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| Virgins Being Martyrs First Among the Companions of Christ.
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Chapter III.—Virgins
Being Martyrs First Among the Companions of Christ.
Let no one suppose that all the remaining company
of those who have believed are condemned, thinking that we who are
virgins alone shall be led on to attain the promises, not understanding
that there shall be tribes and families and orders, according to the
analogy of the faith of each. And this Paul, too, sets forth,
saying,2688
“There is one glory of the sun, and another glory of the moon,
and another glory of the stars: for one star differeth from
another star in glory. So also is the resurrection of the
dead.” And the Lord does not profess to give the same
honours to all; but to some He promises that they shall be numbered in
the kingdom of heaven, to others the inheritance of the earth, and to
others to see the Father.2689
And here, also, He announces
that the order and holy choir of the virgins shall first enter in
company with Him into the rest of the new dispensation, as into a
bridal chamber. For they were martyrs, not as bearing the pains
of the body for a little moment of time, but as enduring them through
all their life, not shrinking from truly wrestling in an Olympian
contest for the prize of chastity; but resisting the fierce torments of
pleasures and fears and griefs, and the other evils of the iniquity of
men, they first of all carry off the prize, taking their place in the
higher rank of those who receive the promise. Undoubtedly these
are the souls whom the Word calls alone His chosen spouse and His
sister, but the rest concubines and virgins and daughters, speaking
thus:2690
“There are threescore queens and fourscore concubines, and
virgins without number. My dove, my undefiled, is but one; she is
the only one of her mother, she is the choice one of her that bare
her: the daughters saw her and blessed her: yea, the queens
and the concubines, and they praised her.” For there being
plainly many daughters of the Church, one alone is the chosen and most
precious in her eyes above all, namely, the order of
virgins.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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