A Solemn Appeal - James White

as great a business as he may, he rarely becomes
rich, but see how many fortunes it has squandered!
No one who "goes after strange women" can be
good, honest, and true; but he who does, will
commit almost any other form of sin. This passion
will sow the seeds of depravity in the purest of
souls, and convert those most irreproachable into
demons. This is staple truth, apply it where you
will.
"Moralists! behold in this relation of perverted
sexuality to universal depravity, your first work of
reform. As long as this passion is thus uncontrolled
and perverted, so long will all other forms of
depravity be rife, and all forms of virtue be
trampled in the dust! Ministers may preach till
doomsday against any and all other vices without
effect, till they preach moral purity, and in all its
forms. It is a matter of perfect surprise, that so few
ministers preach against this sin in any of its forms,
especially against self-abuse; but most of them,
though posted on the moral watch-towers of
society, are 'dead dogs,' that 'will not bark,'
touching this, the very key-stone of the arch of
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