those whose deeds are made manifest, are ever recovered from this snare of the devil, we have reason to fear, if we consult the wisdom of Solomon, who saith, and not of himself, but by inspiration, when speaking of the strange woman, none that go unto "her return again; neither take they hold "of the paths of life," Prov. ii. 19.

As the angler often makes use of one kind of fish for baits to deceive and ensnare another; so doth the devil in respect to men and women. Did he not make use of that lewd adultress mentioned in the Proverbs, as a bait to ensnare the young man void of understanding? Hear the passage, and may every young man take warning by the sinful intrigue: "For at the window of my house "I looked through my casement, and be'held, among the simple ones, I discerned 66 among the youths, a young man void of "understanding, passing through the street "near her corner, and he went the way to "her house in the twilight, in the evening, "in the black and dark night: and behold "there met him a woman with the attire of

66

an harlot, and subtle of heart. (She is "loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in

**her house: Now is she without, now in "the streets, and lieth in wait at every cor

*r

ner.) So she caught him and kissed him, " and with an impudent face said unto him, "I have peace-offerings with me; this day "I have paid my vows. Therefore came I "forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy "face, and I have found thee. I have deck"ed my bed with coverings of tapestry, with "carved works, with fine linen of Egypt. I "have perfumed my bed with myrrh, aloes, " and cinnamon. Come, let us take our fill "of love until the morning, let us solace "ourselves with loves. For the good man " is not at home, he is gone a long journey, "he hath taken a bag of money with him, " and will come home at the day appointed.

66

With her much fair speech she caused him "to yield, with the flattering of her lips she "forced him. He goeth after her straight

way, as an ox goeth to the slaughter, or "as a fool to the correction of the stocks: "till a dart strike through his liver, as a bird hasteth to the snare, and knoweth not that "it is for his life, Prov. vii. 6---23.

The sin of uncleanness is the bane of so ciety, and that which degradeth human na

ture below that of the brutal.

Serious men

not only abhor it, but speak of it with the greatest detestation. "Know ye not," saith the apostle," that your bodies are the mem"bers of Christ? Shall I then take the mem"bers of Christ, and make them the members " of an harlot ? God forbid," 1 Cor. vi. 15.

The apostle taketh particular notice of the heinous defiling nature of this sin above all others, saying, Flee fornication. Every "sin that a man doth is without the body; "but he that committeth fornication, sin"neth against his own body. 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?" 1 Cor. vi. 18---20.

Trivial as this sin of uncleanness may ap pear to be in the eyes of licentious men, it is not trivial in the eyes of God, who hath said, If any man defile the temple of God, "him shall God destroy," 1 Cor. iii. 17. and whoremongers and adulterers God will judge," Heb. xiii. 4.

Nor doth the devil count it trivial, otherwise he would not use so many arts and stratagems to ensnare men therewith; nor will they themselves think it trivial in a future state. Nor do they even count it trivial in this life, however they may speak thereof, and often commit it; for, would not almost the most hardened whore-monger be ashamed to commit the sin of uncleanness in the presence of a child, how much more in the presence of an earthly sovereign!

Yet, astonishing wickedness! amazing stupidity! such stick not at indulging their lusts, not indeed before a child, who cannot punish their crimes, nor an earthly judge or sovereign, who could only punish them in this life; but in the presence of Almighty God, the sovereign Judge. of heaven and earth, who can cast both soul and body into hell-fire for ever, and will by no means clear the guilty, Exod. xxxiv. 7.

This brings to my memory a story I have somewhere heard, which runs thus: "A. "strumpet, wishing to entice a young gen❝tleman to the act of uncleanness with her, being requested of him first to lead him

"into some place that would be secret enough "for indulging this desire: she accordingly "led him into a private room; but upon

66

his

saying that it was not private enough, she "took him into another still more so; but

upon his saying it would not do neither, "she led him into another still more dark and "secret, and said, there is not a more secret "place in the house; and sure it is impossible "for any to hear or see us in this place. "Whereupon the young gentleman replied, "O yes, I am still afraid God will see us; "unless you can take me into some place "where God cannot see, I dare not satisfy desires.

"your

and

O that I and every one else would remember that the all-penetrating eye of God is ever upon us, and that darkness covereth not from him, but to him the night doth shine as day, Ps. cxxxix. 12. This, through grace, would deter us from those paths where such destroyers go, and put us upon saying with Jacob in another case, “O my soul, come not thou in"to their secret: unto their assembly mine "honour be not thou united, Gen. xlix. 6. lest "thou mourn at the last, when thy flesh and

ડ

6.6

❝thy body are consumed," Prov. v. 11.