Matthew Poole and continuators on Job 31:1

1. I Made a covenant with mine eyes : why then should I think upon a maid ?

So far have I been from wallowing in the mire of Uncleanness, or any gross wickedness, wherewith you charge me, that I have abstained even from the least occasions and appearances of evil, having made a solemn Resolution within my self, and a solemn Covenant and Promise to God that I would not wan[illegible: 1+ letters]only or lustfully fix mine Eyes or gaze upon a Maid, lest mine Eyes should affect my heart and stir me up to further filthiness. Hereby we plainly see, that that Command of Christ, Matth. 5. 29. was no new Command peculiar to the Gospel▪ as some would ha[illegible: 1+ letters]e it, but the very same which the Law of God revealed in his Word, and written in man's hearts by nature, imposed upon men in the times of the Old Testament. See also 2 Pet. 2. 14. 1 Iohn 2. 16.

i. e. Indulge my self in filthy and lustful thoughts. Seeing I was obliged and accordingly took care to guard mine Eyes: I was upon the same reason obliged to restrain my Imagination. Or, why then should I consider, or contemplate, or look curiously or thoughtfully, or diligently. Since I had made such a Covenant, why should I not keep it?

Which is emphatically added, to shew that that Circumstance which provokes the Lust of others, had no such power over him, and that he restrained himself from the very thoughts and desires of filthiness with such persons wherewith the generality of men allowed themselves to commit gross Fornication as deeming it to be either none, or but a very little s[illegible: 1+ letters]. Withal he insinuates, with how much more caution he kept himself from uncleanness with any married person.