Do ye who are married keep the fidelity of the
marriage-bed with your wives? Render what you require. As a husband thou requirest
chastity from thy wife; give her an example, not words. Thou art the head, look where thou
goest. For thou oughtest to go where it may not be dangerous for her to follow: yea, thou
oughtest to walk thyself where thou wouldest have her follow. Thou requirest strength from
the weaker sex; the lust of the flesh ye have both of you: let him that is the stronger,
be the first to conquer.
And yet, which is to be lamented, many men are conquered by the
women. Women preserve chastity, which men will not preserve; and in that they preserve it
not, would wish to appear men: as though he was in sex the stronger, only that the enemy
might more easily subdue him. There is a struggle, a war, a combat. The man is stronger
than the woman, the "man is the head of the woman." The woman combats and
overcomes; dost thou succumb to the enemy? The body stands firm, and does the head lie
low?
But those of you who have not yet wives, and who yet already
approach to the Lord's Table, and eat the Flesh of Christ, and drink His Blood, if ye are
about to marry, keep yourselves for your wives. As ye would have them come to you, such
ought they also to find you. What young man is there who would not wish to marry a chaste
wife? And if he were to espouse a virgin who would not desire she should be unpolluted?
Thou lookest for one unpolluted, be unpolluted
thyself.
Thou lookest for one pure, be not thyself impure.
For it is not that she is able, and thou art not able. If it were
not possible, then could not she be so. But, seeing that she can, let this teach thee,
that it is possible. And that she may have this power, God is her ruler. But thou wilt
have greater glory if thou shalt do it. Why greater glory? The vigilance of parents is a
check to her, the very modesty of the weaker sex is a bridle to her; lastly, she is in
fear of the laws of which thou art not afraid. Therefore know then that thou wilt have
greater glory if thou shall do it; because if thou do it, thou fearest God. She has many
things to fear besides God, thou fearest God alone. But He whom thou fearest is greater
than all. He is to be feared in public, He in secret. Thou goest out, thou art seen; thou
goest in, thou art seen; the lamp is lighted, He seeth thee; the lamp is extinguished, He
seeth thee; thou enterest into thy closet, He seeth thee; in the retirement of thine own
heart, He seeth thee. Fear Him, Him whose care it is to see thee; and even by this fear be
chaste. Or if thou wilt sin, seek for some place where He may not see thee, and do what
thou wouldest.
But ye who have taken the vow already, chasten your bodies more
strictly, and suffer not yourselves to loosen the reins of concupiscence even after those
things which are permitted; that ye may not only turn away from an unlawful connection,
but may despise even a lawful look. Remember, in whichever sex ye are, whether men or
women, that ye are leading on earth the life of Angels: "For the Angels are neither
given in marriage, nor marry." This shall we be, when we shall have risen again. How
much better are ye, who before death begin to be what men will be after the resurrection!
Keep your proper degrees, for God keepeth for you your honours. The resurrection of the
dead is compared to the stars that are set in heaven. "For star differeth from star
in glory," as the Apostle says; "so also is the resurrection of the dead." For after one manner virginity shall shine there,
after another shall wedded chastity shine there, after another shall holy widowhood shine
there. They shall shine diversely, but all shall be there. The brilliancy unequal, the
heaven the same.
With your thoughts then on your degrees, and keeping your
professions, approach ye to the Flesh of the Lord, approach to the Blood of the Lord.
Whoso knoweth himself to be otherwise, let him not approach. Be moved to compunction
rather by my words. For they who know that they are keeping for their wives, what from
their wives they require, they who know that they are in every way keeping continence, if
this they have vowed to God, feel joy at my words; but they who hear me say,
"Whosoever of you are not keeping chastity, approach not to that Bread," are
saddened. And I should have no wish to say this; but what can I do?
Shall I fear man, so as to suppress the truth? What, if those
servants do not fear the Lord, shall I therefore too not fear? as if I do not know that it
is said, "`Thou wicked and slothful servant, thou shouldest dispense, and I
require." Lo, I have dispensed, O Lord my God; lo, in Thy Sight, and in the sight of
Thy Holy Angels, and of this Thy people, I have laid out Thy money; for I am afraid of Thy
judgment. I have dispensed, do Thou require. Though I should not say it, Thou wouldest do
it. Therefore I rather say, I have dispensed, do Thou convert, do Thou spare.
Make them chaste who have been unchaste, that in Thy Sight we may
rejoice together when the judgment shall come, both he who hath dispensed and he to whom
it hath been dispensed. Doth this please you? May it do so! Whosoever of you are unchaste,
amend yourselves, whilst ye are alive. For I have power to speak the word of God, but to
deliver the unchaste, who persevere in wickedness, from the judgment and condemnation of
God, have I no power.
