-19 Chapter 19. Of Chastity.

2-19 Chapter 19. Of Chastity.

SEVENTH COMMANDMENT: YOU SHALL NOT COMMIT ADULTERY
1. Justice which respects the purity of our Neighbour is Chastity.
2. CHASTITY is a virtue, whereby the purity of his person is preserved in respect to those things which pertain to generation,1158 1 Thessalonians 4:3-5.
3. Chastity has two parts: shamefastness and honesty.
4. SHAMEFASTNESS is that part of chastity which draws back from impurity, in the same sense as what is called bashfulness.
5. HONESTY is that part of chastity which leads to things which reflect purity.
6. Shamefastness and honesty are radically in the inward choice of a man, but they are clearly revealed in the outward conduct.
7. Hence chastity is chiefly called shamefastness, as it takes away the outward signs of impurity; and it is called attractiveness, as it puts on the outward signs of purity.
8. Modesty chiefly refers to shamefastness, and gravity 1159 chiefly refers to attractiveness.
9. MODESTY is a virtue by which we contain ourselves within the bounds of fleshly desire.
10. GRAVITY is a virtue by which the decorum of purity is observed.
11. Chastity is virginal, conjugal, or vidual.
12. But this categorization is not of the Genus into Species, but of the adjunct into its subjects.
13. For chastity is the same in respect to its essence in all three, but it allows for some accidental differences according to the different states of those by whom chastity is observed.
14. For VIRGINAL is what ought to be kept by a virgin until she contracts in marriage, 1 Corinthians 7:34.1160
15. CONJUGAL is that which ought to be kept in wedlock, Titus 2:5. 1161
16. VIDUAL is that which is to be kept by Widows. 1 Timothy 5:7. 1162
17. Conjugal chastity refers to marriage that is lawfully contracted and observed, Matthew 19:6; 1 Timothy 2:14; Hebrews 13:4; 1 Peter 3:1-22; 1 Peter 4:1-19
18. For this is the difference between single estate and married: that though chastity may and ought to be observed in single estate, yet the single estate of itself does nothing for chastity;1164 but wedlock has a certain purity in itself, both of its own nature as an ordinance of God, and by virtue of that institution, it also becomes a means to preserve purity and chastity.
19. Marriage is the individual conjunction of one man and one woman by lawful consent, for a mutual communion of their bodies, and for a society of life between themselves.
20. It is of one man with one woman, Genesis 2:22. Malachi 2:15. Matthew 19:4-5; 1 Corinthians 7:2; Leviticus 18:18.1165
21. For that perfection of friendship and of mutual offices, such as marriage is, cannot be had except between one and one.
22. Therefore Polygamy, even that which was in use with the ancient Fathers, was always a violation of the Laws of Marriage; nor was it tolerated by God by any other dispensation than that by which he is inclined to tolerate men’s infirmities and ignorances, and to turn them to God.1166
23. Lawful consent requires First, that the persons to be joined are fit: Secondly, that the consent itself agrees with the nature of the thing, and with the Law of God.
24. For the persons to be fit, it requires First, a just distance of blood relation, Leviticus 18:6-22.
25. Near relation1167 hinders marriage because a certain special reverence is due our own flesh; contrary to this is that conjugal familiarity which is signified in the phrase, Do not uncover their nakedness, as in Leviticus 18:6-7 and following.
26. That distance in degree of kindredness or affinity between persons, Leviticus 18:1-30, which is to be observed, is a common and perpetual rightness; for violating it was among those abominations with which the Gentiles were said to have polluted the Land, Leviticus 18:27-28.1168
27. Yet it is not such an essential moral right in all things that it will not allow any exception, either upon mere necessity, as in the beginning of the world, or upon a special command of God, as in Deuteronomy 25:5.1169
28. Spiritual kindredness or nearness — as it called by the Papists, who introduced it— between the God-father (who baptises) and the God-son or God-daughter (as they call the ones baptised), is an idle and tyrannical devise of superstition, and is not an impediment to lawful matrimony.
29. Secondly, it is also required in the person that is to contract Matrimony, Ripeness of age, 1 Corinthians 7:36.1170 If it were lacking, she could not contract other covenants of less importance, much less a covenant of so great importance as this.
30. For this consent to conform to the nature of the things, there is required beforehand. 1. Consent of the parents, if they still exercise their parental authority, 1 Corinthians 7:36-38.1171
31. For the persons to be fit, it is also required that 2. The consent of the persons who are contracting marriage ought to proceed from certain deliberate counsel, without compulsion or deceit.1172
32. This conjunction is said to be individual, because from the nature of the thing itself, it has the same ends as the life of man, Romans 7:1-3; 1 Corinthians 7:39.1173
33. Therefore, those who have concubines, contract between themselves for a time, and do not marry according to God’s ordinance and allowance, but filthily elude it.1174
34. Nor does this perpetually depend only on the will and covenant of the contracting persons: for then, by consent of both parts, a covenant so begun may be unloosed again, as it used to be between master and servant. But the rule and bond of this covenant of marriage is the institution of God, which is why Scripture sometimes calls it the covenant of God. Proverbs 2:17.1175
35. This institution of God, by which he establishes the individual fellowship of husband and wife, respects the good of mankind in its just conservation by a certain education and hereditary succession of children; this cannot be done without an individual conjunction of parents.
36. Therefore lawful marriage cannot be unloosed before death, without the most grievous guilt of the one who caused it.
37. Neither infidelity1176 nor heresy in either party, gives a just cause for separation, 1 Corinthians 7:12-40; 1 Corinthians 8:1-13; 1 Corinthians 9:1-27; 1 Corinthians 10:1-33; 1 Corinthians 11:1-34; 1 Corinthians 12:1-31; 1 Corinthians 13:1-13
38. But if one party separates with obstinate and persistent determination, the other party in that case is freed, 1 Corinthians 7:15. 1178
39. This conjunction is for the communion of bodies [thesis 19]; because in marriage there is first sought a holy seed, Malachi 2:15; 1179 and secondarily is sought a remedy against those carnal desires in men who do not have a singular gift of continency. They are so unbridled since the fall, that unless men are helped by this remedy, it would burn them; that is, it would make them unfit for pious duties, and make them run headlong to unlawful and foul unions, 1 Corinthians 7:2, 1 Corinthians 7:9.1180
40. Hence the body of the husband is said to be in the power of the wife, and the body of the wife is said to be in the power of the husband, so that they ought to give due benevolence to one another, without depriving, 1 Corinthians 7:3-5.1181
41. Hence also, the vow of single life as it is practiced among the Papists, is not a vow of chastity but of diabolical presumption, a snare of the conscience, and the bond of impurity.
42. Among the ends of marriage is also the society of life; and that is most intimate for mutual comfort and help. For seeing that a man must leave his father and mother, and cling to his wife, Genesis 2:24; and seeing that the woman is said to be made a helper for man, Genesis 2:18, this helping society not only pertains to the propagation of mankind, but it must extend to all the duties of this life.
43. All these are mutual between the husband and wife, and they ought to be observed as being of equal right, touching the essence or sum of the matter. Yet it is such that the difference of degree which comes between the husband and the wife (that the husband governs, and the wife obeys) is observed in all these things: 1 Peter 3:7; 1 Corinthians 11:7-10; Ephesians 5:33.1182
44. INDUGENCE 1183 is opposed to chastity in a stricter sense, by which it sets forth an unlawful use of those things which pertain to generation; in the same sense it is called uncleanness, inordinate affection, and evil concupiscence, Colossians 3:5;1184 lasciviousness, Romans 13:13;1185 and the disease of concupiscence, 1 Thessalonians 4:5.1186
45. Indugence includes all its helping causes, effects, and signs, such as unchaste looks, Job 31:1; Proverbs 9:13; 2 Peter 2:14; Matthew 5:28;1187 Noddings, Kissings, Embracings, Touchings, Dancing, Shows, Songs, Gestures, and the like, Galatians 5:19. 1188
46. Contributing causes to Indulgence are Gluttony and Drunkenness. Romans 13:13; Ezekiel 16:49; Proverbs 23:31-33.1189
47. The effects and signs of it are lasciviousness, and lascivious attire, Proverbs 7:10;1190 and obscene speech, Ephesians 5:4.1191
48. The kinds of Indulgence are. 1. Scortation, which is the mixing of a single man with a single woman, 1 Corinthians 6:16. Whether it is Stuprum, whoredom, which is deflowering a woman who is otherwise honest: or fornication properly so-called, which is mixing with a dishonest woman, or a whore. 2. Adultery, when at least one of the offending persons is married or betrothed. 3. Incest, when those who are near relations are mixed together. 4. Rape, when force is added to Indulgence. 5. Mixing against nature.1192
49. Adultery is most properly and essentially against marriage; it breaks the bond and covenant of marriage by its own nature; and so it is the proper and just cause of a divorce, which is not to be allowed for many other sins even though they are more grievous.1193
50. A just divorce dissolves the bond of marriage.