Of the Seventh Commandment
A. Yes, they are; for whatever point of honour be touched, or whatever provocation be given, we are not to be our own avengers;
Rom. 12:19. Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, &c.
Q. 10. What is the first inference hence?
A. That we have great cause to bless God for his protecting law, and for human laws grounded upon his law for the protection of our lives; Rom. 13:4.——For he is the minister of God, a revenger to execute wrath upon him that doth evil.
Q. 11. What is the second inference hence?
A. That all that are guilty of this sin, have great cause to be humbled and afflicted: For it is a crying sin, Gen. 4:10.——The voice of thy brother's blood crieth unto me from the ground. Yet not to despair of mercy upon true repentance. Manasseh shed innocent blood, and yet was pardoned, upon repentance; 2 Kings 21:16. Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, &c.
Q. 12. What is the third inference hence?
A. Let all men watch against pride, passion, malice, and revenge, the sin of the heart, from which this horrid sin proceeds; Mat. 15:18, 19.
For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, &c.
Of the Seventh Commandment Quest. 70. WHICH is the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment is, [Thou shalt not commit adultery.] Quest. 71. What is required in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment requireth the preservation of our own and our neighbour's chastity in heart, speech, and behaviour.
Quest. 72. What is forbidden in the seventh commandment?
A. The seventh commandment forbiddeth all unchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
Q. 1. What is the duty required in this commandment?
A. The first duty required in this commandment is, the preservation of our own chastity in heart, lip, and life; 1 Thess. 4:3, 4. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour. And Eph. 4:29. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, &c.
Q. 2. Why must we preserve our own chastity?
A. Because our bodies are, or ought to be the temples of the Holy Ghost; 1 Cor. 6:15, 19. Know ye not, that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of an harlot? God forbid. What, know ye not that your body is the temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God, and ye are not your own? And it is the express charge of God that they be kept pure and clean; 1 Thess. 4:3, 4. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication. That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.
Q. 3. What is the second reason?
A. The second reason is, because of the evil of it to ourselves: As, (1.) It injures the body; 1 Cor. 6:18. He that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body. (2.) It levels us with the Heathen; Eph.
4:17, 19. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk,—who being past feeling,
have given themselves over to lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness. (3.) Dishonours our names; Prov. 6:32, 33. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman, a wound and dishonour shall he get, &c. (4.) Scatters our estates; Prov. 5:10. Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, and thy labours be in the house of strangers. (5.) Destroyeth the soul; Prov. 6:32.——He that doth it, destroyeth his own soul.
Q. 4. What age is most incident to this sin?
A. The youthful age is most apt to be drawn into this sin; Prov. 7:7.
And behold among the simple ones, I discerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. And 2 Tim. 2:22. Flee also youthful lusts, &c.
Q. 5. How far doth this command extend itself?
A. It extends itself to the heart, mind, and fancy, as well as to the body, and external actions; Matth. 5:28. But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
Q. 6. What are the usual inducements to this sin?
A. The usual inducements to this sin are, (1.) Idleness and fulness of the creatures; Ezek. 16:49, 50. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom; pride, fulness of bread, and abundance of idleness was in her, and in her daughters, &c. (2.) Wanton gestures; Isa. 3:16.
Moreover, the Lord saith, Because the daughters of Zion are haughty, and walk with stretched forth necks, and wanton eyes, walking, and mincing as they go, and making a tinkling with their feet. (3.) Filthy communication; Eph. 5:4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, &c.
Q. 7. What is the first remedy against this sin?
A. The first remedy, and the most effectual, is, to get the Spirit of God within us, to sanctify and rule us; Gal. 5:16.——Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lusts of the flesh.
Q. 8. What is the second remedy?
A. The keeping of a strict watch over the heart; Prov. 4:23. Keep thy heart with all diligence, &c. And over the external senses; Job 31:1. I made a covenant with mine eyes; why then should I think upon a maid?
Q. 9. What is the third remedy against it?
A. Deep and serious consideration of the danger of this sin, and what God threatens against adulterers; Heb. 13:4.——Whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. 1 Cor. 6:9, 10.—Be not deceived, neither fornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor effeminate,—shall inherit the kingdom of God. And how he describes them, Prov. 22:14.
The mouth of a strange woman is a deep pit; he that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall therein.
Q. 10. What is the fourth remedy against it?
A. Prayer; Psalm 119:37. Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity, &c. And, to evidence our sincerity in prayer, we must study to shun all occasions of this sin; Psal. 18:23. I was also upright before him; and I kept myself from mine iniquity.
Q. 11. What is the first inference from hence?
A. What cause those have to bless God, that have been kept from this sin; though the best ought to be humbled for their heart-pollutions.
Q. 12. What is the second inference from hence?
A. Let it warn parents to do what in them lies to prevent the ruin of their children by this sin, (1.) By filling their heads and hands with