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De la sainte virginité

CHAPITRE XLII. C'EST DIEU QUI DONNE LA CONTINENCE ET LA SAGESSE.

43. Enfin, quant à la continence il a été dit « Je savais que personne ne peut être continent, à moins que Dieu ne lui en fasse la grâce ; et c'est le propre de la sagesse de savoir de qui vient ce don¹ ».

Il ne suffit pas que la continence soit un don de Dieu, il faut à l'homme la sagesse de reconnaître que ce don ne vient pas de lui, mais de Dieu. Ecoutez : « Dieu a rendu sages des aveugles²; le témoignage de Dieu est fidèle, il donne la sagesse aux enfants³; si quelqu'un désire la sagesse, qu'il la demande à Dieu qui donne à tous abondamment et sans faire de reproche, et il l'obtiendra⁴ ». Or, les vierges doivent être sages, si elles ne veulent pas que leurs lampes s'éteignent⁵. Et comment seront-elles sages, si ce n'est en ne s'élevant pas vers ce qu'il y a de plus élevé, et en s'inclinant vers ce qu'il y a de plus humble, en s'occupant des petites choses⁶ ? C'est la sagesse même qui a dit à l'homme: « La piété, voilà la sagesse⁷ ». Si donc vous n'avez rien que vous ne l'ayez reçu, ne vous élevez point si haut dans vos pensées, mais craignez[^10]. Gardez-vous surtout de n'aimer que faiblement, sous prétexte qu'il ne vous a été que peu pardonné ; au contraire, aimez beaucoup, parce que vous avez beaucoup reçu. Si celui à qui il a été donné pour le dispenser de payer, aime beaucoup; combien plus doit aimer celui qui a reçu pour conserver. Or, si une âme a conservé sa pureté première, c'est que Dieu a dirigé ses pas; et si une autre a quitté l'impureté pour devenir chaste, c'est que Dieu l'a retirée du mal ; enfin, si l'on reste impudique jusqu'à la fin, c'est que Dieu a abandonné. Quoique Dieu fasse en cela, ses desseins nous sont inconnus, mais ils ne sauraient être injustes. S'il nous les cache, n'est-ce pas afin de nous faire craindre davantage et de nous empêcher de nous enorgueillir?

10. Rom. XI, 20

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Of Holy Virginity

42.

Wherefore let this be the first thought for the putting on of humility, that God's virgin think not that it is of herself that she is such, and not rather that this best "gift cometh down from above from the Father of Lights, with Whom is no change nor shadow of motion." ¹ For thus she will not think that little hath been forgiven her, so as for her to love little, and, being ignorant of the righteousness of God, and wishing to establish her own, not to be made subject to the righteousness of God. In which fault was that Simon who was surpassed by the woman, unto whom many sins were forgiven, because she loved much. But she will have more cautious and true thoughts, that we are so to account all sins as though forgiven, from which God keeps us that we commit them not. Witnesses are those expressions of pious prayers in holy Scriptures, whereby it is shown, that those very things, which are commanded by God, are not done save by His Gift and help, Who commands. For there is a falsehood in the asking for them, if we could do them without the help of His grace. What is there so generally and chiefly charged, as obedience whereby the Commandments of God are kept? And yet we find this wished for. "Thou," saith he, "hast charged, that Thy commandments be greatly kept." Then it follows, "O that my ways were directed to keep Thy righteousnesses: then shall I not be confounded, whilst I look unto all Thy commandments." ² That which he had set down above that God had commanded, that he wished might of himself be fulfilled. This is done assuredly, that there be not sin; but, if there hath been sin, the command is that one repent; lest by defense and excuse of sin he perish through pride, who hath done it, whilst he is unwilling that what he hath done perish through repentance. This also is asked of God, so that it may be understood that it is not done, save by His grant from Whom it is asked. "Set," saith he, "O Lord, a watch to my mouth, and a door of continence around my lips: let not my heart turn away unto evil words, to make excuses in sins, with men that work unrighteousness." ³ If, therefore, both obedience, whereby we keep His commandments, and repentance whereby we excuse not our sins, are wished for and asked, it is plain that, when it is done, it is by His gift that it is possessed, by His help that it is fulfilled, yet more openly is it said by reason of obedience, "By the Lord the steps of a man are directed, and He shall will His way:" ⁴ and of repentance the Apostle says, "if haply God may grant unto them repentance." ⁵