1. I do not conceive that I have exceeded any portions of my duty, in always striving as much as possible, by daily discussions of the Gospels, to aff

 2. Although, therefore, I exhort you always, as you are aware, to many things, and to the precepts of the Lord’s admonition—for what else can be desir

 3. Chastity is the dignity of the body, the ornament of morality, the sacredness of the sexes, the bond of modesty, the source of purity, the peaceful

 4. But chastity maintains the first rank in virgins, the second in those who are continent, the third in the case of wedlock. Yet in all it is gloriou

 5. The precepts of chastity, brethren, are ancient. Wherefore do I say ancient? Because they were ordained at the same time as men themselves. For bot

 6. Christ gave this judgment when, being inquired of, He said that a wife must not be put away, save for the cause of adultery such honour did He put

 7. But as laws are prescribed to matrons, who are so bound that they cannot thence be separated, while virginity and continency are beyond all law, th

 8. But since the precepts of chastity have thus briefly been set forth to us, let us now give an instance of chastity. For it is more profitable when

 9. But not less from a different direction arises to us another similar instance of chastity from the continence of women. Susanna, as we read, the da

 10. The memory of noble descent could not enervate them, although to some this is a suggestive licence to lasciviousness nor the comeliness of their

 11. Nothing so delights the faithful soul as the healthy consciousness of an unstained modesty. To have vanquished pleasure is the greatest pleasure

 12. For what is chastity but a virtuous mind added to watchfulness over the body so that modesty observed in respect of the sexual relations, atteste

 13. But to return to what I began with: chastity is ever to be cultivated by men and women it is to be kept with all watchfulness within its bounds.

 14. It must be said, moreover, that adultery is not pleasure, but mutual contempt nor can it delight, because it kills both the soul and modesty. Let

2. Although, therefore, I exhort you always, as you are aware, to many things, and to the precepts of the Lord’s admonition—for what else can be desirable or more important to me, than that in all things you should stand perfect in the Lord?—yet I admonish you, that you should before all things maintain the barriers of chastity, as also you do: knowing that you are the temple of the Lord, the members of Christ, the habitation of the Holy Spirit, elected to hope, consecrated to faith, destined to salvation, sons of God, brethren of Christ, associates of the Holy Spirit, owing nothing any longer to the flesh, as born again of water, that the chastity, over and above the will, which we should always desire to be ours, may be afforded to us also, on account of the redemption, that that which has been consecrated by Christ might not be corrupted. For if the apostle declares the Church to be the spouse of Christ, I beseech you consider what chastity is required, where the Church is given in marriage as a betrothed virgin. And I indeed, except that I have proposed to admonish you with brevity, think the most diffuse praises due, and could set forth abundant laudations of chastity; but I have thought it superfluous to praise it at greater length among those who practise it. For you adorn it while you exhibit it; and in its exercise you set forth its more abundant praises, being made its ornament, while it also is yours, each lending and borrowing honour from the other. It adds to you the discipline of good morals; you confer upon it the ministry of saintly works. For how much and what it can effect has on the one hand been manifest by your means, and on the other it has shown and taught what you are wishing for,—the two advantages of precepts and practice being combined into one, that nothing should appear maimed, as would be the case if either principles were wanting to service, or service to principles.

II. Quamvis ergo ad multa vos negotia et ad divinae monitionis praecepta, semper ut scitis exhorter (quid enim mihi aliud votivum aut majus potest esse, quam ut per omnia perfecti stetis in Domino), tamen ut praecipue pudicitiae claustra teneatis (quod et facitis) admoneo: scientes templum esse vos Domini, membra Christi, habitationem Spiritus sancti, 0820D electos ad spem, consecratos ad fidem, destinatos ad salutem; filios Dei, fratres Christi, consortes Spiritus Sancti, nihil jam carni debentes, quasi renatos ex aqua et pudicitia, praeter voluntatem (Job I, 13) 0821A quam velle debemus ut nostra sit: praestetur etiam propter redemptionem, ut corrumpi non possit, quae a Christo consecrata sit. Nam si Apostolus Ecclesiam sponsam Christi (II Cor. XI) pronuntiat, oro vos, quanta pudicitia exigitur, ubi Ecclesia inter matrimonia sponsa virgo praestetur? Et ego quidem, nisi quod breviter vos admonere proposui, latissimas satis puto, et locupletes pudicitiae laudes proferre potui: sed supervacuum duxi laudare eam diutius apud colentes. Vos enim illam ornatis dum geritis, et plures ejus laudes exercendo profertis; facti ejus ornamentum, dum et illa vestrum est, mutuo decore invicem foenerando. Illa vobis disciplinam bonorum suggerit morum, vos illi ministerium praestatis operum sanctorum. Nam et illa quantum et quid possit 0821B per vos apparuit, et quid vos velitis, ipsa demonstravit et docuit; copulatis in unum, duobus bonis mandatorum et rerum, ne quid mutilum videretur, si aut praecepta ministeriis, praeceptis ministeria defuissent.