§. 1. Though as it is a sin against another, Adultery and Fornication is forbidden in the se∣venth Commandment, and should there be handled, yet as it is a sin against our own bodies, which should be members of Christ, and Temples of the Holy Ghost, as 1 Cor. 6. 15, 18, 19. So it is here to be handled among the rest of the sins of the senses: And I the rather choose to take it up here, because what I have said in the two last Titles, against Gluttony and Drunkenness serve also for this. The same arguments and convincing questions, and directions, will almost all serve, if you do but change the name of the sin: And as the Reader loveth not needless tediousness, so I am glad of this means to avoid the too often naming of such an odious filthy sin, yet something most proper to it must be spoken. And 1. I shall shew the Greatness of the sin, and 2. give Directions for the cure.
§. 2 1. There is no sin so odious, but Love to it, and frequent using it, will do much to reconcile the very judgement to it: either to think it lawful, or tolerable and venial; to think it no sin, or but a little sin, and easily forgiven. And so with some brutish persons it doth in this. But 1. It is Reason enough against any sin that it is forbidden by the most wise infallible universal King of all the world. Thy Makers will is enough to condemn it, and shall be enough to condemn those that are the servants of it. He hath said, Thou shalt not commit adultery. 1 Cor. 6. 9, 10. Be not deceived, neitherfornicators, nor idolaters, nor adulterers, nor esseminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind—shall inherit the Kingdom of God. V. 15, 16, 17, 18, 19. Know ye 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 for∣bid. What, Know ye not that he which is joyned to an harlot is one body: for two (saith he) shall be one flesh: But he that is joyned to the Lord is one Spirit. Flee fornication: every sin that a man doth is without the body: but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What! know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost which is in you—(Mark that he speaketh not this to fornicators: for their bodies are not Temples of the Holy Ghost: but to them that by filthy Hereticks in those times were tempted to think fornication no great sin). So Ephes. 5. 3, 4, 5, 6. But fornication, and all uncleanness, and covetousness, let it not be once named among you as becometh*Saints: Neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting—For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous man who is an idolater, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of God: Let no man deceive you with vain words; for because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the chil∣dren of disobedience: be not ye therefore partakers with them. Gal. 5. 19. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness—of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the Kingdom of God▪ 1 Thess. 4. 3. For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from forni∣cation: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, not in the lust of concupiscence, as the Gentiles which know not God. See also Col. 3. 5, 6. Heb. 13. 4. Marri∣age is honourable, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Rev. 21. 8. The abominable—and whoremongers—shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone. Rev. 22. 15. For without are dogs, and sorcerers, and whoremongers, and murderers—Jude 7. Even as Sodom and Gomorrah and the Cities about them in like manner, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, are set for an example suffering the vengeance of eternal fire. I shall add no more lest I be tedious.
§. 3. 2. Besides Scripture God hath planted in nature a special pudor and modesty to restrain this sin:*and they that commit it do violate the Law of Nature, and sin against a witness and condemner that is within them. And scarce any one of them ever committeth it boldly, quietly and fearlesly, till first they have hardned their hearts and seared their consciences and overcome the light of nature, by fre∣quent wilful sinning. Nature hideth the obscene parts, and teacheth man to blush at the mention of any thing that is beyond the bounds of modesty. Say not that it is meer custom; for the vitiated nature of man is not so over precise, nor the villany of the world so rare and modest, but before this day, it had quite banished all restraints of this sin, above most others, if they could have done it, and if God had not written the Law which condemneth it, very deep in nature, with almost in∣delible Characters. So that in despight of the horrid wickedness of the earth, though mankind be almost universally inclined to lust, yet there be universally Laws and Customs restraining it, so that except a very few Savages and Cannibals like beasts, there is no Nation on the earth where filthiness is not a shame, and modesty layeth not some rebukes upon uncleanness. Ask no further then for a Law, when thy Nature it self is a Law against it. And the better any man is, the more doth he ab∣hor the lusts of uncleanness. So that among Saints, saith the Apostle, it is not to be named (that is, not without need and detestation) Ephes. 5. 3. & v. 12. For it is a shame even to speak of those things that are done of them in secret. And when drunkenness had uncovered the shame of No∣ah, his Son Cham is cursed for beholding it, and the other Sons blest for their modest and re∣verent covering him.
§. 4. 3. And that God hath not put this Law into mans nature without very great cause, albeit the Implicite belief and submission due to him, should satisfie us, though we knew not the causes par∣ticularly, yet much of them is notorious to common observation: As that if God had not restrained lust by Laws, it would have made the female sex most contemptible and miserable, and used worse by men than dogs are. For first rapes and violence would deflowre them, because they are too weak to make resistance: And if that had been restrained, yet the lust of men would have been unsatisfied, and most would have grown weary of the same woman whom they had abused, and taken another; at least when she grew old they would choose a younger, and so the aged women would be the most ca∣lamitous creatures upon earth: Besides that lust is addicted to variety, and groweth weary of the same; the fallings out between men and women, and the sicknesses that make their persons less pleasing, and age and other accidents, would expose them almost all to utter misery. And men would be Law-makers, and therefore would make no Laws for their relief, but what consisted with their lusts and ends. So that half the world would have been ruined, had it not been for the Laws of ma∣trimony, and such other as restrain the lusts of men.
§. 5. 4. Also there would be a confused mixture in procreation, and no men would well know what children are their own: which is worse than not to know their Lands or Houses.
§. 6. 5. Hereby all natural affection would be diminished or extinguished: As the love of Husband and Wife, so the Love between Fathers and Children would be diminished.
§. 7. 6. And consequently the due education of children would be hindered, or utterly overthrown: The mothers that should first take care of them, would be disabled and turned away, that fresh harlots might be received, who would hate the offspring of the former: So that by this means the world and all societies and civility would be ruined, and men would be made worse than bruits, whom nature hath either better taught, or else made for them some other supply. Learning, Religion, and civi∣lity would be all in a manner extinct, as we see they are among those few savage Cannibals that are under no restraint: For how much all these depend upon education, experience telleth us: In a word this confusion in procreation, would introduce such confusion in mens hearts, and families and all so∣cieties, by corrupting and destroying necessary affection and education, that it would be the greatest plague imaginable to mankind, and make the world so base and beastly that to destroy mankind from off the earth would seem much more desirable. Judge then whether God should have left mens Lusts unrestrained.
§. 8. Object. But (you’ll say) there might have been some moderate restraint to a certain number, as* it is with the Mahometans, without so much strictness as Christ doth use.
Answ. That this strictness is necessary, and is an excellency in Gods law, appeareth thus. 1. By* the greatness of the mischief which else would follow: To be remiss in preventing such a confusion in the world, would be an enmity to the world. 2. In that mans nature is so violently inclined to break over, that if the hedge were not close there were no sufficient restraining them; they would quickly run out at a little gap. 3. The wiser and the better any nation or persons are, even among the Heathens, the more fully do they consent to the strictness of Gods Laws. 4. The cleanest sort of bruits themselves are taught by nature to be as strict in their copulations: Though it be otherwise with the meer terrestrial beasts and birds, yet the aërial go by couples: Those that are called the fowles of the Heavens, that fly in the air, are commonly taught this chastity by nature; as if God would not have lust come near to Heaven. 5. The families of the Mahometans that have more wives than one, do shew the mischief of it in the effects, in the hatred and disagreement of their wives, and the great slavery that women are kept in; making them like slaves that they may keep them quiet: And when women are thus enslaved, who have so great a part in the education of children, by which all virtue and civility are maintained in the world, it must needs tend to the debasing and brutifying of mankind.
§. 9. 7. Children being the pretiousest of all our treasure, it is necessary that the strictest Laws be made for the securing of their good education and their welfare. If it shall be treason to debase or counterfeit the Kings coyn, and if men must be hanged for robbing you of your goods or money, and the Laws are not thought too strict that are made to secure your estates; how much more is it necessary that the Laws be strict against the vitiating of mankind, and against the debasement of your image on your children, and against that which tendeth to the extirpation of all virtue, and the ruine of all societies and souls.
§. 10. 8. God will have a holy seed in the world, that shall bear his image of holiness, and therefore he will have all means fitted thereunto: Bruitish promiscuous generation tendeth to the production of a bruitish seed: And though the word preached is the means of sanctifying those that remain un∣sanctified from their youth; yet a holy marriage and holy dedication of children to God, and holy education of them, are the former means, which God would not have neglected or corrupted, and to which he promiseth his blessing: As you may see, 1 Cor. 7. 14. Mal. 2. 15. Did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit: And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed: Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth: For the Lord bateth putting away.
§. 11. 9. Yea lust corrupteth the mind of the person himself, if it be not very much restrained and moderated. It turneth it from the only excellent pleasure, by the force of that bruitish kind of plea∣sure. It carrieth away the thoughts; and distempereth the passions, and corrupteth the phantasie, and* thereby doth easily corrupt the intellect and heart. Pleasure is so much of the End of man, which his Nature leadeth him to desire, that the chief thing in the world to make a man Good and Happy is to engage his heart to those Pleasures which are Good, and make men Happy: And the chief thing to make him Bad and Miserable, is to engage him in the pleasures which make men Bad and end in Mi∣sery. And the principal thing by which you may know your selves or others, what you are, is to know what your pleasures are, or at least, what you choose and desire for your pleasure. If the Body rule the Soul you are bruitish, and shall be destroyed: If the Soul rule the Body, you live according to true humane nature and the ends of your creation. If the Pleasures of the Body are the predominant pleasures which you are most addicted to, then the Body ruleth the Soul, and you shall perish as Traytors to God, that debase his Image, and turn man into Beast, Rom. 8. 13. If the Pleasure of the Soul be your most predominant pleasure, which you are most addicted to (though you attain as yet but little of it) then the Soul doth Rule the Body, and you live like men: And this cannot well be till Faith shew the Soul those higher Pleasures in God and everlasting Glory, which may carry it above all fleshly pleasures. By all this set together you may easily perceive, that the way of the Devil to cor∣rupt and damn men, is to keep them from faith, that they may have no Heavenly Spiritual pleasure, and to strengthen sensuality and give them their fill of fleshly pleasures to imprison their minds that they may ascend no higher: And that the way to sanctifie and save men, is to help them by faith to Hea∣venly pleasure, and to abate and keep under that fleshly pleasure that would draw down their minds▪ And by this you may see how to understand the doctrine of mortification and taming the body, and abstaining from the pleasures of the flesh: And you may now understand what personal mischief Lust doth to the soul.
§. 12. 10. Your own experience and consciences will tell you, that if it be not exceedingly mo∣derated, it unfitteth you for every holy duty! You are unfit to meditate on God, or to pray to him, or to receive his word, or sacrament: And therefore nature teacheth those that meddle with holy things to be more continent than others; which Scripture also secondeth▪ 1 Sam. 21. 4, 5. Such sensual* things and sacred things do not well agree too near.
§. 13. 11. And as by all this you see sufficient cause, why God should make stricter Laws for the bridling of Lust, than fleshly lustful persons like; so when his Laws are broken by the unclean, it is a sin that Conscience (till it be quite debauched) doth deeply accuse the guilty for, and beareth a ve∣ry clear testimony against: O the unquietness! the horror! the despair that I have known many per∣sons* in, even for the sin of self-pollution that never proceeded to fornication! And how many adulte∣rers and fornicators have we known that have lived and died in despair, and some of them hang’d themselves! Conscience will condemn this sin with a heavy condemnation, till custom or infidelity have utterly seared it.
§. 14. 12. And it is also very observable, that when men have once mastered conscience in this point, and reconciled it to this sin of fornication, it’s an hundred to one that they are utterly hardned* in all abhomination, and scarce make conscience of any other villany whatsoever! If once fornicati∣on go for nothing, or a small matter with them, usually all other sin is with them of the same account: If they have but an equal temptation to it, lying, and swearing, and perjury, and theft, yea and mur∣der, and treason would seem small too: I never knew any one of these but he was reconcileable and prepared for any villany that the Devil set him upon: And if I know such a man, I would no more trust him, than I would trust a man that wants nothing but Interest and Opportunity to commit any hey∣nous sin that you can name. Though I confess I have known divers of the former sort, that have com∣mitted this sin under horror and despair, that have retained some good in other points, and have* been recovered; yea of this later sort, that have reconciled their Consciences to fornication, I never knew one that was recovered, or that retained any thing of Conscience or honesty, but so much of the shew of it as their Pride and worldly interest commanded them: and they were malignant enemies of goodness in others, and lived according to the unclean spirit which possessed them. They are terrible words, Prov. 2. 18, 19. For her house inclineth unto death, and her paths unto the dead: None that go unto her return again, neither take they hold on the paths of life. Age keepeth them from actual filthi∣ness and lust (and so may Hell; for there is no fornication): but they retain their debauched seared Consciences.
§. 15. 13. And it is the greater sin because it is not committed alone; but the Devil taketh them by couples: Lust enflameth lust: And the fewel set together makes the greatest flame: Thou art guilty of the sin of thy wretched companion, as well as of thine own.
§. 16. 14. Lastly the miserable effects of it, and the punishments that in this life have attended it, do* tell us how God accounteth of the sin; It hath ruined persons, families and Kingdoms: And God hath born his testimony against it, by many signal judgements, which all Histories almost acquaint you with. As there is scarce any sin that the New-testament more frequently and bitterly condemneth, (as you may see in Pauls Epistles, 2 Pet. 2. Iud &c.) so there are not many that Gods providence more frequently pursueth with shame and misery on earth: And in the latter end of the world, God hath added one concomitant plague not known before, called commonly, the Lues Venerea, the Venereous Pox; so that many of the most bruitish sort, go about stigmatized with a mark of Gods vengeance, the prognostick or warning of a heavier vengeance. And there is none of them all (that by great Repentance be not made new creatures) but leave an infamous name and memory, when they are dead, (if their sin was publickly known) Let them be never so great, and never so gallant, victorious, suc∣cessful, liberal, and flattered or applauded while they lived, God ordereth it so, that Truth shall or∣dinarily prevail, with the Historians that write of them when they are dead; and with all sober men, their names rot and stink, as well as their bodies: Prov. 10. 7. The memory of the just is bles∣sed, but the name of the wicked shall rot. So much of the Greatness of the sin. Boniface Arch-Bishop of Mentz writing to Ethilbald an English King that was a fornicator, Epist. 19 saith [Fornication is a reproach not only anong Christians, but Pagans—For in old Saxonie, if a virgin had thus stained her Fathers house, or a marryed woman, breaking the marriage covenant had committed adul∣tery, sometime they force her to hang her self with her own hand, and over her ashes when she is burnt, they hang the fornicator. Sometimes they gather a band of women, they lead her about scourging her with rods; and cutting off her cloaths at the girdle, and with small knives cutting and pricking all her body, they send her from Village to Village thus bloody and mangled with little wounds; And so more and more, (incited by a zeal for chastity) do meet her and scourge her again, till they leave her either dead, or scarce alive; that others may fear adultery and luxury: And the Wineds which is the filthiest and worst sort of men, do keep the love of Matrimony with so great a zeal, that the woman will refuse to live when her husband is dead: And after some reproofs of the fornicating King, he addeth these further stories [Ceolred your Highness predecessor, as they witness who were present, he being splendidly banquetting with his Earles, was by the evil spirit that drew him to vio∣late Gods Law, suddenly distracted in his sin; so that without repentance and confession, being raging mad and talking with the Devil, and abhominating Gods Priests, he departed out of this life, no doubt to the torments of Hell. And Osred (King of the Deiri and Bernicii) the spirit of luxury carried in fornication and defiling the sacred virgins in the Monasteries, till such time as by a vile and base kind of death, he lost his glorious Kingdom, together with his youthful and luxurious life. Wherefore, most dear son, take heed of the ditch into which thou hast seen others fall before thee—] Vid. Auct. Bib. Pat. To. 2. pag. 55. 56.
And how great sufferings was laid on Priests, Monks and Nuns that had committed fornication, by several years imprisonment and scourging, see ib. pag. 84. in an edict of Carloman by the advice of a Council of Bishops.
And Epist. 85. p. 87. Bonific. writeth to Lullo that he was fain to suffer a Priest to officiate, Baptize, Pray, &c. that had long ago committed fornication, because there was none but he alone to be had in all the country, and he thought it better to venture that one mans soul than let all the people perish, and desireth Lullo’s counsel in it. By all which we may see how heynous a sin fornication was then judged.
Object. But (say the filthy ones), did not David commit the sin of Adultery? Did not God permit* them many Wives among the Iews? How many had Solomon? Therefore this is no such great sin as you pretend: Thus every filthiness a little while will plead for it self.
Answ. David did sin: And is the sin ever the less for that? It’s easier forbear it, than undergo the* tears and sorrows which David did endure for his sin! Besides the bitterness of his soul for it, his son Absalom rebelleth and driveth him out of his Kingdom, and his own wives are openly defiled: And yet God leaveth it as a perpetual blot upon his name. Solomons sin was so great that it almost rui∣ned him and his Kingdom: Though experience caused him to say more against it, than is said in the Old-Testament by any other, yet it is a controversie among Divines whether he was ever recovered and saved: And ten tribes of the twelve were therefore taken from his line, and given to Ieroboam. And is this any encouragement to you to imitate him? Christ telleth you in the case of divorcement, that God permitted (not allowed, but forbore) some such sins in the Jews because of the Hardness of their hearts, Mar. 10. 5. but from the beginning it was not so; but one man and one woman were conjoyned in the primitive institution. And the special reason why plurality was connived at among the Jews, was for the fuller peopling of the Nation; they being the only covenanted people of God, and being few among encompassing enemies, and being separated from the people of the earth, their strength and safety and glory lay much on their increased number, and therefore some inordinacie was connived at for their multiplication, but never absolutely allowed and approved of. And yet fornication is punished severely; and Adultery with Death.
§. 18. Direct. 1. If you would avoid uncleanness, avoid the things that dispose you to it, as Gluttony, or* fullness of dyet, and pampering the flesh; Idleness, and other things mentioned under the next Title, of subduing lust. The abating of the filthy Desires is the surest way to prevent the filthy act: which may be done, if you are but willing▪
§. 19. Direct. 2. Avoid the present Temptations: Go not where the snare lieth without necessity:* Abhor the Devils bellows that blow up the fire of lust; such as entising apparel, filthy talk, and fights, of which more also under the next Title.
§. 20. Direct. 3. Carefully avoid all opportunity of sinning. Come not near the door of her house, saith*Solomon Prov. 5. 8. Avoid the company of the person thou art in danger of: Come not where she is: This thou canst do if thou art willing: None will force thee: If thou wilt go seek for a thief, no wonder if thou be rob’d. If thou wilt go seek fire to put in the thatch, no wonder if thy house be burnt. The Devil will sufficiently play the Tempter; Thou needest not help him: thats his part; leave it to himself: It’s thy part to watch against him: And he will find thee work; If thou watch as narrowly and constantly as thou canst, it’s well if thou escape. As thou lovest thy soul, avoid all opportunities of sinning: Make it impossible to thy self: Much of thy safety lieth in this point. Never be in secret company with her thou art in danger of; but either not at all, or only in the sight of others: Especially contrive not such opportunities; as to be together in the night, in the dark, or on the Lords-day when others are at Church (one of the Devils seasons for such works) or any such op∣portunity leisure and secresie: For opportunity it self is a strong temptation: As it is the way to make a Thief, to set money in his way, or so to trust him as that he can easily deceive or rob you and never be discovered; so it is the way to make your self unclean to get such an opportunity of sinning, that you may easily do it without any probability of impediment or discovery from men. The chief point in all the art or watch is, to keep far enough off. If you touch the pitch you will be defiled. Whoso∣ever toucheth her shall not be innocent, Prov. 6. 29. Can a man take fire in his bosom, and his cloaths not be burnt? Can one go upon hot coals and his feet not be burnt; so he that goeth in to his neighbours wife, vers. 27, 28. Bring not the fire and the gunpowder to near. If thou canst not keep at a distance, nor forbear the presence of the bait, thou art not like to forbear the sin.
§. 21. Direct. 4. Reverence thy own Conscience: Mark what it speaketh now, for it will shortly speak* it in a more terrible manner: Hear it voluntarily; for it is terrible to hear it when thou canst not re∣sist: Treat with Conscience in the way while it is reconcileable: for thou knowest not how terrible a Tormenter it is. I doubt not but it hath given thee some gripes for thy very lust, before it ever came to practise: But the forest of its gripes now, are but like the playing of the Cat with the mouse, be∣fore the killing gripe is given. Doth no man see thee? Conscience seeth thee: And thou art a wretch indeed if thou reverence not Conscience more than man: As Chrysostom saith [Suppose no man know the crime but himself and the woman with whom he did commit it! How will he •ear the rebukes of Consci∣ence; when he carrieth about with him so sharp and bitter an accuser? For no man can over-run himself; and no man can avoid the sentence of this court within him: It is a tribunal not to be corrupted with mo∣ney, nor perverted by flattery; for it is divine, being placed in the soul by God himself: The less the Adul∣terer now feeleth it, the more he hastneth to the perdition of his soul.] Dost thou not feel a sentence p•st within thee! A terrible sentence; telling thee of the wrath of a Revenging God? Bless God that it is not yet an irreversible sentence; but sue o•t thy pardon quickly l•st it come to that. Dost thou not feel, that thou art afraid and ashamed to pray or to address thy self to God? Much more afraid to think of dying, and appearing before him? If thy sin make thee ready to fly from him now, if thou knewest how, canst thou look him in the face at last; or canst thou hope to stand with comfort at his bar? Art thou fit to live in Heaven with him, that makest thy self unfit to pray to him? Even lawful* procreation (as I said before) doth blush to come too near to holy exercises: As Chrysostom saith [Die quo liberis operam dedisti legitime, quamvis crimen illud non sit, orare tamen n•n audes—Quod si ab incontaminato lecto resurgens times? ad orandum accedere, quum in Diaboli lecto s•s, our horri∣bile Dei nomen audes invocare.] Conscience is a better friend to thee than thou dost imagine when it would reclaim thee from thy sin: And will be a sharper enemy than thou canst now imagine, if thou obey it not.
§. 22. Direct. 5. Suppose thou sawest written upon the door of the house or chamber where thou entrest*to sin, Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge: Heb. 13. 4. And write that, or such sentences upon thy Chamber door, or at least upon thy heart. Keep thy eye upon the terrible threatnings of the dread∣ful God. Darest thou sin, when vengeance is at thy back? Will not the thought of Hell-fire quench the fire of lust, or restrain thee from thy presumptuous sin? Dost thou not say with Ioseph, How shall*I do this great wickedness and sin against God? As it is written of a chast woman that being tempted by a fornicator, wisht him first at her request to hold his finger in the fire: and when he refused, an∣swered him, why then should I burn in Hell to satisfie you? So ask thy self, can I easilier overcome the flames of Hell, than the flames of lust?
§. 23. Direct. 6. Remember man that God stands by: If he were not there, thou couldst not be* there: for in him thou livest, and movest and art: He that made the eye must see, and he that made the light and darkness, doth see as well in the dark as in the light: If thou imagine that he is absent or ignorant thou believest not that he is God: For an absent and ignorant God, is no God. And darest thou, I say darest thou, commit such a villany and God behold thee? what that which thou wouldst be ashamed a Child should see? which thou wouldst not do if a mortal man stood by? Dost thou think that thy locks, or secresie or darkness, have darkenned or shut out God? Dost thou not know that he seeth not only within thy Curtains, but within thy heart? O what a hardened heart hast thou that in the sight of God, thy maker and thy judge, darest do such wickedness. Ask thy Con∣science man, would I do this if I were to dye to morrow, and go to God? would I do this it I saw God, yea or but an Angel in the room? If not, shouldst thou do it, when God is as sure there as if thou sawest him? O remember man that he is a Holy God, and hateth uncleanness, and that he is a con∣suming fire? Heb. 12. 29.
§. 24. Direct. 7. Suppose all the while that thou sawest the Devil opening thee the door, and bringing*thee thy mate, and driving on the match, and perswading thee to the sin: What if he appeared to thee openly to play his part, as sure as he now playeth it unseen? would not thy lust be cooled? and would not the Devil cure the disease which he hath excited in thee? why then dost thou obey him now, when he is as certainly the instigator as if thou sawest him? why man, hast thou so little Reason, that seeing and not seeing will make so great a difference with thee? what if thou wert blind, wouldst thou play the Fornicator before all the company, because thou seest them not? when thou knowest they are there? If thou know any thing, thou knowest God is there: and thou maist feel by the tem∣ptation that Satan is in it. Wilt thou not be ruled by the Laws, unless thou see the King? wilt thou not fear the infection of the Plague unless thou see it? Use thy Reason for thy soul as well as for thy Body; and do in the case as thou wouldst do if thou saw the Devil tempting thee, and Christ for∣biding thee.
§. 25. Direct. 8. If thou be unmarryed marry, if easier remedies will not serve. It is better to*marry than to burn, 1 Cor. 7. 9. It is Gods Ordinance partly for this end. Marriage is honourable and the bed undefiled, Heb. 13. 4. It is a resemblance of Christs Union with his Church, and is san∣ctified to believers, Eph. 5. 1 Cor. 7. Perhaps it may cast thee upon great troubles in the world, if thou be unready for that state (as it is with Apprentices): Forbear then thy sin at easier rates, or else the lawful means must be used though it undo thee. Its better thy Body be undone than thy soul, if thou wilt needst have it to be one of them: But if thou be marryed already thou art a monster and not a man, if the remedy prevail not with thee: But yet the other directions may be also serviceable to thee.
§. 26. Direct. 9. If less means prev•il not open thy case to some able faithful friend, and engage*them to wat•h ever thee▪ and tell them when thou art most endangered by the temptation: This will shame thee from the sin, and lay more engagements on thee to forbear it. If thou tell thy friend, Now I am tempted to the sin, and now I am going to it; he will quickly stop thee: Break thy secresie, and thou losest thy opportunity. Thou canst do this if thou be willing: If ever thy Conscience prevail so far with thee, as to resolve against thy sin, or to be willing to escape, then take the time while Conscience is awake, and go tell thy friend: And tell him who it is that is thy wicked companion, and let him know all thy haunts, that he may know the better how to help thee. Dost thou say, that this will shame thee? It will do so to him that its known to: But that is the benefit of it, and thats the reason I advise thee to it, that shame may help to save thy soul. If thou go on, the sin will both shame and damn thee: and a greater •hame than this is a gentle remedy in so foul and dangerous a disease.
§. 27. Direct. 10. Therefore, if yet all this will not serve turn, Tell it to many, yea rather tell it all*the Town than not be •ured: And then the publick shame will do much more: Confess it to thy Pastor, and desire him •penly to beg the prayers of the Congregation for thy pardon and recovery. Begin thus to crave the fruit of Church Discipline thy self; so far shouldst thou be from flying from it, and sp•rning against it as the desperate hardened sinners do. If thou say, This is a hard lesson, remember that the suffering of Hell is harder. Do not say that I wrong thee, by putting thee upon scandal and open shame: It is thou that puttest thy self upon it, by making it necessary, and refusing all easier remedies. I put thee on it, but on supposition that thou wilt not be easilier cured: Almost as Christ puts thee upon cutting off a right hand, or plucking out a right eye lest all the body be cast into hell: This is not the way that he commandeth thee first to take: he would have thee avoid the need of it: but he tells thee that its better do so than worse; and that this is an easie suffering in comparison of Hell. And so I advise thee, if thou love thy credit, forbear thy sin in a cheaper way; but if thou wilt not do so, take this way rather than damn thy soul. If the shame of all the Town be upon thee, and the Boys should hoot after thee in the Streets, if it would drive thee from thy sin, how easie were thy suffer∣ing in comparison of what it is like to be? Concealment is Satans great advantage. It would be hard for thee to sin thus if it were but opened.
§. 1. Direct. 1. BEcause with most the temperature of the Body hath a great hand in this sin,*your first care must be about the body to reduce it unto a temper less inclined to lust: And here the chief remedy is fasting and much abstinence. And this may the better be born, because for the most part it is persons so strong as to be able to endure it that are under this temptation. If your Temptation be not strong, the less abstinence from meat and drink may serve turn: (For I I would prescribe you no stronger Physick than is needful to cure your disease.) But if it be violent and lesser means will not prevail, its better your bodies be somewhat weakened, than your souls cor∣rupted and undone. Therefore in this case, 1. Eat no Breakfast nor Suppers; but one meal a day, unless a bit or two of Bread and a sup or two of Water in the morning, and yet not too full a dinner, and nothing at night. 2. Drink no Wine or strong Drink, but Water if the stomach can bear it without sickness, (and usually in such hot bodies it is healthfuller than Beer). 3 Eat no hot Spices or strong or heating or windy meats: Eat Lettice and such cooling Herbs. 4. If need require it, be often let blood, or purged with such purges as copiously evacuate serosity, and not only irritate. 5. And oft bath in cold Water. But the Physicion should be advised with, that they may be safely done.
§. 2. If you think this course too dear a cure, and had rather cherish your flesh and lust, you are not the persons that I am now Directing; for I speak to such only as are willing to be cured, and to use the necessary means that they may be cured? If you be not brought to this, your Conscience had need of better awakening. I am sure Christ saith that when the Bridegroom was taken from them, his Disciples should fast, Mar. 2. 19, 20. And even painful Paul was in fasting often, 2 Cor. 6. 5. & 11. 27. and kept under his body and brought it into subjection, lest by any means when he had Preached to others himself should be a castaway, 1 Cor. 9. 27. And I am sure that the ancient Chri∣stians that lived in solitude and eat many of them nothing but bread and water, or meaner fare than* bread, did not think this cure too dear. Yea smaller necessities than this engaged them in fasting, 1 Cor. 7. 5. This unclean Devil will scarcely be cast out but by prayer and fasting, Mar. 9. 29.
§. 3. And I must tell you that Fulness doth naturally cherish Lust, as fewel doth the fire. Fulness of bread prepared the Sodomites for their filthy lusts. Its no more wonder that a stuffed paunch hath a lustful fury, than that the water runs into the Pipes when the Cistern is full, or than it is wonder to see a dunghill bear weeds, or a Carrion to be full of crawling Magots. Plutarch speaks of a Spar∣tan that being asked why Lycurgus made no Law against Adultery, answered, There are no Adulterers with us: But saith the other, what if there should be any? saith the Spartan, Then be is to pay an Oxe so great as shall stand on this side the River Tayget and drink of the River Eurota: saith the other, that is imp•ssible: And saith the Spartan Et quo pacto Spartae existat adulter in quâ divitiae, deliciae, & corporis adscititius cultus probro habentur? & contra verecundia, modestia, ac obedientiae Magistratibus debitae ob∣servatiodecori laudi{que} dantur? that is, And how can there be an Adulterer at Sparta, where Riches, de∣lights and strange attire or ornament are a disgrace or reproach? and contrarily shamefaceness, modesty and the observance of due obedience to Magistrates is an honour and praise? And if Rich men think it their priviledge to fare sumptuously and satisfie their appetites, they must take it for their priviledge to feed their lust? But God giveth no man plenty for such uses; nor is it any excuse for eating and drinking much, because you have much, no more than it would be to your Cooks to put much Salt* in your meat more than in poorer mens, because you have more. He that observeth the filthy and and pernicious effects of that Gluttony which is accounted Rich mens honour and felicity, will never envy them that miserable happiness, but say rather as Antisthenes, Hostium filiis contingat in deliciis vivere: Let it befall the Children of my enemies to live in delights: but that the curse is too heavy for a Christian to use to any of his enemies. But for himself he must remember that he is the Servant of a Holy God, and hath a Holy work to do, and Holy sacrifices to offer to him, and therefore must not pamper his flesh, as if he were preparing a sacrifice for Venus. For as 1 Thes. 4. 3, 4. This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that you abstain from fornication, that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour, not in the lust of concupiscence as the Gentiles that know not God. As the Philosopher answered Antigonus when he asked him whether he should go to a merry feast that he was invited to, Thou art the Son of a King, so it is answer enough for a Christian* against Temptations to voluptuousness, I am the Son of the most Holy God. If thou be invited to feasts where urgency or allurement is like to make thee break thy bounds, go not, or go back when thou feest the bait. As Epaminondas in Plutarch finding excess at a feast that he was invited to, went away when he saw it, saying, Ego te sacrificare, non lascivire putaram: so say thou, I came to dine and not to be wanton or luxurious; to support my body for duty, and not to pamper it for lust. Plutarch mar∣vaileth at the folly of those men that detest the charms of witches lest they hurt them, and fear not but love the charms of dishes which hurt a thousand where witches hurt one. Withdraw the fuel of excess and the fire of lust will of it self go out: or at least this enemy must be besieged and starved out, when it cannot be conquered by storm.
§. 4. Direct. 2. Take heed of Idleness, and be wholly taken up in diligent business, of your lawful call∣ings,**when you are not exercised in the more immediate service of God. David in his idleness or vacancy catcht those sparks of lust, which in his troubles and military life he was preserved from. Idleness is the soil, the culture, and the opportunity of Lust. The idle person goeth to School to the Devil: He sets all other employment aside, that the Devil may have time to teach him and treat with him* and sollicit him to evil: Do you wonder that he is thinking on lustful objects, or that he is taken up in feasting and drinking, in chambering and wantonness? why he hath nothing else to do. Whereas a laborious diligent person hath a body subdued and hardened against the mollities, the effeminateness of* the wanton; and a mind employed and taken up with better things: Leave thy body and mind no leisure to think of tempting filthy objects, or to look after them. As Hierome saith, Facito aliquid operis, ut semper Diabolus inveniat te occupatum: Be still doing some work that the Devil may always find thee busie. And do not for thy fleshly ease remit thy labours and indulge thy flesh. Rise early and go late to bed, and put thy self upon a Necessity of diligence all the day: undertake and engage thy self, in as much business as thou art able to go through, that if thou wouldst, thou maist not be able to give any indulgence to the flesh: For if thou be not still pressed by necessity, Lust will serve it self by idleness, and the flesh will lye down if it feel not the spur: Therefore are the Rich and idle more lustful and filthy than the poor labouring people. The same Bed is the place of sloth and Lust. Hear a Heathen* and refuse not to imitate him. Seneca saith, [No day passeth me in idleness: Part of the night I re∣serve for studies: I do not purposely set my self to sleep, but yield to it when it overcometh me: and when my eyes are wearyed with watching, and are falling, I hold them to their work:—I had ra∣ther it went ill with me than delicately or tenderly. If thou be delicate or tender the mind by little and little is effeminate, and is dissolved into the similitude of the idleness and sloth in which it lyeth. I sleep very little, and take but a short nap: It sufficeth me to have ceased watching: sometimes I know that I slept, sometime I do but suspect it.] Aristotle saith, Nature made nothing to be idle: And Plato calls Idleness the Plague of Mortals. If thon be resolved to serve and please thy flesh, then never ask advice against thy lust; for its part of the▪ pleasure of it: and then no wonder if thou refuse this Physick as too bitter, and the remedy as too dear: But if thou be resolved to be cured and to be saved, stick not at the pains: give up thy self totally to thy business, and lust will dye for want of food.
§. 5. Direct. 3. If thou wouldst be free from lust, keep far enough from the tempting object. If pos∣sible* dwell not in the house with any person that thou feelest thy self endangered by: If that be not possible avoid their company; especially in private: Abhor all lascivious and immodest actions. Dost thou give thy self the liberty of wanton dalliance, and lustful embracements, and yet think to be free from lust? wilt thou put thy hand into the fire when thou art afraid of being burnt? either thou hast the power of thy own heart, or thou hast not: If thou hast, why dost thou not quench thy lust? If thou hast not, why dost thou cast it upon greater temptations, and put it farther out of thy power than it is? Fly from a tempting object for thy safety, as thou wouldst fly from an enemy for thy life. These Loving enemies are more dangerous than hating enemies: They get the Key of our hearts, and come in and steal our treasure with our consent, or without resistance; when an open enemy is suspect∣ed and shut out.
§ 6. Direct. 4. Command thy Eyes, and as Job 31. 1. make a Covenant with them, that thou mayest*not think on tempting objects: Shut these Windows and thou preservest thy heart. Gaze not upon any* alluring object. A look hath kindled that fire of Lust in many a heart, that hath ended in the fire of Hell. Its easier to stop lust at these outward doors, than drive it out when it hath tainted the heart. If thou canst not do this much, how canst thou do more? An ungoverned eye fetcheth fire to burn the soul that should have governed it.
§. 7. Direct. 5. Linger not in the pleasant snares of lust, if thou feel but the least beginnings of it:*but quickly cast water on the first discerned spark, before it break*out into a flame. The Amorous Poet can teach you this, Ovid. de Rem. Am. If ever delay be dangerous it is here. For delay will occasion such engagements to sin, that you must come off at a far dearer rate. If the meat be undigestible, its best not look on it: its the next best, not to touch or taste it; but if once it go down, it will cost you sickness and pain to get it up again; and if you do not, you perish by it.
§. 8. Direct. 6. Abhor lascivious immodest speech: As such words come from either vain or filthy* hearts, and shew the absence of the fear of God, so they tend to make the hearer like the speaker. And if thy eares grow but patient and reconcileable to such discourse, thou hast lost much of thy inno∣cence already. Christians must abhor the mentioning of such filthy sins, in any other manner, but such as tends to bring the hearers to abhor them. Be not deceived; evil words corrupt good manners. 1 Cor. 15. 33. Let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace to the hearers, and grieve not the holy spirit of God. Corrupt communication is rotten stinking communication: and none but Dogs and Crows love Carrion. But Fornication and all uncleanness and (〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉) inordinate lust or luxury, let it not be once named among you, as becometh Saints; neither filthiness nor foolish talking nor jesting, &c.
§. 9. Direct. 7. Abhor the covering of filthy lust with handsome names to make it the more acceptable.* Their discourse is more dangerous that would thus dress up an ugly lust, than theirs that speak of it in n•sty language. Thus among the bruitish party, it goeth under the names of Love, and having a Mistris, and Courting, and such like. But (as one saith thats cited in Stobaeus): It is doubled Lust that is commonly called Love, and doubled Love is stark madness. If filthiness will walk abroad, let it go for filthiness, and appear as it is.
§. 10. Direct. 8. Avoid the Reading of Romances and Love stories: which are the Library of Venus;* or the Devils Books of the Lustful art; to cover over filthiness with cleanly names, and bewitch the fantasies of fools with fine words: To make men conceive of the ready way to Hell, under the no∣tions and images of Excellency, Beauty, Love, Gallantry: And by representing strong and amorous passions, to stir up the same passions in the Reader. As he that will needs read a Conjuring Book, is well enough served if Devils come about his ears, so he that will needs read such Romances and other Books of the Burning art, it is just with God to suffer an unclean Devil to possess them, and to suffer them to catch the Feaver of Lust, which may not only burn up the heart, but cause that pernicious deliration in the brain, which is the ordinary symptome of it.
§. 11. Direct. 9. Avoid all wanton Stage-plays and Dancings, which either cover the odiousness of lust,*or produce temptations to it. As God hath his preachers and holy assemblies and exercises, for the Com∣munion* of Saints and the stirring up of Love and holiness; so these are Satans instruments and assemblies and exercises, for the communion of sinners, and for the stirring up of lust and filthiness. They that will go to the Devils Church deserve to be possessed with his Principles, and numbred with his Disciples. The ancient Christians were very severe against the seeing of these spectacula, shews or plays; especially in any of the Clergy.
§. 12. Direct. 10. Avoid all tempting unnecessary ornaments or attire, and the regarding or gazing*on them upon others. It is a procacious lustful desire to seem comely and amiable, which is the com∣mon* cause of this excess. The Folly or Lust or both, of fashionists and gawdy Gallants, is so conspicu∣ous to all in their affected dress, that never did Pride more cross it self, than in such publications of such disgraceful folly or lust. They that take on them to be adversaries to lust, and yet are careful when they present themselves to sight, to appear in the most adorned manner, and do all that Harlots can do to make themselves a snare to fools, do put the charitable hard to it, whether to believe that it is their tongues or their backs that are the lyer. As Hierome saith, Thou deservest Hell though none be the worse for thee: for thou broughtest the poyson if there had been any to drink it. Let thy apparel be suited not only to thy rank but to thy disease. If thou be enclined to lust, go the more meanly clad thy self, and gaze not on the ornaments of others. Its folly indeed that will be enamoured on the Taylors work: yet this is so common, that its frequently more the apparel than the person that •ntiseth first! and homely rags would have prevented the deceit: As the Poet saith [Auferimur cultu: gemmis auro{que} teguntur Omnia: pars minima est ipsa puella sui. Ovid. de Remed. Am.
§. 13. Direct. 11. Think on thy tempting object as it is within, and as it shortly will appear without.* How ordinary is it for that which you call Beauty to be the portion of a fool; and a fair skin to cover a silly childish pievish mind; and a soul that is enslaved to the Devil. And as Solomon saith, Prov 11. 22. As a jewel of Gold in a Swines snout, so is a fair woman without discretion. And will you lust after an such adorned thing? Think also what a dunghill of filth is covered with all those ornaments; that it would turn thy stomach if thou sawest what is within them. And think what a face that would be if it were but covered with the Pox? and what a face it will be when sickness or age hath consumed or wrinkled it: And think what thy admired Carkass will be when it hath lain a few days in the grave; Then thou wouldst have little mind of it? And how quickly will that be? O man, there is nothing truly amiable in the Creature, but the image of God; the wisdom and holiness and righteousness of the soul. Love this then, if thou wilt Love with wisdom, with purity and safety: For the Love of Purity is pure and safe.
§. 14. Direct. 12. Think on thy own death and how fast thou hastest to another world, Is a lustful* heart a seemly temper for one that is ready to dye, and ready to see God, and come into that world where there is nothing but pure and holy doth abide.
§. 15. Direct. 13. Consider well the tendency and fruits of lust, that it may still appear to your*minds as ugly and terrible as it is indeed. 1. Think what a shame it is to the soul, that can no better rule the body, and that is so much defiled by its lusts. 2. Think what an unfit companion it is to lodge in the same heart with Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit; shall a member of Christ be thus polluted? shall the Temple of the Holy Ghost be thus turned into a Swine sty? Is lust fit to dwell with the Love of God? wilt thou entertain thy Lord with such odious company? what an unkindness and injury is this to God, that when he that dwelleth in the highest Heavens condescendeth to take up a dwelling in thy heart, thou shouldst bring these Toads and Snakes into the same room with him? Take heed lest he take it unkindly and be gone: He hath said he will dwell with the humble and con∣trite heart, but where said he, I will dwell in a lustful heart? 3. Think how unfit it makes thee for Prayer, or any holy address to God. What a shame and fear and deadness it casts upon thy spirit? 4. And think how it tends to worse. Lust tendeth to actual filthiness, and that to Hell: cherish not the Eggs if thou wouldst have none of the Brood: Its an easie step from a Lustful heart to a defiled body. and a shorter step thence to everlasting horrour than you imagine: As St. Iames saith, [Every man is tempted when he is drawn aside of his own lust and entised; then when lust both conceived, it bringeth forth sin, and sin when it is finished bringeth forth death, Jam. 1. 13, 14. Gal. 6. 8. If ye sow to the flesh, of the flesh ye shall reap corruption. Remember that Lust is the spawn of sin, and sin is the way to Hell.
§. 16. Direct. 14. Be sure to keep up a holy constant Government over thy Thoughts. Suffer them not* to go after tempting, filthy, sensual things. As soon as ever a thought of Lust comes into thy mind, abhor it and cast it out. Abundance of the cure and of thy safety lyeth upon thy Thoughts. They that let their Thoughts run uncontrolled, and seed on filthiness, are already fornicators in the heart; and are hatching the Cockatrice Eggs; and no wonder if from Thoughts they proceed to deeds. O what a deal of uncleanness is committed by the Thoughts which people are little ashamed of because they are unseen of men! If the Thoughts of many were open to beholders, what wantonness and lust would appear in many adorned Sepulchres! Even in the time of holy Worship; when once such give the unclean spirit possession of their thoughts, how hardly is he cast out? they can scarce look a comely person in the face, without some vicious thought. If Hierome confess that in his Wilderness, his Thoughts were running among the Ladies at Rome; what may we think of them that feed such filthy Phantasies. Say not, you cannot rule your Thoughts. You can do much if you will, and more than you do: If money and honour can make an ungodly Preacher command his Thoughts to holy things, in the studies of Divinity through much of his life, you may see that your Thoughts are much in your power (but of this before).
§. 17. Direct. 15. If other means serve not, open thy case to some friend, and shame thy self to him, as* I advised under the former Title. Confession and shame, and advise will help thee.
§. 18. Direct. 16. Above all go to Christ for help and beg his spirit, and give up thy Heart to better*things: O if it were taken up with God and Heaven and the Holy life thats necessary thereto, these things are so Great and Holy and sweet, and of such concernment to thee, that they would leave little room for Lust within thee; and would make thee abhor it as contrary to those things which have thy heart. No such cure for any carnal Love as the Love of God; nor for fleshly lusts as a spiritual renewed Heavenly mind. Thou wouldst then tell Satan that God hath taken up all the room, and thy narrow Heart is too little for him alone; and that there is no room for lust or the thoughts that serve it. A true Conversion which turneth the heart to God, doth turn it from this with other sins, though some sparks may still be unextinguished: It was once noted that many turne from other sects to the Epicureans, but none from the Epicureans to any other sect: The reason was because nature is inclined to sensua∣lity in all, and when it is confirmed by use and doctrine, Philosophy is too weak to master it: But Christ calleth and saveth Epicures, and Publicans and Harlots, and hath cleansed many such by his grace, which teacheth men to deny ungodliness and worldly lusts, and to live soberly righteously and godly in the world. Philostratus tells us of a sudden change upon one Isaeus, that turned him from Luxury to ex∣ceeding temperance: so that when one asked him, Is not yonder a handsom woman? he answered, The diseases of my eyes are cured: when they askt him which dish was the pleasantest, he answered, Desii curare; I have done regarding such things: and told them the reason that marvelled at his change, Because he found that he did but gather fruits out of Tantalus garden. They are deceitful lusts, Eph. 4. 22. And Satan himself will reproach thee for ever, if he can deceive thee by them. As Alexander when he had taken Darius his gallant•y and sumptuous Houses and Furniture, reproaches him with it saying, Hoccine erat imperare? was this to rule? so Satan would shew thee thy lusts and say, was this to be a Christian and seek salvation?
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Directions Against Sinful Dreams
§. 1. DReams are neither good nor sinful simply in themselves, because they are not ra∣tional and voluntary, nor in our power: But they are often made sinful by some other voluntary Act: They may be sinful by participation and consequently. And the acts that make them sinful, are either such as go before, or such as follow after.
§. 2. 1. The antecedent causes are any sinful act which distempereth the body, or any sin which inclineth the fantasie and mind thereto; or the omission of what was necessary to prevent them. 2. The causes which afterwards make them objectively sinful, are, the ill uses that men make of them: As when they take their dreams to be Divine Revelations, and trust to them, or are affrighted by them as ominous, or as prophetical; and make them the ground of their actions, and seduce them∣selves by the phantasms of their own brains.
§. 3. Direct. 1. Avoid those bodily distempers as much you can which cause sinful dreams, especially*fulness of dyet: A full stomach causeth troublesome dreams, and lustful dreams: and hath its ill ef∣fects by night and by day.
§. 4. Direct. 2. Endeavour the cure of those sinful distempers of the mind which cause sinful dreams.* The cure of a worldly mind is the best way to cure worldly covetous dreams: And the cure of a lustful heart is the best way to cure lustful dreams: and so of the rest: Cleanse the fountain, and the waters will be the sweeter day and night.
§. 5. Direct. 3. Suffer not your Thoughts, or tongue, or actions to run sinfully upon that in the day,*which you would not dream sinfully of in the night. Common experience telleth us, that our dreams* are apt to follow our foregoing thoughts, and words, and deeds. If you think most frequently and af∣fectionately of that which is good, you will dream of that which is good. If you think of lustful filthy objects, or speak of them▪ or meddle with them, you will dream of them: and so of covetous and ambitious dreams. And they that make no conscience to sin waking, are not like much to scruple sinning in their sleep.
§. 6. Direct. 4. Commend your selves to God by prayer before you take your rest, and beseech him to*set a guard upon your fantasie when you cannot guard it. Cast the cure upon him, and fly to him for help by faith and prayer in the sense of your insufficiency.
§. 7. Direct. 5. Let your last Thoughts still before your sleep be holy, and yet quieting and consola∣tory*thoughts. The dreams are apt to follow our last Thoughts. If you betake your selves to sleep* with worldliness or vanity in your minds, you cannot expect to be wiser or better when you are asleep, than when you are awake. But if you shut up your dayes thoughts with God, and sleep find them upon any Holy subject, it is like to use them as it finds them. Yet if it be distrustful, un∣believing, fearful thoughts which you conclude with, your dreams may savour of the same distemper. Frightful and often sinful dreams do follow sinful doubts and fears. But if you sweeten your last Thoughts with the Love of Christ, and the remembrance of your former mercies, or the foresight of eternal joyes, or can confidently cast them and your selves upon some promise, it will tend to the quietness of your sleep, and to the savouriness of your dreams: And if you should dye before morn∣ing will it not be most desirable that your last thoughts be holy?
§. 8. Direct. 6. When you have found any corruption appearing in your dreams, make use of them*for the renewing of your repentance, and exciting your endeavours to mortifie that corruption. A corrupti∣on may be perceived in dreams, 1. When such dreams as discover it are frequent: 2. When they are earnest and violent: 3. When they are pleasing and delightful to your fantasies: Not that any certain knowledge can be fetcht from them, but some conjecture as added to other signs. As if you should frequently, earnestly and delightfully dream of preferments and honours, or the favour of great men, suspect ambition, and do the more to discover and mortifie it: If it be of riches, and gain, and mo∣ney, suspect a covetous mind. If it be of revenge or hurt to any man that you distaste, suspect some malice and quickly mortifie it: So if it be of lust, or feasting, or drinking, or vain recreations, sports and games, do the like.
§. 9. Direct. 7. Lay no greater stress upon your dreams, than there is just cause. As 1. When you* have searcht, and find no such sin prevailing in you as your dreams seem to intimate, do not con∣clude that you have more than your waking evidence discovers. Prefer not your sleeping signs before your waking signs and search. 2. When you are conscious that you indulge no corruption to occasion such a dream, suppose it not to be faulty of it self, and lay not the blame of your bodily tempera∣ment, or unknown causes, upon your soul, with too heavy and unjust a charge. 3. Abhor the pre∣sumptuous folly of those that use to prognosticate by their dreams, and measure their expectations by them, and cast themselves into hopes or fears by them. Saith Diogenes, What f•lly is it to be care∣less of your waking thoughts and actions, and inquisitive about your dreams? A mans happiness or mi∣sery lyeth upon what he doth when he is awake, and not upon what he suffereth in his sleep.
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Reply to Richard Baxter’s Statement on Dreams — J.B.
Baxter seems to have taken an anti-charismatic view of dreams. He said, “The causes which afterwards make them objectively sinful, are, the ill uses that men make of them: As when they take their dreams to be Divine Revelations, and trust to them, or are affrighted by them as ominous, or as prophetical; and make them the ground of their actions, and seduce themselves by the phantasms of their own brains.” My reply to that is this: it is not sinful to regard some dreams as prophetic, because some of them are from the Holy Spirit (Acts 2:17). And it is doubtful that dreams are anything but spiritual and luminous phenomena: and do not come from “brain meat,” as many have wrongly supposed, or as he says, “the phantasms of their own brains,” and to say that was “just a dream,” and use natural explanations to dissuade themselves from any supernatural causes or events related to dreams. That is a naturalistic, atheistic, or deistic view of dreams. The Bible allows for no other view than to say that all dreams are most likely supernatural, and either come from the Holy Spirit, angels, demons, or the soul. But not from the brain, because how can flesh produce light, color, and sound in a dark room, and in a state of rest and inactivity? The light and sound produced in dreams, and the intelligent beings engaging in conversation with you, must be coming from spirits and the luminous phenomena that they shine into the mind at night.
You are what you eat. This is basically what Baxter says after this; and I agree with him. Meditation leads to revelation. If you think on carnal things, then you will open yourself up to the spirits around you that draw and tempt towards those carnal things in particular. If you think of lust, then you will invite the Spirit of Lust; if you think of greed, then you will invite the Spirit of Greed; if you think of anxieties and fears and horror, then you invite the Spirit of Fear; if you think of glory and ambition, then you will invite the Spirit of Pride, etc. In the ancient past, these particular evil spirits would have been identified as gods of particular attributes: the god of sexual love (Eros), the god of greed (Mammon), the god of fear (Phobos), and the goddess of pride (Hybris). If you want to dream of a sin: all you need to do is think about that sin for long enough, of your own free will, and especially before bed, by watching some movie along those lines: and boom, here comes the demon whose stock and trade is to traffic in that specific temptation; and you end up having a dream about that to tempt you further into thinking about that sinful thought. And so it is the procedure of every evil spirit to bring a man into any type of demonic oppression. It is best to ignore sinful dreams as temptations and distractions of the devil; to not journal them; and to pray against that specific evil spirit that has revealed its presence to you (1 Cor. 12:10); and then replace your thoughts with the Bible, theology, and prayer.
7 The law of the Lord is perfect, converting the soul: the testimony of the Lord is sure, making wise the simple. 8 The statutes of the Lord are right, rejoicing the heart: the commandment of the Lord is pure, enlightening the eyes. 9 The fear of the Lord is clean, enduring for ever: the judgments of the Lord are true and righteous altogether. 10 More to be desired are they than gold, yea, than much fine gold: sweeter also than honey and the honeycomb. –Psalm 19:7-10 (KJV)–
If ye endure chastening, God dealeth with you as with sons; for what son is he whom the father chasteneth not? –Hebrews 12:7 (KJV)–
10 When Jesus had lifted up himself, and saw none but the woman, he said unto her, Woman, where are those thine accusers? hath no man condemned thee? 11 She said, No man, Lord. And Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee: go, and sin no more. –John 8:10-11 (KJV)–
Who his own self bare our sins in his own body on the tree, that we, being dead to sins, should live unto righteousness: by whose stripes ye were healed. –1 Peter 2:24 (KJV)–
God loves you: therefore love and obey Him. Christ died for you: therefore die to sin. Christ has risen: therefore rise in the image of God. Christ liveth evermore: therefore live to God, till you live with Him in glory. –John Wesley–
Screaming For more justice Amazonia burns Can you hear them?
I’ll fight To save another day So join us And we’ll make them leave this land
Threatening To kill how we feel We’ll stop them It’ll be worth dyin’ for
When you go down When you go down When you go down You go down fighting Why? Why? –Sepultura, “Ambush”–
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Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God, for many false prophets have gone out into the world. –1 John 4:1 (ESV)–
For such men are false apostles, deceitful workmen, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. And no wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. So it is no surprise if his servants, also, disguise themselves as servants of righteousness. –2 Corinthians 11:13-15 (ESV)–
For the time is coming when people will not endure sound teaching, but having itching ears they will accumulate for themselves teachers to suit their own passions, and will turn away from listening to the truth and wander off into myths. –2 Timothy 4:3-4 (ESV)–
But false prophets also arose among the people, just as there will be false teachers among you, who will secretly bring in destructive heresies, even denying the Master who bought them, bringing upon themselves swift destruction. –2 Peter 2:1 (ESV)–
If anyone teaches a different doctrine and does not agree with the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ and the teaching that accords with godliness, he is puffed up with conceit and understands nothing. He has an unhealthy craving for controversy and for quarrels about words, which produce envy, dissension, slander, evil suspicions, and constant friction among people who are depraved in mind and deprived of the truth, imagining that godliness is a means of gain. –1 Timothy 6:3-5 (ESV)–
Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep’s clothing but inwardly are ravenous wolves. –Matthew 7:15 (ESV)–
For certain people have crept in unnoticed who long ago were designated for this condemnation, ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into sensuality and deny our only Master and Lord, Jesus Christ. –Jude 1:4 (ESV)–
Take no part in the unfruitful works of darkness, but instead expose them. –Ephesians 5:11 (ESV)–
I appeal to you, brothers, to watch out for those who cause divisions and create obstacles contrary to the doctrine that you have been taught; avoid them. For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own appetites, and by smooth talk and flattery they deceive the hearts of the naive. –Romans 16:17-18 (ESV)–
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Walter Martin, Kingdom of the Cults (Bethany House Publishers, 1965).
Mark Jones, Antinomianism (P&R Publishing, 2013).
D. R. McConnell, A Different Gospel (Hendrickson, 1994).
Thomas C. Oden, John Wesley’s Scriptural Christianity (Zondervan, 1994).
Richard Belcher, A Layman’s Guide to the Lordship Controversy (Crowne, 1990).
2 Preach the word; be instant in season, out of season; reprove, rebuke, exhort with all long suffering and doctrine. 3 For the time will come when they will not endure sound doctrine; but after their own lusts shall they heap to themselves teachers, having itching ears; 4 And they shall turn away their ears from the truth, and shall be turned unto fables. —2 Timothy 4:2-4 (KJV)–
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J. I. Packer, Keep In Step With the Spirit.
—. Knowing God.
—. Concise Theology.
—. Puritan Papers (5 vols).
—. In My Place Condemned He Stood.
The Works of John Wesley.
Thomas C. Oden, John Wesley’s Scriptural Christianity.
—. John Wesley’s Teachings (4 vols).
Vic Reasoner, Fundamental Wesleyan Systematic Theology (3 vols).
Harald Lindström, Wesley and Sanctification.
Kenneth J. Collins, Wesley on Salvation.
—. The Scripture Way of Salvation.
—. The Theology of John Wesley.
Adam Clarke, Clarke’s Christian Theology.
Donald Dayton, Theological Roots of Pentecostalism.
WesleyGospel Ministries 