their Bracelets, and their Staff to pledge, {54c} rather than miss
of the fulfilling of their lusts. 2. Again, by this sin men
diminish their strength, and bring upon themselves, even upon the
Body, a multitude of Diseases. This King Lemuel's Mother warned
him of. What my Son, said she, and what the son of my womb, and
what the Son of my Vows: Give not thy strength unto women, nor thy
ways to that which destroyeth Kings. {54d} This sin is destructive
to the Body. Give me leave to tell you another story. I {54e}
{54f} have heard of a great man that was a very unclean person, and
he had lived so long in that sin, that he had almost lost his
sight. So his Physicians were sent for, to whom he told his to
Disease; but they told him, that they could do him no good, unless
he would forbear his Women. Nay then, said he, farewell sweet
Sight. Whence observe, that this sin, as I said, is destructive to
the Body; and also, that some men be so in love therewith, that
they will have it, though it destroy their body.

Atten. Paul says also, that he that sins this sin, sins against
his own Body. But what of that? he that will run the hazard of
eternal Damnation of his Soul, but he will commit this sin, will
for it run the hazard of destroying his Body. If young Badman
feared not the Damnation of his Soul, do you think that the
consideration of impairing of his Body, would have deterred him
therefrom?

Wise. You say true. But yet, methinks, there are still such bad
effects follow, often, upon the commission of it, that if men would
consider them, it would put, at least, a stop to their career
therein.