therefore, he tempts men to such excesses as destroy the constitution, or as render life miserable; and he urges them on to suicide, that he may destroy both body and soul by their own hands, not being permitted to do it by his power. Extravagance, discontent, and despondency should therefore be most carefully avoided; and gratitude, patience, and hope most diligently cultivated.-In a word, this command requires enlarged benevolence, kindness, long-suffering, and forgiveness; and a disposition to seek the welfare, in all respects, of every human being.

VII. The seventh commandment regulates our love to our neighbours, in respect of their purity and domestick comfort; and requires the proper government of those inclinations, which God hath implanted in order to the increase of the human species. The marriage of one man with one woman was originally the institution of the Creator, and not merely a civil contract, as some pretend: these " became one flesh," inseparably. united to each other, to promote and share one another's satisfactions, and to assist each other in every duty, and especially in educating with combined attention their common offspring. The entrance of sin and death made way for the dissolution of this union; a variety of evils began to embitter the relation, and abuses were soon introduced. But though some things were formerly

connived at, which did not accord with the original institution; yet Christ refers his disciples to that as the standard of honourable marriage, as far as the change of circumstances admit of it. The force acquired by men's passions, in consequence of sin, renders the "prevention of fornication" one express end of marriage: mutual forbearance and reciprocal compliances are now needful and incumbent: the sorrows of the female sex, as well as the afflictions of life, require peculiar sympathy to alleviate the anguish of the suffering party: and the separating stroke of death leaves the survivor free to take another companion. We must not then define adultery, as prohibited in this commandment, according to the judicial law of Moses, but by the decision of Christ; with which polygamy, and divorce (except for unfaithfulness) are utterly incompatible.-It is evident, that marriage, recognized in some appointed way to distinguish it from illicit connexions, gives each party such a property in the other's person and affections, that every violation of conjugal fidelity, on either side, is adultery, according to the New Testament; and is far more deserving of death, (if we estimate crimes by their mischievous effects,) than many offences which are capitally punished.-All other commerce between the sexes is prohibited by the spirit of this law; from the temporary connexions, that are formed and dissolved at pleasure, to the lowest scenes of prostitution. The differ

ence between the tempters and the tempted, and other circumstances, vary the degree of guilt contracted; for the seducer's character is diabolical: but fornication is marked in almost every black catalogue in the Scripture; and, however men may be deceived by vain words, its dire effects on the human species prove the goodness, as well as the justice, of God in thus strictly forbidding it, and in threatening those who violate the prohibition, with his severest indignation.

Under the word lasciviousness various transgressions are denoted, which cannot be mentioned without offence; and every thing, which does not comport with the design of marriage, though sanctioned by that name, violates the spiritual meaning of the prohibition. All impure conversation, imaginations, or desires, are likewise condemned by this law. "He that looketh on a woman to lust "after her, hath committed adultery with her al"ready in his heart." Writing, reading, publishing, vending, or circulating obscene books; exposing to view indecent pictures or statues, or whatever else may excite men's passions, must partake of the same guilt: and wit, elegance, and ingenuity only increase the mischief, wherever the specious poison is administered. All the arts of dress, motion, or demeanor, which form temptations to heedless youth; with all those blandishments, insinuations, amorous looks and words, which subserve seduction, fall under the same cen

sure. In short, the commandment requires the utmost purity, both of body and soul, in secret as well as before men; with a holy indifference to animal indulgences, and the strictest government of all the appetites, senses, and passions: and it enjoins the desire and endeavour of preserving the same disposition and behaviour in all others, as far as we have it in our power.

VIII. The eighth commandment is the law of love in respect of property. The productions of the earth are obtained and prepared for use by labour: this gives property, and that justly descends to the owner's posterity or heirs. From this and similar causes, combining their effects for ages, originates the difference in men's outward circumstances. That portion, which we honestly obtain, is "the bread that God hath given us :” and with this we should be satisfied. But men's passions crave more; and sloth refuses to labour: hence force and fraud are employed to get posses. sion of the property of others, without their free consent. We need not enumerate those violations, of which human laws take cognizance: but men may in various ways break the divine law, and yet escape present punishment. Fraudulent bargains which impose on the ignorant, credulous, or necessitous; abuse of confidence, extortion, exofbitant gain, deceitful combinations to enhance the price of goods or labour, or to lower the wages of

the poor, will be condemned at God's tribunal as violations of this command. The overgrown ravager of nations and provinces will be adjudged a principal thief and robber, without any other distinction. Defrauding the publick, (whether by oppressive rulers, who burden the people with merciless exactions; or by those who embezzle the treasures committed to their stewardship; or by smuggling, and in various other ways evading the payment of taxes,) constitutes a most atrocious transgression of this law. Contracting debts to support vanity and luxury, or in pursuit of some scheme of aggrandizement, or for any thing not absolutely necessary, without a fair prospect of paying; taking advantage of humane laws, to evade payment when the insolvents would be again able to pay, were they contented with a frugal maintenance; all extravagance, beyond the sober allowance of a man's income; and slothfulness, or unnecessary subsistence upon charity, are violations of it in different ways. Nay, to withhold from real objects of compassion proper relief; or to reduce the wages of the poor so low as hardly to allow them a subsistence, in order that men may live in affluence and enrich their families, by no means consists with its evident demands. In short, the spirit of it prohibits inordinate love of the world, covetousness, luxury, and the pride of life; and requires industry, frugality, sobriety, submission to Providence, and a disposition " to do to all