Chapter 12 — Of Adultery or Uncleanness
Now I come in the last place to speak a word or two about adultery, and then to draw towards a conclusion. Adultery has its place in the heart among the rest of those sins I mentioned before (Mark 7:21, 22) of which I observe two things.
1. That almost in every place where the apostle lays down a list of sins, he sets adultery, fornication, and uncleanness first; so Mark 7:21, Rom 1:29, 1 Cor 6: 9, Gal 5:19, Eph 5:3, 1 Thess 4:3-5, Heb 12:16, Jas 2:11, 1 Pet 2:11, and 2 Peter 2:10. From this I gather that the sin of uncleanness is a predominant and master sin, easy to catch the sinner out, one of the first that offers itself on all occasions to break the law of God.
2. I note that many commit this sin unawares, as soon as a they look on a woman: 'I say to you,' says Christ, 'that whoever looks on a woman to desire after her has committed adultery with her already in his heart' (Matt 5:28). This sin of uncleanness, I say, is a very powerful sin; it is natural above all sins to mankind; as it is most natural, so it lacks not tempting occasions, having objects for to look on in every corner: so there is need of a double and treble watchfulness in the soul against it. It is better here to make a covenant with our eyes, like Job (Job 31:1) than to let them wander to God's dishonour, and our own discomfort.
There are these three things which reveal a man or woman who inclines to uncleanness of heart.
(1) The first is a flirting eye, or an eye that secretly looks at things that tickle the heart with thoughts of immodesty and uncleanness. Isaiah calls this a flirting eye: and Peter an eye full of adultery, that cannot cease from sin (2 Peter 2:14; Isa 3:16). This is what Christ calls an evil eye, and John the lust of the flesh, and of the eyes, and defiles those who are not very watchful over their hearts (Mark 7:22; 1 John 2:16). This flirting eye is what the most holy saints should be careful of, because it tends to affect them too. When Paul bids Timothy beg the young women to walk as befits the gospel, he bids him do it with all purity (1 Tim 5:1, 2). As if to say, Be careful that while you instruct them in holiness, you yourself are not corrupted with the lust of your eye. O how many souls, in the day of God, will curse the day that ever they gave way to a flirting eye! (2) The second thing that uncovers one who tends to the lusts of uncleanness is loose and immodest talk; such as that brazen-faced whore in Proverbs 7 had, or such as they in Peter, who allured 'through the lusts of the flesh, through much looseness, those who had just escaped from those who live in error' (2 Peter 2:18). 'Out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks,' so if we are saints, let us be careful, of our tongue as well as our eye, and let not the lust of uncleanness, or of adultery, be even 'named among us, as befits saints' (Eph 5:3). Mark, 'Let it not be named.' This implies that the lusts of uncleanness are devilishly taking, they will both take the heart with eyes and tongue: 'Let it not be named among you,' etc. (3) Another thing that indicates a man or woman inclining to wantonness and uncleanness is wearing immodest clothing. The clothing of an harlot is too frequently in our day the clothing of Christians; a vile thing, and indicates much wantonness and vileness of affections. If those who give way to a flirting eye, flirting words, and immodest clothing are not whores in their hearts, I know not what to say. Does a flirting eye indicate modesty? Does flirting talk indicate chastity? And does immodest clothing, with low cut dresses and a strutting walk indicate that the flesh is put to death? If you say that these things may indicate pride as well as the flesh; well, but why are they proud? Is it not to tart up the body? And why do they with pride tart up the body, if not to provoke both themselves and others to desire? God knows their hearts without their exterior: and we know their hearts by their exterior.