Many different views and outlooks on social and religious issues have changed through out the history of time. Beliefs and religious followings of the Puritans in the 18th century up until now have taken quite a few turns. Things such as adultery are taken far more lightly in the 21st century than from the times of the old English settlers.
The Bible used by the Puritans states the seventh commandment, "Thou shalt not commit adultery." Adultery was seen as the willful violation of the marriage contract by either of the parties through sexual intercourse with a third party. All the same, this sin has been committed throughout history. Puritan beliefs were to a great extent more firm and much more harsh to those who broke this commandment compared to today's standards of the crime. They believed that even the very thought of adultery was a sin and that those who lusted after another had committed adultery in their hearts. The Bible taught them that those who practice this and other types of immorality would surely come under the judgment of God. In the Old Testament, those caught in the act of adultery were to be put to death, and in 1641 a Boston law provided death as punishment. More typically, public whipping was the punishment in Puritan Massachusetts and a Plymouth law of 1694 called for the letter "A" symbolizing adultery to be displayed on the sinful woman's dress. .
Today in the 21st century there is a far more different punishment system and even different views on this sin. Adultery seems more out of control than ever. While headlining stories report the affairs of politicians, sports heroes, and movie stars, films like "The English Patient," "The Prince of Tides," or "The Bridges of Madison Country" highlight and even promote adultery. We are living in a time where sin is described as a mere illness of the body and mind. Sin is beginning to be denied or laughed off, when sin is thought out as just doing one's own thing, or doing what comes instinctively.