named among you, as becometh saints, or obscenity, or foolish talking, or scurrility' (Eph. v. 3, 4).
2. What is it that generally leads to impurity?
1. Curiosity of the eyes; 2. Immodest dress; 3. Flatterers or seducers; 4. Obscene books and scandalous pictures; 5. Nocturnal interviews, indecent plays and dances; 6. A too free intercourse with the other sex; 7. Drunkenness and revelry; and 8. Idleness and effeminacy.
3. What does the Ninth Commandment forbid?
The Ninth Commandment especially forbids the desire to have another man's wife, and, in general, all impure thoughts and desires.
' Whosoever shall look on a woman to lust after her, hath already committed adultery with her in his heart' (Matt. v. 28).
4. Are impure thoughts and desires always sins?
As long as they displease us, and we endeavor to banish them from our mind, they are not sins.
5. When do we sin by impure thoughts?
We sin by impure thoughts when we voluntarily represent immodest things or actions to our mind, and when we voluntarily take pleasure in them.
As it is a sin against purity designedly to look at immodest things, so it is also a sin to represent such things to our mind, or, when such representations are involuntary, willingly to take complacency or pleasure in them.
6. When do we sin by impure desires?
We sin by impure desires when we voluntarily wish to see, hear, or do something that is contrary to chastity or purity.
7. What should we do when we are tempted by impure thoughts and desires?
1. We should, in the very beginning, earnestly resist them, and implore the assistance of God; and 2. When the temptation continues, we should not be discouraged, but persevere in our resistance, and endeavor to occupy our minds with some good subject.
