v. 18. the first instance, and tending to our own especial injury.* 1 Cor. vi.15, 16. "know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? shall I then take, &c.-? what, know ye not that he that which is joined to an harlot is one body?—" "flee fornication: every sin that man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication, sinneth against his own body." See also Prov. vi. 24, &c. Gen. xxxviii. 9, 10. "the thing which he did displeased the Lord." Exod. xxii. 19. "whosoever lieth with a beast shall surely be put to death." Lev. xviii. 22, 23. "thou shalt not lie with mankind." Deut. xxiii. 17. "there shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor,” &c. xxvii. 21. "cursed is he that lieth with any manner of beast." thee from the strange woman." Prov. ii. 16. "to deliver v. 3, &c. "the lips of a 4 The same enemy of Milton, who was alluded to in a preceding page as charging him with intemperance in drinking, also accuses him of licentiousness, and of frequenting playhouses and the bordelloes.' The imputation is thus repelled: Having had the doctrine of Holy Scripture, unfolding those chaste and high mysteries, with timeliest care infused, that the body is for the Lord, and the Lord for the body, thus also I argued to myself, that if unchastity in a woman, whom St. Paul terms the glory of man, be such a scandal and dishonour, then certainly in a man, who is both the image and glory of God, it must, though commonly not so thought, be much more deflowering and dishonourable; in that he sins both against his own body, which is the perfecter sex, and his own glory, which is in the woman; and that which is worst, against the image and glory of God, which is in himself. Nor did I slumber over that place expressing such high rewards of ever accompanying the Lamb, with those celestial songs to others inapprehensible, but not to those who were not defiled with women, which doubtless means fornication, for marriage must not be called a defilement. Thus large I have purposely been, that if I have been justly taxed with this crime, it may come upon me, after all this my confession, with a tenfold shame; but if I have hitherto deserved no such opprobrious word or suspicion, I may hereby engage myself now openly to the faithful observation of what I have professed.' Apology for Smectymnuus. Prose Works, III. 122. Elsewhere, in speaking of his return to England through Geneva, he takes occasion to repel the slanders of Morus, by asserting the purity of his conduct during his stay in Italy. Quæ urbs, cum in mentem mihi hinc veniat Mori calumniatoris, facit ut Deum hic rursus testem invocem, me his omnibus in locis, ubi tam multa licent, ab omni flagitio ac probro integrum atque intactum vixisse, illud perpetuo cogitantem, si hominum latere oculos possem. Dei certi non posse.' Defensio Secunda pro Populo Anglicano. Symmons' ed. V. 232. a protestation which he repeats Authoris pro se Defensio, Ibid. p. 317. Compare also Ego ergo scortator- et perspicero facile et risero.' Authoris pro se Defensio, Ibid. 312, 313. See also the noble passage in Comus, 418-475. strange woman drop as an honeycomb." vi. 24. "to keep thee from the evil woman." See also v. 32. vii. 25. "let not thine heart decline to her ways." ix. 18. "he knoweth not that the dead are there-." xxii. 14. "the mouth of strange women is a deep pit." See also xxiii. 26, 27. xxx. 20. “such is the way of an adulterous woman; she eateth, and wipeth her mouth, and saith, I have done no wickedness." 1 Kings xiv. 24. "there were also sodomites in the land." Rom. xiii. 13. "not in chambering and wantonness.' 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. "be not deceived; neither fornicators. . . nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind. . .shall inherit the kingdom of God." v. 13, &c. "the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord, and the Lord for the body." Eph. v. 3-5. "fornication and all uncleanness... let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints. . .nor filthiness ...which are not convenient. . .for this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person.. hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and God." 1 Cor. MODESTY consists in refraining from all obscenity of language or action, in short, from whatever is inconsistent with the strictest decency of behaviour in reference to sex or person. Deut. xxv. 11, 12. "when men strive together," &c. Job xxxi. 1. "I made a covenant with mine eyes," &c. xi. 10. “for this cause ought the woman to have power on her head, because of the angels." Heb. xii. 28. " we may serve God acceptably, with reverence and godly fear." 2 Kings iv. 15. " when he had called her, she stood in the door." same ideas of womanly decorum existed even among the Gentiles. Thus Homer introduces Penelope : στῆ ῥα παρὰ σταθμὸν τέγεος πύκα ποιητοῖο. Odyss. á. 333. The 5 The character of Eve is constructed throughout with a most beautiful attention to the decencies of female decorum. While the angel and Adam conversed together, she remained at a distance, but within view. When, however, they entered on studious thoughts abstruse,' she withdrew entirely. which Eve Perceiving, where she sat retir'd in sight, And grace that won who said to wish her stay Rose, and went forth among her fruits and flowers. Paradise Lost, VIII. 40. Subsequently, Adam bears testimony that she seemed well to know her own.' 548. .. beneath She. The portal of her stately mansion stood. I. 414. Cowper's Translation Opposed to this are obscene conversation, and filthy licentious gestures. Isai. iii. 16, &c. "therefore Jehovah will smite with a scab the crown of the head of the daughters of Zion, and Jehovah will discover their secret parts.' Matt. v. 28. "whosoever looketh on a woman," &c. Eph. v. 4. " neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient." 2 Pet. ii. 14. "having eyes full of adultery." DECENCY Consists in refraining from indecorum or lasciviousness in dress or personal appearance. Exod. xx. 26. "neither shalt thou go up by the steps unto mine altar, that thy nakedness be not discovered thereon." Deut. xxii. 5. "the woman shall not wear that which pertaineth unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment; for all that do so are abomination unto Jehovah thy God." Zeph. i. 8. "it shall come to pass.... that I will punish all such as are clothed in strange apparel." Matt. xi. 8. "they that wear soft clothing are in king's houses." 1 Tim. ii. 9. "in like manner also that women adorn themselves in modest apparel, with shamefacedness and sobriety, not with broidered hair, or gold, or pearls, or costly array.' 1 Pet. iii. 3. "whose adorning let it not be that outward adorning of plaiting the hair, and of wearing of gold, or putting on of apparel." 2 Kings ix. 30. "she painted her face," &c. Moderation in the enjoyment of temporal possessions manifests itself in the virtues of contentment, frugality, industry, and liberal spirit. CONTENTMENT is that virtue whereby a man is inwardly satisfied with the lot assigned him by divine providence. Prov. x. 22. "the blessing of Jehovah, it maketh rich." xxx. 8. "give me neither poverty nor riches: feed me with food convenient for me." Eccles. iii. 12, 13, “I know that there is no good in them, but for a man to rejoice and to do good in his life; and also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God." v. 18, &c. "behold that which I have seen; it is good and comely for one to eat and to drink, and to enjoy the good of all the labour that he taketh under the sun all the days of his life which God giveth him, for it is his portion; every man also to whom God hath given riches and wealth, and hath given him power to eat thereof, and to take his portion and rejoice in his labour; this is the gift of God: for he shall not much remember the days of his life; because God answereth him in the joy of his heart." vi. 1, 2. "there is an evil which I have seen under the sun, and it is common among men; a man to whom God hath given riches, wealth, and honour, so that he wanteth nothing for his soul of all that he desireth, yet God giveth him not power to eat thereof, but a stranger eateth it." ix. 9, 10. "live joyfully with the wife whom thou lovest-.' Zech. ix. 16, 17. "how great is his goodness, and how great is his beauty!" Philipp. iv. 11, 12. "not that I speak in respect of want; for I have learned in whatsoever state I am, therewith to be content: I know both how to be abased, and I know how to abound; every where, and in all things, I am instructed both to be full and to be hungry, both to abound and to suffer need." 1 Tim. vi. 6, 7. "godliness with contentment is great gain; for we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out: and having food and raiment let us therewith be content." Heb. xiii. 5. "be content with such things as ye have." Even in poverty. Psal. xxiii. 1, 2. “Jehovah is my shepherd; I shall not want." xxxiv. 9, &c. "there is no want to them that fear him ; the young lions do lack and suffer hunger-." xxxvii. 16, 18, 19. "a little that a righteous man hath is better, &c. they shall not be ashamed in the evil time, and in the days of famine they shall be satisfied." xl. 17. "I am poor and needy, yet Jehovah thinketh upon me-: lxviii. 10. "thou hast prepared of thy goodness for the poor." Prov. x. 3. "Jehovah will not suffer the soul of the righteous to famish." Hence poverty is not to be accounted a disgrace. Prov. xvii. 5. "whoso mocketh the poor, reproacheth his maker." xix. 1. "better is the poor that walketh in his integrity, than he that is perverse in his lips." xxviii. 6. “better is the poor that walketh in his uprightness, than he that is perverse in his ways, though he be rich." v. 11. "the rich man is wise in his own conceit, but the poor that hath understanding searcheth him out.” We are forbidden to glory in riches, or to put our confidence in them. Prov. xi. 28. "he that trusteth in his riches shall fall." Eccles. vi. 11. "seeing there be many things that multiply vanity-." Mark x. 23 -25. "how hardly shall they that have riches enter into the kingdom of God!.... it is easier for a camel to go through the eye of a needle-." 1 Tim. vi. 17, 18. "charge them that are rich in this world that they be not high-minded, nor trust in uncertain riches, but in the living God." 2 Kings xx. 13, 14. "Hezekiah hearkened unto them, and showed them all the house of his precious things." Opposed to this are, first, anxiety respecting the necessaries of life. Matt. vi. 25, &c. "take no thought for your life, what ye shall eat, or what ye shall drink, nor yet for your body, what ye shall put on." v. 33. "seek ye first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things shall be added unto you." Secondly, covetousness. Job. xx. 15. "he hath swallowed down riches and he shall vomit them up again." Josh. vii. 21. "when I saw among the spoils, &c. .. .. then I coveted them and took them." Psal. cxix. 36. "incline my heart unto thy testimonies, and not to covetousness." Prov.i. 19. "so are the ways of every one that is greedy of gain, which taketh away the life of the owners thereof." xv. 27. "he that is greedy of gain troubleth his own house." xx. 21. “ an inheritance may be gotten hastily at the beginning, but the end thereof shall not be blessed." Eccles. ii. 26. " to the sinner he giveth travail, to gather and to heap up, that he may give to him that is good before God." iv. 8. " there is one alone, and there is not a second; yea, he hath neither child nor brother, yet is there no end of all his labour, neither is his eye satisfied with riches." v. 10. "he that loveth silver, shall not be satisfied with silver." Isai. lvii. 17. " for the iniquity of his covetousness was I wroth, and smote him." Matt. vi. 19. "lay not up for yourselves treasures upon earth, where moth and rust doth corrupt.' xxvii. 5. "he cast down the pieces of silver," &c. Luke xii. 15. "take heed and beware of covetousness: for a man's life consisteth not in the abundance of the things that he possesseth." 1 Tim. vi. 9, &c. "they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts.' Heb. xiii. 5. "let your conversation be without covetousness." For covetousness is idolatry. Matt. vi. 24. "ye cannot serve God and mammon." Eph. v. 5. "nor covetous man, who is an idolater." Col. iii. 5. "covetousness, which is idolatry." It is likewise styled the root of all evil. 1 Tim. vi. 10. "the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith." Thirdly, a murmuring against the wisdom of God in making |