2, Uncleanness corrupts and defileth the mind ; for it turneth it from the true pleasure to the false, and that procured on the basest terms of downright sin against God. It is ill to be corrupted by any degree of temporal delight, though the thing in itself be lawful ; as his excuse was faulty who said, Luke xiv. 20, ' I have married a wife and cannot come.' The entanglements of marriage should not keep thee from Christ, but the unlawful pleasures of whoredom make the case much more un- questionable. This carrieth away the thoughts and corrupteth the heart, that they do not only forget God, but deny God, and do bring in a brutishness upon the heart of man ; and therefore men are easily taken in this snare, and hardly rescued, being bewitched by their sensuality: Prov. ii. 19, 'None that go in unto her return again, nor take they hold of the path of life.' And the preacher saith, Eccles. vii. 28, ' One man among a thousand have I found, but a woman among all these have I not found ; ' Prov. xxii. 14, ' The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit ; he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall there- in.' Now all these places show, not the utter impossibility, but the difficulty of repentance, and how hardly this sin is shaken off when once we are inveigled by it ; for this sin is a strange enchantment on men.
Use 1. Is information, to inform us what need we have to work in christians a greater abhorrence of fornication and uncleanness, because it is a common sin and a grievous sin.
1. It is a common sin ; and then it is time to cry aloud and spare not, when persons, both single and married, make so little conscience of this duty. Must we then come and honey them and oil them with
198 SKRMONS UPON EPHESIANS V. [Si:r. III.
grace, or feed men's curiositywith tame and smooth strains of contem- plative divinity ? No ; this were to rock them asleep in their sins. No ; let us rather convince them of tlieir gross immoralities, unfaith- fulness in the marriage covenant. Possibly many of them had never gone so far if these things had been oftener revived on their con- sciences. Usually men are tender at first, till they be steeped in sin and bestiality; but as their minds are further enchanted, all means are too weak, and God's remedy insufficient. Lust cherished groweth arrogant, and knoweth no shame ; for then they go on in sin the rather because God forbiddeth it : Isa. iii. 9, ' They declare their sin as Sodom, and hide it not;' Jer. v. 8, 'They were as fed horses in the morning; every one neighed after his neighbour's wife.' Their con- sciences are debauched and judicially hardened, and so have lost all remorse of conscience and fear of God's judgment.
2. It is a grievous sin. We will endeavour to touch them in the tenderest part that is left, viz., fear: Heb. xiii. 4, ' Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.' Men think it a small matter to satisfy nature, but God will find them out both here and hereafter. There fell in one day twenty-three thousand for this sin : 1 Cor. x. 8, 'Neither let us commit fornication, as some of them committed, and fell in one day three and twenty thousand.' The inconveniency of it is sensible. It consumeth the strength of the body : Prov. v. 11, 'And thou mourn at last, when thy flesh and body are consumed.' It wasteth the estate : Job xxxi. 12, ' For it is a fire that consumeth to destruction, and will root out all mine increase.' And bringeth a blemish upon the name : Prov. vi. 33, ' A wound and a dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away.' It with- draweth the heart from God: Hosea iv. 11, 12, 'Whoredom, and wine, and new wine, take away the heart ; for the spirit of whoredoms hath caused them to err ; they have gone a-whoring from under their God.' It unfitteth for every holy duty. Holy and sacred things never can be seriously received by sensual minds and hearts. Nay, it tempteth you to forget God, or question his being, and become, if not a downright atheist, a sceptic in religion. And, lastly, it casteth men into hell : Eev. xxi. 8, ' Whoremongers shall have their part in the lake that burneth with fire and brimstone, which is the second death.'
Use 2. Is caution to young men that are not yet taken in the snare. Keep yourselves at a great distance from and great abhorrence of this sin. Therefore, first, avoid occasions : Prov. v. 8, ' Eemove thy way far from her ; come not nigh the door of her house.' So avoid Satan's assemblies for the communion of sinners, to stir up lusts and filthiness in them. Avoid the haunts of evil company, where they meet to inflame their lusts : Prov. iv. 15, 'Avoid it, pass not by it, turn from it and pass away.' Avoid idleness : 2 Sam. xi. 2, ' And David arose from his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's house, and from the to]) he saw a woman washing herself, and the woman was very beautiful to look upon.' David's heart was fixed. Avoid fulness of bread, excess in eating and drinking, Ezek. xvi. 49. Avoid obscene discourse. They are foolisli and vain who think they have a chaste mind when they indulge themselves in all liberty of speech. The speech bevvrayeth the temper of the heart. Season your hearts with