1. 'As I knew that I could not otherwise be continent, except God gave it, I went to the Lord, and besought Him with my whole heart' (Wisd. viii. 21). 2. 'Blessed is the man that endureth temptation; for when he hath been proved, he shall receive the crown of life' (James i. 12).
8. Why must we most carefully guard against impurity?
1. Because no sin is more shameful; and 2. Because none is attended with such dreadful consequences.
9. Why is this sin so shameful?
Because man, who, as the image and temple of God, is called to a pure and holy life, is degraded by it to the level of an impure or unclean animal; whence it is styled. Sin of impurity or uncleanness (comp. 1 Cor. iii. 17).
10. What are the consequences of impurity?
1. It robs man of his innocence, and infects his body and soul; 2. It leads him to many other sins and vices, and often to murder and despair; and 3. It plunges him into misery, ignominy, and shame, and finally into eternal damnation.
'He that joineth himself to harlots will be wicked: rottenness and worms shall inherit him' (Ecclus. xix. 3). 'The whoremongers shall have their portion in the pool burning with fire and brimstone' (Apoc. xxi. 8).
Examples: Impurity led David,' Solomon, the two Elders (Dan, xiii.), Herod, and Herodias into the greatest crimes. Chiefly on account of impurity, nearly the entire human race was destroyed by the Deluge; Sodom and Gomorrha, by a rain of brimstone and fire; twenty-four thousand Israelites were put to death in the desert; and almost the whole tribe of Benjamin perished by the sword.
11. Is every sin of impurity a grievous sin?
Yes, every sin of impurity which one commits knowingly and willingly, either with himself or with others, is a mortal sin; ' for know you this and understand,' says St. Paul (Ephes. v. 5), 'that no fornicator, or unclean person, hath inheritance in the kingdom of Christ and of God.'
