1. It
is difficult to treat of the virtue of the soul, which is called
Continence, in a manner fully suitable and worthy; but He, whose
great gift this virtue is, will help our littleness under the
burden of so great a weight. For He, who bestows it upon His
faithful ones when they are continent, Himself gives discourse of
it to His ministers when they speak. Lastly, of so great a matter
purposing to speak what Himself shall grant, in the first place we
say and prove that Continence is the gift of God.1807
| 1807 Wisdom 8.21" id="v.i.i-p2.1" parsed="|Wis|8|21|0|0" osisRef="Bible:Wis.8.21">Wis. viii. 21 |
We have it
written in the Book of
Wisdom, that no one can be continent, unless
God grant it. But the
Lord, concerning that greater and more
glorious Continence itself, whereby there is continence from the
marriage bond, says, “Not all can receive this saying, but they
to whom it is given.”
1808
And since
marriage chastity also
itself cannot be
guarded, unless there be Continence from
unlawful
intercourse, the
Apostle declared both to be the
gift of
God, when
He spake of both lives, that is, both that of
marriage and that
without marriage, saying, “I would that all men were so as
myself; but each hath his own gift from God; one in this manner,
another in that manner.”
1809
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