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 ...

§. 47. Of Remedies against wheredom, adultery, and other sins of uncleannesse.

FOr the better understanding, and better retaining such remedies as in this case shall be propounded, I will set them forth in a plain, but very pertinent com∣parison: which is about liquor in a pot.

Lust in man is as such liquor in a pot over the fire.

Now there are four ordinary waies to keep the liquor from boyling over the pot.

• 1. By taking off the lid.
• 2. By stirring the liquor.
• 3. By pulling away fuel.
• 4. By blowing cold breath, or putting some cool thing into it.

• 1. By taking off the lid, hot vapors are let out: Thus may lust be let out by a lawfull using of the marriage duty, which the Apostle cals due benevolence, 1 Cor. 7. 2, 3. For this end they that are not married ought to marry, 1 Cor. 7. 2. And they who are married ought to delight in their bed-fellow, Prov. 5. 19.
• 2. As a seething pot is cooled by stirring, so may lust be kept down by mans* 1.1 diligence in his Calling. By this means the body of man is exercised, and his minde busied, and thus he kept from idlenesse, which is a great cause of lust. Idle∣nesse is noted to be one of the causes of the Sodomiticall pollutions, Ezek. 16. 49. This also is noted to be the cause of Davids committing adultery, 2 Sam. 11. 2, 3, 4. As a standing pool gathereth most mud, so doth lust increase in idle packs. The devil is least idle when we are most idle. The house which is said to be empty and

• swept, whereunto the unclean spirit re-entred with seven other spirits more wicked then himself, setteth out an idle person, Matth. 12. 43, &c.
• 3. As a pot is cooled by pulling away fuel from the fire: So lust by removing occasions; which are such as these.
  • 1. Fulnesse of bread, that is, gluttony, under which drunkennesse may be comprised; and fulnesse of pleasures. The great sin of Sodom was lust, this is one cause thereof, mentioned, Ezek. 16. 49. By drunkennesse was Lot brought to his uncleannesse, Gen. 19. 33.
  • 2. Corrupt communication. Evil communications corrupt good manners, 1 Cor. 15. 33. Therefore the Apostle forbiddeth all such communications, Eph. 4. 29.
  • 3. Immodest spectacles: lascivious representations on a stage, wanton places, amorous books, &c.
  • 4. Lewd company, which is as pitch: touch pitch and it defileth. This is it which the wiseman intendeth about fire, Prov. 6. 27, 28, Young mens and maids dalliance: so husbands and wives of others, without just cause, are occasions of whoredom and adultery.
  • 5. Garish apparell: Men and womens strange apparell, oft stirre up lust in themselves: so likewise in others also, especially when such parts as ought to be covered are left naked. A strumpet is set out to allure others by her apparell, Ezek. 23. 40. Pro. 7. 16.
  • 6. Lascivious dancing and masking, Matth. 14. 6, 7.
• 4. As cool things, whether breath, cold water, or any other like thing cool a seething pot, so the graces of Gods Spirit are an especiall means to keep down lust, as, a fear of God, Gen. 39. 9. The sinne of uncleannesse is commonly committed in secret, but nothing is of more force to suppresse such things as are concealed from mans eye, as a true fear of God. Spirituall prudence is also of force for this end: Solomon saith, that wisdom and understanding will deliver a man from the strange woman, Pro. 2. 15, 16.

Watchfulnesse also is of speciall use to keep down lust. Watchfulnesse I say,

• 1. Over the heart. Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, Pro. 6. 25.
• ...

  2. Over the eyes. For this end Iob made a covenant with his eyes, Iob 31. 1.

  As light goeth thorow windows, so lust thorow the eyes, Gen. 6. 2, & 34. 2: 2 Sam. 11. 2.

• 3. Over the ears; that they hearken not to enticing speeches. With much fair speech a strumpet caused a young man to yield: with the flattering of her lips she forced him, Pro. 7. 21.
• 4. Over the tongue. For this end the Apostle adviseth that uncleannesse be not once named amongst Christians: neither filthinesse nor foolish talking, Eph. 5. 3, 4.
• 5. Over the lips, to be kept from wanton kisses. Kissing was another means whereby the strumpet allured the young man, Pro. 7. 13.
• 6. Over the hands, from lascivious touching. Whosoever toucheth a strumpet shall not be innocent, Pro. 6. 29.
• 7. Over the feet. Go not astray in her paths, Pro. 7. 25.
• 8. Over company. Be not partakers with them, Eph. 5. 7.
• 9. Over diet, that we be not overtaken as Lot was, Gen. 19. 31.
• 10. Over our apparell, Ezek. 23. 6, 15, 40.

As watchfulnesse, so fasting is an especiall means of beating down the body, (1 Cor. 9. 27.) whereby lust is cooled.

Though all these endeavours on mans part be not sufficient, yet they may prove good helps to the suppressing of lust. Licentious liberty about the forenamed points is a great cause of increasing lust.

Finally, Pray earnestly and instantly against these sins; even as Paul did against the thorn in the flesh which much molested him, 2 Cor. 12. 7, 8.

Notes

• * 1.1

  Haec sunt jucun∣di causa cibus{que} mali, Ovid▪ 4. de Remed. Amor.