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On Exhortation to Chastity

Chapter I.--Introduction. Virginity Classified Under Three Several Species.

I doubt not, brother, that after the premission in peace of your wife, you, being wholly bent upon the composing of your mind (to a right frame), are seriously thinking about the end of your lone life, and of course are standing in need of counsel. Although, in cases of this kind, each individual ought to hold colloquy with his own faith, and consult its strength; still, inasmuch as, in this (particular) species (of trial), the necessity of the flesh (which generally is faith's antagonist at the bar of the same inner consciousness, to which I have alluded) sets cogitation astir, faith has need of counsel from without, as an advocate, as it were, to oppose the necessities of the flesh: which necessity, indeed, may very easily be circumscribed, if the will rather than the indulgence of God be considered. No one deserves (favour) by availing himself of the indulgence, but by rendering a prompt obedience to the will, (of his master). ¹ The will of God is our sanctification, ² for He wishes His "image"--us--to become likewise His "likeness;" ³ that we may be "holy" just as Himself is "holy." ⁴ That good--sanctification, I mean--I distribute into several species, that in some one of those species we may be found. The first species is, virginity from one's birth: the second, virginity from one's second birth, that is, from the font; which (second virginity) either in the marriage state keeps (its subject) pure by mutual compact, ⁵ or else perseveres in widowhood from choice: a third grade remains, monogamy, when, after the interception of a marriage once contracted, there is thereafter a renunciation of sexual connection. The first virginity is (the virginity) of happiness, (and consists in) total ignorance of that from which you will afterwards wish to be freed: the second, of virtue, (and consists in) contemning that the power of which you know full well: the remaining species, (that) of marrying no more after the disjunction of matrimony by death, besides being the glory of virtue, is (the glory) of moderation likewise; ⁶ for moderation is the not regretting a thing which has been taken away, and taken away by the Lord God, ⁷ without whose will neither does a leaf glide down from a tree, nor a sparrow of one farthing's worth fall to the earth. ⁸

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De Exhortatione Castitatis

I.

[1] Non dubito, frater, te post uxorem in pace praemissam ad compositionem animi conuersum de exitu singularitatis cogitare et utique consilii indigere. Quamquam in huiusmodi cum fide sua conloqui debet unusquisque eiusque uires consulere, tamen quoniam in ista specie carnis necessitas cogitatum mouet, quae fere apud eandem conscientiam fidei resistit, opus est fidei extrinsecus consilio tamquam aduocato aduersus carnis necessitatem. [2] Quae quidem necessitas facillime circumscribi potest, si uoluntas potius dei quam indulgentia consideretur. Nemo indulgentia utendo promeretur, sed uoluntati obsequendo. [3] Voluntas dei est sanctificatio nostra. Vult enim imaginem suam nos etiam similitudinem fieri, ut simus sancti, sicuti et ipse sanctus est. Id bonum, sanctificationem dico, in species distribuit complures, ut in aliqua earum deprehendamur. [4] Prima species est uirginitas a natiuitate: secunda, uirginitas a secunda natiuitate, id est a lauacro, quae aut in matrimonio purificat ex compacto, aut in uiduitate perseuerat ex arbitrio: tertius gradus superest monogamia, cum post matrimonium unum interceptum exinde sexui renuntiatur. [5] Prima uirginitas felicitatis est, non nosse in totum a quo postea optabis liberari: secunda uirtutis est, contemnere cuius uim optime noris: reliqua species, hactenus nubendi post matrimonium morte disiunctum, praeter uirtutis etiam modestiae laus est. Modestia est enim ablatum non desiderare, et ablatum a domino deo, sine cuius uoluntate nec folium de arbore delabitur nec passer assis unius ad terram cadit.