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when the Combustibles are nauseous, the Burning scatters noxious Vapours; like the Stink-Pots, which the Turks used to throw into Ships when they Boarded them, which would poison the poor Men out of their close Quarters, and make them run out, though they were sure to be killed.
SECRET, lewd and ungoverned Desires, make these open and scandalous Doings so frequent; were it all done in a criminal Way, I should take notice of it in Lump, as a Breach of the Laws of God and Man; and, as the Text speaks, an Iniquity to be punished by the Judge, Job xxii. 28. But it is quite otherwise here, the Fire is covered, the Stench is concealed, and we have all the criminal filthy Part acted under the disguise of Virtue, and the Protection of Law. This is the Offence, this is the Grievance complained of; and this the Reason why I give it the new and, perhaps, a little shocking Title of Matrimonial Whoredom.
The meaning is plain; 'tis a Breach of Law under the Protection of the Law; 'tis a Crime, thro' the Policy of Hell, plac'd out of the reach of Justice; 'tis a Sin against the meaning of Matrimony, but within the Letter of it; 'tis a Wickedness couch'd under the Name of Virtue; 'tis, in short, a Devil in Masquerade, whoring in the Vizor of Matrimony, a Sinner dress'd up for a Saint, a foul Disease under the Term of a Decay; 'tis Idolatry under the Cover of true Worship, and, as I said above, Lewdness under the Protection of the Church.
What Excuse can it be to say, that the Law cannot reach it? Are there not many Sins which the Commands of God prohibits and forbids,which,
