14. It is, therefore, the
present necessity that we are to avoid, but yet such as is a
hindrance to somewhat of the good things to come; by which
necessity the married life is forced to have thought of the things
of the world, how to please, the husband the wife or the wife the
husband. Not that these separate from the kingdom of God, as there
are sins, which are restrained by command, not by counsel, on this
account, because it is matter of condemnation not to obey the Lord
when He commands: but that, which, within the kingdom of God
itself, might be more largely possessed, if there were larger
thoughts how they were to please God, will assuredly be less, when
as this very thing is less thought of by necessity of marriage.
Therefore he says, “Concerning virgins I have not command of the
Lord.”2047
For
whosoever obeys not a command, is
guilty and liable for
punishment.
Wherefore, because it is not
sin to marry a
wife or to be
married,
(but if it were a
sin, it would be forbidden by a “Command,”)
on this account there is no “Command” of the
Lord concerning
virgins. But since, after we have
shunned or had
forgiveness of
sins, we must approach
eternal life, wherein is a certain or more
excellent
glory, to be assigned not unto all who shall
live for
ever, but unto certain there; in order to obtain which it is not
enough to have been set free from
sins, unless there be vowed unto
Him, Who setteth us free, something, which it is no matter of fault
not to have vowed, but matter of
praise to have vowed and
performed; he saith, “I give
counsel, as having obtained
mercy
from
God that I should be
faithful.” For neither ought I to
grudge faithful counsel, who not by my own merits, but by the
mercy
of
God, am
faithful. “I think therefore that this is good, by
reason of the present necessity.”
2048
This, saith he, on which I have
not command of the
Lord, but give
counsel, that is concerning
virgins, I think to be good by reason of the present necessity. For
I know what the necessity of the present time, unto which marriages
serve, compels, that the things of
God be less thought of than is
enough for the obtaining that
glory, which shall not be of all,
although they
abide in
eternal life and salvation: “For star
differeth from star in brightness; so also the Resurrection of the
dead.
2049
It is,”
therefore, “good for a man so to be.”
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