Vol. 2

84 ST. MARK.dias' sake, his brother Philip's wife ;for he had marriedher."Unchastity is unjust and cruel. A man sacrificesevery thing to an infamous creature when he hasonce made her his idol. God commonly punishesone enormous sin by another more enormous. Thereis no dreadfuller punishment of public lewdness, thanfor a man to be abandoned to wickedness, to persecuteGod's ministers, and to murder a saint." 18. For John had said unto Herod, It is not lawfulfor thee to have thy brother's wife."The world will always charge it as a crime onrighteous persons and zealous preachers, for them torebuke sinners,and to speak the truth without regardto any man. It is a very grievous misfortune whichattends the great, to be accustomed to be never contradictedin the least things; they will not be so afterwardsin their most unjust passions. This is thefruit either of a bad education, or of a prostitutedflattery.These persons are resolved to be praised,and when they have no virtues which can be commended,it seems their very vices become the subjectof commendation on pain of death.*'19. Therefore Herodias had a quarrel againsthim, and would have killed him ; but she could not :'*An adulteress cannot suffer any obstacles to herpassion. When sin is once conceived in the heart,the person sooner or later finds an opportunity tofinish and complete it.The difficulty of satisfying aviolent passion does only inflame and stir it up themore." 20. For Herod feared John, knowing that hewas a just man and an holy, and observed him; and