25. The past day returns not
hereafter, and after yesterday proceeds to-day, and after to-day
will proceed to-morrow; and, lo, all times and the things of time
pass away, that there may come the promise that shall abide; and
“whoso shall have persevered even unto the end, this one shall be
saved.”2287
If the
world is now perishing, the
married woman, for whom beareth she? Or
in
heart about to bear, and in
flesh not about to bear, why doth
she marry? But if the
world is still about to last, why is not He
more
loved, by Whom the
world was made? If already enticements of
this
life are failing, there is not any thing for a
Christian soul
with desire to
seek after; but if they shall yet remain, there is
what with
holiness he may
despise. For the one of these two there
is no
hope of
lust, in the other greater
glory of
charity. How many
or how long are the very years, in which the
flower of
carnal age
seems to flourish? Some
females having thoughts of
marriage, and
with ardor wishing it, whilst they are being
despised or put off,
on a sudden have grown old, so as that now they would feel
shame,
rather than desire, to marry. But many having
married, their
husbands having set out into distant
countries very soon after
their union, have grown aged expecting their return, and, as though
soon left
widows, at times have not even attained so as at least as
old
women to receive their old men on their return. If therefore,
when
betrothed bridegrooms
despised or delayed, or when
husbands
were abroad,
carnal desire could be restrained from commission of
fornication or
adultery, why cannot it be restrained from
commission of
sacrilege? If it hath been repressed, when being
deferred it was glowing, why is it not put down, when having been
cut off it had grown cold? For they in greater measure
endure
glowing of desire, who
despair not of the
pleasure of the same
desire. But whoso of
unmarried persons
vow chastity to
God,
withdraw that very hope, which is the fuel of love. Hence with more
ease is desire bridled, which is kindled by no expectation; and
yet, unless against this prayer be made, in order to overcome it,
itself as unlawful is the more ardently wished for.
E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
