Verse 29. And if thy right ere offend thee, pluck it out]
That is; if it be either so naturall or habituall to thee to go after the fight of thine eyes (which Solomon assigneth for the source of all* 1.1 youthfull outrages, Eccles. 11 9.) that thou hadst as lieve lose thy right eye, as not look at liberty; out with such an eye, (though a right eye:) 〈◊〉〈◊〉 it out, and rake in the hole where it grew, rather then that any filth should remain there. Pluck it out of the old Adam, and set it into the new man. Get that oculum irretortum,* 1.2 that may look forth-right upon the mark, without idle or curious* 1.3 prying into, or poring upon forbidden beauties. A Praetor (said the Heathen) should have continent eyes, as well as hands. And the 〈◊◊◊〉〈◊◊◊〉 and worthily ubraided a certain wonton, that he had not pupils but punks in his eyes. And Archesilaus the 〈◊〉〈◊〉, observing one to have wanton eyes, told him, that the* 1.4 difference was not great, whether he plaid the naughty-pack with his upper parts or his nether. Lot might not look to ward Sodom. And Peter Martyr observeth out of Nathans Parable, that lust,* 1.5 though it once prevailed over David, yet it was but a stranger to him: had enough of that once, for it cost him hot water. His eye became a fountain, he washed his bed which he had defiled (yea his pallet or under-bed) with tears. So did Mary Magdalen, once a strumpet; her hands were bands, her words were cords, her eyes as glasses, where into while silly larks gazed, they were taken, as in a* 1.6 day-not. She therefore made those eyes a fountain to bath Christs feet in, and had his bloud a fountain to bath her soul in, Zech. 13. 1. To conclude: the sight is a deceitfull sense, therefore binde it to* 1.7 the good abearance: call it in from its out-strayes, check it and lay Gods charge upon it for the future. Chast Joseph would not once look on his immodest mistresse: she looked, and caught hold on him, and that when she was abed: but her temptation fell like fire upon wet tinder, and took not. It must be our constant care,