Collections on Ethics for All People (1788) - Page 20

A small horizontal decorative ornament consisting of stylized floral or leaf motifs, centered at the top of the page.

Lust original: "Wollust." In this era, this term specifically referred to carnal excess and sexual immorality, often framed as a vice that destroyed both soul and body. shortens the days of life,

And plagues become its scourge,

While chastity inherits health and life.

I will acquire this happiness for myself;

God will in turn destroy him,

Whoever destroys his temple A common biblical reference to 1 Corinthians 6:19: "Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit?" here.

How the youth's prime once bloomed!

But he forgot the path of virtue;

And his strengths are consumed.

Decay original: "Verwesung." This likely alludes to the visible physical toll of venereal diseases, which were frequently used in moral literature as a "ghastly" warning against vice. dishonors his face,

And terribly preaches the story

Of the lusts that ravaged the body.

Thus lust takes revenge on the insolent

Sooner or later for their crimes,

And chastises you with a harsh hand.

Its poison will torment your conscience;

It robs you of the light of your soul,

And rewards you with folly.

It robs the heart of courage and strength,

Robs it of the zeal for noble works,

The nobility which God gave it;

And under the burden of your lusts,

You sink from a human's dignity

Down to the baseness of an animal.