The True Christians T est, Part 1 · Meditation 47
MEDITAT. XLVII. Of Fornication and Adultery.
AMongſt the ſenſual Pleaſures that are unlawful in the very matter, Fornication and Adultery offer themſelves eſpecially to be conſider'd. To prefer theſe pleaſures of the fleſh, and gratifications of the Beſtial Appetite before Purity, is a predominant love of the World.
Whil'ſt we carry about with us ſuch Bodies as theſe, we ſhall have an appetite to Conjunction, as well as to Eating or Drinking; which to think perfectly and properly to mortifie, (for I do not call Reſtraint, Mortification) ſeems to be ſomewhat like the Fanatical humor, Of living without Meat. The Luſt of Hunger is beſt mortifi'd, by being duly gratifi'd: and perhaps the beſt, if not onelyonly way of ſubduing this Appetite, is to accommodate it, in the ways and ſeaſons allow'd by the God of Nature; and ſhall no more be interpreted a making proviſion for the fleſh, to fulfil it in the luſts thereof, than Brewing or Baking, the moſt innocent kind of Cookery.
Who can blame the Philoſopher that would eat, though for no delight he took in the meat, yet to be rid of the importunity of hunger, which ſolicited him and weary'd him ſo, that he could not follow his ſtudies, and was glad when the trouble of eating was over. Dare operam liberis is but a toil; and ſuch an one as a wiſe man, is afterwards aſham'd that he has taken. To find no need, and to have no appetite, in this caſe, (as indeed in moſt others) is more eaſie and pleaſant to a good and wiſe man, than to have relief and ſatisfaction. For my own part, if I were put to my choice, I would much rather chuſe, never to be hungry or thirſty, than to eat and drink at pleaſure.
But however natural this appetite is, God has founded it, and determin'd it to its Object. Eating is a natural Action, and to hunger is a natural Luſt; yet ſome Meats we know were forbidden, ſo are ſome Conjunctions.
As the Caſe now ſtands with Man, I think Marriage is a merciful Inſtitution, and much for Man's eaſe: It is better to be ſtinted here, than left at liberty; as it is better for a Traveller to be bound up to one ſafe way, than to have many ways to chuſe at.
And as it is a merciful Inſtitution, becauſe it avoids Perplexity; ſo becauſe it eſcapes Superfluity: Fruſtra fit per plures, &c. One Woman is ſufficient for one Man; which makes Adultery more inexcuſable in the Males, than in the Females.
Marriage is alſo very much for order. What a miſerable Confuſion would there be in the World, if promiſcuous Copulation were allow'd! Yea, even thoſe more than brutiſh Epicures, who will plead for it to be allow'd to themſelves, do not allow it to their Horſes and Dogs. For they that would keep up a right ſtrain, and a generous Breed, will not ſuffer the Female to engender with every Male that has a mind of her.
Marriage, and the juſt obſervation of the Marriage Covenant, is alſo for the health of Men; whereas Fornication and Adultery bring Diſeaſes, filthy and loathſome Diſeaſes upon the Body.
And who can ſufficiently bewail the defilement of the Land? Alas! that ſo many Families in one City, of the moſt Reformed Nation upon Earth, ſhould be maintain'd by the curing of Diſeaſes, brought by ſuch ſins, as the better ſort of the Heathens abominated, and ought not to be once nam'd amongst us as becometh Chriſtians!
Whether there ſhould have been Propriety of Goods in the State of Innocence, is juſtly doubted; but of Wives, no doubt there ſhould: For even innocent Adam was formally marry'd. God has made an incloſure of the Females, and woe to him that violates it, The Adulterer therefore is as properly, and much more heinouſly a Thief, as he that robs his Neighbors Orchard.
O thou bleſſed Spirit of Purity, help me to make a Covenant with mine eyes, that I do not look upon a Woman to lust after her! Let my Soul be wholly charmed with the beauty of Holineſs! Give me always to poſſeſs my Veſſel in Sanctification and Honour, that I be not defiled in Fleſh nor Fancy!