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

Adultery-
AU behaviour, which is designed, or which kaowingly
tends to ca ptivate the affection of a. married
womao, is a barbarous intrusion upon th~eace aDd
virtue of a family, though it fall ShOl~ of adultelJ"a
The usual and only apology for adultery is the
prior transgression of the other party. There are
degrees no doubt in this, as in other crimes ; and SP'
far as the bad effects of adultery are antidpated by
conduct of the husband 01· wife who oft~nJs lint,
the guilt of the second offender is less. B'lt this
faUs very farsbort of a justification; unless it couW
be shewn that the obligation of the marriage YOW
depends upon the condition of reciprocal f.delity ;
for which construction, there appears no foundatioa,
either. in expediency, or in the terms of the promise,
orin tbe design of the legislature which prescribed
the marriage rite. Moreover, .therule contended -f..
by this p1e:Was a manifest tendency to multiply the
offence, but none to reclaim the o1fend!:r. . .
. The way of considering the offence of one' party
as a prfT&!oca!ion to the other, and the other as only
retaliating the injury by repeating the crime, is a childish
trifling with words. .
" Thou shalt not' cOin mit adultery," was an inter- .
diet delivered by God . himself. By the Jewish law
adultery was capital to both parties in the cri~e:
&, Even be that committeth adultery with his neighbour's
wife, t~e adulterer and adultert!ss shall surely
be put to death." Lev. xx. IO. \\Thich passages
prove, that the divine Legislator, placed a great dif.
ference between ad ultery and forn:cation. And
with this agree the Christian scriptures; for in al.
most all the catalogues they have left us of crimes
3nd criminals, they enumerate "fornication, adultery,"
"whoremongers., adulterers," (Matthew xv. 19.
1 Cor. vi. 9. Gal. v. 9.1Ieb. xiii. 4.) by which men ..
tion of both, they shew that they did not consider
them as the same; but that the crime of adultery
was, in their apprehension, distinct fram, and accumulated
UpOFl, that Qf fornication.