Lechery Expounded.
Q. WHAT is lechery, or lust?
A. An inordinate desire of carnal sin, or delights of the flesh.
A. An inordinate desire of carnal sin, or delights of the flesh.
Q. How prove you the malice of this sin?
A. Because the whole world was once drowned, and the cities of Sodom and Gemorrah were burnt with fire from heaven for it. Gen. vii. 21, and xix. 24.
A. Because the whole world was once drowned, and the cities of Sodom and Gemorrah were burnt with fire from heaven for it. Gen. vii. 21, and xix. 24.
Q. What other proof have you?
A. Out of Rom. viii. 13. "For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live."
A. Out of Rom. viii. 13. "For if you live according to the flesh, you shall die; but if by the spirit you mortify the deeds of the flesh, you shall live."
Q. What are the degrees of lust?
A. Thought, delight, consent, and act.
A. Thought, delight, consent, and act.
Q. What are the daughters of lust?
A. Fornication, whoredom, adultery, voluntary pollution, unchaste signs and touches, wanton kisses and speeches.
A. Fornication, whoredom, adultery, voluntary pollution, unchaste signs and touches, wanton kisses and speeches.
Q. How prove you voluntary pollution to be a mortal sin?
A. Out of Gen. xxxviii. 9, where we read, that Onan was struck dead by God in the place, for shedding the seed of nature out of the due use of marriage to hinder generation, which fact the holy text calls a destestable thing. He also who was eldest brother to this Onan, was slain by God, as we read in the same chapter, ver. 7. And it is generally thought by expositors, that his sudden death was in punishment for the like sin of pollution.
A. Out of Gen. xxxviii. 9, where we read, that Onan was struck dead by God in the place, for shedding the seed of nature out of the due use of marriage to hinder generation, which fact the holy text calls a destestable thing. He also who was eldest brother to this Onan, was slain by God, as we read in the same chapter, ver. 7. And it is generally thought by expositors, that his sudden death was in punishment for the like sin of pollution.
Q. Why are the lustful kisses and touches mortal sins?
A. Because they vehemently dispose to fornication and pollution.
A. Because they vehemently dispose to fornication and pollution.
Q. Is kissing by way of civility, when we meet friend, any sin?
A. No, it is not.
A. No, it is not.
Q. What are the remedies of lust?
A. To consider the beastliness of it, and that by it we make our bodies, which are members of Christ, to be members of an harlot. 1 Cor. vi. 15.
A. To consider the beastliness of it, and that by it we make our bodies, which are members of Christ, to be members of an harlot. 1 Cor. vi. 15.
Q. What else?
A. To consider that God and his angels are even witnesses of it, how private soever it may seem.
A. To consider that God and his angels are even witnesses of it, how private soever it may seem.
Q. What if the virtue opposite to lechery?
A. Chastity, which makes us abstain from carnal pleasures. "Let us behave ourselves (saith St. Paul) as the ministers of God, in much patience, in watching, in fasting, in chastity." 2 Cor. vi. 4, 6.
A. Chastity, which makes us abstain from carnal pleasures. "Let us behave ourselves (saith St. Paul) as the ministers of God, in much patience, in watching, in fasting, in chastity." 2 Cor. vi. 4, 6.
Q. How prove you the greatness of this virtue?
A. Out of Apoc. xiv. 4. "These are they who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins, these follow the Lamb withersoever he shall go."
A. Out of Apoc. xiv. 4. "These are they who were not defiled with women, for they are virgins, these follow the Lamb withersoever he shall go."
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