly bee compared to ſweete, but poyſonous potions, which delight in the taſte, but kill in the diſgeſtion; or vntounto bandogs, ſauing that theſe hurt by fighting, they by fauning; theſe wound with biting, they with kiſſing and wanton dalliance. Or like the Iuie, which whileſt it ſeemeth louingly to imbrace the tree adioyning, ſucketh from it the naturall ſap and moiſture, and ſo cauſeth it to rot and periſh.
Laſtly,§. Sect. 8. God puniſheth fornicators in their poſteritie. as the Lord puniſheth this ſinne in the fornicators themſelues in regard of their owne perſon, ſo alſo in reſpect of their poſteritie. As ſometimes he puniſheth them with barrenneſſe, whereby their offpring is vtterly cut off, and as it were, dried in the ſpring, according to the ſaying of the Prophet, Hoſ. 4.10. They ſhall commit whoredome, and not increaſe. Hoſ. 4.10.Sometimes he viſiteth the ſinnes of theſe fornicators, in their vncleane iſſue, and pulleth them vp as ſoone as they begin to take roote, becauſe ſuch pernicious weedes are not fit to cumber his Church or common-wealth. In which reſpect Iob calleth whoredome, a ſire which deuoureth to deſtruction, Iob 31.12.and wholly rooteth out a mans increaſe. With which accordeth the ſaying of the ſonne of Syrach; namely, that the harlots children ſhall not take roote, nor her branches bring footh fruite. Eccleſ. 23.25.And if they liue and continue vponupon the earth, the Lord commonly giueth them ouer to patrizate, and follow the father in his ſinnes, ſo as vſually the whoriſh iſſue may bee no more eaſily knowne by reſembling their parents in their face and countenance, then in their leaud liues and vnchaſte conuerſation.