ILLUSTRATIONS.--_Murder_: Cain; Joab, II Sam. 3:22, 29; Ahab and Jezebel, I Kings 21:1-19; Herod, Matt. 2:16-18. _Hatred_: Joseph's Brethren, Gen. 37. _Suicide_: Saul, I Sam. 31:5; Judas, Matt. 27:5. _Assisting and Comforting_: The Good Samaritan, Luke, 10:25-37. CHAPTER X. THE SIXTH COMMANDMENT. PURITY. MARRIAGE. Thou shalt not commit adultery. _What is meant by this Commandment?_ We should so fear and love God as to be chaste and pure in our words and deeds, each one also loving and honoring his wife or her husband. * * * * * This commandment is meant to preserve our personal purity, and to guard the holy estate of marriage. It _forbids_ adultery and all impurity. It _commands_ chastity and purity in thought, word, and deed. I. PURITY. We should be CHASTE AND PURE _In Heart._ We should keep our heart free from impure thoughts and desires. [Matt. 5:8+, Prov. 4:23+, Ps. 51:10] God judges us by the state of our heart. [I Sam. 16:7] Unchaste thoughts must not be delighted in nor harbored, but subdued and stamped out. They poison the soul. They are themselves a transgression of this commandment, [Matt. 5:28+] and they lead to further transgressions of it by word and deed. IN WORDS. We must avoid immodest conversation, unchaste words, vile stories, and shameless jests. [Eph. 5:3-4, Eph. 4:29+] Such things are not smart, as many think, but vile and despicable. We should never take part in nor listen to a conversation which we would be ashamed to have overheard by persons whom we respect. IN DEEDS. We should carefully avoid every act which would bring the blush of shame to our cheeks if it were known to our parents or others whose opinion we cherish. Our bodies are to be God's temple, [I Cor. 6:19, 20+] and they dare not be given over to sin and impurity. [Rom. 6:13] We should remember that God sees even in secret, and knows all our actions. [Ps. 139:1-12] _Impurity_ of heart and life will not go unpunished. [I Cor. 3:16, 17+, Gal. 5:19-21+] It is often followed by the most dreadful consequences: a ruined body, an enfeebled mind, a poisoned soul, a tortured conscience, public shame, dreadful disease and an untimely death. _To Keep ourselves Pure_ we should watch and pray, [Matt. 26:41+] avoid idleness, evil company, bad books and papers, indecent songs and pictures, immoral plays, intemperance in eating and drinking, and all that would incite to impurity. We should keep our minds occupied with good thoughts and desires, so that we have no room for evil ones. [Rom. 13:14] II. MARRIAGE. Marriage is the union of one man and one woman for life in the bonds of love and faithfulness. _A Holy Estate_. Marriage was instituted by God in Eden [Gen. 2:13] and was sanctioned by Christ, who performed His first miracle at a wedding. [John 2:1-11] It is a holy estate. Celibacy is not a holier estate than marriage, as the Roman Catholic Church maintains. [I Tim. 4:1-3]