mh_parser/vol_split/5 - Deuteronomy/Chapter 22.xml

<div2 id="Deu.xxiii" n="xxiii" next="Deu.xxiv" prev="Deu.xxii" progress="91.53%" title="Chapter XXII">
<h2 id="Deu.xxiii-p0.1">D E U T E R O N O M Y</h2>
<h3 id="Deu.xxiii-p0.2">CHAP. XXII.</h3>
<p class="intro" id="Deu.xxiii-p1">The laws of this chapter provide, I. For the
preservation of charity and good neighbourship, in the care of
strayed or fallen cattle, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.1-Deut.22.4" parsed="|Deut|22|1|22|4" passage="De 22:1-4">ver.
1-4</scripRef>. II. For the preservation of order and distinction,
that men and women should not wear one another's clothes (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.5" parsed="|Deut|22|5|0|0" passage="De 22:5">ver. 5</scripRef>), and that other needless
mixtures should be avoided, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.9-Deut.22.11" parsed="|Deut|22|9|22|11" passage="De 22:9-11">ver.
9-11</scripRef>. III. For the preservation of birds, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.6-Deut.22.7" parsed="|Deut|22|6|22|7" passage="De 22:6,7">ver. 6, 7</scripRef>. IV. Of life, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.8" parsed="|Deut|22|8|0|0" passage="De 22:8">ver. 8</scripRef>. V. Of the commandments,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.12" parsed="|Deut|22|12|0|0" passage="De 22:12">ver. 12</scripRef>. VI. Of the
reputation of a wife abused, if she were innocent (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.13-Deut.22.19" parsed="|Deut|22|13|22|19" passage="De 22:13-19">ver. 13-19</scripRef>), but for her
punishment if guilty, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.8" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.20-Deut.22.21" parsed="|Deut|22|20|22|21" passage="De 22:20,21">ver. 20,
21</scripRef>. VII. For the preservation of the chastity of wives,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.9" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.22" parsed="|Deut|22|22|0|0" passage="De 22:22">ver. 22</scripRef>. Virgins betrothed
(<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.10" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.23-Deut.22.27" parsed="|Deut|22|23|22|27" passage="De 22:23-27">ver. 23-27</scripRef>), or not
betrothed, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.11" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.28-Deut.22.29" parsed="|Deut|22|28|22|29" passage="De 22:28,29">ver. 28, 29</scripRef>.
And, lastly, against incest, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p1.12" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.30" parsed="|Deut|22|30|0|0" passage="De 22:30">ver.
30</scripRef>.</p>
<scripCom id="Deu.xxiii-p1.13" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22" parsed="|Deut|22|0|0|0" passage="De 22" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.xxiii-p1.14" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.1-Deut.22.4" parsed="|Deut|22|1|22|4" passage="De 22:1-4" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.22.1-Deut.22.4">
<h4 id="Deu.xxiii-p1.15">Kindness and Humanity. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxiii-p1.16">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xxiii-p2">1 Thou shalt not see thy brother's ox or his
sheep go astray, and hide thyself from them: thou shalt in any case
bring them again unto thy brother.   2 And if thy brother
<i>be</i> not nigh unto thee, or if thou know him not, then thou
shalt bring it unto thine own house, and it shall be with thee
until thy brother seek after it, and thou shalt restore it to him
again.   3 In like manner shalt thou do with his ass; and so
shalt thou do with his raiment; and with all lost thing of thy
brother's, which he hath lost, and thou hast found, shalt thou do
likewise: thou mayest not hide thyself.   4 Thou shalt not see
thy brother's ass or his ox fall down by the way, and hide thyself
from them: thou shalt surely help him to lift <i>them</i> up
again.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p3">The kindness that was commanded to be shown
in reference to an enemy (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p3.1" osisRef="Bible:Exod.23.4-Exod.23.5" parsed="|Exod|23|4|23|5" passage="Ex 23:4,5">Exod.
xxxiii. 4</scripRef>, &amp;c.) is here required to be much more
done for a neighbour, though he were not an Israelite, for the law
is consonant to natural equity. 1. That strayed cattle should be
brought back, either to the owner or to the pasture out of which
they had gone astray, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p3.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.1-Deut.22.2" parsed="|Deut|22|1|22|2" passage="De 22:1,2"><i>v.</i> 1,
2</scripRef>. This must be done in pity to the very cattle, which,
while they wandered, were exposed; and in civility and respect to
the owner, nay, and in justice to him, for it was doing as we would
be done by, which is one of the fundamental laws of equity. Note,
Religion teaches us to be neighbourly, and to be ready to do all
good offices, as we have opportunity, to all men. In doing this,
(1.) They must not mind trouble, but, if they knew who the owner
was, must take it back themselves; for, if they should only send
notice to the owner to come and look after it himself, some
mischief might befal it ere he could reach it. (2.) They must not
mind expense, but, if they knew not who the owner was, must take it
home and feed it till the owner was found. If such care must be
taken of a neighbour's ox or ass going astray, much more of himself
going astray from God and his duty; we should do our utmost to
convert him (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p3.3" osisRef="Bible:Jas.5.19" parsed="|Jas|5|19|0|0" passage="Jam 5:19">Jam. v. 19</scripRef>),
and restore him, considering ourselves, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p3.4" osisRef="Bible:Gal.6.1" parsed="|Gal|6|1|0|0" passage="Ga 6:1">Gal. vi. 1</scripRef>. 2. That lost goods should be
brought to the owner, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p3.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.3" parsed="|Deut|22|3|0|0" passage="De 22:3"><i>v.</i>
3</scripRef>. The Jews say, "He that found the lost goods was to
give public notice of them by the common crier three or four
times," according to the usage with us; if the owner could not be
found, he that found the goods might convert them to his own use;
but (say some learned writers in this case) he would do very well
to give the value of the goods to the poor. 3. That cattle in
distress should be helped, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p3.6" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.4" parsed="|Deut|22|4|0|0" passage="De 22:4"><i>v.</i>
4</scripRef>. This must be done both in compassion to the
brute-creatures (for a <i>merciful man regardeth the life of a
beast,</i> though it be not his own) and in love and friendship to
our neighbour, not knowing how soon we may have occasion for his
help. If one member may say to another, "I have at present no need
of thee," it cannot say, "I never shall."</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.xxiii-p3.7" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.5-Deut.22.12" parsed="|Deut|22|5|22|12" passage="De 22:5-12" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.22.5-Deut.22.12">
<h4 id="Deu.xxiii-p3.8">Various Prohibitions. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxiii-p3.9">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xxiii-p4">5 The woman shall not wear that which pertaineth
unto a man, neither shall a man put on a woman's garment: for all
that do so <i>are</i> abomination unto the <span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxiii-p4.1">Lord</span> thy God.   6 If a bird's nest chance
to be before thee in the way in any tree, or on the ground,
<i>whether they be</i> young ones, or eggs, and the dam sitting
upon the young, or upon the eggs, thou shalt not take the dam with
the young:   7 <i>But</i> thou shalt in any wise let the dam
go, and take the young to thee; that it may be well with thee, and
<i>that</i> thou mayest prolong <i>thy</i> days.   8 When thou
buildest a new house, then thou shalt make a battlement for thy
roof, that thou bring not blood upon thine house, if any man fall
from thence.   9 Thou shalt not sow thy vineyard with divers
seeds: lest the fruit of thy seed which thou hast sown, and the
fruit of thy vineyard, be defiled.   10 Thou shalt not plow
with an ox and an ass together.   11 Thou shalt not wear a
garment of divers sorts, <i>as</i> of woollen and linen together.
  12 Thou shalt make thee fringes upon the four quarters of
thy vesture, wherewith thou coverest <i>thyself.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p5">Here are several laws in these verses which
seem to stoop very low, and to take cognizance of things mean and
minute. Men's laws commonly do not so: <i>De minimis non curat
lex—The law takes no cognizance of little things;</i> but because
God's providence extends itself to the smallest affairs, his
precepts do so, that even in them we may be <i>in the fear of the
Lord,</i> as we are under his eye and care. And yet the
significancy and tendency of these statutes, which seem little, are
such that, notwithstanding their minuteness, being fond among the
things of God's law, which he has written to us, they are to be
accounted great things.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p6">I. The distinction of sexes by the apparel
is to be kept up, for the preservation of our own and our
neighbour's chastity, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p6.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.5" parsed="|Deut|22|5|0|0" passage="De 22:5"><i>v.</i>
5</scripRef>. <i>Nature itself teaches</i> that a difference be
made between them in <i>their hair</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p6.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.11.14" parsed="|1Cor|11|14|0|0" passage="1Co 11:14">1 Cor. xi. 14</scripRef>), and by the same rule in
their clothes, which therefore ought not to be confounded, either
in ordinary wear or occasionally. To befriend a lawful escape or
concealment it may be done, but whether for sport or in the acting
of plays is justly questionable. 1. Some think it refers to the
idolatrous custom of the Gentiles: in the worship of Venus, women
appeared in armour, and men in women's clothes; this, as other such
superstitious usages, is here said to be <i>an abomination to the
Lord.</i> 2. It forbids the confounding of the dispositions and
affairs of the sexes: men must not be effeminate, nor do the
women's work in the house, nor must women be viragos, pretend to
<i>teach, or usurp authority,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p6.3" osisRef="Bible:1Tim.2.11-1Tim.2.12" parsed="|1Tim|2|11|2|12" passage="1Ti 2:11,12">1
Tim. ii. 11, 12</scripRef>. Probably this confounding of garments
had been used to gain opportunity of committing uncleanness, and is
therefore forbidden; for those that would be kept from sin must
keep themselves from all occasions of it and approaches to it.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p7">II. In taking a bird's-nest, the dam must
be let go, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p7.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.6-Deut.22.7" parsed="|Deut|22|6|22|7" passage="De 22:6,7"><i>v.</i> 6, 7</scripRef>.
The Jews say, "This is the least of all the commandments of the law
of Moses," and yet the same promise is here made to the observance
of it that is made to the keeping of the fifth commandment, which
is one of the greatest, <i>that it may be well with thee, and that
thou mayest prolong thy days;</i> for, as disobedience in a small
matter shows a very great contempt of the law, so obedience in a
small matter shows a very great regard to it. He that let go a bird
out of his hand (which was worth two in the bush) purely because
God bade him, in that made it to appear that he <i>esteemed all
God's precepts concerning all things to be right,</i> and that he
could deny himself rather than sin against God. But <i>doth God
take care</i> for birds? <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p7.2" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.9.9" parsed="|1Cor|9|9|0|0" passage="1Co 9:9">1 Cor. ix.
9</scripRef>. Yes, certainly; and perhaps to this law our Saviour
alludes. <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p7.3" osisRef="Bible:Luke.12.6" parsed="|Luke|12|6|0|0" passage="Lu 12:6">Luke xii. 6</scripRef>, <i>Are
not five sparrows sold for two farthings, and not one of them is
forgotten before God?</i> This law, 1. Forbids us to be cruel to
the brute-creatures, or to take a pleasure in destroying them.
Though God has made us <i>wiser than the fowls of heaven,</i> and
given us <i>dominion over them,</i> yet we must not abuse them nor
rule them with rigour. <i>Let go the dam</i> to breed again;
<i>destroy it not, for a blessing is in it,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p7.4" osisRef="Bible:Isa.65.8" parsed="|Isa|65|8|0|0" passage="Isa 65:8">Isa. lxv. 8</scripRef>. 2. It teaches us compassion to
those of our own kind, and to abhor the thought of every thing that
looks barbarous, and cruel, and ill-natured, especially towards
those of the weaker and tender sex, which always ought to be
treated with the utmost respect, in consideration of the sorrows
wherein they bring forth children. It is spoken of as an instance
of the most inhuman cruelty that <i>the mother was dashed to pieces
upon her children</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p7.5" osisRef="Bible:Hos.10.14" parsed="|Hos|10|14|0|0" passage="Ho 10:14">Hos. x.
14</scripRef>), and that the <i>women with child were ripped
open,</i> <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p7.6" osisRef="Bible:Amos.1.13" parsed="|Amos|1|13|0|0" passage="Am 1:13">Amos i. 13</scripRef>. 3. It
further intimates that we must not take advantage against any, from
their natural affection and the tenderness of their disposition, to
do them an injury. The dam could not have been taken if her concern
for her eggs or young (unlike to the ostrich) had not detained her
upon the next when otherwise she could easily have secured herself
by flight. Now, since it is a thousand pities that she should fare
the worse for that which is her praise, the law takes care that she
shall be let go. The remembrance of this may perhaps, some time or
other, keep us from doing a hard or unkind thing to those whom we
have at our mercy.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p8">III. In building a house, care must be
taken to make it safe, that none might receive mischief by falling
from it, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p8.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.8" parsed="|Deut|22|8|0|0" passage="De 22:8"><i>v.</i> 8</scripRef>. The
roofs of their houses were flat for people to walk on, as appears
by many scriptures; now lest any, through carelessness, should fall
off them, they must compass them with battlements, which (the Jews
say) must be three feet and a half high; if this were not done, and
mischief followed, the owner, by his neglect, brought the guilt of
blood upon his house. See here, 1. How precious men's lives are to
God, who protects them, not only by his providence, but by his law.
2. How precious, therefore, they ought to be to us, and what care
we should take to prevent hurt from coming to any person. The Jews
say that by the equity of this law they were obliged (and so are we
too) to fence, or remove, every thing by which life may be
endangered, as to cover draw-wells, keep bridges in repair, and the
like, lest, if any perish through our omission, their blood be
required at our hand.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p9">IV. Odd mixtures are here forbidden,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p9.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.9-Deut.22.10" parsed="|Deut|22|9|22|10" passage="De 22:9,10"><i>v.</i> 9, 10</scripRef>. Much of
this we met with before, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p9.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.19.19" parsed="|Lev|19|19|0|0" passage="Le 19:19">Lev. xix.
19</scripRef>. There appears not any thing at all of moral evil in
these things, and therefore we now make no conscience of sowing
wheat and rye together, ploughing with horses and oxen together,
and of wearing linsey-woolsey garments; but hereby is forbidden
either, 1. A conformity to some idolatrous customs of the heathen.
Or, 2. That which is contrary to the plainness and purity of an
Israelite. They must not gratify their own vanity and curiosity by
putting those things together which the Creator in infinite wisdom
had made asunder: they must not be unequally yoked with
unbelievers, nor mingle themselves with the unclean, as an ox with
an ass. Nor must their profession and appearance in the world be
motley, or party-coloured, but all of a piece, all of a kind.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p10">V. The law concerning fringes upon their
garments, and memorandums of the commandments, which we had before
(<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p10.1" osisRef="Bible:Num.15.38-Num.15.39" parsed="|Num|15|38|15|39" passage="Nu 15:38,39">Num. xv. 38, 39</scripRef>), is
here repeated, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p10.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.12" parsed="|Deut|22|12|0|0" passage="De 22:12"><i>v.</i>
12</scripRef>. By these they were distinguished from other people,
so that it might be said, upon the first sight, There goes an
Israelite, which taught them not to be ashamed of their country,
nor the peculiarities of their religion, how much soever their
neighbours looked upon them and it with contempt: and they were
also put in mind of the precepts upon the particular occasions to
which they had reference; and perhaps this law is repeated here
because the precepts immediately foregoing seemed so minute that
they were in danger of being overlooked and forgotten. The fringes
will remind you not to make your garments of linen and woollen,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p10.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.11" parsed="|Deut|22|11|0|0" passage="De 22:11"><i>v.</i> 11</scripRef>.</p>
</div><scripCom id="Deu.xxiii-p10.4" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22" parsed="|Deut|22|0|0|0" passage="De 22" type="Commentary"/>
<scripCom id="Deu.xxiii-p10.5" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.13-Deut.22.30" parsed="|Deut|22|13|22|30" passage="De 22:13-30" type="Commentary"/><div class="Commentary" id="Bible:Deut.22.13-Deut.22.30">
<h4 id="Deu.xxiii-p10.6">The Punishment of
Fornication. (<span class="smallcaps" id="Deu.xxiii-p10.7">b. c.</span> 1451.)</h4>
<p class="passage" id="Deu.xxiii-p11">13 If any man take a wife, and go in unto her,
and hate her,   14 And give occasions of speech against her,
and bring up an evil name upon her, and say, I took this woman, and
when I came to her, I found her not a maid:   15 Then shall
the father of the damsel, and her mother, take and bring forth
<i>the tokens of</i> the damsel's virginity unto the elders of the
city in the gate:   16 And the damsel's father shall say unto
the elders, I gave my daughter unto this man to wife, and he hateth
her;   17 And, lo, he hath given occasions of speech
<i>against her,</i> saying, I found not thy daughter a maid; and
yet these <i>are the tokens of</i> my daughter's virginity. And
they shall spread the cloth before the elders of the city.  
18 And the elders of that city shall take that man and chastise
him;   19 And they shall amerce him in a hundred
<i>shekels</i> of silver, and give <i>them</i> unto the father of
the damsel, because he hath brought up an evil name upon a virgin
of Israel: and she shall be his wife; he may not put her away all
his days.   20 But if this thing be true, <i>and the tokens
of</i> virginity be not found for the damsel:   21 Then they
shall bring out the damsel to the door of her father's house, and
the men of her city shall stone her with stones that she die:
because she hath wrought folly in Israel, to play the whore in her
father's house: so shalt thou put evil away from among you.  
22 If a man be found lying with a woman married to a husband, then
they shall both of them die, <i>both</i> the man that lay with the
woman, and the woman: so shalt thou put away evil from Israel.
  23 If a damsel <i>that is</i> a virgin be betrothed unto a
husband, and a man find her in the city, and lie with her;  
24 Then ye shall bring them both out unto the gate of that city,
and ye shall stone them with stones that they die; the damsel,
because she cried not, <i>being</i> in the city; and the man,
because he hath humbled his neighbour's wife: so thou shalt put
away evil from among you.   25 But if a man find a betrothed
damsel in the field, and the man force her, and lie with her: then
the man only that lay with her shall die:   26 But unto the
damsel thou shalt do nothing; <i>there is</i> in the damsel no sin
<i>worthy</i> of death: for as when a man riseth against his
neighbour, and slayeth him, even so <i>is</i> this matter:  
27 For he found her in the field, <i>and</i> the betrothed damsel
cried, and <i>there was</i> none to save her.   28 If a man
find a damsel <i>that is</i> a virgin, which is not betrothed, and
lay hold on her, and lie with her, and they be found;   29
Then the man that lay with her shall give unto the damsel's father
fifty <i>shekels</i> of silver, and she shall be his wife; because
he hath humbled her, he may not put her away all his days.  
30 A man shall not take his father's wife, nor discover his
father's skirt.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p12">These laws relate to the seventh
commandment, laying a restraint by laying a penalty upon those
fleshly lusts which war against the soul.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p13">I. If a man, lusting after another woman,
to get rid of his wife slander her and falsely accuse her, as not
having the virginity she pretended to when he married her, upon the
disproof of his slander he must be punished, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p13.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.13-Deut.22.19" parsed="|Deut|22|13|22|19" passage="De 22:13-19"><i>v.</i> 13-19</scripRef>. What the meaning of that
evidence is by which the husband's accusation was to be proved
false the learned are not agreed, nor is it at all necessary to
enquire—those for whom this law was intended, no doubt, understood
it: it is sufficient for us to know that this wicked husband, who
had thus endeavoured to ruin the reputation of his own wife, was to
be scourged, and fined, and bound out from ever divorcing the wife
he had thus abused, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p13.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.18-Deut.22.19" parsed="|Deut|22|18|22|19" passage="De 22:18,19"><i>v.</i> 18,
19</scripRef>. Upon his dislike of her he might have divorced her
if he had pleased, by the permission of the law (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p13.3" osisRef="Bible:Deut.24.1" parsed="|Deut|24|1|0|0" passage="De 24:1"><i>ch.</i> xxiv. 1</scripRef>), but then he must have
given her her dowry: if therefore to save that, and to do her the
greater mischief, he would thus destroy her good name, it was fit
that he should be severely punished for it, and for ever after
forfeit the permission to divorce her. Observe, 1. The nearer any
are in relation to us the greater sin it is to belie them and
blemish their reputation. It is spoken of as a crime of the highest
nature to <i>slander thy own mother's son</i> (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p13.4" osisRef="Bible:Ps.50.20" parsed="|Ps|50|20|0|0" passage="Ps 50:20">Ps. l. 20</scripRef>), who is next to thyself, much more
to slander thy own wife, or thy own husband, that is thyself: it is
an ill bird indeed that defiles its own nest. 2. Chastity is honour
as well as virtue, and that which gives occasion for the suspicion
of it is as great a reproach and disgrace as any whatsoever: in
this matter therefore, above any thing, we should be highly tender
both of our own good name and that of others. 3. Parents must look
upon themselves as concerned to vindicate the reputation of their
children, for it is a branch of their own.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p14">II. If the woman that was married as a
virgin was not found to be one she was to be stoned to death at her
father's door, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p14.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.20-Deut.22.21" parsed="|Deut|22|20|22|21" passage="De 22:20,21"><i>v.</i> 20,
21</scripRef>. If the uncleanness had been committed before she was
betrothed it would not have been punished as a capital crime; but
she must die for the abuse she put upon him whom she married, being
conscious to herself of being defiled, while she made him believe
her to be a chaste and modest woman. But some think that her
uncleanness was punished with death only in case it was committed
after she was betrothed, supposing there were few come to maturity
but what were betrothed, though not yet married. Now, 1. This gave
a powerful caution to young women to flee fornication, since,
however concealed before, so as not to mar their marriage, it would
very likely be discovered afterwards, to their perpetual infamy and
utter ruin. 2. It is intimated to parents that they must by all
means possible preserve their children's chastity, by giving them
good advice and admonition, setting them good examples, keeping
them from bad company, praying for them, and laying them under
needful restraints, because, if the children committed lewdness,
the parents must have the grief and shame of the execution at their
own door. That phrase of <i>folly wrought in Israel</i> was used
concerning this very crime in the case of Dinah, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p14.2" osisRef="Bible:Gen.34.7" parsed="|Gen|34|7|0|0" passage="Ge 34:7">Gen. xxxiv. 7</scripRef>. All sin is folly, uncleanness
especially; but, above all, uncleanness in Israel, by profession a
holy people.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p15">III. If any man, single or married, lay
with a married woman, they were both to be put to death, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p15.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.22" parsed="|Deut|22|22|0|0" passage="De 22:22"><i>v.</i> 22</scripRef>. This law we had before,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p15.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.20.10" parsed="|Lev|20|10|0|0" passage="Le 20:10">Lev. xx. 10</scripRef>. For a married
man to lie with a single woman was not a crime of so high a nature,
nor was it punished with death, because not introducing a spurious
brood into families under the character of legitimate children.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p16">IV. If a damsel were betrothed and not
married, she was from under the eye of her intended husband, and
therefore she and her chastity were taken under the special
protection of the law. 1. If her chastity were violated by her own
consent, she was to be put to death, and her adulterer with her,
<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p16.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.23-Deut.22.24" parsed="|Deut|22|23|22|24" passage="De 22:23,24"><i>v.</i> 23, 24</scripRef>. And it
shall be presumed that she consented if it were done in the city,
or in any place where, had she cried out, help might speedily have
come in to prevent the injury offered her. <i>Qui tacet, consentire
videtur—Silence implies consent.</i> Note, It may be presumed that
those willingly yield to a temptation (whatever they pretend) who
will not use the means and helps they might be furnished with to
avoid and overcome it. Nay, her being found in the city, a place of
company and diversion, when she should have kept under the
protection of her father's house, was an evidence against her that
she had not that dread of the sin and the danger of it which became
a modest woman. Note, Those that needlessly expose themselves to
temptation justly suffer for the same, if, ere they are aware, they
be surprised and caught by it. Dinah lost her honour to gratify her
curiosity with a sight of the <i>daughters of the land.</i> By this
law the Virgin Mary was in danger of being made a public example,
that is, of being stoned to death, but that God, by an angel,
cleared the matter to Joseph. 2. If she were forced, and never
consented, he that committed the rape was to be put to death, but
the damsel was to be acquitted, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p16.2" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.24-Deut.22.27" parsed="|Deut|22|24|22|27" passage="De 22:24-27"><i>v.</i> 24-27</scripRef>. Now if it were done in
the field, out of the hearing of neighbours, it shall be presumed
that she cried out, but there was none to save her; and, besides,
her going into the field, a place of solitude, did not so much
expose her. Now by this law it is intimated to us, (1.) That we
shall suffer only for the wickedness we do, not for that which is
done to us. That is no sin which has not more or less of the will
in it. (2.) That we must presume the best concerning all persons,
unless the contrary do appear; not only charity, but equity teaches
us to do so. Though none heard her cry, yet, because none could
hear it if she did, it shall be taken for granted that she did.
This rule we should go by in judging of persons and actions:
<i>believe all things, and hope all things.</i> (3.) That our
chastity should be as dear to us as our life when that is
assaulted, it is not at all improper to cry <i>murder, murder,</i>
for, <i>as when a man riseth against his neighbour and slayeth him,
even so is this matter.</i> (4.) By way of allusion to this, see
what we are to do when Satan sets upon us with his temptations:
wherever we are, let us cry aloud to heaven for help (<i>Succurre,
Domine, vim patior—Help me, O Lord, for I suffer violence</i>),
and there we may be sure to be heard, and answered, as Paul was,
<i>My grace is sufficient for thee.</i></p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p17">V. If a damsel not betrothed were thus
abused by violence, he that abused her should be fined, the father
should have the fine, and, if he and the damsel did consent, he
should be bound to marry her, and never to divorce her, how much
soever she was below him, and how unpleasing soever she might
afterwards be to him, as Tamar was to Amnon after he had forced
her, <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p17.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.28-Deut.22.29" parsed="|Deut|22|28|22|29" passage="De 22:28,29"><i>v.</i> 28, 29</scripRef>.
This was to deter men from such vicious practices, which it is a
shame that we are necessitated to read and write of.</p>
<p class="indent" id="Deu.xxiii-p18">VI. The law against a man's marrying his
father's widow, or having any undue familiarity with his father's
wife, is here repeated (<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p18.1" osisRef="Bible:Deut.22.30" parsed="|Deut|22|30|0|0" passage="De 22:30"><i>v.</i>
30</scripRef>) from <scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p18.2" osisRef="Bible:Lev.18.8" parsed="|Lev|18|8|0|0" passage="Le 18:8">Lev. xviii.
8</scripRef>. And, probably, it is intended (as bishop Patrick
notes) for a short memorandum to them carefully to observe all the
laws there made against incestuous marriages, that being specified
which is the most detestable of all; it is that of which the
apostle says, <i>It is not so much as named among the Gentiles,</i>
<scripRef id="Deu.xxiii-p18.3" osisRef="Bible:1Cor.5.1" parsed="|1Cor|5|1|0|0" passage="1Co 5:1">1 Cor. v. 1</scripRef>.</p>
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