The Cry of Sodom ENQVIRED INTO; Upon Occasion of The Arraignment and Condemnation OF BENJAMIN GOAD, For his Prodigious Villainy.  
Together with A Solemn Exhortation to Tremble at God's Judgements, and to Abandon Youthful Lusts.  
By S. D.  Isa. 26. 9 — When thy Judgements are in the earth, the inhabitants of the world will learn righteousness. Psal. 119. 118. Thou hast trodden down all them that err from thy statutes: for their deceit is falsehood. ver. 119. Thou puttest away all the wicked of the earth like dross: therefore I love thy Testimonies. ver. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee, and I am afraid of thy Judgements. 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dear beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the soul. 
Cambridge: Printed by Marmaduke Johnson. 1674.   

Christian Reader,  
IT is a solemn Expression of the Kingly Prophet, the sweet Singer of Israel, Psal. 36. 6. Thy Judgements (O Lord) are a great deep! too great a deep to be fathomed, without the help of Scripture-direction. Had not the Most High condescended to give us (poor silly worms) the Comment of his Word, upon the more abstruse and less discernible passages of his Works, how hard had it been for us to have found out, and understood the true sense and meaning of many his darker dispensations. Amongst many other, this might have been looked at as astonishingly strange, that the worst of sins should be perpetrated, in some, the best of Places and Societies; that Enormities not so much as 
1 Co● 5. 1.  named amongst Gentiles, should be found among Christians: had not the Oracles of God unfolded, and laid open the Mystery of such (otherwise inscrutable) Secrets of his profound Providence. It was in the Sanctuary, that the distressed Psalmist saw a plain and easy way out of the perplexing Intricacies, of those sad Tentations, in which he had been so far bewildered, and well-nigh lost, Psal. 73. 16, 17. By Scripture-Light, in the forementioned case, we may easily discern, not only that it is, but how it comes to pass; and be informed, That the holy and blessed God is never more gloriously Just, then when most dreadfully Severe against such as despise, and will not obey his Gospel. No Judgements are more direful, and to be dreaded, then Spiritual; nor are any nearer such, than they who have, and improve not, but set light by, and abuse the Gospel and Grace of our Lord Jesus. The ground often reigned upon, which yet brings forth nothing but thorns and briers, is rejected, and nigh to cursing, and its end is to be burned, Heb. 6. 7. 8. It was thus of old, Psal. 81. 10— 12. Open thy mouth w●●e, and I will fill it. But my people would not hearken to my voice, and Israel would none of me: So I gave them up to their own hearts lusts, and they walked in their own counsels. How unquestionably righteous the holy God is, in such Severity against his own people, will be abundantly evident, to all who shall consider, how trimendous his dealings have been with poor ignorant Heathen. If such, who have had and abused but that glimmering Starlight, which (to weak eyes) so dimly shineth from the Works of Creation and Providence, have been so terribly treated; that, as the Apostle expresseth, Rom. 1. 18, to the end of the Chapter, The wrath of God is revealed from Heaven against all ungodliness and unrighteousness of men, who imprison the truth in unrighteousness: So that because when they knew God, they did not glorify him as God, He gave them up to uncleanness, to filthy practices, to vile affections, and at last to a reprobate mind: Of how much sorer punishment shall they be thought worthy, who have trodden under foot the Son of God, continuing to sin under and against a far more glorious Light, then ever the Heathen had? An awful (and not to be forgotten) Instance of this, so formidably solemn a Truth, was the sad Occasion unto our Reverend Brother, the Pious and Judicious Author of the ensuing Discourse, to lift up his voice like a Trumpet. His eminent faithfulness in so doing, we cannot but approve. It's surely no season for Watchmen to be silent, when Heaven-daring sins are calling aloud for Vengeance. We willingly Commend it to the Press, and serious perusal of all, into whose hands it may come; heartily praying, it may (by a blessing from above) become successful unto all that good intended, and hoped for in making it thus public.  
John Sherman. Urian Oakes. Thomas Shepard.   

The CRY of SODOM Enquired into.  GEN. XVIII. 20, 21. And the Lord said, Because the cry of Sodom and G●morrah is great, and because their sin is very grievous; I will go down now; and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me: and if not, I will know. 
BEhold the solemn Inquisition which the Lord made concerning the abominable filthiness of the Sodomites, which cried unto Heaven for vengeance. In the description whereof observe,  
1. The fearful Aggravation of their wickedness. The cry of Sodom and Gomorrah is great, and their sin is very grievous. Sodom and Gomorrah were ancient Cities in the Land of Canaan, situate in the Vale of Siddim, bordering upon the Tribe of Judah. There were two other Cities, which perished with them, viz. Admah and Zeboim, Deut: 29. 23. but Sodom and Gomorrah are only named in my Text, because as they were the most notable and famous for estate and greatness, so they were the most notorious and infamous for sin and lewdness. Ezek. 16. 46. Sodom and her daughters. The sins of Sodom were many and great, but that which was the most grievous of all, was their abominable filthiness in all manner of Uncleanness. Ezek. 16. 49, 50. Behold, this was the iniquity of thy sister Sodom, Pride, fullness of bread, and abundance of Idleness was in her and in her daughters, neither did she strengthen the hand of the poor and needy, and they were haughty, and committed abomination before me. This their wickedness cried unto Heaven for vengeance. A figurative expression, holding forth the heinousness and notoriousness of their sin and wickedness. It made a clamorous noise in the ears of the Lord, so that he could not rest nor be quiet in Heaven by reason of the horrid cry of their horrible lewdness, which sounded continually in his ears.  
2. The Assertion and Vindication of Divine Justice and Equity in the Judicial process against them. I will go down now, and see whether they have done altogether according to the cry of it, which is come unto me: and if not, I will know. These words are spoken after the manner of men, but are to be understood after the manner of God. Local descension is not compatible to the Omnipresent, nor external information to the Omniscient. The Lord is everywhere present, and is not capable of any local motion; nevertheless he is said to go down, in respect of the visible form and manner, wherein he revealed himself at this time, appearing in the shape and likeness of a man. The Lord seeth the most secret wickedness, and knoweth our thoughts afar off, and needeth not to make any search or enquiry: nevertheless, that he might clear up the Equity of his tremendous dispensation toward Sodom, and set an Example unto Civil Judges, to take exact cognizance of the Cause, and after accurate Examination to proceed to Sentence and Judgement; He condeseendeth after the manner of men, to make Proof and Trial of the truth and weight of that horrid Cry, which came up to Heaven against the filthy Sodomites. I will see whether they have done altogether, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 an fecerint consummationem, whether they have made a full end, whether they have finished their sin, and filled up the measure of their iniquity; and if they have, I will proceed to execute Vengeance upon them. Thus Abraham understood the Lord's expression, as appeareth by his Intercession, Wilt thou also destroy, etc. ver. 23.  
Doct. Abominable Filthiness and Uncleanness is a Crying Sin, and grievous Wickedness in the account of God; for which he maketh diligent Inquisition, and executeth dreadful Vengeance.  
The Sodomites were extremely wicked, prodigiously unclean, monstrously profuse in all manner of lechery, obscenity and lasciviousness. Gen. 13. 13. The men of Sodom were wicked, and sinners before the Lord exceedingly: Wherefore the Lord visited them with the Sword, and brought them into servitude and bondage to their Enemies, to whom they continued in subjection twelve years, Gen. 14. 1— 4. During this time, righteous Lot coming and dwelling amongst them, bare witness against their unclean and impious conversation, 2 Pet. 2. 7, 8▪ but these shameless Miscreants, in stead of being bettered either by Affliction or Admonition, grew far worse, and added Perfidiousness and Rebellion to the rest of their wickedness; wherefore the Lord whetted the Sword against them the second time, overthrew their Armies, sent the people into Captivity, and their goods became a prey to their Enemies, Gen. 14. 10, 11. Nevertheless, through the wonderful patience of God, they were rescued by the hand of Abraham for Lot's sake, and the Lord spared them yet fifteen years longer. But in stead of being gained or reclaimed thereby, they increased and multiplied their wickedness, and filled up the measure of their sin, growing so impudent and outrageous in their Villainy and Lewdness, that the Cry thereof went up to Heaven, and the Lord himself came down in the likeness and similitude of a man, accompanied with two of his holy Angels, to make search and diligent Inquisition concerning their clamorous and crying Wickedness; and upon Trial, found it to be most prodigious. Witness their Beastly incivility and rage against those Heavenly Guests, the two holy Angels, which lodged in the house of righteous Lot, Gen. 19 4, 5. wherefore the Lord destroyed them with Fire and Brimstone from Heaven, ver. 24, 25. and turned the whole Country into a standing, stinking Lake.  
Now that no man may plead ignorance, nor be able to say another day, that the Ministry did not acquaint them with the nature and heinousness of this Transgression, let us with holy modesty, in the fear of God, inquire,  
Quest. 1. What is that Abominable Uncleanness, which crieth in the ears of the Lord of Hosts, and hasteneth divine Vengeance?  
Answ. It is expressed by and comprehended under those two terms, Fornication, and going after strange flesh, Judas ver. 7. Fornication being taken in a large sense, comprehends not only Whoredom and Self-pollution, but also Adultery, Matt, 5. 32. and Incest, 1 Cor. 5. 1, Going after strange flesh, comprehends Sodomy and Bestiality. These are the several sorts of Abominable Uncleanness, which cry for Vengeance.  
1. Self-pollution, when a man practiseth uncleanness, and commits filthiness with his own body alone. This was the sin of Onan the second Son of Judah, who out of envy and malignity against his Brother deceased, lest he should raise up seed to him, abhorred the lawful use of the Marriagebed, and most impurely defiled himself. Which fact of his, was so detestable in the sight of God, that he slew him by his immediate hand, and suffered not such a Villain to live upon the face of the earth, Gen. 38. 9, 10. Seducers are called filthy dreamers that defile the flesh, Judas ver. 8. Some learned Interpreters understand it properly of their defiling their bodies by nocturnal Pollutions. This is a hateful and an odious sin, and usually the fruit and punishment of impure thoughts and fancy's in the daytime. It seemeth that these Impostors were so addicted to lasciviousness, (as our English Annotators observe) that they did not only practise it being awake, but also dreamt of it, and defiled themselves in their sleep. Yea, the truth is, their Spiritual dreams (which I think are proper●y intended) viz. their Erroneous and Heretical Opinions, were unclean speculations, turnings the grace of God into lasciviousness, ver. 4 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, into profuseness in Luxury and Uncleanness, and issued in all manner of carnal pollutions.  
2. Whoredom, the vitiating of a single woman. Deut. 23. 17. There shall be no Whore of the daughters of Israel. Leu. 19 29. Do not prost●r 〈◊〉 thy daughter, to cause her to be a Whore, le●t the land fall to whoredom, and the land become full of wickedness. Ephes. 5. 5. This ye know, no Whoremonger, nor unclean person— hath any inheritance in the kingdom of Christ. and of God.  
3. Adultery, the violating of the Marriagebed. This is a h●ino●● 〈◊〉; yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the Judges. It is a fire that consumeth to destruction, Job 91. 11, 12. The Adulterer and 〈◊〉 Adulteress shall surely be put to death, Leu. 20. 10. Whoremongers and Adulterers God will judge, Heb. 13. 4.  
4. Incest, Uncleanness committed by parties that are near of Kin, between whom there is Consanguinity or Affinity, within the degrees prohibited by the Law of God. Leu. 18. 6. None of ●ou shall approach to any that is near of Kin to him, to uncover thei● 〈…〉 Lord. This was the sin of Re●ben, for which he was degraded from his Dignity, and deprived of his Birthright, Gen. 49. 4. 1 Chron. 5. 1. Amnon, and Absalon, and Herod the Tetrarch, made themselves infamous by this kind of wickedness. The Corinthians were required by the Apostle to deliver the incestuous pe●son to Satan, Cor. 5 4, 5.  
5. Sodomy, filthiness committed between p●●ties of 〈◊〉 same Sex: when Males with Males, and Females with Females work wickedness. If a man lieth with mankind, as he lieth with a woman, both of them have committed an abomination: they shall surely be put to death, their blood shall be upon them, Leu. 20. 13. This sin raged amongst the Sodomites, and to their perpetual Infamy▪ it is called Sodomy. Against this wickedness, no indignation is sufficient. The Athenians pu● such to death Theodosius and Arc●dius adjudged such to be Burnt. Amongst the Romans, it was lawful for a man to kill him that made such an assault upon him.  
6. Bestiality, or Buggery, when any prostitute themselves to a Beast. This is an accursed thing, Deut. 27. 21. Cursed be he that lieth with any manner of Beast: and all the people shall say, Amen. This is monstrous and horrible Confusion: it turneth a man into a bruit Beast. He that joineth himself to a Beast, is one flesh with a Beast. Livi● 18. 23. Neither shalt thou lie with any Beast, to defile thyself therewith neither shall any woman stand before a Beast to lie down thereto: it is confusion. This horrid wickedness pollutes the very Beast, and makes it more unclean and beastly than it was, and unworthy to live amongst Beasts, and therefore the Lord to show his detestation of such Villainy, hath appointed the Beast itself to be slain. Leu. 20. 15, 16. If a man li● with a Beast, he shall surely be put to death, and ye shall slay the Beast. And if a woman approach to any Beast, and lie down thereto, thou shalt kill the woman and the Beast: they shall surely be put to death, their blood shall be upon them.  
All these Abominations reigned amongst the ancient Inhabitants of Canaan, and caused their Land to vomit them out, Leu. 18. 24, 25. but the men of Sodom and Gomorrah were the most notorious therein: for they were all of them, both young and old addicted to such lewdness, and went through all sorts of uncleanness, giving themselves over to fornication, and going after strange flesh, and attained to a prodigious height, and hellish perfection therein; and therefore are set forth for an Example, suffering the Vengeance of eternal fire, Judas ver, 7.  
Quest. 2. Why is Carnal Uncleanness said to be a Crying sin, and grievous wickedness, for which God maketh diligent Inquisition, and executeth dreadful Vengeance.  
Reas. 1. Because the sin of Uncleanness is a bold and presumptuous Violation of the holy Law and blessed Commandment of God. 1 Thess. 4. 3, 4, 5. This is the will of God, even your sanctification, that ye should abstain from fornication: that every one of you should know how to possess his vessel in sanctification and honour; not in the lust of Concupiscence, even as the Gentiles which know not God. Leu. 18. 24, 26, 30. Defile not you yourselves in any of these things. Ye shall keep my statutes and my judgements, and shall not commit any of these Abominations, etc. Lewd and filthy persons thwart and cross the Sacred and Sovereign Will of God, preferring their base lusts, and the satisfaction thereof, before God's Royal Commandment, and obedience thereunto.  
Reas. 2. Because the sin of Uncleanness is a most polluting and defiling sin. It is most opposite to Holiness, and is properly called Uncleanness, 1 Thess. 4. 7. It pollutes a man's person, Mat. 15. 19, 20. Out of the heart proceed Evil thoughts. Murders, Adulteries, Fornications, etc. these are the things which defile a man. It pollutes the Body, and turns the Temple of the holy Ghost into an Hogsty, and a Dog's Kennel. 1 Cor. 6▪ 18, 19 He that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. What, know ye not that your body is the Temple of the holy Ghost? 1 Cor. 3. 17. If any man defile the Temple of God, him shall God destroy. Such as wallow in the lusts of Uncleanness are Dogs and Swine: 2 Pet. 2. 22. The Dog is turned to his own vomit again, and the Sow that was washed to her wallowing in the mire. When Abner was charged with defiling Rizpah, he answereth, Am I a Dog's head? 2 Sam. 3. 8. The hire of a Where and the price of a Dog are put together, Deut. 23. 18. They are near of kin, even let them go together. It pollutes the Noble Faculties of the Soul, the Mind and the Conscience, Tit. 1. 15. It blinds the Mind, darkens the Understanding, extinguisheth the Light of Nature, and of Common Grace, and makes a man a fool; as Tamar said to Amnon, 2 Sam. 13. 13. Thou shalt be as one of the fools in Israel. Solomon tells us that a young Wanton is a simple man, and void of understanding, and goeth after the strange woman, as an Ox goeth to the slaughter, or as a fool to the correction of the Stocks, Prov. 7. 7, 22. This sin besots and infatuates the Heart, estrangeth it from God, and breeds an hatred and loathing of Piety and Honesty. Whoredom, and wine, and new wine, take away the heart, Hos. 4. 11. The impure Gentiles, who gave themselves over to lastiviousness, were alitnated from the life of God, Ephes. 4. 17, 18, 19 Seducers, which creep into houses, and lead captive silly women, laden with sins, led away with divers lusts, are men of corrupt minds, reprobate concerning the faith, 2 Tim. 3. 6, 8. This sin makes men haughty and scornful, so that they mock at Counsels and Warnings, and are enraged against wholesome Admonitions. The men of Sod●m said to Lot, Stand back. This one fellow came in to sojourn, and he will needs be a Judge. Now will we deal worse with thee, then with them, Gen. 19 9 Lot admonished his Sons in Law to get out of that place, because the Lord would destroy it; but he seemed to them, as one that mocked, ver. 14. This sin pollutes a man's speech, and makes his Communication rotten and unsavoury, Eph. 4. 29. It pollutes a man's Course and Conversation, and makes it filthy and loathsome, 2 P●t. 2. 7. It pollutes a man's Name, and makes it stink, Prov. 6. 33. A wound and dishonour shall he get, and his reproach shall not be wiped away. 2 Sam. 13. 13. And I, whither shall I cause my shame to go? The unclean person is Burnt in the Hand, and Branded on the Forehead. Repentance itself cannot so throughly heal this Wound, but some Scar will remain in this world: as is evident in the History of Samson, David, and Solomon. This sin pollutes the Company, with whom such converse: They are spots and blemishes in Christian Societies, 2 P●t. 2. 13. Yea, it pollutes and defiles the Land where it is committed, and causeth it to spew out its Inhabitants. The Earth groaneth under the burden of such horrible Enormities, and would willingly empty and cast up its gorge: yea, the Lord visiteth the Land with Sword, Famine and Pestilence for such Abominations, Leu. 18. 25. 27.  
Reas. 3. Because the sin of Uncleanness is most dishonourable and reproachful to the Name of God. Rom. 2. 22, 23, 24. Thou that s●●est a man should not commit Adultery, dost thou commit Adultery? Thou that makest thy boast of the Law, through breaking the Law dishonourest thou God? For the Name of God is blasphemed amongst the Gentiles, through you. What greater disgrace or infamy can be cast upon the Grace of God, then to turn it into laseiviousness? What a reproach is this, that the Sons of God are become flesh, carnal, sensual, debauched; that the Members of Christ are made the Members of an Harlot; yea the members of a Beast: that the Temple of the holy Ghost is become a Stews, and Brothel-house, yea a Cage of unclean Birds, yea a very Hog-sty! What horrid Profaneness, what hellish Sacrilege is this!  
Reas. 4. Because the sin of Uncleanness is most offensive and displeasing to the holy Spirit of God. Gen. 6▪ 3. The Lord said, My Spirit shall not always strive with man, because he also is flesh: and ver. 6. It repented the Lord that he had made man on the earth, and it grieved him at his heart. Corrupt Communication grieves the holy Spirit of God, Ephes. 4. 29▪ 30. They that are sensual, are destitute of the Spirit, Judas ver. 19 The stinking Lake of Sodom is not so unsavoury and loathsome to the Traveller that passeth by, as the lewd and filthy person is to the most holy God: Such are the abhorred of the Lord, Prov. 22. 14.  
Reas. 5. Because the sin of Uncleanness provokes God to indignation, and augments his fierce wrath against vile sinners. Jer. 5. 9 Shall I not visit for these things? saith the Lord: and shall not my soul be avenged on such a Nation as this? Ephes. 5. 6. Because of these things cometh the wrath of God upon the children of disobedience. Where do the Guests of the strange woman lodge? In such a Tavern or Ordinary? nay, they lodge in the depths of Hell, Prov. 9 18. Fornicators, Adulterers, unclean and effeminate persons, and Abusers of themselves with mankind, have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God, but are shut out among the Dogs, and cast into the Lake which burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death, 1 Cor. 69; 10. Gal. 5. 19, 21. Eph. 5. 5. Rev. 21. 8, 27. & 22. 15.  
USE I. Of Instruction. This may serve to Vindicate the holy Name of God, and clear in Throne, in his dreadful Severity toward this vile and wicked Youth, in making him a Pattern and Monument of his fierce Wrath and Indignation. It may be some among us stand astonished and amazed at this fearful and tremendous hand of God, in making such a Youth, a Child of Religious Parents, and that in his tender years, such a Dreadful Example of Divine Vengeance. I pray consider,  
1. The heinous and atrocious nature of his Sin and Transgression. It is a Crying sin; it makes a clamorous noise in the ears of the holy God: it will not suffer God to rest in Heaven. It doth not only trouble our Isra●l, but it troubles and disquiets the God of Israel. This his sin is exceeding grievous in the sight of God: it is an Abomination; it is Confusion. It defiles the Land; the Earth groans under the burden of such Wickedness. You pity his Youth and tender years, but I pray pity the holy Law of God, which is shamefully violated; pity the glorious Name of God, which is horribly profaned; pity the Land, which is fearfully polluted and defiled.  
2. Consider the Equity of God's severe Dispensation towards this vile Youth. The Lord hath proceeded slowly and leisurely, and hath endured this wicked Youth with much long-suffering; until his sin grew to this prodigious height, and cried for Vengeance. For, (as he himself confesseth) he lived in Disobedience to his Parents, in Lying, Stealing, Sabbath-breaking, and was wont to flee away from Catechism. He would not hearken to the Voice of God, and therefore he gave him up to his own hearts lust. He was extremely addicted to Sloth and Idleness; which is a great breeder and cherisher of Uncleanness. The standing Pool gathers filth, and harbours Toads and filthy Vermin. Lust is usually warm and stirring in idle bosoms. He gave himself to Self-pollution, and o●her Sodomitical wickedness. He often attempted Buggery with several Beasts, before God-left him to commit it: at last God gave him over to it, and he continued in the frequent practice thereof for several Months. Being at length, by the good hand of God, brought under the Yoke of Government and Service, (which might have bridled and restrained him from such wickedness) he violently broke away from his Master, and with an high hand boldly and impudently, like a child of Belial, shook off that Yoke of God, casting reproach and disgrace upon his Master. Having now obtained a licentious liberty, he grew so impudent in his wickedness, as to commit this horrid Villainy in the sight of the Sun, and in the open field, even at Noonday; proclaiming his sin like Sodom. Though he be a Youth in respect of years, yet he is grown old in wickedness, and ripe for Vengeance. The Church cannot be cleansed, until this wicked person be put away from among us. Ishmael stood in the same relation to the Church of God, was younger in years, yet being convict of a heinous Transgression, though far inferior to this before us, was cast out, and that according to the Commandment of God, Gen. 21. 9▪ 10, 11, 12. If we will not pronounce such a Villain Accursed, we must be content to bear the Curse ourselves. The Land cannot be cleansed, until it hath spewed out this Unclean Beast. The execution of Justice upon such a notorious Malefactor, is the only way to turn away the wrath of God from us, and to consecrate ourselves to the Lord, and obtain his Blessing upon us. Numb. 25. 4. — Hang them up before the Lord against the Sun, that the fierce anger of the Lord may be turned away from Israel. Exod. 32. 29. Consecrate yourselves to day to the Lord, even every man upon his Son, and upon his Brother, that he may bestow upon you a blessing this day.  
USE II. Of Exhortation unto us all, To sanctify the Name of God in this tremendous Dispensation, in making such an one amongst us a Sign and an Example of Vengeance. When Nadab and Abibu were burnt with fire, for offering strange fire before the Lord, M●ses said unto Aaron, This is that which the Lord spoke, saying, I will be sanctified in them that come nigh to me, and before all the people I will be glorified, Leu. 10. 3. This is the right interpretation and true improvement of such signal and judicial Strokes, viz. To sanctify the Name of God according to his Word, and give him the honour and glory due unto his Name. Psal. 9 16. The Lord is known by the judgement which he executeth: the wicked is snared in the work of his own hands. Higgaion, Selah. This is a deep Meditation. Let us look upon this sad and woeful Example with diligent Observation; let it sink down into our hearts, ponder and weigh it in the Causes, Circumstances and Aggravations thereof. Let our thoughts dwell upon this lasting Monument of Divine Wrath. Content we not ourselves with transient thoughts, in contemplating such a permanent Sign and Example of Vengeance, left God lose of that Honour and Glory which he expects from us, and we fail of that Spiritual fruit which we might and ought to reap thereby.  
Quest. How should we sanctify the Name of God in this tremendous Dispensation?  
Ans. I. In general. Fear and Tremble before this holy Lord God. Isa. 8. 13. Sanctify the Lord of Hosts himself, and let him be your fear, and let him be your dread. The fearful Judgements of God executed upon the wicked, aught to strike a holy fear and dread of God into the hearts of the Hearers and Spectators thereof. R. v. 15. 4. Who shall not fear thee, O Lord, and glorify thy Name? For thou only art holy: for all Nations shall come and worship before th●e; for thy judgements are made manifest. This is that which the Lord expects and looks for. When the Enticer to Idolatry is stoned to death, the Lord saith, All Israel shall hear and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness, as this is, amongst you, Deut. 13. 11. When the presumptuous Contemner of the Sentence of the Supreme Council is put to death, the Lord saith, All the people shall hear and fear, and do no more presumptuously, Deut. 17. 13. When the False Witness is punished according to his demerit, the Lord saith, Those which remain shall hear and fear, and shall henceforth commit no more any such evil among you, Deut. 19 20. When the Stubborn and Rebellious Son is stoned to death, the Lord saith, All Israel shall hear and fear, Deut. 21. 21. When God cut off the Nations, made their Towers desolate, laid their streets waste, and destroyed their Cities, the Lord said to Judah, Surely thou wilt fear me, thou wilt receive instruction, Zeph. 3. 6, 7. It hath been the ancient manner, and commendable practice of the people of God, to tremble at the execution of God's Judgements upon the wicked. When Pharaoh and all his host were drowned in the Red Sea, Israel saw that great work which the Lord did upon the Egyptians; and the people feared the Lord, and believed the Lord, and his servant Moses, Exod. 14. 31. Ananias and Sapphira, being convict of horrible Hypocrisy and Dissimulation, of sacrilegious Fraud, and prodigious Lying, and presumptuous tempting of God, yea and of mutual Agreement and Conspiracy therein, were smitten by God's immediate hand, and fell down dead at the Apostles feet, and great fear came upon all the Church, and upon as many as heard these things, Acts 5. 11. David's observation of the grievous mischief that ensued upon the vile and vicious courses of the wicked, how the Lord trod them down as the mire of the street, and put them away like dross, and cast them out to the dunghill, it made not only his Soul, but also his fl●sh, even his whole man to tremble before God, and to be horribly afraid of the like sins, lest he or his should incur the like Wrath and Vengeance: Psal. 119. 120. My flesh trembleth for fear of thee; and I am afraid of thy Judgements. And indeed there are many and weighty Reasons, why the execution of Judgements upon the wicked, should make such awful impressions upon the hearts of the Spectators. For,  
1. There are sins with the Spectators, as well as with the Sufferers, which deserve the like Judgements, 2 Chron. 28. 10. — Are there not with you, even with you, sins against the Lord your God? If we ransack our own hearts, and search and try our ways, we shall find such sins with us, as may justly provoke Divine Wrath and Vengeance. Our cursed Natures are propense and inclined to all manner of sins. Every imagination of the thoughts of the heart of man is only evil continually, Gen. 6. 5. The heart is the Seedplot of Murder, Adultery, Fornication, Lasciviousness, and of all manner of iniquity, Mat. 15. 19, 20. The gross and flagitious practices of the worst of men, are but Comments upon our Nature. Who can say, I have made my heart clean? The holiest man hath as vile and filthy a Nature, as the Sodomites, or the men of Gibeah. Yea, there are many actual sins and transgressions with us, which if God should enter into judgement with us, would bring heavy wrath upon us. In many things we all offend. There is not a just man upon earth, that doth good and sinneth not.  
2. The holy and just God hateth sin wherever he seeth it, and is impartial in the execution of Justice. 1 Pet. 1. 17. If ye call on the Father, who without respect of persons, judgeth according to every man's work, pass the time of your sojourning here in fear. The Judgements that light upon some, are testimonies of the jealousy of God, and his severity against all sin. The Lord hates sin now, as much as ever he did formerly. Whoredom, Adultery, Self-pollution and Sodomy, are as odious and abominable in his sight now, as ever they were heretofore.  
3. God's End in inflicting remarkable Judgements upon some, is for Caution and Warning to all others. The Sodomites suffering the vengeance of eternal fi●e, are set forth for an Example, not of Imitation, but of Caution and Admonition, Judas ver. 7. 2 Pet. 2. 6. Lot's wife looking back, became a Pillar of Salt, to season after-generations, Luke 17. 32. Korah and his Company became a Sign, to warn all succeeding Ages to beware of Faction and Sedition, Numb. 26. 10. The destructive Calamities that befell the Israelites in the Wilderness, happened for Ensample, and are written for our Admonition, 1 Cor. 10. 6, 11. Christ's Severity against J●zabel and her Paramours, is an Instruction to all the Churches, Rev 2. 22, 23. Behold, I will cast her into a bed, and them that commit Adultery with her into great Tribulation, except they repent of their d●eds: and I will kill her Children with death; and all the Churches shall know that I am he which searcheth the reins and hearts: and I will give unto every one of you, according to your works.  
4. Fearful Judgements do likewise abide all other impenitent sinners, as well as those that are made Examples. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish, Luke 13. 3, 5. The particle [likewise] is to be understood of the certainty, not of the similitude of punishment. Perdition is the certain portion of every impenitent sinner. Without Repentance there is no escaping the Wrath of the Almighty.  
5. The fear and dread of the Majesty of God, upon the sight of the Mischief that follows upon any sinful and wicked course, will make men wise and wary. Smite a scorner, and the simple will beware, Prov. 19 25. When the scorner is punished, the simple is made wise, Prov. 21. 11. The fear of God will curb and restrain men from the like sins. All Israel shall hear and fear, and shall do no more any such wickedness, as this is, among you, Deut. 13. 11. A wise man feareth, and departeth from evil, Prov. 14. 16. The fear of God will reduce and recover such as are fallen into the like Snares and Temptations. Judas ver. 23. Others save with fear, pulling them out of the fire, hating even the garment spotted by the flesh. Bold and presumptuous sinners cannot be saved, except they be made afraid of the Wrath and Vengeance of God. If lewd and filthy persons be not scared and frighted out of their vile Haunts and lascivious Courses, by the Terror of Wrath and Judgement, there is no hope of their Salvation.  
All these Considerations are a sufficient Conviction of our duty in reference to this sad and woeful Spectacle before us. Hath the Lord singled out one of our Congregation, Apprehended and Arraigned him for his Abominable Lewdness, cast him out of his Visible Kingdom, delivered him into the hand of Satan, made him an Anathema; yea, and cut him off by the hand of Justice, and s●●ept him away as dung and filth from the face of the earth? Let no man insult over him, nor yet flatter himself in his sins, but let us all learn to fear and tremble before the Lord, who walketh in the midst of the golden Candlesticks, having his eyes like unto a flame of fire, and his feet like fine brass, and will have all the Church●s to know, that he starcheth the reins and hearts, and rendereth unto every man according to his works. We have often heard the voice of the Word, and have neglected and despised it, now harken to the Voice of the Rod, and of him that hath appointed it. Such Judgements as these have a voice, a loud voice, a clamorous voice, a dreadful voice, calling to all Israel, to Hear and fear, and do no more so wickedly. The denunciations of Wrath against vicious and unclean persons, have for a long time sounded daily in our ears, and have not been believed nor regarded by many: behold now the Execution of Vengeance upon this lewd and wicked Youth, whom God hath Hanged up before the Sun, and made a Sign and an Example, an Instruction and Astonishment to all New-England; which is as a Divine Seal annexed to all the former Comminations.  
Is there any root of bitterness among us, that beareth gall and wormwood, who hath not only heard the words of the Curse pronounced, but hath also seen the Curse executed in this dreadful manner, and yet is not afraid to go on impenitently in the same sins, even in Idleness, in Stubbornness, in Lying, in Stealing, in Profaning the Lordsday, and in all manner of Carnal Uncleanness; but blesseth himself in his heart, and saith, I shall have peace, though I walk in the imagination of mine heart, and add drunkenness to thirst? I shall have peace, though I live in Self-pollution, in Fornication, in Sodomy and Bestiality? Know, that your sin is inexcusable, and your destruction inevitable, The Lo●d will not spare you, but the anger of the Lord, and his jealousy sh●ll smoke against you, and all the Curses that are written in this book, shall lie upon you, and the Lord shall blot out your name from under heaven, Deut. 29. 18, 19, 20. God shall wound the head of his enemies; and the hairy scalp of such an one, as goeth on still in his trespasses, Psa. 68 21. When the sight or report of God's Judgements executed upon the wicked, doth not awe the heart, nor deter from the like ungodly practices, it is a great aggravation of sin, and provocation of wrath. Jer. 3. 8. And I saw, when for all the causes whereby back-sliding Israel committed Adultery, I had put her away, and given her a bill of divorce, yet her treacherous sister Judah feared not, but went and pl●ye● the harlot also. For any to go on in the sin of Uncleanness, after such a solemn Warning as this, it is to sin presumptuously; it is to sin in contempt of the Holmess of God, in contempt of the Jealousy of God, in contempt of the fierce Wrath and Indignation of the Almighty. He that will rush into the Gulf, and cast himself into the Whirlpool, where he hath seen his neighbour drowned before his eyes, he is a wilful Self-murtherer.  
Go to now, ye wanton and lascivious persons, go on in your Frolicks and mad Pranks, take your swinge in your lusts and vicious courses; He that is unclean, l●t him be unclean still; he that is filthy, let him be filthy still: He that is addicted to Self-pollution, let him continue herein still; he that is a Fornicator, let him be a Fornicator still; he that is a Sodomite, let him be a Sodomite still; he that is a Beast, let him be a Beast still. Make haste, and fill up your measure: run through all sorts of vile lusts; work all uncleanness with greediness. Justify this poor Condemned Wretch in all his Villainy: Be a Comfort to your lewd Predecessors, who are long since gone down to the lowest Hell, and lie in the nether parts of the bottomless Pit. There are your Voluptuous Fathers, the renowned Epic●res that lived before the Flood: There is your Libidinous Mother Jezabel, with all her Paramours: There are your Filthy Sisters, S●dom and her Daughters: There are your wicked Brethren, Ouan, the unclean Son of Judah; Hophui and Phinehas, the Belial-sons of Eli; Amnon and Absolom, the Incestuous Sons of David: There are your Venereous Kinsmen, the Nicolaitans, the Guosticks, the Menandri●ns, and innumerable others. Hasten you after your lecherous Kindred into the stinking Lake: sit down with your Brethren and Sisters in the depths of Hell. As you have partaken with them in their sordid Pleasures, partake with them also in their Plagues and Torments. Let thy lustful Body be everlasting Fuel for the unquenchable fire: Let thy lascivious Soul be eternal Food for the never-dying Worm. Let Indignation and Wrath, Tribulation and Anguish be thy portion world without end. Hell from beneath is moved to meet thee, and is ready to entertain thee. All your fellow-guests wait and long for your Company: Your judgement of a long time lingreth not, and your damnation slumbereth not. Shall it be more tolerable for Sodom and Gomorrah in the day of Judgement, then for those that embrace not the Gospel? How terrible and dreadful then shall be the Condemnation of such, who notwithstanding their Profession of the Gospel, justify Sodom in all her Abominations?  
II. In particular. Let me commend unto you these few Directions.  
1. Let the awful Apprehension of the Wrath of God, which hath lighted upon this Youth, be a Bridle to curb and restrain the rest of our Youth, and all others, from indulging themselves in any kind of Carnal Uncleanness. God is mercifully willing to prevent the ruin of our lewd and vicious Youth, therefore hath he set before them this awful Example for their Admonition and Caution. He hath cut off this rotten and putrid Member, th●t he might prevent the spreading of the Infection. In this tremendous Providence the Lord saith to all wanton and lascivious persons, as Abner said to Asahel, Turn aside, lest I smite thee to the ground. If after this solemn Warning, any shall refuse to turn aside from the eager pursuit of their vile Lusts, they are worthy to be smitten, not only to the ground, but even to the bottom of Hell. Wherefore in the fear of God, harken to the Exhortation of the Apostle, 1 Pet. 2. 11. Dear beloved, I beseech you as strangers and pilgrims, abstain from fleshly lusts, which war against the Soul. With youthful Lust's fight like the Parthians, flying. 2 Tim. 2. 22. Flee youthful Lusts. This is an honourable Retreat, and a Warlike Stratagem. Flee Fornication, 1 Cor. 6. 18. Is it safe standing near to a deep and narrow Pit? A Whore is a deep ditch, and a strange woman is a narrow pit, Prov. 23. 27, 28. He that is abhorred of the Lord falls into it, Prov. 22. 14. He that committeth Adultery with a woman, lacketh understanding: He that doth it, destroyeth his own Soul, Prov. 6. 32. Abhor Self-pollution: the holy God detests and abhors it. The thing which Onan did, was evil in the sight of the Lord, and therefore he slew him, Gen. 38. 10. Can any man be so blind and ignorant as to question whether it be a sin, to practise Uncleanness with his own Body alone, wherein he maketh himself both Bawd, and Who●e, and Whoremaster! Know assuredly, that it is an impious, loathsome and detestable evil in God's account, very offensive and provoking to the eyes of his glory. This is that sin which according to the opinion of many learned men, is properly called 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, Uncleanness; I am sure it is at least comprehended under it, Col. 3. 5. and it brings the wrath of God upon them that practise it, ver. 6. who are thought to be those whom the Apostle calls 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, soft, or ●ff●minate, and they have no inheritance in the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9 Detest and abominate the sin of Sodomy. The Law of God is made for the Condemnation of such as abuse themselves with mankind, 1 Tim. 1. 9, 10. 'Tis a fearful Judgement of God to be given up to this kind of wickedness, Rom. 1. 24— 28. 'Tis a Capital Crime, for which the parties guilty ought to be put to death, Leu. 20. 13. and except they repent, shall certainly be excluded from the Kingdom of God, 1 Cor. 6. 9 Tremble at the thoughts of that horrid and prodigious sin, of mingling thyself with a Beast; which is abominable Confusion in the sight of God, Exod. 22. 19 Leu. 18. 23. & 20. 15, 16.  
Take heed and beware of those fond Conceits and Imaginations, whereby many are deceived, and led into the sin of Uncleanness. 'Tis not without cause that the Apostle in his discourses of this subject, so often inserts that Caution, Be not deceived, 1 Cor. 6. 9 & 15. 33. Eph. 5. 6. All sin is deceitful, but especially the sin of Uncleanness. It promiseth Pleasure, Secrecy, Impunity, and future Repentance: but all these flattering promises are mere deceits, lies and falsehoods.  
Be not deceived with the bait of Carnal pleasure and delight. How canst thou take pleasure in that, which is so displeasing and offensive to thy Maker and Saviour? Gen. 39 9 How can I do this great wickedness, and sin against God? Shall that be delightful and pleasurable to thee, which is hateful and loathsome to the heart of God? This pleasure is short, it lasteth but for a season, but it will be bitterness in the end. Prov. 5. 3, 4, 5. The lips of a strange woman drop as an honeycomb, and her mouth is smother than oil: but her end is bitter as wormwood, sharp as a two-edged sword: Her feet go down to death; her steps take hold on hell. Chap. 9 17, 18. Stolen waters are sweet, and bread eaten in secret is pleasant; but he knoweth not that the dead are there, and that her guests are in the depths of hell. Job 20. 12, 13, 14. Though wickedness be sweet in his mouth, though he hide it under his tongue, though he spare it, and forsake it not, but keep it still within his mouth; yet his meat in his bowels is turned, it is the gall of Asps within him. Yea, the more pleasure thou takest in sin, the more torment and sorrow shalt thou have hereafter, Rev. 18. 7.  
Be not deceived with the hope of Secrecy. How canst thou say, No eye seeth me, there is no witness? Doth not he see thy ways, and count all thy steps! Job 31. 4. His eyes are upon the ways of man, and he seeth all his goings, Job 34. 21. The ways of man are before the eyes of the Lord, and he pondereth all his goings, Prov. 5. 21. The more secret thy wickedness is, the more God looks upon it with abhorrence. 2 Kings 17. 9 The children of Israel did secretly those things that were not right against the Lord their God. Those sins which men commit in secret, make light of, forget, and cast behind their backs, those the eye of God is always upon, they stand before his face, he cannot look off from them, they stand in the light of his countenance. Psal. 90. 8. Thou hast set our iniquities before thee, our secret sins in the light of thy countenance. Is there no witness? The Lord himself will be a witness, yea a swift witness against thee, Mal. 2. 14. & 3. 5.  
Be not deceived with the hope of Impunity. Is not destruction to the wicked, and strange punishment to the workers of iniquity? Job 31. 3. This ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person, hath any inheritance in the Kingdom of Christ and of God, Ephes. 5. 5. The Lord knoweth how to plague you; he watcheth a fit season to be avenged on you: The longer he defers, the greater wrath shall be poured out at last, 2 Pet. 2. 9, 10. The Lord knoweth how to reserve the ●nj●st unto the day of Judgement to be punished, but chiefly them that walk after the flesh, in the lust of uncleanness.  
Be not deceived with the hope of future Repentance. No sin hardens the heart more than the sin of Uncleanness. It s●upisies and infatuates, and makes reprobate to every good work, Hos. 4. 11. Tit. 1. 16. Impudent and impenitent sinners are said to have a Whore's forehead, Jer. 3. 3. They are not ashamed, neither can they blush, Jer. 6. 15. There are very few unclean persons that ever savingly repent and turn to God: Prov. 2. 19 None that go unto her, return ag●in, neither take they hold of the paths of li●e.  
If we would be preserved from the sin of Uncleanness, we must take heed and beware of the inlets, occasions, incentives and provocations thereunto.  
1. Beware of Pride: This was one of the sins of Sodom, and it is a principal root of the sin of Uncleanness. For Pride makes man d●spise the Commandment of God, and presumptuously parley with temptations, and expose themselves to snares. 2 Sam. 12. 9 Wherefore hast thou d●●●●sed the Commandment of the Lord, to do evil in his sight? Pride makes men haughty, scornful, so as to cast off Instructions, Counsels, Admonitions, which might restrain them from such wickedness. Gen. 19 9 Stand back, etc. Pride makes men despise the Ordinance of Marriage, the remedy which God hath provided for the quenching of such boiling and burning lusts. Pride breeds Jars and Breaches between married persons, so as to take no complacency or delight in each other; hence they thirst after stolen wa●ers. Pride is the object of God's special hatred and abhorrency: Prov. 16. 5. Every one that is proud in heart, is an abomination to the Lord. Pride provokes the Lord to withdraw his grace and Spirit, and plunge them into this filthy puddle. God resisteth the p●oud, Jam. 4. 6. He that is abhorred of the Lord, shall fall into this deep pit, Prov. 22. 14.  
2. Beware of Fullness of Bread, i. e. Gluttony and Drunkenness. This was another of the sins of Sodom, and it is the very fodder and fuel of the sin of Uncleanness. Jer. 5. 7, 8. When I had ●ed them to the full, than they committed Adultery, and assembled themselves by troops in the harlot's houses. They were as fed horses in the morning: every one neighed after his neighbour's wife. 2 Pet. 2. 13, 14. Sporting themselves with their own deceive, while they feast with you; having eyes full of Adultery, and that cannot cease from sin. The unclean Spirit finds no rest in dry places, in sober and temperate livers, but loves to wallow in the more of Riot and Intemperance. The sensual and voluptuous Epicure is a sit Sty for the unclean Spirit to lodge in. Christ hath given us solemn warning to take heed of Excess: Luke 21. 34. Take heed to yourselves, lest any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come up●n you unawares. 'Tis a lamentable thing to see Christians Belly-gods, Phil. 3. 18, 19  
3. Be●are of Sl●th and Idleness. This was another of Sodoms sins, and it is the Nurse and Fosterer of vile lusts. Stow b●l●ies are usually evil beasts, Tit. 1. 12. When men are sluggish and slothful in the work which God calls them unto, the Devil will s●t them about his drudgery. The standing waters pu●risie, and grow corrupt and noisome. The untilled ground is soon overgrown with stinking Weeds. The beginning of David's fall, was ●●s ●l●th: He gave himself to carnal ease and rest, rolling himself upon his bed, when he should have been in the Field, sighting the Battles of the Lord; thereupon Satan assaulted him, and tempted him to uncleanness, 2 Sam. 11. 1, 2, 3. Of Idleness cometh no good. Laziness breeds Lewdness. No business, debauchery. By doing nothing, men learn to do evil. While the Oyster opens its shell to the Sun, the Crab thrusteth in its Claws, and devoureth the Oyster. Idle and slothful persons are easily made a prey by Satan. Otia si tollas, etc. If you would escape the darts of Lust, avoid Idleness and Sloth.  
4. Beware of Disobedience to Parents and Masters in Families, and of ●asting off the Yoke of Government, which would check and restrain the Enormities of Youth. The younger Son, who would have his portion, and live at his own hand, grew riotous, debauched, devoured his substance with Harlots, L●ke 15. 12, 30. The Sons of Ell were Sons of Belial, they cast off the yoke of government, and soon became Gluttons and Adulterers.  
5. Beware of evil Company, the society of vicious and lascivious persons. A little Leaven leaveneth the whole lump. A Companion of fools shall be destroyed, Prov. 13. 20. He that is a Companion of riotous men, shameth his father, Prov. 28. 7. wisehearted Joseph fleeth his Mistress' company; he would not so much as be with her alone in the room. 'Tis dangerous bringing our Corruptions and Temptations to an interview. Dinah out of curiosity goes abroad into the City, to see the daughters of the Land, to observe their Persons, Habits, Fashions and Behaviour, but she is more curiously viewed, and is tak●n and deflowered, G●n. 34. 1, 2. Israel's ta●ling, and talking, and feasting with a company of le●d women, brought more mischief upon them, than all the Host of Moab and Midi●●, yea, than all the Enchantments of Balaam could do, N●mb. 25. 1, 2, 3. & 31. 16. One root of bitterness may defi●e many. The strange woman increaseth transgressors among men, Prov. 23. 28.  
6. Beware of Irreligion and Profaneness. Israel would not hearken to God's voice, nor be content with the Lord alone for their Portion; therefore he gave them over to their own hearts lusts: Psal. 81. 11, 12. The Gentiles liked not to retain God in knowledge, but grew vain in their imaginations, representing the true God by Images of Men and Beasts; wherefore God gave them over to vile affections, and to a mind void of judgement, so that they ran mad into Sodomitical wickedness, Rom. 1. 18, 21, 24, 28. If men grieve away the holy Spirit of God, it is just with God to let loose the unclean Spirit, and give him a Commission to haunt them. A profane person may easily be come a Fornicator, Heb. 12. 16. He that despiseth the holy Ordinances and Spiritual Privileges, preferring the satisfaction of his sensual Appetite, above Gospel-mercies, may easily fall into the sin of Uncleanness. The children of disobedience, who cannot be persuaded to embrace the Gospel, and yield up themselves in professed subjection to Christ, they are usually addicted to vile lusts, Col. 3. 5, 6. Eph. 5. 5, 6.  
Secondly, Let the fear and dread of God move and provoke such as are guilty of the sin of Uncleanness, timously to Repent, and turn to God, lest they also perish. Luke 13. 3, 5. Except ye repent, ye shall all likewise perish. If God hath not spared this lewd Youth, but made him an Example, how shall he spare thee, who art an old practitioner in Sodomitical wickedness? Do not linger nor defer thy Repentance, but hasten out of Sodom, and flee to the Mountains, lest thou be consumed in this iniquity. Call to mind all thy former lewdness, thine unclean Speculations, vile affections, unchaste desires, filthy jestings, dishonest and vicious practices, and lament and bewail them with bitterness and anguish of Soul. Solomon having applied his heart wisely to find out his own wickedness, madness and folly, crieth out, I find more bitter than death, the Woman, whose heart is snares and nets, and her hands as bands, Eccles. 7. 26. Is the heart of the holy God broken with thy whorish heart, and shall not thy whorish heart be broken? The only Sacrifice which God requires of thee, is a broken and contrite heart: none other will he accept at thine hand, Psal. 51. 17. Imitable is the Example of that woman, in Luke 7. who had been infamous for Uncleanness, and became famous for Repentance. She stood at Jesus feet behind him weeping, and began to wash his feet with tears, and did wipe them with the hairs of her head, and kissed his fe●t, and anointed them with the Ointment, ver. 38. She finds more bitterness in her lascivious Courses, than ever she found sweetness. Her eyes had been formerly full of Adultery, now are they filled with the salt Tears of Repentance. Her hair she was wont to plair, and adorn herself therewith to please her Paramours, but now she makes it a Towel to wipe the feet of Christ. Her lips which she formerly used to unclean and whorish kisses, she now applies to Christ's feet. Her choice and precious Ointment, such as formerly she anointed herself and her bed withal for her Lovers, she pours out upon the feet of the Lord Jesus. Lament and bewail the filthiness of thy Heart and Nature, which is the Spring and Fountain, whence all the streams of Uncleanness flow. Psal. 51. 5. Behold, I was shapen in iniquity: and in sin did my mother conceive me. Cry unto the Lord to purge and cleanse thee from the guilt and filth of thy sin. Psal. 51. 7. Purge me with hyssop, and I shall be clean; wash me, and I shall be whiter than the snow. Your sin cries for Vengeance, do not you neglect to cry for Mercy. Wash in the Fountain of Grace opened in the Gospel: Zech. 13. 1. In that day there shall be a fountain opened to the house of David, and to the inhabitants of Jerusalem, for sin and for uncleanness. 1 Cor. 6. 11. Such were some of you: but ye are washed, but ye are sanctified, but ye are justified in the Name of our Lord Jesus, and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Joh. 1. 9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Labour through the grace and help of Christ, to mortify thy lusts and crucify the flesh: Coloss. 3. 5. Mortify your members which are upon the earth, Fornication, uncleanness, inordinate affection, evil concupiscence. Rom. 8. 13. If ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of the body, ye shall live. Take the Sword of the Spirit, and thrust it into the bowels of thy lusts, and let out their heart blood. Deal with them as Samuel dealt with Agag, Hue them in pieces before the Lord. Harken to the Counsel of the Lord Jesus, Matth. 5. 29, 30. If thy right eye offend thee, pluck it out and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. And if thy right hand offend thee, cut it off and cast it from thee: for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into hell. If the eye or●nand be infected, inflamed and gangrened, the whole Body is in danger: The gangrened part must be cut off, or the whole Body will perish. He that hath a lascivious eye, hath a Spiritual Gangrene in his eye; he that hath an unchaste ear or hand, hath a Spiritual Gangrene in his ear or hand: either cut off the gangrened part, or Soul and Body shall be cast into hell fire, where the worm die●h not, and the fire is not quenched. Indulgence to thy Lusts is cruelty to thy Soul: Thy life shall go for their life. What a madness is this, for the satisfaction of a vile lust, to expose thyself to everlasting torment's? Oh! you purchase your pleasures at a dear rate! you must suffer the vengeance of eternal fire. What, art thou a complete Sensualist? Thou withholdest thy heart from no carnal joy, or fleshly delight. Thou hast two eyes, and two hands, and two feet; thou canst not endure to maim and mangle the body of sin, and render thyself absurd and ridiculous to the world: Verily, thou hadst better go a Cripple to Heaven, then being a perfect Epicure to be cast into Hell, into the fire that never shall be quenched, Mark 9 43— 48. If once thou hast escaped out of Sodom, tremble to think of returning thither again. Joh. 8. 11. Jesus said unto her, Neither do I condemn thee, go and sin no more. Nay, look not back, lest thou become a Pillar of Salt. Remember Lot's wife. A man that hath been sick of a dangerous Disease, and is hopefully recovered, if he relapse through carelessness, his condition is far more dangerous then at the first. 2 Pet. 2. 20. If after they have escaped the pollutions of the world, through the knowledge of the Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, they are again entangled therein and overcome, the latter end is worse with them then the beginning. When the unclean Spirit is gone out of a man, he is restless until he returneth again: he delighteth not so much to dwell any where, as in his old habitation; he is resolved to assail and recover his former possession: He is not afraid of the length of the siege, or the strength of opposition, 'Tis no small encouragement unto him, that he findeth his house empty, 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉, vacant, idle, unoccupied, swept and garnished, secure, living at ease, given to pleasure, sit and prepared to entertain such a guest: now he assaults with greater force and fierceness then at his first entrance, and his latter possession is far more dangerous and irrecoverable than his first, Mat. 12. 43, 44, 45.  
Thirdly, Let the fear of God excite and quicken in all our hearts the love of Holiness, and due care to preserve and maintain the purity of our persons. 2 Cor. 7. 1. Let us cleanse ourselves from all filthiness of the flesh and spirit, perfecting holiness in the fear of God. The purity of our persons is an excellent and honourable thing, and that which God commands and requires, 1 Thess. 4. 3, 4, 5, 7. yea it disposeth and fitteth a man for the Presence, Worship and Service of God, Matth. 5. 8. 2 Tim. 2. 21. First, cleanse the Fountain; Wash thy heart from wickedness, Jer. 4. 14. Purify your heart, Jam. 4. 8. Then, watch the motions of the heart, in its thoughts and affections, Prov. 4. 23. Job 31. 1. Look well to the doors and gates of the Senses: Keep thine Eye from gazing upon such objects as may be allu●ing and ensnaring, Matth. 5. 28. Stop thine Ears at filthy Jests, amorous Songs, corrupt communication. Abhor all lascivious Touches, unchaste Embrace. Restrain thine Appetite from excess in Meat and Drink, Prov. 23. 1, 2, 3, 31, 32, 33. Feed not, feast not without Fear, Judas ver. 12. Devote and consecrate thyself to the Lord. Prov. 23. 26. My son, give me thy heart, and 〈◊〉 thine eyes behold my ways. Harken to the Word of God, and meditate thereon with delight continually: Prov. 2. 10, 11, 16. When wisdom entereth into thy heart, and knowledge is pleasant unto thy soul, discretion shall preserve thee, understanding shall keep thee: to deliver thee from the strange woman. Prov. 6. 23, 24. The Commandment is a lamp, and the Law is light, and Reproofs of instruction are the way of life, to keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman. Be frequent and fervent in Prayer: Psal. 51. 10. Create in me a clean heart, O God; and renew a right Spirit within me. 1 Thess. 5. 23. The very God of peace sanctify you wholly; and I pray God your whole Spirit, and Soul, and Body be preserved blameless unto the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. Let thy Speech be gracious and savoury, Eph. 4. 29. Col. 4. 6. Thy Behaviour modest and grave, Tit. 2. 2, 3, 4, 5, 6. 1 Tim. 2. 9 Thy Conversation ordered aright, according to the direction of the Word of God, Psal. 119. 9 Study how to please God, and be good and do good in his sight, and he will preserve thee from the snares and nets which the heart of the strange woman hath made, and her hands spread to catch and entangle poor sinners. Eccles. 7. 26. Whoso pleaseth God, shall escape from her.  
Fourthly, In the fear of God let us carefully Watch over our Children, Servants, and all that are under our Care and Charge, lest they be stained and defiled. Wherefore did the Lord acquaint Abraham with his Counsel and purpose concerning the destruction of the filthy Sodomites? because he knew that Abraham would charge his Children and Family to beware of the like wickedness, and Command them to live soberly, righteously and piously, Genes. 18. 17, 19 Holy Job was afraid lest his Sons in the midst of their mi●th and good Cheer, had sinned against God, and therefore sent and called them, and sanct fied them, and offered Sacrifices for them. Thus did Job continually, Job 1. 5. Great care and circumspection is here to be used, for the prevention and timous eradication of any ro●t of bitterness that may trouble and defile us: H●b. 12. 15, 16. Looking diligently, l●st any man fail of the grace of God, l●st any root of bitterness springing up, trouble you, and many be defi●ed: lest there be any Fornicator, or profane person.  
What Means are to be used?  
1. Diligent Instruction. Prov. 22. 6. Train up a Child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it. Sow the Principles of Piety in tender years, 2 Tim. 3. 15.  
2. Solemn Charges and Commands. Solomon's father taught him, and said unto him, Let thy heart retain my words: Keep my Commandments and live, get wisdom, get understanding, forget it not, etc. Prov. 4. 3, 4, 5 His Mother also taught him Chastity and Temperance, and with holy Precepts fore-armed him against the vicious inclination of his Nature, Prov. 31. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Yea, King David gave him (as his Successor in the Throne) a solemn Charge in the audience of all Israel, 1 Chron. 28. 9  
3. Serious Reproofs of Instruction: Prov. 6. 23, 24. Save them with fear. Fright and startle them out of their lewd Courses: Pluck them as brands out of the fire, Judas ver. 23.  
4. Seasonable Correction for their folly and lewdness. Prov. 22. 15. Foolishness is bound in the heart of a Child: but the Rod of Correction shall drive it far from him. Eli's lenity and indulgence to his wicked Sons, brought inevitable ruin upon his house.  
5. Faith and Prayer. Is thy Son haunted by an unclean Spirit? follow the Example of the father of the Lunatic; Bring thy Son to Christ, affectionately spread his afflicted and distressed condition before him: He is able to cast out Satan, though he rage's never so much, Luk● 9 38, 39, 42. Is thy Daughter haunted by an unclean Spirit? Follow the Example of the Syrophaenician woman; Fall down at the feet of Christ, beseech him to cast forth the Devil out of thy Daughter, Mark 7. 25, 26. Be not offended nor discouraged by reason of any difficulty, objection or temptation which the Lord exerciseth you withal, but through the g●ace of Christ wrestle through all by Faith and Prayer, you shall certainly obtain your request, and that with advantage. There is a d●fference of evil Spirits, some are more wicked than others, Ma●. 12. 45. but the worst kinds may be cast out by ●asting and Prayer, Matth. 17. 21. Faith is the Instrument, under God, that expels Satan out of his old possession. Fervent Prayer quickens ●a●th, and Religious Fasting is a special help and futherance to servant Prayer.  
To conclude. Be pleased to account of this Doctrine, as of the Angel's Message to Lot, to arise and depart out of Sodom, lest he should be consumed in the iniquity thereof; and look at these Instructions and Exhortations, as the Angels laying hold upon his hand, while he lingered, and upon the hand of his Wife and two Daughters, the Lord being merciful to him, and bringing him forth out of that cursed City. 'Tis an Angelical Service to pluck poor sinners out of the Snare of Lasciviousness.  
FINIS.