Chapter 26. Of the Seventh Commandment.
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Chapter 26. Of the Seventh Commandment.
The seventh Commandment shows how we may preserve the chastity of ourselves, and of our neighbour. The words are these:
You shall not commit adultery.
The Resolution [Adultery] To commit adultery signifies as much as to do anything, in whatever way, by which the chastity of ourselves or our neighbours may be stained. Mat
5.28.
The Negative Part You shall in no way either hurt or hinder your neighbour's chastity.
In this place are prohibited:
I. The lust of the heart, or the evil concupiscence
of the flesh. Mat 5.28, I say to you, whoever looks at a woman to lust after her, he has already committed adultery with her in his heart. Col 3.5, Mortify your members which are on earth: fornication, uncleanness, the inordinate affection, evil concupiscence.
II. Burning in the flesh, which is an inward fervency of lust, by which the godly inclinations of the heart are hindered, overwhelmed, and as it were, burnt up with contrary fire. 1Cor 7.9, If they cannot abstain, let them marry, for it is better to marry than to burn.
III. With one of the same sex. Lev 18.22, You shall not lie with the male as one lies with a woman, for it is an abomination. This is a sin which those commit, whom God has given over to a reprobate sense. Rom
1.26-27, For this cause God gave them up to vile affections. For even their women changed their natural
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use into that which is against nature. And the men left the natural use of the women, and burned in their lusts toward one another, and man with man wrought filthiness. It was the sin of Sodom, Gen 19, where it was so common that to this day it is termed Sodomy.
IV.
With those who are within degrees of consanguinity or affinity, prohibited in the word of God.
Lev 18.6, None shall come near to any of the kindred of his flesh, to uncover her shame. I am the Lord.
V. With unmarried persons. This sin is termed fornication. Deu 22.28-29, If any man finds a maiden who is not betrothed, and takes her and lies with her, and they are found, then the man who lay with her shall give to the maiden's father fifty shekels of silver; and she shall be his wife, because he has humiliated her. He cannot put her away all his life. 1Cor 10.8, Nor let us commit fornication, as some of them committed fornication, and twenty-one thousand fell in one day.
VI. With those of whom one is married, or at least betrothed. This sin is called adultery. And God has inflicted by His word the same punishment upon those who commit this sin, after they are betrothed, as He does upon those who are already married.
Deu 22.22-24, If a man is found lying with a woman married to a man, then they shall die, even the both of them: to wit, the man who lay with the wife, and the wife. So you shall put away evil from Israel. If a maiden is betrothed to a husband, and a man finds her in the town and he lies with her, then you shall bring them both out to the gates of that city, and shall stone them to death with stones. This is a marvelous great sin, as it may appear in this being the punishment for idolatry.
Rom 1.23-24, They turned the glory of the incorruptible God, to the similitude of the image of a corruptible man, etc. For which God gave them up to their hearts' lusts, to uncleanness. Yes, this sin is more heinous than theft. Pro 6.30, Men do not despise a thief when he steals to satisfy his soul when he is hungry.
Verse 32, But someone who commits adultery with a
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woman, is destitute of understanding; the one who does it, destroys his own soul.
Again, the adulterer breaks the covenant of marriage, which is God's covenant. Pro 2.17, Who forsakes the guide of her youth, and forgets the covenant of her God. Adulterers dishonour their own bodies. 1Cor 6.18, Flee fornication; every sin that a man does is outside the body; but the one who commits fornication, sins against his own body. And they bereave their neighbours of a great and unrecoverable benefit; namely, of chastity.
As for the children who are begotten in this way, they are shut out from that preeminence which they might otherwise obtain in the congregation. Deu 23.2,
A bastard shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord; even to his tenth generation, he shall not enter into the congregation of the Lord. He makes his family a stew, as it appears in David, whose adultery was punished by Absalom's lying with his father's concubines. 2Sam 16.21, Ahithophel said to Absalom,
Go to your father's concubines whom he has left to keep the house. Job 31.9, This (adultery) is a fire that shall devour to destruction, and which shall root out all my increase.
To conclude, though this sin is committed ever so secretly, yet God will reveal it. Num 5.12-23. And it usually has one of these two as companions: namely, dullness of heart, or a marvelous horror of conscience.
Hos 4.11, Whoredom, and wine, take away the heart.
As for the Patriarchs' polygamy, or marrying many wives, even though it cannot be defended, yet it may be excused: either because it served to enlarge the number of mankind when there were but few; or at least, to propagate the Church of God.
VII. With man and wife. They abuse their liberty if they know each other while the woman is in her flowers.
Eze 22.10, In you they have revealed their father's shame. In you they have vexed her who was polluted in her flowers. Lev 18.19, You shall not go to a
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woman to uncover her shame as long as she is put apart for her disease.
Eze 18.6, If he has not lain with a menstruous woman.
Ambrose, lib. De Philos., which Augustine cites, lib.
2, contra Julian, says that he commits adultery with his wife, who in the use of wedlock, has neither regard for propriety, nor honesty. Jerome, in his 1st book, contra
Julianum, says, A wise man ought to rule his wife in judgment, not in affection. He will not give rein to headstrong pleasure, nor headily [impulsive] company with his wife. Nothing (he says) is more shameless, than to make a strumpet of his wife.
VIII. Nocturnal pollutions, which arise from an immoderate diet, or unchaste cogitations, prior in the day. Deu 23.10. Onan's sin (Gen 38.8-9) was not unlike these.
IX. Effeminate wantonness, by which occasions are sought to stir up lust. Gal 5.19, The works of the flesh are manifest, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, wantonness. Of this kind are,
Eyes full of adultery. 2Pet 2.14, Having eyes full of adultery, and that cannot cease to sin.
Idleness. 2Sam 11.2-4, When it was evening tide, David arose out of his bed, and walked upon the roof of the king's palace. And from the roof he saw a woman washing herself. And the woman was very beautiful to look upon. And David sent, and inquired what woman it was. And someone said, Is this not Bathsheba, the daughter of Eliam, wife to Uriah the Hittite? Then David sent messengers, and took her away. And she came to him, and he lay with her.
Riotous [immoral] and lascivious attire. 1Tim 2.9, The women shall array themselves in proper apparel, with shamefastness [discretion] and modesty, not with braided hair, or gold or pearls, or costly apparel, but (as becomes women who profess the fear of God) with good works. Isa 3.16-19, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with
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outstretched necks, and with wandering eyes, walking and mincing as they go; and making a tinkling with their feet — Therefore the Lord shall make the heads of the daughters of Zion bald, and the Lord shall reveal their secret parts. In that day, the Lord shall take away the ornament of the slippers, and the cowls, and the round tiers, the sweet-sounding balls, and the bracelets, and the bonnets, and the earrings; Verses 21-23, the rings and scarfs; the costly apparel and the veils, and the wimples [headdresses], and the crisping pins [hair clips], and the mirrors, and the fine linen, and the hoods, and the lanes [wraps]. It is no wonder if the Prophets are so sharp against excessive and wanton apparel. For this is,
A lavish and prodigal wasting of the benefits of God, which might well be employed to better uses.
It is a testimony, and as it were, the cognizance or ensign of pride, by which a man would have for himself a greater reputation than another.
It is a mark of great idleness and slothfulness. For commonly, those who bestow much time in dressing and trimming themselves, quite neglect other business; and of all things, cannot dispense with such pains.
It argues for levity in devising some new fashion every day, or imitating that which others devise.
It confuses such degrees and callings as God has ordained, when men of inferior degree and calling, cannot by their attire be discerned from men of higher estate.
Fulness [over-indulgence] of bread and meat, which provokes lust. Eze 16.49, This was the iniquity of your sister Sodom: pride, fulness of bread, and idleness were in her, and in her daughters. Luk
16.19, There was a certain rich man, who was
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clothed in purple and fine linen, and fared well and delicately [with delicacies] every day. Rom 13.13,
Walk honestly, as in the daytime, not in gluttony and drunkenness, nor in chambering
and wantonness.
Corrupt, dishonest, and unseemly talk. 1Cor 15.33, Make no mistake: evil talk corrupts good manners.
Such are vain love-songs, ballads, interludes, and amorous books. This is the thing we are to carefully shun in reading Poets; yet, so as mariners do in navigation, who do not forsake the sea, but decline and flee from the rocks.
Lascivious representations of love matters, in plays and comedies. Eph 5.3-4, Fornication and all uncleanness, let it not once be named among you, as appropriate for Saints; neither filthiness nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not appropriate things.
Indecent and unseemly pictures. 1Th 5.22, Abstain from all appearance of evil.
Lascivious dancing of man and woman together. Mar 6.22, The daughter of this same Herodias came in and danced, and pleased Herod, etc.
Company with effeminate persons. Pro 7.25, Do not let your heart decline [stoop] to her ways; do not wander in her paths.
X. To appoint some light or slim punishment for adultery, such as that Romish Synagogue does. For this is nothing else but to open a gap for other lewd persons to run headlong into like impiety.
The Affirmative Part You shall preserve the chastity of your neighbour.
Chastity is the purity of soul and body, as much as belongs to procreation. The mind is chaste when it is free, or at least freed from fleshly concupiscence. The
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body is chaste when it does not put into execution, the concupiscences of the flesh. 1Th 4.3-5, This is the will of God, even your sanctification, and that you should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in holiness and honour.
And not in the lust of concupiscences, even as the Gentiles who do not know God. 1Cor 7.34, The unmarried woman cares for the things of the Lord, that she may be holy both in body and spirit.
There are two special virtues which preserve chastity: Modesty, and Sobriety. Modesty is a virtue which keeps in each work, a holy decorum, or propriety. And it is seen, I. In the Countenance and Eyes. Namely, when they neither express nor excite the concupiscence of the heart. Job 31.1, I made a covenant with my eye; why then should I think about a maiden? Gen 24.64,
Rebekah lifted her eyes, and when she saw Isaac, she alighted from the camel. Verse 65, So she took a veil and covered her face. Pro 7.13, She caught him, and kissed him, and with an impudent face said to him, etc.
II. In Words: when a man's talk is decent. In speaking of such things [as follow], we cannot help but blush. Gen 4.1, Then Adam knew Eve his wife, etc. Psa
51.1, A Psalm of David, when the Prophet Nathan came to him, after he had gone in to Bathsheba. Isa 7.20, In that day the Lord will shave with a hired razor, even by those beyond the river, by the King of Ashur, the head, and the hair of the feet [a euphemism]; and it shall consume the beard. Jdg 3.24, When he had gone out, his servants came, who seeing that the doors of the parlor were shut, they said, Surely he covers his feet
(that is, he relieves himself) in his summer chamber.
Again, a man's talk must be brief and humble. Mat 12.19, Behold my servant whom I have chosen: he shall not argue, nor yell, nor shall any man hear his voice in the streets. Pro 10.19, In many words there cannot lack iniquity; but he that restrains his lips is wise. And it is a
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and loud-tongued. Pro 7.11, She is babbling and loud.
to be a giglot, mark of a strumpet In apparel, we must observe a holy propriety. Tit
2.3, The elder women must be of such behaviour as is proper to holiness. Holy propriety is that which expresses to the eye, the sincerity — that is, the godliness, temperance, and gravity — either of man or woman. This decency will more plainly appear if we consider the purposes of apparel, which are five in number.
Necessity, to the end that our bodies may be protected against the extremity of parching heat, and pinching cold.
Honesty [decency or honour], so that the deformity of our naked bodies might be covered, which immediately followed the transgression of our first parents [Gen 3.7].
Commodity, by which men — because their calling, work, and trade of life is different – dress themselves differently. And this is why some apparel is more decent for certain estates of men, than for others.
Frugality, when a man's attire is proportionate to his ability and calling.
Distinction of persons, such as by sex, ages, offices, times, and actions. For a man has his set attire, a woman hers; a young man is dressed in this fashion, and an old man in that. And therefore it is unseemly for a man to put on a woman's apparel, or for a woman to put on a man's. Deu 22.5, The woman shall not wear what pertains to the man, nor shall a man put on a woman's clothing. For all who do so, are an abomination to the Lord your God.
To set down precisely out of God's word, what apparel is decent, is very hard. This is why, in this case, the judgment and practice of modest, grave, and sincere men, in every particular estate, is most to be followed. And men must keep too far within the bounds
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of measure, rather than step one foot outside the precincts. Concerning the purging of excrements of nature, care must be had that they be cast out into some separate and private place, and also covered there.
Deu 23.12-14, You shall have a place outside the host, where you shall resort. And you shall have a shovel among your weapons, etc., when you would sit down outside; you shall dig with it, and returning, you shall cover your excrements. For the Lord your God walks in the midst of the camp, to deliver you.
Therefore, your host shall be holy, that He sees no filthy thing in you, and turn away from you. 1Sam 24.4,
And he came to the sheepfolds by the way, where there was a cave, and Saul went in to cover his feet.
Sobriety is a virtue which concerns the usage of our diet in holiness. These rules may serve to better observe it:
I. Let the highest ranking at the banquet consecrate the foods to God, by saying grace. 1Sam 9.13, The people will not eat till he (that is, Samuel) came, because he will bless the sacrifice. And then those eat, who are invited to the feast. Mar 6.39, He commanded them to make them all sit down by companies, on the grass, etc. Verse 41, And he took the five loaves and fishes, and looked up to heaven, and gave thanks. Act
27.35, When he had said thus, he (that is, Paul) gave thanks in the presence of them all, and when he had broken bread, he began to eat.
II. It is lawful to furnish a table with a store of dishes, not only for necessity, but also for the good entertainment of a friend, and for delight. Luk 5.29,
Levi made him (that is, Jesus) a great feast in his own house, where there was a great company of Publicans, and others who sat at table with him. Psa 104.15, He gives wine that makes glad the heart of man, and oil to make the face shine, and bread that strengthens man's heart. Joh 12.2-3, There they made him a supper, and Martha served, but Lazarus was one of those who sat at
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table with him. Then Mary took a pound of ointment of spikenard, very costly, and anointed Jesus' feet.
III. Choose the lower place at a banquet, and rather than be troublesome, sit as the master of the feast assigns you. Luk 14.7-10, He spoke a parable to the guests when he marked how they chose the chief places, and said, When you are bid by any man to a wedding, do not set yourself down in the best place, lest a more honourable man than you is bid by him. And the one who bid both him and you, comes and says,
Give this man your place. But go and sit down in the lowest place, so that when the one who bid you comes, he may say to you, Friend, sit higher up. Pro 25.5, Do not stand in the place of great men, etc.
IV. Man must eat at due times, not at unseasonable hours. Ecc 10.16-17, Woe to you, O land, when your
Princes eat in the morning. Blessed are you, O land, when Princes eat on time.
V. Man must eat and drink moderately, so that the body may receive strength thereby, and the soul is fresher and livelier to perform the actions of godliness.
Luk 21.34, Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be oppressed with surfeiting and drunkenness. Pro 23.29, To whom is woe? etc. Verses
30-31, Even those who tarry long at wine, to those who go and seek mixed wine. Do not look at the wine when it is red, and when it shows its colour in the cup, and goes down pleasantly, etc. Pro 25.16, If you have found honey, eat what is sufficient for you, lest you be over-full, and vomit. Pro 31.4-5, It is not for kings to drink wine, nor for Princes strong drink, lest he drinks and forgets the decree, and changes the judgment of all the children of affliction.
VI. We must then especially regard these things, when we eat at great men's tables. Pro 23.1-3, When you sit to eat with a ruler, consider diligently what is before you. Put the knife to your throat if you are a man given to your appetite. Do not desire his dainty foods
[delicacies]; for it is a deceptive food.
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VII. Godly mirth at meal is tolerable. Act 2.46, They ate their food together with gladness and singleness of heart.
VIII. Table talk (as occasion for talk is offered) must be such as may edify. Such was Christ's talk at the Pharisee's table. Luk 14.1-16.
IX. See that, after the banquet is ended, the broken food is not lost, but reserved. Joh 6.12, When they were satisfied, he said to his Disciples, Gather up the broken food which remains, that nothing be lost.
X. At a feast, leave something. Ruth 2.14, She ate and was sufficed, and left some.
Chastity is double: one of the single life, and another in wedlock. Those who are single must, I. With great care, keep their affections and bodies in holiness. Psa 119.9, How shall a young man purge his way? By directing them after Your word. 1Joh 2.13,
I write to you fathers, because you have known Him who is from the beginning. I write to you young men because you have overcome that wicked one. I write to you babes, because you have known the Father. Ecc
12.1, Remember your Creator in the days of your youth, while the evil days do not come, nor the years approach in which you will say, I have no pleasure in them.
II. They must fast often. 1Cor 9.27, I beat down my body, and bring it into subjection, lest by any means, after I have preached to others, I myself should be reproved.
III. They must take heed that they not burn in lust, for 1Cor 7.9, It is better to marry than to burn.
Chastity in wedlock is when the holy and pure use of wedlock is observed. Heb 13.4, Marriage is honourable among all, and the bed undefiled; but whoremongers and adulterers, God will judge. To preserve purity in wedlock, these cautions are profitable:
I. Contracts must be in the Lord, and with the faithful only. Mal 2.11, Judah has transgressed, and an abomination is committed in Israel, and in Jerusalem.
For Judah has defiled the holiness of the Lord, whom he
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loved, and has married the daughter of a strange god.
1Cor 7.39, If her husband is dead, she is at liberty to marry whom she will, only in the Lord.
II. Both parties must separate themselves in the time of a woman's disease, and at appointed fasts. Eze
18.6. 1Cor 7.5, Do not defraud [deprive] one another, unless it is with consent, for a time, that you may give yourselves to fasting and prayer, and again come together, that Satan not tempt you for your incontinence.
III. Wedlock must be used to suppress, rather than to satisfy that corrupt concupiscence of the flesh, and especially to enlarge the Church of God. Rom 13.14,
Put on the Lord Jesus Christ, and take no care for the flesh to satisfy its lusts.
IV. It must be used with prayer and thanksgiving.
1Tim 4.3-4.