all sinful Objects; for, through those _windows_ a little
sin (like a little Boy) may creep in, and open the Door of your Heart to
the rest. An eminent Historian of our own Nation tells us, That whilest the
Earl of _Salisbury_ was at the Battel of _Orleance_, opening a little
window of the Castle, where he was to view the Enemy, a little Lad killed
him with a Cannon planted and discharg'd against the Windows. So, it may
be, whilest thou openest thy Souls windows, thy Eyes, to look upon a
beautiful Object, a small Lust may chance to shoot thee with a temptation,
and leave thee _dead in sin_ for ever. _Scipio_ and _Alexander_ both of
them are {16} reported to have taken fair Captives: _Scipio_ would not
suffer his to come into his sight, lest he himself might be captivated by
their beauty; but _Alexander_ gave his Captives admittance into his
presence: And though _Alexanders_ was the greater continency, yet _Scipio_
took the wisest course; for, [17]_'Tis dangerous to look upon that by which
we may at length be ensnared; the exposing of Beauty to be seen, and the
loss of Modesty and Chastity follow one another_. Let us therefore attend
to our blessed Saviours words, who tells us, [18]That _whosoever looks upon
a woman_ with an intention _to lust after her, hath committed adultery with
her already in his heart_. When we come into the presence of _moving
Beauties_, we must do as men usually do when the _Summer Sun_ grows potent
and vehement; though we admire their Beauties greatness, yet we must shun
it's heat; each place can afford us a shadow to hide us from it. The Poets
tell us, that when some young men had beheld the three equal beauty'd
_Gorgones_, they were thereby deprived and divested of their human shape,
and metamorphosed into stones: {17} So, if we be not cautious how we too
lasciviously gaze upon powerful Beauties, who knows how soon we may be so
callous and obdurate, and our hearts be rendred so stony, that without the
least regret or remorse we may first fall into the profound Abyss of
Adultery, and thence to that bottomless one of Hell. We must not do by a
beautiful Object as by the Crocodile, but quite contrary; for we must be
sure _not to look first upon it_, and then we shall remain secure from its
_killing glances_: for, he who is still looking, and always gazing, acts
like him who drinks Wine in the very heighth of a Fever. But if still men
will look upon fair Objects, let the same use be made of them which