Abridgment of the Whole Body of Divinity, Part 2 · Subpart 17
The seventh Commandment.The seventh Commandment.
Thou shalt not commit Adultery.
The Affirmative part.The Affirmative part.
Here we are commanded chastity in body and minde.
Chastity is the purity of body and Soul.
The minde is chaste, when it is free from fleshly concupiscence.
The body is chaste, when it doth not put in execution the lusts, and concupiscence of the flesh, 1 Thes. 4. 5. 1 Cor. 7. 34.
Modesty and sobriety do preserve chastity.
Modesty is a virtue, which keepeth in every work a holy comelines.
Modesty is seen in the countenance and eys, when as they do not express, nor excite the concupiscence of the heart, Job 31. 1. Genes. 24. 56. Prov. 7. 13.
Modesty is also seen in a mans words, when as his talk is holy decent and comely, Gen. 4. 1. Ps. 51. 1. Isai 7. 20. Judge 3. 24. Matt. 12. 19. Prov. 10. 19.
It is the note of an Adulteress and strumpet to be a giglot, and loud tongued, Prov. 7. 11.
Modesty is also seen in Apparel, as when it is worn in a holy comeliness, Tit 2 3.
Holy comeliness is that which expresseth to the eye the sincerity of the heart, and the Godliness, Temperance, and Gravity, either of Man, or Woman.
Sobriety is a virtue, which consisteth in the holy use of food.
Rules to be observed in the use of diet;Rules to be observed in the use of diet.
1. The chiefest at the Banquet, or Table, ought to consecrate the meat to God by saying Grace, 1 Sam. 9. 13. Mark. 6. 39. 41. Act. 27. 35.
2. We may furnish a Table with store of dishes for necessitie, and for good entertainment of a friend, and for delight, Luke 5. 29. Joh. 2. 2. and 12. 2. Ps. 104. 15.
3. At Feasts we must chuse the lowest romes, Luke 14. 7. 10. Prov. 25. 6.
4. We must eat at due times, and not at unseasonable hours, Eccles. 10. 16, 17.
5. We must eat and drink moderately, that is, to strengthen the body, and for the refreshing of the Soul, to perform the actions of godliness, Luke 21. 34. Prov. 23. 29, 30, and 25. 16. and 31. 4.
6. We must especially think of these things when we eat at great mens Tables, Prov. 1. 2, 3.
7. At meat we may use Godly mirth, Act. 2. 46.
8. Table talk must be such as may edify, such as was Christs talk at the Pharisees Table, Luke 14. 1. 16. Matth. 9. 10, 15.
9. After meat we must not cast away the residue, Joh. 6. 12.
10. At a Feast we must eat sufficient, and leave the rest, Ruth. 2. 14.
Chastity is double,Rules for chastity. single life, wedlock.
Those that are single must first have a care to keep their affections and bodies in holiness, Psal. 101. 9. 1 Joh. 2. 13. 14. Eccles. 12. 1.
2. They must fast often, 1 Cor. 9. 27.
3. They must take heed they burn not in lust, 1 Cor. 7. 9.
Chastity in wedlock is, when the holy and pure use of wedlock is observed, Hebr. 13. 4.
Cautions for preserving purity in wedlock.Cautions …or pre…rving …urity.
1. Contracts must be made in the Lord, and with the faithfull onelyonly, Malach. 2. 11. 1 Cor. 7. 39. Deut. 7. 3.
2. Both parties must separate themselves at the times of a Womans disease, and at the times of fastings, Ezek 18. 6. 1 Cor. 7. 5.
3. Wedlock must be used rather to suppress, than to satisfie the corrupt lusts and concupiscence of the flesh; and mainly, and chiefly for the enlarging of Gods Church by an holy seed, Rom. 13. 14.
4. It must be used with prayer and thanksgiving, 1 Tim. 4. 3, 4.
The Negative part.The Negative part.
Here is forbidden the lust of the heart, or the evil concupiscence of the flesh, Matth. 5. 28. Colos. 3. 5.
Burning in the flesh, that is, an inward servency of lust, whereby the Godly motions of the heart are hindred, overwhelmed, and as it were burnt up with a strange and contrary fire, 1 Cor. 7. 9.
All strange pleasures about generation, which are forbidden in Gods word.
All pleasure with beasts, Levit. 18. 23.
All pleasure with Devils, such as Witches by their own confession say that they have; And why may not a Spirit have society with a Witch, as well as eat meat?
All pleasure of lasciviousness with one of the same kinde, or Sex, Levit. 18. 22. This is a sin which they commit, whom God hath given over unto a reprobate sense, Rom. 1. 26, 27. This was the sin of Sodom, and from its being so commonly used there, it was called Sodomy.
All carnal pleasure with those that be within the degrees of consanguinity, or affinity, are here forbidden, Levit. 18. 6.
All Fornication,Fornication what it is. that is, the lying carnally with a maid that is not his wife, that lyeth with her, Deut. 22. 28, 29. 1 Cor. 10. 8. For this sin with the Idolatrous Moabitish women, there were in one day of the Israelites with a plague twenty three thousand men slain.
All Adultery,Adultery what it is. that is, all carnall pleasure with one that is married, or betrothed, Deut. 22. 22. to the 24.
Adultery is a marveilous great sin, as may appear in that it was punisht with the punishment of Idolatry, Rom. 1. 23. Prov. 6. 29, 32.
Adulterers break Gods Covenant of marriage, Prov. 2. 16. 17.
Adulterers abuse their own bodies, and dishonest them, 1 Cor. 6. 18.
They do bereave their Neighbours of a great, and irrecoverable benefit, namely of chastity.
By the Law of God, the Children of Adulterers were excluded the Congregation of the Lord, till their tenth Generation, Deut. 23. 2.
The Adulterer maketh his family a stews.
Davids Adultery was punisht in Absoloms abuse of his Concubines, 2 Sam. 16. 21.
A mans posterity feeleth the smart of the sin of Adultery, this is a fire which shall devour to destruction, and which shall root out all mine encrease, Job 31. 11, 12.
Though Adultery be never so secretly committed, yet God will reveal it, Numb. 5. 12, 23.
Adultery hath usually acompanying it a dulness of heart, or a marveilous horrour of conscience, whoredom and wine take away the heart, Hos. 4. 11.
The Patriarchs Poligamy cannot be defended, but it may 1. be excused, because it served for the encrease of mankinde, when as yet, there were but few upon the earth: and 2. Because it served for the propagation of Gods Church.
Here also men are forbidden to abuse their liberty, as by knowing their wives in the time of their flowers, Ezek. 22 10. Levit. 18. 19. and Ezek. 18. 6.
Here are also forbidden unchaste thoughts.
Effeminate wantonness, and seeking of occasions to stir up lust, Gal. 5. 19.
Occasions of lust are these:Occasions of lust, what they are.
1. Eys full of Adultery, that is, eys which take delight in, and hunt after lascivious objects, 2 Pet. 2. 14.
2. Idleness, 2 Sam. 1 1. 2, 3.
3. Riotous, and lascivious attire, 1 Tim. 2. 9. Isai 3. 16, 23.
Riotous, and lascivious apparel, or Attire is a lavish and Prodigal wasting of Gods benefits, that might be employed upon better uses. It is a Testimony and ensign of pride, by which a man would have himself better esteemed than others. It is a note of great idleness and slouthfulness, those that use it cannot endure to take pains, & neglect other business; It is a sign of Levity, and puts men upon the invention of new fashions, and upon the imitation of them. It maketh a confusion among degrees, and callings of men, so that the one can not be known from the other.
Here also we are forbidden an immoderate, or insatiable fulness of bread, or of meat, for they provoke lust in such immoderation, Ezek. 16. 49. Luke 16. 19. Rom. 13. 13.
And corrupt, and dishonest, and unseemly talk, I Cor. 15. 33.
And vain love-songs & Ballads, interludes and amorous books.
And lascivious representations of love-matters at any time, Ephes. 5. 2, 4.
Undecent, and unseemly Pictures, 1 Thess. 5. 22.
Lascivious dancing of men, and women together, Mark. 6. 22.
And all society, and company keeping with lascivious, and effeminate persons, Prov. 7. 25.