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| The Same Endeavour and Effort After Virginity, with a Different Result.
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Chapter III.—The Same
Endeavour and Effort After Virginity, with a Different
Result.
Now when it is said2664
that “the kingdom of heaven is
likened unto ten virgins, which took their lamps and went forth to meet
the bridegroom,” this means that the same way towards the goal
had been entered upon, as is shown by the mark X.2665
| 2665 In
Greek ί = ten. The
word employed signifies the index of a sun-dial.—Tr. [The lamps found in the Roman catacombs have this
mark (X), which is at once a monogram for Christ and a reference to the
ten virgins. In the Greek the accented Iota might yet be
associated with the initial of Jesus.] | By profession they had equally
proposed the same end, and therefore they are called ten, since, as I
have said, they chose the same profession; but they did not, for all
that, go forth in the same way to meet the bridegroom. For some
provided abundant future nourishment for their lamps which were fed
with oil, but others were careless, thinking only of the present.
And, therefore, they are divided into two equal numbers of five, inasmuch as the
one class preserved the five senses, which most people consider the
gates of wisdom, pure and undefiled by sins; but the others, on the
contrary, corrupted them by multitudes of sins, defiling themselves
with evil. For having restrained them, and kept them free from
righteousness, they bore a more abundant crop of transgressions, in
consequence of which it came to pass that they were forbidden, and shut
out from the divine courts. For whether, on the one hand, we do
right, or, on the other, do wrong through these senses, our habits of
good and evil are confirmed. And as Thallousa said that there is
a chastity of the eyes, and of the ears, and of the tongue, and so on
of the other senses; so here she who keeps inviolate the faith of the
five pathways of virtue—sight, taste, smell, touch, and
hearing—is called by the name of the five virgins, because she
has kept the five forms of the sense pure to Christ, as a lamp, causing
the light of holiness to shine forth clearly from each of them.
For the flesh is truly, as it were, our five-lighted lamp, which the
soul will bear like a torch, when it stands before Christ the
Bridegroom, on the day of the resurrection, showing her faith springing
out clear and bright through all the senses, as He Himself taught,
saying,2666
| 2666
Luke xii. 49. The Latin version is
certainly more accurate, “Quid volo nisi ut
accendatur?”—Tr. [A visionary
interpretation follows. But has not this text been too much
overlooked in its literal significance? “It is the
last time.” The planet is now on fire.] | “I am
come to send fire on the earth; and what will I if it be already
kindled?” meaning by the earth our bodies, in which He wished the
swift-moving and fiery operation of His doctrine to be kindled.
Now the oil represents wisdom and righteousness; for while the soul
rains down unsparingly, and pours forth these things upon the body, the
light of virtue is kindled unquenchably, making its good actions to
shine before men, so that our Father which is in heaven may be
glorified.2667
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