Wise. That is true, therefore the Wise mans counsel is the best: Come not near the door of her house; [53a] for they are (as you say) very tempting, as is seen by her in the Proverbs. I looked (says the Wise man) through my casement, and beheld among the simple ones, I discerned a young man void of understanding, passing through the streets near her corner, and he went the way to her house: In the twilight, in the evening, in the black and dark night. And behold, there met him a Woman, with the attire of an harlot, and subtle of heart; ([53c] she is loud and stubborn, her feet abide not in her house. Now she is without, now she is in the street, and lieth in wait at every corner.) So she caught him, and kiss’d him, and with an impudent face said unto him: I have peace offerings with me; this day have I payed my vows. Therefore came I forth to meet thee, diligently to seek thy face, and I have found thee. I have decked my bed with coverings of Tapestry, with carved works, with fine Linnen of Ægypt: I have perfumed my bed with Myrrhe, Aloes, and Cinnamon; come let us take our fill of love untill the Morning, let us solace our selves with loves. [53b] Here was a bold Beast: And indeed, the very eyes, hands, words and ways of such, are all snares and bands to youthful, lustful fellows: And with these was young Badman greatly snared.
Atten. This sin of Uncleanness [54a] is mightily cried out against both by Moses, the Prophets, Christ, and his Apostles; and yet, as we see, for all that, how men run head-long to it!
Wise. You have said the truth, and I will adde, that God, to hold men back from so filthy a sin, has set such a stamp of his Indignation upon it, and commanded such evil effects to follow it, that were not they that use it bereft of all Fear of God, and love to their own health, they could not but stop and be afraid to commit it. For, besides the eternal Damnation that doth attend such in the next world, (for these have no Inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God, Ephes. 5.) the evil effects thereof in this world are dreadfull.
Atten. Pray skew me some of them, that as occasion offereth it self, I may shew them to others for their good.
Wise. So I will. 1. [54b] It bringeth a man (as was said of the sin before) to want and poverty; for by means of a Whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread. The reason is, for that an Whore will not yield without hire; and men when the Devil and Lust is in them, and God and his Fear far away from them, will not stick, so they may accomplish their desire, to lay their Signet, their Bracelets, and their Staff to pledge, [54c] rather than miss of the fulfilling of their lusts. 2. Again, by this sin men diminish their strength, and bring upon themselves, even upon the Body, a multitude of Diseases. This King Lemuel’s Mother warned him of. What my Son, said she, and what the son of my womb, and what the Son of my Vows: Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy ways to that which destroyeth Kings. [54d] This sin is destructive to the Body. Give me leave to tell you another story.
Atten. Paul says also, that he that sins this sin, sins against his own Body. But what of that? he that will run the hazard of eternal Damnation of his Soul, but he will commit this sin, will for it run the hazard of destroying his Body. If young Badman feared not the Damnation of his Soul, do you think that the consideration of impairing of his Body, would have deterred him therefrom?
Wise. You say true. But yet, methinks, there are still such bad effects follow, often, upon the commission of it, that if men would consider them, it would put, at least, a stop to their career therein.
Atten. What other evil effects attend this sin?
Wise. Outward shame and disgrace, and that in these particulars: [55a]