PHI LOS 0 P H Y . - Classic Works of Apologetics Online

198 iornic(JlioJt.
mies; these are the tIlings whic}. defile a man."
These are Christ's own words; and one word from
him upon the subject is final. It may be observed
u·ith what society fornication is classed; with murders'
thefts, false witness, bla5phemies. I do not
mean that. these crimes are all equal, because they
are all melltioned together; but it proves that tlley
are all crimes. The apostles are more fllll upon
this topic. One well known passage in the Epistle
to the Hebrews may stand in the place of all others;
because, admitting the authority by which the Apos~
tIes of Christ spake and wrote, it is decisive: "lVlarliage
and the bed undefiled is honourable amongst
all men; but whore-mongers and auulterers God
\viII judge ;" \vhich was a great deal to say, at a
tilne when it \vas not agreed even arrlongst philosopllers
themselves that fornication was a crime.
The scriptures give no sanction to those austerities)
\vhicIl have been ~ince imposed upon the \vorld under
the name of Chri~t's religion, as the celibacy of
the clergy, the praise of perpetual ,-irginity, the
}Jrohibitio COllcubiius cum gravida uxore; but, with a
jllst kno\vledge of, and regard to the condition and.
interest of the human species, have provided, in the
lllarriage of OIle Inan \vith Olle \vomarJ, an adequate
gratification for the propCIlsities of their nature, and
have reJtricfed tllenl to that gratificatjon.
']~11e a~/o\ved toleration, a-nd ill sonle COulltries tIle
licensing, tt!xing, and regulating of public brothels,
has appeared to the people an authorizing of fornicati0n
; and Ilas contlAit)ll~~~d, with other catlSes, so far to
,titiate tlle pul)lic opirlioll, tllat there is no practice
of which the immorality is so littie thought of or
~,ckno\'7Icdged, although tllere are few, in which it call
!llOre l)laillly be m3,oe out. 'l~!)e legislatures who have
patroniz(~d receptacles of pro~titution ought to have
t~)rCSCeIl lilis effect, as \\Tell as considered, that ,·vhat.
(~\rllr facilitates fc)rnicatioll dinliIlisIlCS tnarri3.ges.
Ano as to the u~ual apology for this relaxed discipline,