Transcribed from an undated copy in Kensington and Chelsea local studies, bound with pamphlets by Rev. Joseph Phillimore. Many thanks to Kensington and Chelsea local studies for making it available for transcription. [Picture: Public domain cover] A SERMON. EXODUS, XX. 14. _Thou shalt not commit Adultery_. NOTHING is more serious than religion, and this Commandment, which God himself hath taught us, nothing is less seriously considered; religion teacheth us our duty to our Creator, our fellow creatures, and ourselves, shewing us the way to escape future misery, and present trouble, and to obtain everlasting happiness. In the present æra, the crime of adultery seems much to prevail, to the great dishonour of what I have just mentioned; let me implore the attention of this congregation to enquire into the causes of it, pointing out the fatal and dreadful consequences attendant on this course of living, and if haply, we can find them, eradicate the same, as an evil apparently spreading in the world, it becometh the professors of christianity to condemn and discourage it, as well as the preacher of the Gospel to intimidate his hearers, in order to suppress the progress of it in future, as a crime that must undermine all the social virtues the heart possesses, and all the real enjoyment and hope of happiness, here and hereafter. My first endeavour is to find out the origin or cause of this most melancholy evil, to prevent its present as well as future extent, and save the souls of many who are at a very critical time just entering into life, big with the prospect of enjoying every comfort, innocency and pureness of heart can receive, till art and delusive sin make their various attacks; for if we enter into life void of sin, void of hypocrisy, and of a deceitful heart, with minds desirous of being informed with every requisite perfection that adorns and animates the human race, to perform virtuous and laudable actions, it is to be acquired at a time when we are supposed to have arrived at mature age, and reason directs us, and are judged proper and fit to be accountable only to our conscience for the loss of our souls, and not owing to ignorance and inattention to those instructive commandments, we ought to have had engraved and written in our hearts the ten Commandments, as the guide of our youth, and the great comfort of old age; the world in general wants a thorough reformation, and all ranks and degrees of people whatever, and whensoever any societies private or public meet or assemble, and encourage or countenance such neglect of duty, and the breaking of any one single commandment of our blessed Saviour’s as trifling or of immaterial consequence, they ought to be informed of the great danger they stand in here in this life of trial and