I would to God I could pass over this commandment, but I feel that the
time has come to cry aloud and spare not. Plain speaking about it is
not very fashionable nowadays. "Teachers of religion have by common
consent banished from their public teaching all advice, warning or
allusion in regard to love between the sexes," says Dr. Stalker. These
themes are left to poets and novelists to handle. In an autobiography
recently published in England, the writer attributed no small share of
the follies and vices of his earlier years to his never having heard a
plain, outspoken sermon on this seventh commandment.
But though men are inclined to pass it by, God is not silent or
indifferent in regard to it. When I hear any one make light of
adultery and licentiousness, I take the Bible and see how God has let
his curse and wrath come down upon it.
"Thou shalt not commit adultery. . . . For this is a heinous crime;
yea, it is an iniquity to be punished by the judges. For it is
a fire that consumeth to destruction, and would root out all mine
increase. . . . By means of a whorish woman a man is brought to a piece
of bread: and the adulteress will hunt for the precious life. Can a man
take fire in his bosom, and his clothes not be burned? Can one go upon
hot coals, and his feet not be burned? So he that goeth in to his
neighbor's wife; whosoever toucheth her shall not be innocent. . . .
Whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that
doeth it destroyeth his own soul. A wound and dishonor shall he get;
and his reproach shall not be wiped away. . . . Know ye not that the
unrighteous shall not inherit the kingdom of God? Be not deceived:
neither fornicators, nor adulterers, nor effeminate, nor abusers of
themselves with mankind shall inherit the kingdom of God. . . . But
fornication, and all uncleanness, let it not be once named among you,
as becometh saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor
jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving thanks. For
this ye know, that no whoremonger, nor unclean person 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 wrath of
God upon the children of disobedience. Be not ye therefore partakers
with them. . . . Whoremongers shall have their part in the lake which
burneth with fire and brimstone: which is the second death. . . . For
without are whoremongers. . . ."
These are a few of the threatenings and warnings contained in the old
Book, up to its closing chapter. It speaks plainly, without
compromise.