and whorish kisses she now applies to Christs feet Her choice and precious Ointment such as formerly she anointed her self and her bed withall for her Lovers she pours out upon the feet of the Lord Jesus Lament and bewail the filthiness of thy Heart and Nature which is the Spring and Fountain whence all the streams of Vncleanness flow Psal 51. 5. Behold I was shapen in iniquity and in sin did my mother conceive me Cry unto the Lord to purge and cleanse thee from the guilt and filth of thy sin Psal 51. 7. Purge me with hysop and I shall be clean wash me and I shall be whiter then the snow Your sin cries for Vengeance do not you neglect to cry for Mercy Wash in the Fountain of Grace opened in the Gospel Zech. 13. 1. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem for sin and for uncleanness 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you but ye are washed but ye are sanctified but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus and by the Spirit of our God 1 Joh. 1. 9. If we confess our sins he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness Labour through the grace and help of Christ to mortifie thy lusts and crucifie the flesh Coloss 3. 5. Mortifie your members which are upon the earth Fornication uncleanness inordinate affection evil concupiscence Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body ye shall live Take the Sword of the Spirit and thrust it into the bowels of thy lusts and let out their heart blood Deal with them as Samuel dealt with Agag Hew them in pieces before the Lord. Hearken to the Counsel of the Lord Jesus Matth. 5. 29 30. If thy right eye offend thee pluck it out and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell And if thy right hand offend thee cut it off and cast it from thee for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell If the eye orâ—nand be infected inflâ—med and gangrened the whole Body is in danger The gangrened part must be cut off or the whole Body will perish He that hath a laâ—civious eye hath a Spiritual Gangrene in his eye he that hath an unchaste ear or hand hath a Spiritual Gangrene in his ear or hand either cut off the gangrened part or Soul and Body shall be cast into hell fire where the worm dieâ—h not and the fire is not quenched Indulgence to thy Lusts is cruelty to thy Soul Thy life shall go for their life What a madness is this for the satisfaction of a vile lust to expose thy self to everlasting â—orments Oh! you purchase your pleasures at a dear rate you must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire What art thou a compleat Sensualist Thou withholdest thy heart from no carnal joy or fleshly delight Thou hast two eyes and two hands and two feet thou canst not endure to maim and mangle the body of sin and render thy self absurd and ridiculous to the world Verily thou hadst better go a Creeple to Heaven then being a perfect Epicuâ—e to be cast into Hell into the fire that never shall be quenched Mark 9. 43 48. If once thou hast escaped out of Sodom tremble to think of returning thither again Joh. 8. 11. Jesus said unto her Neither do I condemn thee go and sin no more Nay look not back lest thou become a Pillar of Salt Remember Lots wife A man that hath been sick of a dangerous Disease and is hopefully recovered if he relapse through carelesness his condition is far more dangerous then at the first 2 Pet. 2. 20. If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ they are again intangled therein and overcome the latter end is worse with them then the beginning When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a man he is restless untill he returneth again he delighteth not so much to dwell any where as in his old habitation he is resolved to assail and recover his former possession He is not afraid of the length of the siege or the strength of opposition 'T is no small encouragement unto him that he findeth his house empty 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 vacant idle unoccupied swept and garnished secure living at ease given to pleasure sit and prepared to entertain such a guest now he assaults with greater force and fierceness then at his first entrance and his latter possession is far more dangerous and irrecoverable then his first Mat. 12. 43 44 45. Thirdly Let the fear of God excite and quicken in all our hearts the love of Holiness and due care to preserve and maintain the purity of our persons 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit perfecting holiness in the fear of God The purity of our persons is an excellent and honourable thing and that which God commands and requires 1 Thess 4. 3 4 5 7. yea it disposeth and fitteth a man for the Presence Worship and Service of God Matth. 5. 8. 2 Tim. 2. 21. First cleanse the Fountain Wash thy heart from wickedness Jer. 4. 14. Purifie your heart Jam. 4. 8. Then watch the motions of the heart in its thoughts and affections Prov. 4. 23. Job 31. 1. Look well to the doors and gates of the Senses Keep thine Eye from gazing upon such objects as may be alluâ—ing and ensnaring Matth. 5. 28. Stop thine Ears at filthy Jests amorous Songs corrupt communication Abhor all lascivious Touches unchaste Embracings Restrain thine Appetite from excess in Meat and Drink Prov. 23. 1 2 3 31 32 33. Feed not feast not without Fear Jude ver 12. Devote and consecrate thy self to the Lord. Prov. 23. 26. My son give me thy heart and 〈◊〉 thine eyes behold my wayes Hearken to the Word of God and meditate thereon with delight continually Prov. 2. 10 11 16. When wisdome entreth into thy heart and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul discretion shall preserve thee understanding shall keep thee to deliver thee from the strange woman Prov. 6. 23 24. The Commandment is a lamp and the Law is light and Reproofs of instruction are the way of life to keep thee from the evil woman from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman Be frequent and fervent in Prayer Psal 51. 10. Create in me a clean heart O God and renew a right Spirit within me 1 Thess 5. 23. The very God of peace sanctifie you wholly and I pray God your whole Spirit and Soul and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ Let thy Speech be gracious and savoury Eph. 4.
Brothel-house yea a Cage of unclean Birds yea a very Hog-sty What horrid Profaneness what hellish Sacriledge is this Reas 4. Because the sin of Uncleanness is most offâ—nsive and displeasing to the holy Spirit of God Gen. 6 3. The Lord said My Spirit shall not alwayes strive with man because he also is flesh and ver 6. It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth and it grieved him at his heart Corrupt Communication grieves the holy Spirit of God Ephes 4. 29 30. They that are sensual are destitute of the Spirit Jude ver 19. The stinking Lake of Sodom is not so unsavoury and loathsome to the Traveller that passeth by as the lewd and filthy person is to the most holy God Such are the abhorred of the Lord Prov. 22. 14. Reas 5. Because the sin of Uncleanness provokes God to indignation and augments his fierce wrath against vile sinners Jer. 5. 9. Shall I not visit for these things saith the Lord and shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this Ephes 5. 6. Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience Where do the Guests of the strange woman lodge In such a Tavern or Ordinary nay they lodge in the depths of Hell Prov. 9. 18. Fornicators Adulterers unclean and effâ—minate persons and Abusers of themselves with mankinde have no inheritance in the Kingdome of God but are shut out among the Dogs and cast into the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone which is the second death 1 Cor. 69 10. Gal. 5. 19 21. Eph. 5. 5. Rev. 21. 8 27. 22. 15. VSE I. Of Instruction This may serve to Vindicaâ—e the holy Name of God and clear in Throne in his dreadful Severity toward this vile and wicked Youth in making him a Pattern and Monument of his fierce Wrath and Indignation It may be some among us stand astonished and amazed at this fearfull and tremendous hand of God in making such a Youth a Childe of Religious Parents and that in his tender years such a Dreadful Example of Divine Vengeance I pray consider 1. The heinous and atrocious nature of his Sin and Transgression It is a Crying sin it makes a â—lamorous noise in the ears of the holy God it will not suffer God to rest in Heaven It doth not onely trouble our Israâ—l but it troubles and disquiets the God of Israel This his sin is exceeding grievous in the sight of God it is an Abomination it is Confusion It defiles the Land the Earth groans under the burthen of such Wickedness You pity his Youth and tender years but I pray pity the holy Law of God which is shamefully violated pity the glorious Name of God which is horribly profaned pity the Land which is fearfully polluted and defiled 2. Consider the Equity of Gods severe Dispensation towards this vile Youth The Lord hath proceeded slowly and leisurely and hath endured this wicked Youth with much long-suffering untill his sin grew to this prodigious height and cried for Vengeance For as he himself confesseth he lived in Disobedience to his Parents in Lying Stealing Sabbath-breaking and was wont to flee away from Catechism He would not hearken to the Voice of God and therefore he gave him up to his own hearts lust He was extremely addicted to Sloth and Idleness which is a great breeder and cherisher of Uâ—cleanness The standing Pool gathers filth and harbours Toads and filthy Vermine Lust is usually warm and stirring in idle bosomes He gave himself to Self-pollution and oâ—her Sodomitical wickedness He often attempted Buggery with several Beasts before God-left him to commit it at last God gave him over to it and he continued in the frequent practise thereof for several Moneths Being at length by the good hand of God brought under the Yoke of Government and Servâ—ce which might have bridled and restrained him from such wickednesâ— he violently brake away from his Master and with an high hand boldly and impudently like a childe of Belial shook off that Yoke of God casting reproach and disgrace upon his Master Having now obtained a licentious liberty he grew so impudent in his wickedness as to commit this horrid Villany in the sight of the Sun and in the open field even at Noon-day proclaiming his sin like Sodom Though he be a Youth in respect of years yet he is grown old in wickedness and ripe for Vengeance The Church cannot be cleansed untill this wicked person be put away from among us Ishmael stood in the same relation to the Church of God was younger in years yet being convict of a heinous Transgression though far inferiour to this before us was cast out and that according to the Commandment of God Gen. 21. 9 10 11 12. If we will not pronounce such a Villain Accursed we must be content to bear the Curse our selves The Land cannot be cleansed untill it hath spued out this Uâ—clean Beast The execution of Justice upon such a notorious Malefactor is the onely way to turn away the wrath of God from us and to consecrate our selves to the Lord and obtain his Blessing upon us Numb 25. 4. Hang them up before the Lord against the Sun that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel Exod. 32. 29. Consecrate your selves to day to the Lord even every man upon his Son and upon his Brother that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day VSE II. Of Exhortation unto us all To sanctifie the Name of God in this tremendous Dispensation in making such an one amongst us a Sign and an Example of Vengeance When Nadab and Abibu were burnt with fire for offering strange fire before the Lord Mâ—ses said unto Aaron This is that which the Lord spake saying I will be sanctified in them that come nigh to me and before all the people I will be glorified Lev. 10. 3. This is the right interpretation and true improvement of such signal and judicial Strokes viz. To sanctifie the Name of God according to his Word and give him the honour and glory due unto his Name Psal 9. 16. The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands Higgaion Selah This is a deep Meditation Let us look upon this sad and woful Example with diligent Observation let it sink down into our hearts ponder and weigh it in the Causes Circumstances and Aggravations thereof Let our thoughts dwell upon this lasting Monument of Divine Wrath. Content we not our selves with transient thoughts in contemplating such a permanent Sign and Example of Vengeance left God lose of that Honour and Glory which he expects from us and we fail of that Spiritual fruit which we might and ought to reap thereby Quest How should we sanctifie the Name of God in this tremendous Dispensation Ans I. In general Fear and Tremble before this holy Lord God Isa 8. 13. Sanctifie the Lord
after stollen waâ—ers Pride is the object of Gods special hatred and abhorrency Prov. 16. 5. Every one that is proud in heart is an abomination to the Lord. Pride provokes the Lord to withdraw his grace and Spirit and plunge them into this filthy puddle God resisteth the pâ—oud Jam. 4. 6. He that is abhorred of the Lord shall fall into this deep pit Prov. 22. 14. 2. Beware of Fulness of Bread i. e. Gluttony and Drunkenness This was another of the sins of Sodom and it is the very fodder and fuell of the sin of Vncleanness Jer. 5. 7 8. When I had â—ed them to the full then they committed Adultery and assembled themselves by troops in the harlots houses They were as fed horses in the morning every one neighed after his neighbours wife 2 Pet. 2. 13 14. Sporting themselves with their own deceivings while they feast with you having eyes full of Adultâ—ry and that cannot cease from sin The unclean Spirit findes no rest in dry places in sober and temperate livers but loves to wallow in the mâ—re of Riot and Intemperance The sensual and voluptuous Epicure is a sit Sty for the unclean Spirit to lodge in Christ hath given us solemn warning to take heed of Excess Luke 21. 34. Take heed to your selves lest any time your hearts be over-charged with surfetting and drunkâ—nness and cares of this life and so that day come upâ—n you unawares 'T is a lamentable thing to see Christians Belly-gods Phil. 3. 18 19. 3. Beâ—are of Slâ—th and Idleness This was another of Sodoms sins and it is the Nurse and Fosterer of vile lusts Stow bâ—lâ—ies are usually evil beasts Tit. 1. 12. When men are sluggish and slothful in the work which God calls them unto the Devil will sâ—t them about his drudgery The standing waters puâ—risie and grow corrupt and noisome The untilled ground is soon overgrown with stinking Weeds The beginning of Davids fall was â—â—s â—lâ—th He gave himself to carnal ease and rest rolling himself upon his bed when he should have been in the Field sighting the Batâ—els of the Lord thereupon Satan assaulted him and tempted him to uncleanness 2 Sam. 11. 1 2 3. Of Idleness cometh no good Laziness breeds Lewdness No business debauchâ—ry By doing nothing men learn to do evil While the Oyster opens its shell to the Sun the Crab thrusteth in its Claws and devoureth the Oyster Idle and slothful persons are easily made a prey by Satan Otia si tollas c. If you would escape the darts of Lust avoid Idleness and Sloth 4. Beware of Disobedience to Parents and Masters in Families and of â—asting off the Yoke of Government which would check and restrain the Enormities of Youth The younger Son who would have his portion and live at his own hand grew riotous debauched devoured his substance with Harlots Lâ—ke 15. 12 30. The Sons of Ell were Sons of Belial they cast off the yoke of government and soon became Gluttons and Adulterers 5. Beware of evil Company the society of vicious and lascivious persons A little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump A Companion of fools shall be destroyed Prov. 13. 20. He that is a Companion of riotous men shameth his father Prov. 28. 7. Wise-hearted Joseph fleeth his Mistresses company he would not so much as be with her alone in the room 'T is dangerous bringing our Corruptions and Temptations to an interview Dinah out of curiosity goes abroad into the City to see the daughters of the Land to observe their Persons Habits Fashions and Behaviour but she is more curiously viewed and is takâ—n and defloured Gâ—n 34. 1 2. Israels taâ—ling and talking and feasting with a company of leâ—d women brought more mischief upon them then all the Host of Moab and Midiâ—â— yea then all the Enchantments of Balaam could do Nâ—mb 25. 1 2 3. 31. 16. One root of bitterness may defiâ—e many The strange woman increaseth transgressors among men Prov. 23. 28. 6. Beware of Irreligion and Profaneness Israel would not hearken to Gods voice nor be content with the Lord alone for their Portion therefore he gave them over to their own hearts lusts Psal 81. 11 12. The Gentiles liked not to retain God in knowledge but grew vain in their imaginations representing the true God by Images of Men and Beasts wherefore God gave them over to vile affections and to a minde void of judgement so that they ran mad into Sodomiticall wickedness Rom. 1. 18 21 24 28. If men grieve away the holy Spirit of God it is just with God to let loose the unclean Spirit and give him a Commission to haunt them A profane person may easily be come a Fornicator Heb. 12. 16. He that despiseth the holy Ordinances and Spiritual Priviledges preferring the satisfaction of his sensual Appetite above Gospel-mercies may easily fall into the sin of Uncleanness The children of disobedience who cannot be perswaded to embrace the Gospel and yield up themselves in professed subjection to Christ they are usually addicted to vile lusts Col. 3. 5 6. Eph. 5. 5 6. Secondly Let the fear and dread of God move and provoke such as are guilty of the sin of Vncleanness timously to Repent and turn to God lest they also perish Luke 13. 3 5. Except ye repent ye shall all likewise perish If God hath not spared this lewd Youth but made him an Example how shall he spare thee who art an old practitioner in Sodomitical wickedness Do not linger nor defer thy Repentance but hasten out of Sodom and flee to the Mountains lest thou be consumed in this iniquity Call to minde all thy former lewdness thine unclean Speculations vile affections unchaste desires filthy jestings dishonest and vicious practises and lament and bewail them with bitterness and anguish of Soul Solomon having applied his heart wisely to finde out his own wickedness madness and folly crieth out I finde more bitter then death the Woman whose heart is snares and nets and her hands as bands Eccles 7. 26. Is the heart of the holy God broken with thy whorish heart and shall not thy whorish heart be broken The onely Sacrifice which God requires of thee is a broken and contrite heart none other will he accept at thine hand Psal 51. 17. Imitable is the Example of that woman in Luke 7. who had been infamous for Uncleanness and became famous for Repentance She stood at Jesus feet behinde him weeping and began to wash his feet with tears and did wipe them with the hairs of her head and kissed his feâ—t and anointed them with the Ointment ver 38. She findes more bitterness in her lascivious Courses then ever she found sweetness Her eyes had been formerly full of Adultery now are they filled with the salt Tears of Repentance Her hair she was wont to plair and adorn her self therewith to please her Paramours but now she makes it a Towel to wipe the feet of Christ Her lips which she formerly used to unclean