Genesi 39:12

And she caught him by his garment, saying, Lie with me: and he left his garment in her hand, and fled, and got him out.

Ver. 12. And she caught him by his garment.] By wanton touches and dalliance, mental adultery is oft committed. He that "toucheth his neighbour's wife, shall not be innocent," saith Solomon. Pro 6:29 This is the offensive "right hand," that must be "cut off." Mat 5:30 The harlot "caught the silly simple, and kissed him; and with an impudent face said unto him; - " Pro 7:13 "till a dart struck through his liver": Pro 7:23 cogit amare iecur.

And he left his garment in her hand.] This second time is Joseph stript of his garment; before, in the violence of envy, now of lust; before, of necessity, now of choice; before, to deceive his father, now his master. Infamy and other misery he was sure to suffer, but that must not drive from duty. 2Co 6:8 The Church "comes from the wilderness," that is, through troubles and afflictions, "leaning on her beloved"; Son 8:5 choosing rather to suffer than to sin.

The good heart goes in a right line to God, and will not fetch a compass, but strikes through all troubles and hazards to get to him. It will not break the hedge of ally commandment, to avoid any piece of foul way. The primitive Christians chose rather to be thrown to lions without, than left to lusts within: Ad leonem mayis quam lenonem, saith Tertullian. I had rather go to hell pure from sin, saith Anselm, than to heaven polluted with that filth.

a I will rather leap into a bonfire, saith another of the fathers, than wilfully commit wickedness against God. b Of the mouse of Armenia they write, that she will rather die than be defiled with any filth. Insomuch as if her hole be besmeared with dirt, she will rather choose to be taken than to be polluted. Such are, or ought to be, the servants of God; "unspotted of the world," Jam 1:27 "undefiled in the way." Psa 119:1

a Mallem purus a peccato et innocens gehennam intrare, &c.

b Potius in ardentem rogum insiluero quam ullum peccatum in Deum commisero. - Pintus, in Dan.