Quest 70, 71, 72 Of the seventh commandment,
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
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; 2Kings xxi. 16. Moreover, Manasseh shed innocent blood very much, till he had filled Jerusalem from one end to another, &c.
12. What is the third inference hence ?
A. Let all men watch against pride, passion, malice, and revenge, the fin of the heart, from which this horrid fin proceeds ; Matth. xv. 18, 19. For out of the heart proceed evil thoughts, murders, &c.
Of the seventh Commandment.
W not commit adultery.
Hich is the seventh commandment ?
Quest. 70.
A. The seventh commandment is, [Thou shalt 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 seventhcommandmentforbiddethallunchaste thoughts, words, and actions.
Q. 1. What is the duty required in this commandment?
A. The firstdutyrequired in this commandment is, the preservation of our own chastity in heart, lips, and life ; 1 Theff. iv. 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. AndEph . iv. 29. Let no corrupt communication(pro ceedout of your mouth, &c.
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. vi. 15, 19. Knowye 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 Theff. iv. 3, 4. For this is the will of God, even your fanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication.
That every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour.
VOL. VIII.
An Exposition of the Assembly's Catechism.
3. What is the second reason ?
A. The fecondreasonis, because of the evil of it to ourselves :
As, ( 1.) It injures the body ; 1 Cor. vi. 18. He that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body.
(2.) It levels us with the Heathen ; Eph. iv. 17, 19. This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as otherGen: tiles walk,-who being past feeling, have given themselves over untolasciviousness, toworkalluncleanness withgreediness. (3.)
Dishonours our names ; Prov. vi. 32, 33. But whoso committeth adultery with a woman,-a wound and dish on our shall he get, &c .
(4.) Scatters our estates ; Prov. v. 10. Lest strangers be filled with thy wealth, and thy labours be in the house of strangers.
(5.) Destroyeth the soul; Prov. vi. 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 fin ; Prov, vii. 7. And behold among the simple ones, Idifcerned among the youths, a young man void of understanding. And 2 Tim. ii. 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. v. 28. But I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman, toluftafterher, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart.
6. What are the usual inducements to this fin ?
A. The usual inducements to this sin are, (1.) Idleness and fulness of the creatures ; Ezek. xvi. 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. iii. 16. Moreover, the Lord faith, 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. v. 4. Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient, &c,
Q. 7. What is the first remedy against this fin ?
A. The first remedy, and the most effectual, is, to get the Spirit of God within us, to sanctify and rule us ; Gal. v. 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. iv.
23. Keep thy heart with all diligence, &c. And over the ex