A Solemn Appeal

CURE OF UNCHASTITY

We notice good education as a means of cure. We have already noticed bad education as a cause of unchastity. We now remark that in so far as bad education is a cause of this evil, in so far is good education a cure. Let all those then, who would perform a part in the removal of this evil from society, have an eye to correct and sufficiently moral, physical, and intellectual education. A good, moral education is of the highest importance in this matter. As the moral sentiments do most to form the character, so should they be most carefully educated. Children should be taught the importance of right and wrong, and the consequences of them. They should be early taught to make right a primary source of enjoyment, and to look upon wrong as a primary source of misery. They will then see that a life of mere sensuality is quite unworthy of their dignity, and hence will look higher into the sublimer region of the moral virtues for the means of happiness. SOAP 37.2

The intellectual education of children must also be attended to. The power of perception and of reasoning from causes to consequences must be early improved. Then will they be far more likely to see and flee from the sins of destruction. They will be more capable of appreciating any arguments used with them against their evil practices - and indeed they will be far more likely to discover the evil of any secret practice, of the evil of which they may never have been admonished. SOAP 38.1

When the intellect and moral sentiments are justly cultivated, the subject may be regarded as comparatively safe. But the cultivation of these would be far less important, were it not that when they are healthy and active, the lower passions, and especially the amative one, find far less motive power in the imagination, and consequently are comparatively and sufficiently quiet. The person with an active intellect, sanctified by the moral sentiments, rises above the world of passionate sensuality, and looks down upon it with unmingled disgust. SOAP 39.1

We have elsewhere noticed society as an educator. Parents and guardians will see the importance of withdrawing their children as much as possible from bad society. Children, however, must not be secluded from society altogether. This were, under ordinary circumstances, as injudicious as it is judicious to give them the purest society which their case and location admit. Let parents and guardians remember, too, that they are necessarily the prime educators of their children, and govern themselves as an enlightened love for children will dictate. Much may be done, too, by school-teachers, ministers, and indeed by every one whose influence extends to children. But, in order to teach, parents, teachers, ministers, etc., must be themselves instructed. But some there are who tell us that instruction on the subject of unchastity can serve only to aggravate the evil, or at least that it does more hurt than good. SOAP 39.2

“The whole question, therefore,” to apply the language of Dr. Combe, “resolves itself into this, whether it is more beneficial to enlighten the understanding so as to dispose and enable it to control and direct this feeling, or (under the influence of error in philosophy and false delicacy founded upon it,) to admit it to riot in all the fierceness of animal instinct, withdrawn from the eye of reason, but not thereby deprived of its vehemence and importunity.” We hope every reader - and especially every doubting one - will pause a minute over this last quotation, and ask himself, whether is it better that man should be governed by passion, than that passion should itself be subject to enlightened reason, and he be governed by the latter, aided by revelation? If it be not better, then let reason be enlightened upon the subject. If light is better than darkness (and Jesus says he that walketh in the dark stumbleth), then let light be poured upon the path of every son and daughter of Adam. Raise the light over the shoals! Lift the beacon indicating the whirlpool. Hoist the flag over the precipice! Point to the cloud in which wrathful fires are gathering, and cry in the ears of all, DANGER! DANGER! “Do thyself no harm!” “Because there is wrath, beware!!!” In a word, say anything - do anything which can serve to alarm the old, the young, the middle aged, of the dangers from any and all the forms of unchastity. SOAP 40.1

The prevention and cure of unchastity require strict attention to diet. It requires neither feasting, nor fasting, however; but a plain, moderate, and yet sufficient, diet. A living made up of articles of food which, while they are sufficiently nutritious, and easy of digestion, are at the same time free from acrid and exciting qualities. And hence all greasy, highly-seasoned, rich, and mixed dishes should be carefully avoided. Not irritants, but emollients, are demanded by the delicate, mucous coatings of the internal system. And therefore it is that ardent spirits of every kind, as well as fashionable table teas, coffee, etc., are so mischievous in their operations. These may excite the passions, but never allay them. For this last purpose no beverage is so excellent as that soft, limpid element which gushes from a thousand springs. SOAP 41.1

A diet chiefly or wholly farinaceous and vegetable, is evidently best adapted to allay passionate excitement. Flesh-meat diet is more stimulating than vegetable. Consequently it is plain that all those who suffer, or are exposed to suffering, from too high venereal excitement, should abandon it. All food need be, and is, stimulating; some kinds more, and some less. ¹ Some persons also can bear the more stimulating. But every person who is already suffering from excitement in the passions should seek the plainest, softest table articles—avoiding recipied cakes, pastries, too much salt, saleratus, etc., etc. SOAP 41.2

When children shall be taught correct habits of diet, much, very much, will be done toward the removal of secret vice and other species of unchastity from society. A good diet is of great price; but especially so to children whose systems are yet in their greenness, but rapidly advancing to maturity. The fabric takes its character very much from the material wrought into it. Let parents bear this in mind. Let them lay this to heart; and cease to encourage precocious and extravagant venereal excitement in their children, by pampering them with miserable dainties - meat instead of milk - pork instead of bread! For by such indulgent pampering, a growth of passion has, in numberless instances, been excited, which has eventually brought down the parents’ gray hairs with sorrow to the grave. SOAP 42.1

Activity. Nothing is more important to the prevention and cure of unchastity, than activity. More lust is generated during the leisure hours of sluggish inactivity than during all others. It is during these stupid seasons of dreamishness, that the blood accumulates upon the venereal system, while the imagination strolls about creation, bringing in the fruits and flowers of every forbidden tree. A lascivious mood resulting in lascivious conduct, is of course the consequence. Whereas, on the other hand, during the hours of laudable, engrossing activity, the blood flows regularly, and cheerfully, and impartially, throughout the whole system. Consequently, no part of the system is unhealthfully excited. At the same time, the mind being engaged in directing the body’s exertions, the imagination has no opportunity for arousing and pampering the passions, and so they remain tranquil. Doubtless this is according to the experience of all who have any experience in this matter. Said a physician to the writer a short time since, “I have had repeated application for advice from young men who had become so enslaved to solitary vice that they knew not how to break away, unless the temptation could be softened. And my advise,” said he, “to all is, Be active! When you awake in the morning, get up - go out - work - keep active during the day. When night comes, go to bed only to sleep - follow up this course day after day - etc.” Now this advice is to the point. And those who follow it will do more to shun temptation and sin, than can be done for them by all the medical prescriptions for this matter by all the sons of AEsculapius, since the world began. Let lascivious sufferers take the idea. Let parents take the hint, and bring up their children to active labor. Yes, labor, ye sons and daughters of idleness, and of the parlor. Labor is what your delicate constitutions need. Sow to idle fashion if ye will, but be assured that if you sow to this fashion, you will reap; lasciviousness, which you may not control without a struggle. SOAP 43.1

And “what shall we do?” was the significant inquiry of certain persons of John the Baptist. Would to God that this might be the language of all my readers in view of the claims of the cause of moral purity. Now we do not profess to stand in the place of Christ’s forerunner. But, as reflection and examination have taught us something, we think we may safely presume to give some directions to as many readers as are sincerely asking the above question. And, SOAP 44.1

First, we will suppose our inquirer to be a parent. As a parent, then, you are to consider well the exposure of your children. You are to read with interest whatever professes to be able to open your eyes on this point. You are to feel the exposure of your children, and count no labor too great or too expensive to secure them in virtue. You must shut up from them the avenues to unchastity. You must early make them see that you are solicitous for them, and also make them understand why you are so. Against the mischievous habit of solitary vice, you must watch and warn faithfully. You must begin this work early. If you wait till foul society has filled their minds with lascivious idea[s] and images, you will not only find the task of instructing them far more difficult, but also far less promising of permanent good. Begin early, then. Fix a pure habit upon a child, and a fear of breaking it while it is yet greatly incapable of understanding the whys and wherefores of your wishes. But do not neglect the whys and wherefores too long. Introduce these into the minds of your children as soon as their minds open sufficiently to receive them. John Newton said he had no fear of the enemy’s filling the hearts of the young with tares if he could first get them filled with wheat. But be assured, parent, that in order to get the advance of Satan in this matter, you must begin early, even at break of day. SOAP 45.1

Your own example, as we have elsewhere intimated, must be every way correct. You must make your children see that you discountenance and detest unchastity in all its forms. You must watch the social influences which your children are receiving from abroad. It is easy to crush the viper in the egg. Whenever your children become impurely insinuating, as is too often the case among children generally, correct at once by judicious measures (but always more by moral suasion than by force), the dangerous symptom. Pay strict regard to diet, to cleanliness, to education. Be judicious in the selection of pictures, books, etc., for the amusement and improvement of your children. But for more of this see above, where we have already considered some of these points. SOAP 46.1

But if your children are already large, and your duties yet undone, even in this case do not despair. To be sure, no future faithfulness can atone for past neglect. For this you must seek forgiveness. But still you may do much for their benefit and salvation. Instruct them at once; not, however, in the nature of the sin; nine-tenths of them understand this already; but instruct them in the consequences. Lift up the glowing horrors of solitary vice before them, and bid them see and understand. By this means as many as are hitherto uncorrupted will be confirmed in virtue. Those few who may be supposed to be ignorant of the action of the sin, as they have no habit formed, will, of course, form none in view of such awful hazard. And as to those who are already corrupted, they will, in the picture set before them, see a strong reason why they should flee out of Sodom before sundown. So that every way instruction is safe. Give it! Give it! By the love you bear your children, withhold it not. SOAP 46.2

Or finally, is my inquirer a victim of solitary vice, or of excessive legal commerce? Pale and exhausted, you would find relief. Well, thank God, relief is at hand! Abstinence will relieve you. It will cure you, provided your constitution is not too much injured. But how shall I abstain? say you. That’s the question at issue. For, haunted day and night, worried down and overcome by temptation, it seems as though “the hand of necessity is upon me.” You are right; the hand of necessity is upon you - necessity for your abstinence. You must abstain, or live uselessly, both to yourself and others - and die prematurely; and, added to this, die amid horrible reflections! You are destroying yourself - you must not persevere. “But,” say you, “even the visions of the night provoke unchastity. We are defiled even in our dreams.” But you know that the character of our sensations while asleep, depend very much upon the character of our thoughts and actions while awake. You must be chaste while awake, if you would be so while asleep. SOAP 47.1

But your case demands that we be a little more particular. Would you be purified, you must pay strict attention to your diet. Avoid condiments, spices, and all highly-seasoned and highly-stimulating food and drinks. Confine yourself to a light vegetable diet; a diet which, if possible, shall overcome all tendency to costiveness. This is very important. Drink only water. Eat light suppers. Rise early - as early as you awake. You know your danger from morning lounging. Be active. Labor all you can without great fatigue. Bathe often in cold, or nearly cold, water. Carefully avoid excitement of every kind. Consider your dignity as a moral and intellectual being, “bearing the impress of Divinity.” Rise above sensual thoughts. Remember that you are allied to angels no less than to brutes - to the purely spiritual no less than to the exclusively sensual. Lift up your head and heart. Feel above sensuality, and, under God, you will soon be above it. SOAP 48.1