What is the seventh Commandment?
Thou shalt not commit adultery. [Exodus 20:13, Deut. 5:18 Brenton's LXX]
Quest. LXVI.
How is this Commandment to be understood?
Our Lord Jesus Christ enjoined the most exact and perfect observation of this Commandment, when he said, But I say to you that everyone who looketh on a woman in order to lust after her did already commit adultery with her in his heart. [Mt. 5:28 ONT] Now this adultery is two-fold, the one spiritual, the other bodily; the spiritual adultery is, when anyone, putting off the true, orthodox, and catholic Faith, turns aside into various heresies. Of such a one the Scripture speaks thus: For, behold, those removing themselves to a distance from Thee, they shall perish! Thou didst destroy utterly everyone going a whoring from Thee. [Psalm 72:26 OP] Bodily adultery is an unclean and immodest action committed with the wife of another man. By this Commandment, likewise, all other lewdness and wantonness is forbidden; as also procuring, and alluring others to unchastity; indent and obscene songs; and dancing and gestures. As the Apostle declares, But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you—even as it is becoming to saints—and filthy conduct, and foolish talking or jesting, which are not fitting. [Eph. 5:3,4a ONT]
Q. What does God forbid in the seventh Commandment?
A. He forbids adultery.
Q. What is adultery?
A. It is unlawful conversation of man with a married woman, or a woman with a married man, which is more particularly forbidden in this Commandment, which comprehends also fornication, and all other kinds of carnal uncleanness.
Q. Is it a sin to converse carnally with one's own wife?
A. Marriage is a divine institution, ordered for the mutual assistance and propagation of mankind. The duty of man and wife is to love and honor one another, for the better managing of the affairs of a family, and pious education of their children; and in order thereunto, both the man and woman must be mutually true to the marriage bed, or else they are transgressors of this Commandment. Besides, wanton touches, a lustful eye, and lascivious expressions, are to be avoided, because they are incentives to carnal inclinations, which are condemned in this Commandment.
Q. What is forbidden by the seventh Commandment?
A. Adultery.
Q. What forms of sin are forbidden under the name of adultery?
A. The Apostle Paul would have Christians not even to speak of such impurities. [But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not even be named among you—even as it is becoming to saints—(Eph. 5:3 ONT)] It is only of necessity, to forewarn people against such sins, that we shall here name some of them. Such are:
1. Fornication—or irregular carnal love between unmarried persons;
2. Adultery—when married persons unlawfully give that love which they owe each other to strangers;
3. Incest—when near relations enter into a union like that of matrimony.
Q. What does our Saviour teach us to think of adultery?
A. But I say to you that everyone who looketh on a woman in order to lust after her did already commit adultery with her in his heart. [Mt. 5:28 ONT]
Q. What should we do in order to guard against falling into this subtle inward adultery?
A. We should avoid every thing that may excite impure feelings in the heart; as wanton songs and dances, lewd conversation, immodest games and jokes, immodest sights, and the reading of books that contain descriptions of impure love. We should strive, according to the Gospel, not even to look on that which may cause us to fall. And if thy right eye cause thee to stumble, remove it and cast it from thee; for it is profitable for thee that one of thy members should perish, and not that thy whole body should be cast into Gehenna. [Mt. 5:29 ONT]
Q. Must we then literally pluck out the offending eye?
A. We must pluck it out, not with the hand, but with the will. He who has firmly resolved not even to look upon anything that causes him to offend, hath already plucked out the offending eye.
Q. When the sin of adultery is forbidden, what contrary virtues are thereby enjoined?
A. Those of conjugal love and fidelity, and, for such as can receive it, perfect purity and chastity.
Q. How does Holy Scripture speak of the duties of man and wife?
A. Husbands, be loving your own wives, even as the Christ also loved the Church, and gave Himself up for her. [Eph. 5:25 ONT] Wives, be subordinating yourselves to your own husbands, as to the Lord. For the husband is head of the wife, as also the Christ is head of the Church, and is Himself Savior of the body. [Eph. 5:22-23 ONT]
Q. What motives does Holy Scripture set before us, to make us flee fornication and live chastely?
A. It bids us keep our bodies in purity, because they are the members of Christ, and temples of the Holy Spirit; while, on the other hand, he who committeth fornication sinneth against his own body; that is, corrupts it, infects it with diseases, and, further, hurts his mental faculties, such as imagination and memory. [Ye know that your bodies are members of Christ, do ye not? Having taken up then the members of Christ, shall I make them members of a harlot? May it not be! Or know ye not that he that is joined to the harlot is one body? For, “The two,” saith He, “shall be into one flesh.” But he who is joined to the Lord is one spirit. Keep on fleeing fornication. Every sin whatsoever a man might do is outside the body, but he who committeth fornication sinneth against his own body. Or know ye not that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit Who is in you, Whom ye have from God, and ye are not your own? For ye were bought with a price; glorify then God in your body and in your spirit, which are God’s. (1 Cor. 6:15-20 ONT)]