Question 71

What doth the seventh Commandment respect?

The seventh Commandment doth respect our own and others Chastity

What doth the seventh Commandment require in reference unto our own and others Chastity?

The seventh Commandment doth require, in reference unto our and others Chastity, the preservation thereof, in keeping of our selves unpolluted, and doing what in us lyeth to prevent the defilements of others; For this is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: That every one know how to possess his Vessel in Sanctification and Honour.^a

Wherein are we bound by this Commandment to preserve our own and our Neighbours Chastity?

We are bound by this Commandment to preserve our own and our Neighbours Chastity, 1. In heart, by such love unto, and desire after, and delight in one anothers company, as is pure and chast; and that whether we be men, as to the company of women, or women as to the company of men; See that ye love one another with a pure heart fervently.^b 2. In speech, by such discourse one with another, as is uncorrupt, and may tend to one anothers edification and sanctification; Let no corrupt Communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers.^c 3. In behaviour by such a conversation and actions as are modest and chast, That if any obey not the word, they also may without the word be won by the conversation of the wives: while they behold your chast conversation coupled with fear.^d

Whereby may we preserve our Chastity?

We may preserve our Chastity, 1. By watchfulness, and that 1. Over our hearts and spirits, to oppose uncleanness in the first desires of it, and inclinations of heart to it, and risings of it in the thoughts; Keep thy heart with all diligence;^e Therefore take heed to your spirit:^f 2. Over our senses, our eyes, to turn them away from such objects as may provoke lust; I made a Covenant with mine eyes, why then should I think upon a maid?^g Our ears to shut them against all lascivious discourse; we must watch also against all such touches and wanton dalliances, as may be an incentive to unchast desires, and take heed of all light and lewd company, and watch to avoid all occasions, and resist temptations to the sin of uncleanness; Remove thy way far from her, come not nigh the door of her house;^h His Masters Wife cast her eyes upon Joseph, and she said, Lie with me: But he refused; How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God?ⁱ 2. By diligence in our callings, wherein when our bodies and minds are busily imployed, both may be preserved from those unclean practices and desires, which idle persons are more prone unto; She eateth not the bread of idleness: Many Daughters have done vertuously, but thou excellest them all;^j And Dinah went out to see the daughters of the land: And Shechem took her, and lay with her, and defiled her.^k 5. By temperance in eating and drinking, excess in either of which doth pamper the body, and excite unto lust; They were as fed Horses in the morning, every one neighed after his neighbours Wife;^l Look not upon the Wine when it is Red, when it giveth its colour in the glass, &c. Thine eyes shall behold strange Women.^m 4. By abstinence, and keeping under the body when there is need, with frequent fastings; But I keep under my body, and bring it into subjection, lest that by any means when I have preached to others, I my self should be a cast away.ⁿ 5. By the fear of God, and awful apprehensions of his presence and all-seeing eye; And why wilt thou, my Son, be ravisht with a strange woman, and embrace the bosome of a stranger? For the wayes of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings.^o 6. By faith in Jesus Christ, and thereby drawing vertue from him for the purifying of the heart, and the crucifying of the fleshly lusts; Purifying their hearts by faith;^p And they that are Christs, have crucified the flesh with the affections and Lusts.^q 7. By application of the promises of cleansing the heart, and subduing iniquity; Then will I sprinkle clean water upon you, and ye shall be clean, from all your filthiness will I cleanse you;^r He will subdue our iniquities;^s Having therefore these promises (dearly beloved) let us cleanse our selves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God.^t 8. By the help of the Spirit; For if ye live after the flesh, ye shall die; but if ye through the spirit do mortifie the deeds of the body, ye shall live.^u 9. By frequent and fervent Prayer; Wash me throwly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin: Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter then snow:^v Turn away mine eyes from beholding vanity:^w And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.^x 10. When no other means will avail to quench burning desires, Marriage is to be made use of, and that must be in the Lord; But if they cannot contain, let them marry; for it is better to marry than to burn;^y If her Husband be dead she is at liberty to be married to whom she will, only in the Lord.^z

Why must we preserve our Chastity?

We must preserve our Chastity, 1. Because we are men and women, and not beasts, who are under no law; It is suitable to the Principles of Reason, and Law of God written upon the heart, as well as the express command of the word, to keep our selves chast and clean. 2. Because we are Christians and not Heathens, who have no knowledge or fear of God, Not in the lust of concupiscence, even as the Gentiles who know not God^aa This I say therefore and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, who being past feeling, have given themselves over unto lasciviousness to work all uncleanness, with greediness.^bb 3. Because we are true Believers, our bodies are members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Ghost, and not our own, and therefore ought to be kept clean and holy; Know ye not that your bodies are members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ and make them members of an Harlot? God forbid What, know ye not that he which is joyned to an Harlot is one body? What, know ye not that your body is the Temple of the Holy Ghost, which is in you, which ye have of God and ye are not your own?^cc If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy; for the Temple of God is Holy, which Temple ye are.^dd