43. Concerning continence
also itself hath it not been most openly said, “And when I knew
that no one can be continent unless God give it, this also itself
was a part of wisdom, to know whose gift it was?”2177
| 2177 Wisdom 8.21" id="v.iii.xliv-p2.1" parsed="|Wis|8|21|0|0" osisRef="Bible:Wis.8.21">Wisd. viii. 21 |
But
perhaps continence is the
gift of
God, but
wisdom man bestows upon
himself, whereby to understand, that that
gift is, not his own, but
of
God. Yea, “The
Lord maketh
wise the
blind:”
2178
and,
“The
testimony of the
Lord is
faithful, it giveth
wisdom unto
little ones:”
2179
and, “If
any one want
wisdom, let him ask of
God, Who giveth unto all
liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given to him.”
2180
But it
becometh
virgins to be
wise, that their
lamps be not
extinguished.
2181
How
“
wise,”
save “not having high thoughts, but consenting unto
the lowly.”
2182
For
Wisdom
Itself hath said unto man, “Lo,
piety is
wisdom!”
2183
If
therefore thou hast nothing, which thou hast not received, “Be
not high-
minded, but
fear.”
2184
And
love not thou little, as
though Him by Whom little hath been
forgiven to thee; but, rather,
love Him much, by Whom much hath been given to thee. For if he
loves, unto whom it hath been given not to
repay: how much more
ought he to
love, unto whom it hath been given to possess. For
both, whosoever continues
chaste from the beginning, is ruled by
Him; and whosoever is made
chaste instead of unchaste, is corrected
by Him; and whosoever is unchaste even unto the end, is abandoned
by Him. But this He can do by
secret counsel, by unrighteous He
cannot: and perhaps it is for this end that it lies hid, that there
may be more fear, and less pride.
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