Sum Of Commandment 7.
SUM OF COMMANDMENT 7.
Evan. Well, then, I ask you to consider that in the seventh commandment there is a negative part expressed in these words, “You shall not commit adultery;” that is, you shall not think, will, speak, or do anything by which your own chastity or the chastity of others may be hurt or hindered. And an affirmative part is included in these words, “But you shall in every way, and by all good means, preserve and keep it.”
Neo. I beg you, sir, begin with the negative part and first tell us, What is that inward uncleanness that is forbidden in this commandment?
Evan. That we may not be guilty of the inward uncleanness of the heart, this commandment forbids all filthy imaginations, unchaste thoughts, and inward desires and motions of the heart to uncleanness, Mat. 5.28; Col. 3.5; along with all causes and occasions for stirring up and nourishing these in the heart.
Neo. And what are the causes and occasions of stirring up and nourishing these things in the heart which we are to avoid?
Evan. That we may not stir up and nourish inward uncleanness in our hearts, this commandment forbids gluttony, or excess in eating and pampering the belly with foods, Jer. 5.8; and also drunkenness, or excess in drinking, Prov. 23.30, 31, 33; and also idleness, 2Sam. 11.12; and also wearing lascivious, garish, and newfangled attire, Prov. 7.10; 1Tim. 2.9; and also keeping company with lascivious, wanton, and fleshly persons, Gen. 39.10; and also immodest, unchaste, and filthy speaking, Eph. 4.29; and also the idle and curious looking of men at women, or women at men. Gen. 6.2; 39.7; and also beholding love-matters, and the light behaviour of men and women represented in stage plays, Ezek. 23.14; Eph. 5.3, 4; and also immoderate and wanton dancing of men and women together, Job 21.11, 12; Mark 6.21, 22; and also wanton kissing and embracing, along with all unchaste touching and dalliance, Prov. 7.13.
Neo. And what is that outward actual uncleanness which is forbidden in this commandment?
Evan. The actual uncleanness forbidden in this commandment is fornication, which is a fleshly defilement of the body, committed between man and woman, both of them being single and unmarried persons, 1Cor. 10.8; and also adultery, which is a defilement of the body, committed between man and woman, either one or both of them being married persons, or at least engaged to be married, 1Cor. 6.9, 18; Hos. 4.13.
Neo. I beg you, sir, proceed to the affirmative part, and tell us what the Lord requires in this commandment.
Evan. The Lord in this commandment requires purity of heart, 1Thess. 4.5; and he also requires speech savouring sobriety and chastity, Col. 4.6; Gen. 4.1; and he also requires that we keep our eyes from beholding vanity and lustful objects, Psalm 119.37; Job 31.1; and he also requires that we be temperate in our diet, in our sleep, and in our recreations, Luke 21.34; and he also requires that we possess our vessels in holiness and honour, 1Thess. 4.4; and if we do not have the gift of chastity, he requires that we take the benefit of holy marriage, 1Cor. 7.36; and that the man and wife in that estate render due benevolence towards each other, 1Cor. 7.5. Thus I have also endeavoured to satisfy your desires concerning the seventh commandment; and now, neighbour Nomologista, I ask you to tell me whether you think you keep it perfectly, or not?
Nom. Sir, I thank the Lord I am free from actual uncleanness, so that I am neither a fornicator nor an adulterer.
Evan. Good; but even though you are free from the outward act, yet if you had in your heart filthy imaginations, unchaste thoughts, or inward desires, or motions of the heart toward uncleanness, then notwithstanding, you have transgressed this commandment; or if you have been guilty of gluttony, or drunkenness, or idleness, or if you delight to keep company with lascivious and wanton persons, or if your tongue has uttered any unchaste or corrupt communication, or you have frequented stage-plays, or used immoderate dancing with women, or used wanton dalliance with kissing and embracing, then you have broken this commandment.
Neo. I beseech you, sir, proceed to speak of the eighth commandment, as you have done of the rest.