23. Lastly, let us hear the
Lord Himself delivering most plain judgment on this matter. For,
upon His speaking after a divine and fearful manner concerning
husband and wife not separating, save on account of fornication,
His disciples said to Him, “If the case be such with a wife, it
is not good to marry.”2066
To whom He saith, “Not all
receive this saying. For there are
eunuchs who were so
born: but
there are others who were made by men: and there are
eunuchs, who
made themselves
eunuchs for the sake of the
kingdom of
heaven:
whoso can receive, let him receive.” What could be said more
true, what more clear?
Christ saith, the
Truth saith, the
Power and
Wisdom of
God saith, that they, who of pious purpose have contained
from marrying a
wife, make themselves
eunuchs for the sake of the
kingdom of
heaven: and against this, human
vanity with impious
rashness
contends, that they, who do so,
shun only the present
necessity of the
troubles of married life, but in the kingdom of
heaven have no more than others.
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