Ephesians 5:3 But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becomes saints; Consider the hatefulness of this sin. I. BY ITS INNER NATURE. 1. This sin, however loathsome in the sight of God and of human nature transformed by His grace, is nevertheless most seductive to the lower fallen nature of man. As a check to it, God has implanted in us the noble sense of shame, so that the Christian, who has not returned like a dog to his vomit, abhors whatever is unchaste. (1) Thoughts. How deeply ashamed you would be if your fellow men could perceive your impure thoughts and desires, though they be involuntary! Happy is he who, when merely thoughts cross his mind, listens to the warning voice of nature. (2) Words. St. Stanislaus fainted at hearing, by chance, an expression of ambiguous meaning. Even ordinary virtue will blush in confusion at the gibes of immodesty; only habitual shamelessness will laugh at them. (3) Deeds. Is not the whole nature set in an uproar? Who is so base as to commit impure actions before witnesses? Yet, when you are alone, the All-knowing God, and the holy angels, witness your deeds. 2. It is repugnant to the higher nature of man. Man — the image and likeness of the Triune God — by his impurity reviles (1) God the Father, who created our limbs in honour; (2) God the Son, whose members we are; (3) God the Holy Ghost, of whom our body is the temple. 3. It is an abomination before God. II. ITS CONSEQUENCES. 1. Ruin of earthly happiness. Lewdness works destruction (1) on the body; (2) on temporal welfare. 2. Ruin of the soul. (1) The reasoning faculty is weakened. (2) The will becomes perverted. (3) Conversion becomes almost impossible. 3. Eternal damnation. (1) Reflect on the loss of everlasting joys, where nothing defiled can enter. (2) Reflect on the torments of hell. Sodom and Gomorrah are set for a warning example. The unchaste are threatened with "their portion in the lake burning with fire and brimstone." (Le Jeune.) Parallel Verses KJV: But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints; |
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