Four Treatises Dissuading from Four Heinous and Common Sins, Treatise 3 · Chapter 8
CHAP. VIII. That fornication is the cauſe of many other grieuous ſinnes.
ANd thus hauehave I ſhewed that the fornicatour ſinneth hainouſly, both in reſpect of God, his neighbour,§. Sect. 1. That fornication is the cauſe of adulterie and all abominable vncleanneſſe. and himſelfe. Now I am further to prooue, that as this ſin of whoredome is in it ſelfe exceeding ſinfull, ſo alſo it is the cauſe of diuers other grieuous ſinnes: for when the conſcience is defiled with this polluting ſinne, it is made fit to admit and intertaine the fouleſt vices, and moſt enormous crimes, and ſuch a large breach being made therein, it is eaſily ouerflowed and drowned with a flood of wickedneſſe. More eſpecially, fornication is the cauſe of greater ſinnes of the ſame kinde, as for example of adulterie; for it is vſually ſeene by common experience, that a young fornicatour maketh an old adulterer, and hee who in the prime of his age maketh no conſcience of defiling his neighbours childe, ripening in wickedneſſe as hee ripeneth in yeeres, when he commeth to maturitie will make no conſcience of defiling his neighbours wife. So alſo it prepareth the way & maketh an eaſie entrance for inceſt, Sodomie, buggerie, & all manner of abominable filthines, which euen corrupted nature is aſhamed to owne,Eph. 5 3. and are not ſo much as to be named among Chriſtians, but with hatred and deteſtation. And this commeth to paſſe partly through the iuſt iudgement of God, who for their former filthineſſe, giueth them vp to a reprobate ſenſe,Rom. 1. and to the ſlauerie of their owne filthie affections and vnnaturall luſts, to runne on in their ſinne with greedineſſe to their vtter perdition; and partly through the nature of ſinne which is in continuall growth, and if it bee not nipped in the bud or ſprig, becommeth in ſhort time a tree of huge largenes; if it bee not cruſhed and killed in the ſhell, it will like the Cockatrice grow to ſuch a poiſonous nature, that it will kill with the very looke. The which as it is verified of all other, ſo eſpecially of theſe ſinnes of vncleannes. For after they are conceiued by naturall concupiſcence, and borne with delight, and nurſed with wantonnes, at laſt being fed with curioſitie as it were with their complete nouriſhment, they grow vntounto vnnaturall ſhapes, and in the end become hidious monſters moſt vgly and abominable in the ſight of God and men. And laſtly, this commeth to paſſe through the cunning malice of our old enemie the diuell, who when hee cannot at the firſt thruſt into the doore of our harts & conſciences the greateſt ſins, doth make way & entrance for them by thoſe which are leſſe. Like vntounto thoſe, who not being able by any poſſible meanes to thruſt the fruite into a glaſſe with a narrow mouth in his full ripenes, doe put it in when it is young and new knit, and ſo let it grow, being ſtill nouriſhed with the roote, vntounto his naturall bignes, till it hauehave filled the glaſſe; whereby they make that eaſie by art which is impoſſible in nature. Or like vntounto miſchieuous theeues, who intending to rob a houſe, and being vnable any otherwiſe to enter, doe thruſt into the window the leaſt of their companie, who being entred, openeth and giueth an eaſie ingreſſe and paſſage vntounto thoſe who are of the largeſt ſtature. So this malicious gardener Satan, being not able to thruſt into our hearts and conſciences the euill fruit of ſinne in his full ripeneſſe, doth put it into them as it were in the bud, knowing that being nouriſhed with the malicious ſap, which is deriued from the roote of our naturall corruption, it will quickly grow to his full bigneſſe. And this arch-theefe the diuell intending to rob vsus of the riches of Gods graces, and not being able to enter with his moſt enormous crimes, as it were his aſſociates of the greateſt ſize; doth firſt thruſt into our ſoules and conſciences his ſmaller ſins, the which being entred, open a large doore, and giuegive entrance vntounto all manner outragious wickedneſſe.
Secondly, whoredome is oftentimes the cauſe of murther,§. Sect. 2. VVhoredome is oftentimes the cauſe of murther. and much bloodſhed, and that firſt in reſpect of the fornicatour himſelfe, who maketh a cleere paſſage vntounto his wickedneſſe with the death and deſtruction of all thoſe who hinder or oppoſe againſt it; ſometimes by poiſon and ſecret trecherie; ſometimes by force and open violence. For the fire of luſt ſo inflameth mens hearts with deadly furie againſt thoſe who ſtand in the way and hinder the ſatisfying of their beaſtly deſires, that it wil no otherwiſe be quenched but with their blood. Of this wee hauehave an example in Herodias, who was ſo incenſed againſt Iohn the Baptiſt for ſpeaking againſt her filthineſſe,Mar. 6. that in mortall reuenge ſhe preferred the cutting off his head before the halfe of Herods kingdome.2. Sam. 11. Yea euen holy Dauid himſelfe after his heart was defiled with vncleane luſt, made way for the ſatisfying thereof, and the ſaluing of his credit, by the death of his innocent ſubiect; and he whoſe conſcience was ſo tender that hee would not drinke of the water of the well which was procured with the hazard and perill of his three Worthies liues, though hee were readie to faint with thirſt; had*For the ſtorie which is 2. Sam 23.16. is to be referred to that vvhichwhich is 2. Sam. 5.17.18. afterwards his heart ſo hardened with vncleane luſts, that he thirſted after the blood of his faithfull ſeruant, and choſe rather to defile his ſoule and cōſcience with this abominable murther, then he would hauehave his filthie affections vnſatisfied. Secondly, it is a common cauſe of quarelling, brauling, fighting, and conſequently of bloodſhed and murther, amongſt thoſe who are corriuals in louelove, or rather in beaſtly luſt; for the harlot like vntounto the ſalt bitch intertaineth many louers, which like dogs are readie to ſnarle and teare one another in peeces, when the one hath the preheminence in her louelove aboue the other, who ſcorneth to bee his equall. And laſtly, it incenſeth the parties kindred and friends who is abuſed vntounto wrath, which vſually becommeth ſo vnreconcilable, becauſe the diſgrace redoundeth alſo vntounto themſelues that nothing can appeaſe it, but the death of the partie who hath done this villanie. An example whereof we hauehave in Ammon murthered by Abſolom for deflouring his ſiſter,2. Sam. 13. and in Sichem, who together with his father and the whole citie, were put to the ſword by Iacobs ſonnes,Gen. 34. for abuſing Dina: and in the Beniamites whoſe tribe was almoſt rooted out, in reuenge of that villany which was offered to the Leuites concubine.Iudg 19. & 20.
Laſtly,§. Sect. 3. VVhoredome the cauſe of idolatrie. Rom. 1. Hoſ. 4.14. carnall whoredome is oftentimes a cauſe of ſpirituall fornication and idolatrie, as it is ſometimes alſo the fruit and effect thereof, for theſe two are ſeldome ſeuered, but as mutuall cauſes doe reciprocally produce one another. And this commeth to paſſe, partly becauſe the Lord giueth thoſe vp, who are polluted with vile affections, to blindnes of mind, whereby they are ſo infatuated, that they are readie in their ſuperſtitious deuotion to beleeue lies, and to be abuſed with ſtrong deluſions; and partly becauſe idolatrie commonly fauoureth, or at leaſt tollerateth fornication, and therefore the whoremonger fauoureth and approoueth idolatrie, which giueth him libertie to continue in his ſinne with ſecuritie of conſcience, as before I hauehave ſhewed in the example of the Papiſts.1. King. …. The like experience we hauehave in Salomon, who when he was by the allurements of ſtrange women drawne to be a whoremonger, was ſoone after perſwaded to become an idolater alſo; and hauing loſt his bodilie chaſtitie, hee within a while loſt the chaſtitie and cleanneſſe of ſoule, and after hee had broken the couenant of marriage, hee violated alſo his couenant which he had made with God.