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25.
Chastity and Prayer.
Now after these things, having considered how many
possible accidents may arise in marriages, which it was necessary for
the man to endure and in this way suffer very great hardships, or if he
did not endure, to transgress the word of Christ, the disciples say to
him, taking refuge in celibacy as easier, and more expedient than
marriage, though the latter appears to be expedient, “If the
case of the man is so with his wife, it is not expedient to
marry.”6234 And to this
the Saviour said, teaching us that absolute chastity is a gift given by
God, and not merely the fruit of training, but given by God with
prayer, “All men cannot receive the saying, but they to whom it
is given.”6235 Then seeing
that some make a sophistical attack on the saying. “To whom it is
given,” as if those who wished to remain pure in celibacy, but
were mastered by their desires, had an excuse, we must say that, if we
believe the Scriptures, why at all do we lay hold of the saying,
“But they to whom it is given,” but no longer attend to
this, “Ask and it shall be given you,”6236 and to that which is added to it, “For
every one that asketh receiveth”?6237 For if they “to whom it is
given” can receive this saying about absolute purity, let him who
wills ask, obeying and believing Him who said, “Ask and it shall
be given you,”6238 and not doubting
about the saying, “Every one that asketh
receiveth.”6239 But when
there you will inquire who it is that asketh, for no one of those who
do not receive has asked, even though he seems to have done so, since
it is not lawful to say that the saying, “Every one that asketh
receiveth,” is a lie. Who then is he that asketh, but he
who has obeyed Jesus when He says, “If ye stand praying, believe
that ye receive, and ye shall receive”?6240 But he that asketh must do everything
in his power that he may pray “with the spirit” and pray
also “with the understanding,”6241
and pray “without ceasing,”6242
keeping in mind also the saying, “And He spake a parable unto
them to the end that they ought always to pray, and not to faint,
saying, There was in a city a judge,”6243
etc. And it is useful to know what it is to ask, and what it is
to receive, and what is meant by “Every one that asketh,
receiveth,”6244 and by “I say
unto you though he will not rise and give him, because he is his
friend, yet because of his importunity, he will arise and give him as
many as he needeth.”6245 It is
therefore added, “And I say unto you, Ask, and it shall be given
you,” and so on. Further, let the saying, “All men
cannot receive the saying but they to whom it is given,”6246 be a stimulus to us to ask worthily of
receiving; and this, “What son is there of you who shall ask his
father for a fish, will he for a fish give him a
serpent,”6247 etc. God
therefore will give the good gift, perfect purity in celibacy and
chastity, to those who ask Him with the whole soul, and with faith, and
in prayers without ceasing.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
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