hat 'tis a dying. It hath ever been accounted a true Rule,
_Qualis Vir, talis Oratio_. We know the Bird by the Tune, the Beagle by his
Mouth, and a Man by his Words. We cannot expect that he that hath lost his
_voice_ with his _Chastity_ should sing Praises to God so _melodiously_ as
another that is chaste, virtuous, and continent. A {27} stinking breath is
not a more sure symptom of _putrid Lungs_, then an obscene Tongue of an
_unclean Heart_. 'Twere better that this _Clapper_ stood still, except it
could give a _purer sound_; it were better this _Clock_ never struck,
except it were for other ends then to awaken our Lusts, and put them in
motion. And I look upon obscene discourse but as an _impure Breath_ coming
out of the mouth, which is fit for nothing but to make an _Exhalation_ or
_Ignis fatuus_, which (if we follow it) will lead us into Bogs and
precipices of _Uncleanness_; but if we _fall down_, and prostrate our
selves before God in _Prayer_, it will quickly be dissolved: Wherefore,

5. Let us use frequent and earnest Prayers to God, to give us the
assistance of his holy Spirit; for this Devil of Lust sometimes cannot be
cast out but by Prayer. When the _Romans_ were in great distress, &
surprized with a sudden assault of their Enemies, they ran to the Temple to
get Arms, which were laid there against an extraordinary occasion: So, if
we shall be at any time assaulted by our Lusts let us have recourse to the
{28} Temple of God, and take up the Arms of the Church, which are Prayers
and Tears. We must not (as _Nero_ did at the burning of _Rome_) sing
_Paeans_ and rejoyce, when our Bodies (those Temples of the Holy Ghost) are
burning with the flames of Lust. _Numa Pompilius_, when news was brought
him that his Enemies were ready to surprize him, put off the Messenger with
this ready memorable Speech, [Greek: Ego de thuo], _I am offering a
sacrifice to God_: So, when we have any news of being surprized by our
Lusts, we may return the same answer; 'Tis enough if we are at our Prayers,
which will secure and guard us from them. _Plutarch_ reports of a Boy, who
though he was burnt with a coal that fell from the Altar, yet continued his
oblation of Sacrifice without intermission: So let us (though we are
sometimes burned with the fire of Lust) be so fervent in our Prayers to
God, that the _fervency_ of them may exceed and draw away the heat of our
Lusts, as a great Fire does the heat which was caused by a less.

6. Avoid