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Pounds Sterl. (a Sum which will go as far in Scot land as two Thousand here) was offered for difcovering and apprehending any of the Parties concerned, not one could ever be found out; fo inviolably did every one keep Secrefy, and fo generally were the whole People of Scotland perfuaded, that he fuffered no more than he juftly de-. ferved.

Another remarkable Example of late Years, o the Interpofition of Providence in the Punishment of the Breach of this Commandment, was in the Cafe of that unhappy Gentleman, Commander of a Man of War in King's Road at Bristol, who, fuffering the Defire of Revenge to prevail over natural Affection, fo far gave Way to the Devil, as premeditately to contrive the Murder of his own Brother, and even was a Spectator thereof, without any Remorse or Relentings for fo horrid a Crime." And we think there is fufficient Reafon to believe, the Hand of Heaven engaged therein, because there was not the leaft Probability, according to all Human Appearance, of his ever being brought to Juftice for the fame. The bloody Deed was committed aboard his own Ship, where he had an abfolute Power, and even in his own Cabbin, wherein any one who prefumed to enter without his Permiffion, was liable to be feverely chaftifed.

To dare force into the Room, or to lay hold on the Captain, was an Offence punishable with Death, and any one who endeavoured it, was in great Danger of lofing his Life in the Attempt; two Sailors with drawn Cutlaffes ftanding always at the Door to prevent it: Nay, even the propofing to to do was highly criminal, and might have fubjected the Perfon to the fame Penalty; fo that it was highly hazardous even fo much as to mention it, and without Help it could not be effected. Nohing therefore but the plaineft Proof of so bar

barous

barous a Fact, could have made any one run the Venture of fo bold an Action; and this was fcarce practicable to be got, fince it was not to be imagined, that, in a Place where he was absolute Mafter, he would fuffer any one to be prefent, befides the Ruffians who perpetrated the cruel Deed, and himself Providence, however, fo ordered Matters, that, notwith @tanding all thefe Difficulties, the Truth was brought to the Light, the cleareft Evidence, even ocular Demonftration obtained, and not only the Captain himself apprehended, but his two Accomplices, who had been fent afhore, in order to their getting away, were feized before they could make their Escape, and all three defervedly executed.

Neither were the Apprehenfion of James Hall for the Murder of his Master Mr. Penny, and of Mathew Henderfon for that of his Lady, Mrs. Dalrym ple, both of which bloody Deeds were committed by themselves alone, no one efe being privy thereto, lef remarkable Inftances of the Interpofition of Providence to punish the Breach of this Commandment, and bring fuch barbarous Offenders to Juftice, fince both of these unhappy Wretches had fufficient Time to have made their Efcapes: But the latter of them efpecially was (o, in a more particular Manner, having been rivetted, as it were, and chained down to the Place by the Hand of Heaven, fo that he had no Power to ftir from thence till he was fecured. And it is farther obfervable of this unfortunate Criminal, that, notwithstanding he made the beft Compenfation he was able for his heinous Wickedness, by a free Confeffion of his Guilt, and a feeming unfeigned Repentance, fo that we charitably prefume the best of his prefent State, yet the Hell he continually bore about with him in his own Bofom, in the Stings of a wounded Confcience, was fo intolerable, that the moft grieVous Punishment the Malice of Man could devife,

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would be more eligiole, and far lefs excruciating; the Agonies of the Mind furpaffing infinitely any Pains that can be infl.cted on the Body.

To conclude: Nothing furely can better fhew how little Hope there is of efcaping Chafti ement for this Sin, and how odious it is in the Sight of GOD, than what has been affirmed by feveral Authors worthy of Bel ef, and not at all given to Superftition, or womanish Credulity; namely, that he has fometimes wrought a Miracle, fuffering the Dead to appear again, and even to bear Witnefs in Court for its Difcovery, and bringing the Offenders to Juftice. In effect, though we are very far ourselves from regarding every idle Tale, and do not believe one Story in a hundred that is told of Apparitions and Spectres, being firmly perfwaded that thole who depart in Peace are too happy to leave their bleft Abode on every fim, le Errand, fuch as to fcare Fools and old Women, or to amufe the Vug r; and that thofe who go the contrary Way, are too ftrictly kept by the Devil (who is perhaps the only Jilor that can peither be cor. rupted nor deceived) to be let loose by him on any idle Occafio; notwith landing this, we fay, we will not be pofitive, that on fuch Accounts as the Difcovery of a horrid Murder, or preventing a figual Act of Injustice, that Providen.e may not fuffer fuch Things to happen, as are othe wife contrary to th Couf of Nature: Atieal, we are fare fuch Cafes as the detecting and pn fhing fuch Vulasies, or the Pevention of injurious Frauds, and Concea me ts of acred Trufts, to the Ruin of helplefs Innoc nis, are more worthy the Intervention of an Imighty, beneficent, infinitely juf, and mercifu. Bei g, than any others for which Ghofts and Spectres have been frequently fopposed to appear. Pafs we on now to the Seventh Inju..tion of the Divine Law. CHAP,

CHA P. VII.

Of the good and bad Confequences of the Obfervance, or Non-Obfervance of the Seventh Commandment,

Hou shalt not commit Adultery. What is exa' prefly and literally forbidden by this Commandment, namely, the impure Embraces of the Husband or Wife of our Neighbour, if we are fogle, or defiling our own Marriage Bed if we are in the State of Wedlock, muft neceffarily we think be understood by every one; though iorry are we to fay it, there is great Reafon to fear it is very lit tle regarded by the Generality of Mankind; and especially amongst Perfons of Distinction, or those commonly called the Beau Monde.

But, though this is certainly the literal Mean ing of this Precept, any one who should imagine there was no other Way of violating this Law, than by the actual Commiffion of that Sin, would be moft grievously mistaken: For, not only actual Fornication is alfo comprehended under this Head, but all kinds of inordinate Luft, and confequently Inceft, Sodomy, and Beftiality are likewife included; and this must be evident to every confiderate Per on, lince the former is worfe than Adultery itself, and the two latter not only more abo minable than either, but against Nature, and fuch Sins as dew dow Fire from Heaven We have faid nothing of Rapes, because they must come under the Head of Adultery, or Fornication. Neither is this all, for all Self-Pollution, a Vice, which by

reafon

reafon of the Secrefy wherewith it may be committed, we fear, is but too much practifed amongst young Perlons of both Sexes; (efpecially in fuch Places where a great Number of them meet together, as in large Boarding-Schools, and the like,) is equally forbidden thereby.

Nay, of fuch great Extent is this Commandment, there is too great Reafon to believe, that fcarce a Man or Woman, even of the most modeft, we may almost add, scarce a Boy or Girl that is palt fifteen, but who has been guilty of transgreffing it. For, what fays our Saviour? Whosoever Looketh on a Woman to luft after her, bath committed Adultery with her already in bis Heart Who then can wipe their Mouths, and fay they are free? Again, all obfcene Difcourfe, even fuch as is called amongst the Gay and Polite, double Entendres, which are generally esteemed, even by Women of Reputation, not only to be innocent Mirth, but even witry and entertaining; all finging of immodeft Songs, or even hearkening to them with Pleasure ; with all reading lafcivious Books, or gazing on filthy Pictures, and what is yet more, ali indulging unclean Thoughts, is likewife forbidden by, and a downright Contravention of this Law: Who then can plead Not Guilty?

But, neither is this the whole Extent thereof, for all dreffing or dancing, fo as to provoke Defire, with all wanton Giances of the Eye, as alfo all rich Wines, ftimu ating Cordials, and luxurious Diet, and above all, as being the Caufe of every Vice, ail Idlenefs, and indulging our Eafe, are Tranfgreffions of the fame Precept. What then must we think of our prefent fashionable Ladies with their Tete de Moutons, and enormous Hoops, fitter for the Stage than modeft Women? What of most of our Gentry and Nobility, with their Viper Wines and Broths, Cray-fifh Soups, and other rich Sauces and

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