4. For that is not an empty carefulness nor a vain fear, which takes counsel for the way of salvation, which guards the commandments of the Lord and of life; so that they who have dedicated themselves to Christ, and who depart from carnal concupiscence, and have vowed themselves to God as well in the flesh as in the spirit, may consummate their work, destined as it is to a great reward, and may not study any longer to be adorned or to please anybody but their Lord, from whom also they expect the reward of virginity; as He Himself says: “All men cannot receive this word, but they to whom it is given. For there are some eunuchs, which were so born from their mother’s womb; and there are some eunuchs, which were made eunuchs of men; and there are eunuchs which have made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven’s sake.”10    Matt. xix. 11. Again, also by this word of the angel the gift of continency is set forth, and virginity is preached: “These are they which have not defiled themselves with women, for they have remained virgins; these are they which follow the Lamb whithersoever He goeth.”11    Apoc. xiv. 4. For not only thus does the Lord promise the grace of continency to men, and pass over women; but since the woman is a portion of the man, and is taken and formed from him, God in Scripture almost always speaks to the Protoplast, the first formed, because they are two in one flesh, and in the male is at the same time signified the woman also.

IV. Neque enim inanis haec cautio est et vana formido quae ad salutis viam consulit, quae Dominica et vitalia praecepta custodit, ut quae se Christo dicaverint, et a carnali concupiscentia recedentes tam carne quam mente se Deo voverint, consumment opus 0443C suum magno praemio destinatum, nec ornari jam aut 0444A placere cuiquam nisi domino suo studeant, a quo et mercedem virginitatis expectant, dicente ipso: Non omnes capiunt verbum, sed illi quibus datum est. Sunt enim spadones qui ex utero matris sic nati sunt, et sunt spadones qui coacti sunt ab hominibus, et sunt spadones qui se ipsos castraverunt propter regnum coelorum (Matth. XIX, 11, 12). Denuo quoque per hanc Angeli vocem continentiae munus ostenditur, virginitas praedicatur: Hi sunt qui cum mulieribus se non coinquinaverunt. Virgines enim permanserunt. Hi sunt qui sequuntur Agnum quocumque ierit (Apoc. XIV, 4). Neque enim tantum masculis continentiae gratiam Dominus repromittit et feminas praeterit, sed, quoniam femina viri portio est et ex eo sumpta atque formata est, in Scripturis fere omnibus ad protoplastum Deus 0444B loquitur, quia sunt duo in carne una et in masculo simul significatur et femina.