Transcribed from an undated copy in Kensington and Chelsealocal studies, bound with pamphlets by Rev. JosephPhillimore. Many thanks to Kensington and Chelsea localstudies for making it available for transcription.
A
SERMON.
Exodus, xx.14.
Thou shalt not commitAdultery.
Nothing is more serious thanreligion, and this Commandment, which God himself hath taught us,nothing is less seriously considered; religion teacheth us ourduty to our Creator, our fellow creatures, and ourselves, shewingus the way to escape future misery, and present trouble, and toobtain everlasting happiness. In the present æra, thecrime of adultery seems much to prevail, to the great dishonourof what I have just mentioned; let me implore the attention ofthis congregation to enquire into the causes of it, pointing outp. 2the fataland dreadful consequences attendant on this course of living, andif haply, we can find them, eradicate the same, as an evilapparently spreading in the world, it becometh the professors ofchristianity to condemn and discourage it, as well as thepreacher of the Gospel to intimidate his hearers, in order tosuppress the progress of it in future, as a crime that mustundermine all the social virtues the heart possesses, and all thereal enjoyment and hope of happiness, here and hereafter. My first endeavour is to find out the origin or cause of thismost melancholy evil, to prevent its present as well as futureextent, and save the souls of many who are at a very criticaltime just entering into life, big with the prospect of enjoyingevery comfort, innocency and pureness of heart can receive, tillart and delusive sin make their various attacks; for if we enterinto life void of sin, void of hypocrisy, and of a deceitfulheart, with minds desirous of being informed with every requisiteperfection that adorns and animates the human race, to performvirtuous and laudable actions, it is to be acquired at a timewhen we are supposed to have arrived at mature age, and reason p. 3directs us, andare judged proper and fit to be accountable only to ourconscience for the loss of our souls, and not owing to ignoranceand inattention to those instructive commandments, we ought tohave had engraved and written in our hearts the ten Commandments,as the guide of our youth, and the great comfort of old age; theworld in general wants a thorough reformation, and all ranks anddegrees of people whatever, and whensoever any societies privateor public meet or assemble, and encourage or countenance suchneglect of duty, and the breaking of any one single commandmentof our blessed Saviour’s as trifling or of immaterialconsequence, they ought to be informed of the great danger theystand in here in this life of trial and approbation, and of thelittle hopes of futurity, for scripture assures us God can assoon destroy whole nations and cities, as he has done, forcontinuing in wicked and abandoned courses, as he can take awaythe life of a single individual, therefore let the world bewarned of and desist from its error, as it will encrease in thedispleasure of the Almighty, and let not this cause be advanced,that any one commits it through inattention, ...