A learned and very useful commentary on the whole epistle to the Hebrews wherein every word and particle in the original is explained ... : being the substance of thirty years Wednesdayes lectures at Black-fryers, London / by that holy and learned divine Wiliam Gouge ... : before which is prefixed a narrative of his life and death : whereunto is added two alphabeticall tables ...

§. 37. Of Fornication and Adultery.

THe Apostle by way of opposition produceth two vices, which much pervert the dignity and purity of Marriage, as is evident by this particle of opposition, a 1.1 BUT.

This I do the rather note against the manifest mistake of the Vulgar Latine, and Rhemist-English translation: and also against most of the Popish Expositors, who make the former clause an injunction, to use marriage as an honourable thing; and to keep the bed undefiled, thus, Let marriage be honourable in all, and the bed un∣defiled. Hereupon they take this last clause, as a reason to move men so to do, thus, For God will judge whoremongers and adulterers. Yet they can produce no authentique Greek Copy to justifie that causal particle.

Quest. Wherein is the sinne of whoremongers (it being between single persons) opposite to marriage? If not, why is it here brought in?

Answ.

• 1. Whoredom in the general is a base sin, and a bed defiled: In this re∣spect it may well be brought in opposition to marriage, which is honourable, and the bed undefiled.
• ...

• 2. Marriage is a remedy to prevent fornication, 1 Cor. 7. 2. So as whoredom might have been prevented, if marriage had been duly used. Thus also it is opposite to marriage.
• 3. The Gentiles among whom the Hebrews lived, made too light account of whoredom; scarce thinking it to be simply a sin (this made the Apostles to forbid it among indifferent things, Act. 15. 29.) Therefore this Apostle here joyneth it with adultery (as he doth in many other places) to move them the more to de∣•…•…est it.
• 4. Most of the particulars which aggravate adultery, aggravate also whoredom. Therefore the Apostle might well joyn them together.

These two words, Whoremongers, Adulterers, are oft promiscuously used, and indefinitly put for all manner of uncleanness.

The first word translated b 1.2 Wh•…•…remongers, is oft translated Fornicators, as 1 Cor. 5. 9, 10, 11. & 6. 9. Heb. 12. 16. The c 1.3 Greek word according to the notation thereof, signifieth to prostitute ones body for a price, or for gain. The d 1.4 root whence it cometh signifieth to sell: thereupon they who commit uncleannesse for gain, are said to sell their body; or to set it, as we speak, to portsail, Ezek. 16. 33. This is the proper notation of the word: but it is also used for the sin of uncleannes, though no gain be intended thereby.

Most properly it is put for that sin which in this kinde is committed betwixt single persons; So it is to be taken when whoremongers or fornicators are joyned toge∣ther, and distinguished the one from the other, as Gal. 5. 19. and in sundry other places.

It is sometimes put for Adultery it self, Matth. 5. 32. Sometimes for Incest, 1 Cor. 5. 1.

The other word translated * 1.5 Adulterers, is supposed to be taken from an f 1.6 Hebrew word, which signifieth to put out, or to destroy; as where it is said said of an adulterer, His reproach shall not be g 1.7 wiped away, Prov. 6. 33. And where this advice is given, Give not thy strength to women, nor thy wayes to that which h 1.8 destroy•…•…th Kings, Prov. 31. 3. Those two Texts of Scripture shew, how fitly the notation of the Greek word is taken from the Hebrew. For nothing useth more to put out and destroy a mans state, name, body and soul, then adultery.

The notation of our English word Adultery, is taken from the * 1.9 Latine; and that from going k 1.10 to anothers bed. Thus is Reubens incestuous adultery described, Thou 〈◊〉〈◊〉 up to thy fathers bed, Gen. 49. 4. And the Adulteresse inticeth a young man to her husbands bed, Pro. 7. 16, 17, 18.

As fornicators, so adulterers are indefinitely put for all kind of unclean persons, as in the seventh Commandment.

Here these two words, Whoremongers and Adulterers, are distinguished one from another.

Whoremongers are such, as being both single persons, commit the sin of unclean∣nesse betwixt themselves; as Shechem and Dinah did, Gen. 34. 2.

Adulterers are such, as one of them at least, if not both also is contracted or married. In that the same punishment was by Gods Law adjudged against him that defiled a Virgin, betrothed unto an husband, as to one that defiled a woman married, namely death (Deut. 22. 22, 23, 24.) It appears that the sin of the one, and of the other, is of the same kinde, namely ad•…•…ltery.

Having distinctly declared who are Whoremongers and Adulterers, and how they are distinguished one from the other; I will further indeavour to set out the •…•…ainousnesse of their sins, and remedies against them.

Notes

• a 1.1

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• b 1.2

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• c 1.3

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• d 1.4

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 & 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 adjecto, 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, unde 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 vendo. Iude 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉, qui se prostituit, & corpus suum vendit, Merito∣rius. 〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Meretrix.
• * 1.5

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉.
• f 1.6

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Delevit, de∣struxit, perdidit.
• g 1.7

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 Delebitur.
• h 1.8

  〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉〈 in non-Latin alphabet 〉 ad delendum.
• * 1.9

  Adulterium.
• k 1.10

  Ad al•…•…erius torum.