MED. phet told Hazael that he would be XXI. guilty of dreadful enormities, he was astonished-" But what! said he, Is

thy servant a dog that he should do "these things* ?"-He knew not his own heart; notwithstanding the Prophet's admonition, he fulfilled them in every particular.

I am not one of those who encourage the gloomy imagination which calls every action evil, and dares not step one foot forward for fear of committing sin. This timidity of conduct forms no part of the character of a soldier of Jesus Christ; neither does it partake in any respect of the essence of his Religion. Purge the heart of its malignity through the operation of divine grace, and then, Christian! Go on thy way rejoicing! But imagine not that thou art free from danger. This is a world of trial; and so long as thine heart beats, thou wilt have much to

2 Kings viii. 13.

contend with. Dost thou ask the rea- MED. son? Because thy heart is still capable XXI. of sinning. If this inclination, and capacity of crime, then, still exist in thine yet unsubdued affections (for the battle is not over till thou hast gained the victory in death), scruple not to confess the guilt of uncommitted faults.

Perhaps none of the commandments more emphatically illustrates this truth, than that which we now contemplate. The grand crime of adultery comprehends within its view every lesser species of impurity. Indeed, its fatal effects operate on every side; and after debasing, degrading, vilifying the breast which first conceives the sin, like a destructive deluge, it sweeps away what is dearer than life, domestic peace and comfort; it rises in its channel, and overwhelms many a retreat, the abode of innocence and virtue, which was thought to be far beyond its reach. If the punishment of adultery were adequate to the magnitude of the of

MED. fence, many a noble sinner would be XXI. levelled with the lowest. The common

law of the land, by an omission, not easily accounted for, considers this heinous transgression merely as a civil injury. But what compensation can be made to God? Here is a divine law promulged, and-it is no legal offence; at least it constitutes no offence which demands personal punishment. I make no observation; but the offender must wait for his measure in the scale of justice to be meted out from the balance of the Almighty.

But is this all? No. permission for divorce,

Look at the

How does

this quadrate with our Saviour's interpretation of the law: "Whoso

"ever

ever shall marry her that is divorced, "committeth adultery*." "The righ

teous men, they shall judge them "after the manner of adulteresses," says Ezekiel," and after the manner of

"women that shed blood, because they MED. are adulteresses, and blood is in their XXI. "hands:"-murder and adultery being thus placed upon a level-"thus will I 66 cause lewdness to cease out of the land, that all women may be taught "not to do after your lewdness *.*

The gradation of crime is particu larly visible, and particularly lamentable in the consideration of this commandment. The spring of affectión is often, in this case, the master-spring of sin. Youth is the season of its power, and opportunity of its execution.-O youth! keep thyself pure: watch the dawning of affection; cherish the unadulterated stream, but check its excess. Beware of seduction under whatever pleasing, or deceitful term, it may be couched. The happiness of two immortal beings are at stake. Have no unguarded hours.-Let every inclination be simple and undefiled, and every

Ezek. xxii. 45, 48.

MED. thought be such as becomes the pure XXI. fountain from whence it ought to flow.

Consider that God, who planted the affection, and Christ, who by his presence, blessed the marriage-feast, have. given the most impressive sanction to the happiest, and most gratifying, condition of human life. Debase it not by vileness, disgrace it not by humiliating its greatest ornament. Prostitute not that gem which the most valuable treasure cannot buy.

Promiscuous intercourse, however universal, meets with no qualification under the Seventh Commandment."Marriage is honorable in all, and "the bed undefiled; but whoremongers " and adulterers God will judge *." I need not multiply attestations from the word of God. Idolatry, an offence by which the majesty of God is griev ously offended, is termed fornication in the Scriptures; placing the two

* Heb. iii. 13.