are to be divided into transgressions committed in thought, in word, or in deed. In the regulation of the heart, the source of carnal lusts, are to be suppressed all impure and licentious imaginations, inordinate attachment even to proper objects, and every degree of libidinous desire towards improper ones ;-the encouragement of concupiscence by intentionally exciting the passions with sensual thoughts, or dwelling upon those which may be inadvertently produced ;-in word-indulging in any kind of profligate and lascivious expressions, or oral communication,-of vain, frivolous, or idle conversation ;➡ professions intended to deceive, seduce, or corrupt; -attempts to flatter personal vanity,-to weaken the safeguards of natural modesty, timidity, and prudence, to lessen the dread of ruin and dishonour,or to pervert and silence the warnings of conscience and the threatenings of religion ;-reading, writing, or disseminating books or other compositions of immoral tendency, or indecent character:-in deed-all actual unchasteness and abuse of the body to sensual purposes;-fornication; — incest ;-rape ; - unnatural crimes ;-all which " deadly sins" offend most grossly against the purity and majesty of the Omniscient, transgress the positive laws of Christ, and im. piously defile the temples of the Holy Spirit,—are the scourges of society, necessarily injurious to our neighbour, and destructive, to ourselves, of happiness, health, and prosperity in this life, and, by excluding from the gates of heaven, of our hopes of blessedness in another. To these may be added impudence and wantonness of behaviour, dalliance, im

§ 4. The graces and right affections to be culti. vated in order to assist our obedience to this Precept, are-a constant sense of the omnipresence of a God of infinite purity and holiness, who searches the heart, and sees the most secret actions ;-the love of religious and rational pursuits, rather than of mere empty pleasure and worldly gratification ;-industry and activity in our lawful calling ;-moderation and discretion in the use of such recreations and amusements as are innocent and beneficial, if enjoyed with due reference to seasonableness of time and propriety of circumstances, and become dangerous and sinful only if indulged in excess, unseasonably, when they are incompatible with positive duties, or rendered unbecoming by personal disqualifications;-judicious choice of companions ;-incessant self-controul and frequent self-examination ;-vigilant guard over the strongest propensities, and actuating motives of the heart ;-earnest prayer for the sanctifying influence and indwelling of the Holy Ghost;-temperance and sobriety in the use of meats and drinks ;—such atten. tion to dress and outward appearance as is befitting the station of each one in society, and is indicative of modesty and prudence,-under guidance of the principle, that the comparative insignificancy of food and raiment, when put in competition with eternal in. terests, does not excuse either contempt or waste of the bountiful mercies of a kind Providence; or justify disregard of what is due to the rank or profession which the all-wise Disposer of his gifts has assigned to each, any more than it justifies the converting of blessings, by abuse, into occasions of offence.

§ 5. The subordinate vices, evil habits, and tempta. tions, against which the Commandment supplies a caution, are-forgetfulness of the solemn responsibility in which all are placed in this state of temporary probation, with regard to the regulation of fleshly appetites and passions, and neglect of the means of grace ;-devotedness to the pleasures and frivolities of the world, and negligence in the fulfilment of social duties; idleness and sloth; - intemperance and luxury, by which the mind is inflamed, and the restraints of reason and religion set aside;-dress unbefitting the rank, fortune, or age, indecent in the display of person, or vain and ostentatious, in the extravagance of fashion, or of unnecessary costliness of quality ;-public assemblies and entertainments, in which immoral practices are followed, and licentious principles imbibed,-in which modesty and sobriety are outraged or corrupted ;-incaution in frequenting places of resort, in which such violations of decency and piety occur, as result from the profligate perversion of public meetings for amusement, at fairs and sports, in the theatre and the ball-room, and occa. sionally in assemblies far less liable to suspicion ;immoderate or untimely indulgence in innocent amusement and relaxation, or the turning of them to evil purposes;-unnatural and illegal vows of celi. bacy;-associating with bad company.

§.6. Under the Levitical Law adultery was punished with death; and many are the instances in the history of the Jews, in which the Divine wrath was manifested by the most terrible visitations against other crimes included in the prohibition, "Thou shalt not commit adultery:" under the Christian

dispensation, although the capital punishment is not required, those who are guilty of the sins of unchastity are threatened with severe inflictions in the present world, and with that which is incomparably more dreadful than temporal death-with exclusion from heaven, and with the pains of hell,

From Scripture.

SECTION I.

Gen. ii. 18. 21-24. And the Lord God said, It is not good that the man should be alone; I will make him an help meet for him. And the Lord God caused a deep sleep to fall upon Adam, and he slept: and he took one of his ribs, and closed up the flesh thereof: And the rib, which the Lord God had taken from man, made he a woman, and brought her unto the man. And Adam said, This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh: she shall be called Woman, because she was taken out of Man. Therefore shall a man leave his father and his mother, and shall cleave unto his wife; and they shall be one flesh. Matt. xix. 4-6. And he answered and said unto them, Have ye not read, that he which made them from the beginning, made them male and female; And said, For this cause shall a man leave father and mother, and shall cleave to his wife; and they twain shall be one flesh? Wherefore they are no more twain, but one flesh. What therefore God hath joined together, let no man put asunder. John ii. 1, 2. And the third day there was a marriage in Cana of Galilee; and the mother of Jesus was there : And both Jesus was called and his disciples to the marriage. Heb. xiii. 4. Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge. Gal. v. 19-21. Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, envyings,