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drowned the world, [1] and the fire that burned Sodom, [2] and the great slaughter that Moses made of his Israelites — putting, in one day, twenty-four thousand to the sword. [3] And when Phineas, full of great zeal, publicly slew a public fornicator, Almighty God was so much pleased with this chastisement that He forthwith ceased the slaughter. [4] For the sin of pollution God killed a grandchild of the patriarch Jacob; [5] and the sons of Eli the high priest, for their carnalities, died disastrously. [6] It is as well known how dear it cost Samson his sinning with Dalilah; [7] and David his adultery with Bethsabe; [8] and Solomon his over -great affection to strange women. [9] Then if such men were vanquished by luxury, and suffered for that cause so terrible punishments, how is it that thou flyest not from it? Art thou peradventure more strong than Sampson, or more wise than Solomon, or more holy than David, or more privileged than they, that thou shouldst not fall as they fell, nor be chastised as they were? [10]

3. But in hell the luxurious shall suffer excessive torments — the fire of hell with special torment burning those parts of the body which were the instruments of sin. The imagination which was delighted in thinking upon these carnalities will suffer horrid representations; and the five senses, which were five fountains of delight, will be five pools of incredible torment Finally, from head to foot they will be drenched in the lake of fire and brimstone, because during their life they yielded to the odours and allurements of the flesh.

Colloquy. — O my soul, to eschew the flames of this carnal fire, consider well the flames of hell fire! As

  1. Gen. vi. 12.
  2. Gen. xix.
  3. Num. xxv. 9.
  4. Num.v. 8.
  5. Gen.xxxviii. 7.
  6. 1 Reg. S. 22; iv. 17.
  7. Judic. xvi. 21.
  8. 2 Reg. xii.
  9. 3 Reg. xi. 11.
  10. S. Hier. in reg. mona. c. de castit.