The Young Mans Guide, Chapter 14
CHAP. XIV. Of Wantonness and Uncleanness, which is another Vice whereunto Young Men are addicted.
III. ANother sin whereunto Young Men are addicted, is Wantonness, and Uncleanness, Prov. 7. 7. It was a Young Man that followed the Harlot to her house. Young Men are generally apt to this Beastly sin, and to make light of it, when they have done, accounting it but a trick of Youth, and a Venial transgression; as if their Youthful propensity thereto, and the commonness thereof in men of that age, might be their sufficient Apology and excuse. Therefore I shall shew you:
1. The Kinds and Degrees of this sin.
2. The Heynousness of it.
3. The Danger thereof.
4. Some Remedies against the same.
I. For the Kinds and Degrees of this sin, it is
Either Contemplative, or Practical.
Contemplative Uncleanness is, when the mind pleaseth it self with lascivious and wanton thoughts, delighting the sensual appetite. And thus there may be a world of wickedness in a mans heart, though the act of pollution be refrained: There's many a Whorish heart, where there have not been Whorish acts. And I am perswaded, that the outward act of Fornication and Adultery is not more heynous among men, than the lustful and unclean thoughts of the heart are to God. An Adulterous heart, an Adulterous eye, an Adulterous tongue, are all an abomination to the Lord.
Of Practical uncleanness there are many degrees.
1. Fornication; Which is, when the sin of Uncleanness is committed by single and unmarried persons.
2. Adultery, When both, or one of the Parties delinquent, are Married; as the Notation of the word intimates, Adulterium, quasi ad alterius torum, the going to anothers Bed. And this is so much the more heynous, as it is a wilful shipwrack abroad, when it hath an Harbour, and safe remedy provided at home.
3. Incest; Which is committed by persons that are within the prohibited degrees of Consanguinity, or Affinity.
4. Polygamy; The having of many Wives at once.
5. Rape, or Ravishment; Which is a violent deflowring of a Woman, who never consented thereunto. Such was Amnon's sin in deflowring his Sister Thamar.
II. The Heynousness of this sin appeareth,
1. From the Titles given to it in Scripture. The Prophet Ieremy calls it Villany, Jer. 29. 23. Because they have committed Villany in Israel, and have committed Adultery with their Neighbours Wives. Where the latter branch is Exegetical, shewing what that Villany was which they committed, even Adultery with their Neighbours Wives. This sin is likewise termed lewdness, filthiness, and uncleanness: But most commonly it is called folly, and the Actors thereof Fools, Gen. 34. 7. 2 Sam. 13. 13. And Prov. 7. 7. Solomon calleth the young Fornicator a simple one, void of understanding. For what greater folly, than for the satisfying thy filthy lusts, to cast thy self head-long into innumerable evils here, and into eternal torments hereafter?
2. The heynousness of this sin appeareth from the manifold threatnings in Gods Word against it, 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Be not deceived, neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, &c. shall inherit the Kingdom of God. As if he had said, I know many of you are apt to flatter your selves with a conceit, that God, who is the Father of mercy, will not be so severe, as for this sin, which is so natural, to cast you into Hell, or shut you out of Heaven. But, saith he, Deceive not your selves, neither Fornicators, nor Adulterers, nor Effeminate, shall inherit the Kingdom of God; that is, except they truly repent, and leave off those sins. And Eph. 5. 5. This ye know, that no Whoremonger, nor unclean person, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ, and of God. Mortifie therefore your members which are upon the earth, fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscense, for which things sake the wrath of God cometh upon the Children of disobedience, Col. 3. 5, 6. Where the Apostle assures us, that men living and continuing impenitently in filthiness and uncleanness, shall not escape the wrath of God, whose wrath is a consuming fire, which shall burn to the bottom of Hell. And Heb. 13. 4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the Bed undefiled; but Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge. And Rev. 21. 8. it is said, Whoremongers and Adulterers shall have their part in the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Thus you see how sorely this sin is threatned in the Word of God.
3. The Iudgments God hath executed upon men for this sin of uncleanness, shew the heynousness thereof. For this sin the Lord brought a flood of water upon the old World, Gen. 6. 2, 3. For this sin the Lord rained Fire and Brimstone upon Sodom and Gomorrah, Gen. 19. 5, 24. God saw it meet, that they who burned with the fire of Lust, should be consumed with the fire of Vengeance. We read this sin cut off three and twenty thousand of the Israelites in one day, 1 Cor. 10. 8. Neither let us commit Fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand. As there is no resolved sinner, but God follows him with his Judgments: so he follows Whoremongers and Adulterers with strange punishments. Witness that strange, loathsom disease so common amongst them, which was not heard of till these latter Ages.
O Young Man, let the many threatnings in Gods Word, and the various judgments he hath executed upon Whoremongers and Adulterers, make thee afraid, and turn this filthy pleasure into a dread and terrour to thee. Come not near the house of the strange Woman, remember that the dead are there, and that her Guests are in the depths of Hell, Prov. 9. 18.
4. There is no sin that is so directly opposite to holiness, and to the holy Spirit of God, as this: Nor any sin that makes us so like the Devil, who is often in the Evangelists called the unclean Spirit, Matth. 10. 1. and 12. 43. Both because he very much delighteth in uncleanness, and likewise maketh it his chief design to intice and draw men thereunto.
III. The danger of this sin appeareth from the sad effects and consequents of it, some whereof are these,
1. It bringeth judgements on the body, destroying its health and strength, filling it with rotteness; it is the seminary of many incurable diseases. For the flame of Lust consumeth the Vital moisture, and the unnatural fire of burning Concupiscence extinguisheth the natural heat, which two are the Fountain of Life and Strength. An Incontinent person is the sink of all Corruption, a bag of Filth and Rotteness, and hath more diseases attending him, than an Hospital. For the righteous God hath appointed, that they who sow to the flesh, should of the flesh reap a plentiful Harvest of Corruption.
2. As it causeth a Corruption in the body, so likewise a Consumption in the goods and estate of a man. Who so keepeth company with Harlots, spendeth his Substance. Prov. 29. 3. Lust not therefore, saith Solomon, after a strange woman in thine heart, for by means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece of bread, Prov. 6. 26. Thus it was with the Prodigal, who no sooner fell into the company of Harlots, but presently consumed, and wasted all his substance, and was reduced to such extream Poverty, that his desire was but to be fellow-Commoner with the Swine, (of all Creatures the most nasty and filthy) that he might fill his belly with their husks. Wantonness is usually accompanied with want, partly because it is a sin, which bringeth the curse of God upon a mans estate: and partly because it is many wayes a costly sin, much being spent in feasting and Revelling, besides gifts and rewards. When Lais that famous Curtizan of Corinth asked Demosthenes a great sum of money to lye with her one night, he answered her wisely, that he would not buy repentence at so dear a rate.
3. As this sin bringeth a Consumption on the body and goods, so likewise doth it bring a rotten reputation on the name, and a reproach never to be done away. For be his proper name what it will, a Whore-master will be his common name, Prov. 6. 33. Whoso committeth Adultery, lacketh understanding, a wound and dishonour shall he get, that is, He shall be wounded in his name and credit; and his reproach shall not be wiped away, that is, the disgrace which he hath brought upon himself by his filthiness, and uncleanness shall abide upon him. Though the wound may be cured by repentence, and the pouring into it the precious balm of Christ's blood, yet the scar in his name and reputation will remain.
4. It brings destruction on a mans soul, hurrying it into eternal torments in Hell; the fire of Lust is fuel for the fire of Hell, He that committeth Adultery with a woman, destroyeth his own soul, saith the Wise man, Prov. 6. 22. that is, casteth himself headlong both body and soul into that lake, which burneth with fire and brimstone. Sinner, that fire below, as hot as 'tis, would if it be well considered, be a cooler to this fire of Lust. When thou feelest Lust burn within thee, then think of everlasting burnings.
O young man; dost thou love thy self, or any thing that thou hast? Dost thou love thy body? abstain then from Fornication, and uncleanness, whereby thou sinnest against thine own body, and bringest a Consumption and Rottenness upon it. Dost thou love thy goods? then flee Fornication, which is like to leave thee a beggar. Dost thou love thy credit? abstain, for it is a dishonourable sin, and will mark thee for one of the fools in Israel, and cause thy name to rot and stink above ground. Lastly, dost thou love thy soul? abstain, for that it's carrying down to the depth of hell.
IV. For the Remedies against this sin, the Scripture affordeth many, I shall hint some of the most principal.
1. Resist those wanton and unclean thoughts, which do either arise from thine own wicked heart, or are cast in by Satan. Do not revolve them in thy mind, nor suffer them to lodge within thee, but with detestation presently reject them, and cast them away. If thou canst not prevent them in their conception, let it be thy care to destroy them in their birth, that so they may prove abortive. If thou suffer them to live, they will receive growth, and strength to thine utter perdition. Who having fire cast into his bosome, will not so soon as he discerneth it, cast it out? Quench these sparks at their first kindling, lest they break out into such a flame, which will not be quenched.
2. Be very watchful as over thy outward senses, so especially over thine eyes, which are the doors and windows of the soul to let in Lust. Hereupon Iob, though an holy man, and in Years, durst not trust his eyes without a guard, but ingaged himself by solemn Promise and Covenant not to stand gazing on the beauty of a woman; Iob 31. 1. Alexander refused so much as to see Darius his wife, a Lady of incomparable beauty, fearing lest he, who had Conquered the Husband, should be overcome by the Wife. Upon this ground it seems Zeleucus imposed that Law upon the Locrenses, that the Adulterers eyes should be pulled out, because sin entred in at those Casements, therefore he would stop up the Windows.
Hearken, O young man, hearken to that advice which we find given, Ecclesiasticus 9. 8. Turn away thine eyes from beholding a beautiful woman, and look not upon anothers Beauty, for many have thereby perished.
3. Possess thy soul with a serious consideration of Gods all-seeing presence about thee, wheresoever thou art. It is the very Argument which Solomon useth to disswade the wanton young man from his filthy course of life, Prov. 5. 20, 21. Why wilt thou my Son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosome of a stranger? For the wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings. Though the unclean person commit this sin never so secretly, that will avail him little. It was the fear of God, arising from the consideration of his all-seeing presence, that kept Ioseph from hearkening to the Adulterous sollicitations of his Mistris. How can I, saith he, do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Gen. 39. 9. Art thou out of fear of being espied or discovered by the eye of man, yet consider the All-seeing eye of God is upon thee.
4. Shun all means; occasions, and provocations unto Lust and Uncleanness. He that will shun any sin, must avoid the occasions thereof, else he will tempt God to give him up thereunto. The occasions and provocations of Lust are divers.
1. Fulness of Bread and Drink, eating to Gluttony, and drinking to Drunkenness. As Temperance is the best preserver of Chastity: So intemperance in Eating and Drinking is the Nurse of Uncleanness, the Oyl wherewith the flame thereof is kindled and increased, Ier. 5. 7, 8. They were as fed Horses in the Morning, every one Neighed after his Neighbours Wife: implying, that when men are fed to the full, like pampered Horses, they will Neigh after their Neighbours Wives: But take away the fuel, and the fire of Lust will soon go out. Whereupon Lycurgus to prevent all filthiness and uncleanness in Sparta, prohibited all Feasts and Banquetings by a Law: for he knew that Gluttony and Drunkenness were the Mothers of Wantonness and Voluptuousness.
2. Filthy and obscene talk is another occasion and incentive of Lust. For as the Apostle speaketh, 1 Cor. 15. 23. Evil communications corrupt good manners. Many, I know, take too much liberty to themselves herein, and make nothing of it, but do flatter themselves with a conceit of the purity of their hearts. But let such know, that filthy and unclean words do argue a filthy and unclean mind. Obscene words being but the excrements and overflowings of a carnal and corrupt heart: for out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaketh. Thy stinking breath smells of a foul Stomach.
3. Lascivious Pictures, wherewith too many do adorn, or rather disgrace their houses. For what are they indeed but dumb Orators to perswade to Lust? and lively Presidents out of which a wanton heart will easily take out a pattern of Uncleanness for its own imitation? They are worse than obscene words, because they vanish, and are gone: whereas lascivious Pictures do abide and infect many, one after another. For it is found by experience, that wanton objects do ingender wanton fancies and imaginations, which tend to filthy and unclean actions. Beware therefore, O young man, of gazing on lascivious Pictures; rather turn away thine eyes from beholding inticing, and bewitching vanities.
4. Stage-plays. Many of which are stuffed with filthy and obscene speeches, and set forth with many lascivious gestures, by which they are very apt to infect the mind with Effeminate Lust, and dispose the heart for unclean and filthy actions. The Stage is a decoy for the Stews.
5. Undecent, and garish attire. Men and Womens strange Apparel doth oft stir up Lust, both in themselves, and others also; especially when such parts as ought to be covered, are left naked. In Prov. 7. 10. a Strumpet is set forth to allure others by her Apparel. Aesop said wittily to a Gallant wantonly attired, That if he did it to please men, he was but a Fool, for no wise man would account the better of him: And if he did it to please Women, he was but a Knave, and meant unchastly.
These are the ordinary occasions of Lust, and provocations thereunto, which ought carefully to be shunned, and avoided.
5. Another remedy against fleshly lusts, is to busie thy self diligently in thy Calling. By this means the body of man is exercised, and his mind imployed, and so kept from idleness, which is a great cause of Lust. Idleness is noted to be one of the causes of Sodom's Uncleanness, Ezek. 16. 49. This also is noted to be the cause of David's committing Adultery, 2 Sam. 11. 2, 3, 4. when men are idle, they have no business but to sin: but when men are busie in their Calling, then they have no leisure to sin.
6. Flee unto God by earnest and hearty Prayer, for power and strength against the power of thy lusts and corruptions. Beg of him that he would be pleased to cast the unclean spirit out of thee, and indue thee with his holy Spirit, which may inable thee to fight against the flesh, and to mortifie and subdue all sinful lusts, all inordinate affections, and evil concupiscence. This was the remedy which Paul used in this very case, when he felt the thorn in his flesh, which some Divines interpret to be lustful motions stirring in him: For this, saith he, I besought the Lord thrice, 2 Cor. 12. 8. and though he was not thereupon wholly delivered from them, yet he found Grace sufficient for his support, so that he was not overcome by them.
7. If these means prevail not, use the benefit of lawful Marriage. To avoid Fornication, let every man have his own Wife, and let every Woman have her own Husband, … Cor. 7. 2. And vers. 9. Such as cannot contain themselves, let them Marry; for it is better to Marry, than to burn, Many there are who give Satan too great advantage against themselves, by neglecting this remedy of Marriage. The Popes forbidding Priests to Marry, though they have not the gift of Continency, hath been the cause of most abominable uncleannesses amongst them.