concurred in these; in many Places the most severe and shameful corporal
Punishments, and in some, and those not a few, Death itself hath been inflicted
on this Crime.
    And sure in a human Sense there is scarce any Guilt which deserves to be
more severely punished. It includes in it almost every Injury and every Mischief
which one Man can do to, or can bring on another. It is robbing him of his
Property.
    Mind that, Ladies,« said the Orator, »you are all the Property of your
Husbands; and of that Property, which, if he is a good Man, he values above all
others. It is poisoning that Fountain whence he hath a Right to derive the
sweetest and most innocent Pleasure, the most cordial Comfort, the most solid
Friendship, and most faithful Assistance in all his Affairs, Wants and
Distresses. It is the Destruction of his Peace of Mind, and even of his
Reputation. The Ruin of both Wife and Husband, and sometimes of the whole
Family, are the probable Consequence of this fatal Injury. Domestic Happiness is
the End of almost all our Pursuits, and the common Reward of all our Pains. When
Men find themselves for ever barred from this delightful Fruition, they are lost
to all Industry, and grow careless of all their worldly Affairs. Thus they
become bad Subjects, bad Relations, bad Friends and bad Men. Hatred and Revenge
are the wretched Passions which boil in their Minds. Despair and Madness very
commonly ensue, and Murder and Suicide often close the dreadful Scene.
    Thus, Gentlemen and Ladies, you see the Scene is closed. So here ends the
first Act - and thus begins the second.
    I have here attempted to lay before you a Picture of this Vice, the Horror
of which no Colours of mine can exaggerate. But what Pencil can delineate the
Horrors of that Punishment which the Scripture denounces against it?
    And for what will you subject yourself to this Punishment? Or for what
Reward will you inflict all this Misery on another? I will add on your Friend?
For the Possession of a Woman; for the Pleasure of a Moment? But if neither
Virtue nor Religion can restrain your inordinate Appetites, are there not many
Women as handsome as your Friend's Wife, whom, though not with Innocence, you
may possess with a much less Degree of Guilt? What Motive then can thus hurry
you on to the Destruction of yourself and your Friend? Doth the peculiar
Rankness of the Guilt add any Zest to the Sin? Doth it enhance the Pleasure as
much as we may be assured it