While I am meditating, this angler has changed his hook, put on a bate, and sunk it with lead in the deep waters, giving the finny tribe an opportunity to swallow it in secret, without being obliged to come in view. Thus Satan often fisheth with the fleshly bait of uncleanness, in the stagnated pool of corrupt nature; holding it out as most delightful, and a thousand times more satisfactory to the flesh, than its deluded prostitutes have ever been able to find.

Yet sensual men lust after it, and greedily swallow it in the secret intrigues of carnality, and so for a momentary pleasure risk an eternity of misery and woe; at which incomparable folly the devil himself cannot fail to be struck, and for which he will upbraid them in hell through all eternity. Though now he tempt them to commit that sin which he himself was never capable of; whereby many are destroyed, whose deeds never come to the light to be reproved; and even few of 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, 66 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

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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 ❝an harlot, and subtle of heart. (She is loud

"and stubborn, her feet abide not in her

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house now is she without, now in the "streets, and lieth in wait at every corner.) "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 decked

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

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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 society, and that which degradeth human nature 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

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sin that a man doeth 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 appear 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.

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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.