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.”68    Matt. x. 22 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.

CAPUT XX.

25. Illecebrae saeculares quae tam cito deficiunt, contemnendae. Praeteritus dies non revertitur in futurum, et post hesternum pergit hodiernus, et post hodiernum perrecturus est crastinus: et ecce omnia tempora et temporalia transeunt, ut veniat mansura promissio; et qui perseveraverit usque in finem, hic salvus erit (Matth. X, 22). Si mundus jam perit, nupta cui parit? Aut corde paritura, et carne non paritura, cur nubit? Si autem adhuc duraturus est mundus, cur non magis amatur per quem factus est mundus? Si jam deficiunt illecebrae saeculares, non est quod christianus animus cupiditate conquirat: si autem adhuc manebunt, est quod sanctitate contemnat. Horum duorum in altero spes nulla libidinis, in altero major est gloria charitatis. Quot aut quanti sunt ipsi anni, quibus videtur vigere flos carnalis aetatis? Nonnullae feminae nuptias cogitantes et ardenter optantes, dum spernuntur aut differuntur, repente senuerunt, ut eas nubere jam puderet amplius quam liberet. Multae autem nuptae recentissima sua conjunctione in longinqua profectis viris suis, reditum eorum exspectando grandaevae factae sunt, et tanquam cito viduatae aliquando nec remeantes saltem senes suos anus suscipere meruerunt. Si ergo vel spernentibus vel tardantibus sponsis, vel peregrinantibus maritis, carnalis concupiscentia potuit contineri ne stuprum aut adulterium committeretur, cur contineri non potest ne sacrilegium committatur? Si repressa est cum ferveret dilata, cur non opprimitur cum friguerit amputata? Plus enim ardentem ferunt libidinem, quae non desperant ejusdem libidinis voluptatem. Quae autem innuptarum castitatem Deo vovent, ipsam spem subtrahunt, quae fomes amoris est. Unde facilius concupiscentia refrenatur, quae nulla exspectatione succenditur: contra quam tamen nisi oretur, ut superetur, ipsa illicita exoptatur ardentius.