The crime of adultery is indeed censured by all nations, pretending to any de-gree of civilization; and by many, even in what is considered a savage state. In the Jaw of Moses it was particularly prohibited. "Thou shalt not commit adu:tery," was one of the Ten Commandments delivered to the Israelites at Mount Sinai; and it is one of the crimes which were punishable with death. "The man that committeth. adultery with another man's wife, even he that committeth adultery with his neighbour's wife, the adulterer and the adultress shall surely be put to death." Although this may appear to some a severe punishment; yet, certainly, the crime is much greater, than many for which death is inficted in most christian countries.

But by the Jewish law, not only adultery,, but fornication, or whoredom, were forbidden. "Do not prostitute thy daughter to cause her to be a whore, lest the land fall to whoredom, and become full of wicked- ness. There shall be no whore of the daughters of Israel, nor a sodomite (or, as, many translators render it, a whoremonger) of the sons of Israel."

In the Book of Proverbs, we have many instructive cautions against this sin, which. show the fatal consequences that result from it." The commandment is a lamp

and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way to life; to keep thee from the evil woman; from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Lust not after her beauty in thy heart, neither let her take thee with her eye-lids; for by means of a whorish woman, a man is brought to a piece of bread ; and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life." Again, "Remove" thy way far from a strange woman, and › come not near the door of her house; lest thou give thy honour unto others, and thy years unto the cruel-and thou mourn at last when thy body, and thy flesh are con sumed; and say, how have I hated instruction, and my heart despised reproof, Hearken unto me now, therefore, O ye children! and attend to the words of my mouth. Let not thy heart incline to her ways; go not astray in her paths: for her house is the way to hell; going down to the chambers of death."

To conclude this subject, on which I have found it necessary to say more than I at first designed; let us remember the important declarations of the Holy Apostle: "This is the will of God, even your sanctification; that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of concuspiscence, even as the Gentiles who know

not God. For God hath not called us f uncleanness, but unto holiness. Now the body is not for fornication, but for the Lord; and the Lord for the body: know ye not that your bodies are the members of Christ? Shall I then take the members of Christ, and make them the members of a harlot? God forbid. Be not deceived: neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of themselves with mankind, shall inherit the kingdom of God. For this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, nor covetous (or rather libidinous) man, hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.

Let no

man deceive you with vain words, for, because of these things, cometh the wratht of God on the children of disobedience." Thus certain it is, that "whoremongers and adulterers God will judge; and they shall have their part in the lake which burneth with fire and brimstone; which is the second death."

CHAPTER VII.

Discretion or Prudence.

THIS is a Virtue of high importance, in regulating the whole of our conduct through life. It is often applied to the management of our temporal concerns, as preventing us from engaging in unwarrantable undertakings, and as inducing us to keep our expenses within our incomes. But this is not the whole of the objects it embraces. There is scarcely any concern in life, in which we do not need the aid of discretion. When better motives are wanting it may be profitably applied to the restraint of vice; and even our other virtues stand in need of its salutary restrictions. "A good man showeth favour and lendeth ;”· but, at the same time, "he guideth his affairs with discretion."

What we have on this subject in Holy Writ, is principally contained in the Proverbs of Solomon. He represents Prudence as being the intimate companion of Wisdom. "I, Wisdom, dwell with Prudence. The wise in heart shall be called prudent." Wisdom and Prudence are distinct acquire-i ments, and the former is very imperfect without the latter. My son (says Solo,

mon again) keep sound wisdom, and dis cretion. The discretion of a man deferreth A fool's wrath is presently

his anger.

known; but a prudent man covereth shame. A prudent man concealetli [his own] knowledge but the mouth of fools proclaimeth foolishness. Every prudent man dealeth with knowledge; but a fool layeth open his folly. The simple believe every word; but the prudent man looketh well to his way. A prudent man foreseeth the evil, and hideth himself; but the simple pass on, and are punished."

This virtue we find recorded among the qualities, which the Evangelical Prophet foretold should distinguish the character of the Messiah: " My servant shall deal prudently" and we find the Apostle, in his Epistle to Titus, recommending that the young women, and young men, should be advised to the exercise of discretion.

The following remarks on this subject, by an eminent writer,* are so excellent, as to induce me to give them a place here: "Discretion is like an under-agent of Providence, to guide and direct us in the ordinary concerns of life. There are more -shining qualities in the mind of man, but there is none so useful as discretion. It is

Addison,