43. Concerning continence also itself hath it not been most openly said, “And when I knew that no one can be continent unless God give it, this also itself was a part of wisdom, to know whose gift it was?”153    Wisd. viii. 21 But perhaps continence is the gift of God, but wisdom man bestows upon himself, whereby to understand, that that gift is, not his own, but of God. Yea, “The Lord maketh wise the blind:”154    Ps. cxlvi. 8 and, “The testimony of the Lord is faithful, it giveth wisdom unto little ones:”155    Ps. xix. 7 and, “If any one want wisdom, let him ask of God, Who giveth unto all liberally, and upbraideth not, and it shall be given to him.”156    James i. 5 But it becometh virgins to be wise, that their lamps be not extinguished.157    Matt. xxv. 4 How “wise,” save “not having high thoughts, but consenting unto the lowly.”158    Rom. xii. 16 For Wisdom Itself hath said unto man, “Lo, piety is wisdom!”159    Job xxviii. 28. LXX. If therefore thou hast nothing, which thou hast not received, “Be not high-minded, but fear.”160    Rom. xi. 20 And love not thou little, as though Him by Whom little hath been forgiven to thee; but, rather, love Him much, by Whom much hath been given to thee. For if he loves, unto whom it hath been given not to repay: how much more ought he to love, unto whom it hath been given to possess. For both, whosoever continues chaste from the beginning, is ruled by Him; and whosoever is made chaste instead of unchaste, is corrected by Him; and whosoever is unchaste even unto the end, is abandoned by Him. But this He can do by secret counsel, by unrighteous He cannot: and perhaps it is for this end that it lies hid, that there may be more fear, and less pride.

43. De ipsa etiam continentia nonne apertissime dictum est: Et cum scirem quia nemo potest esse continens nisi Deus det, et hoc ipsum erat sapientiae, scire cujus esset hoc donum (Sap. VIII, 21)?

CAPUT XLII.

Continentia item et sapientia nonnisi a Deo praestantur. Sed forte continentia donum Dei est, sapientiam vero sibi ipse homo praestat, qua illud donum non suum, sed Dei esse cognoscat. Imo, Dominus sapientes facit caecos (Psal. CXLV, 8); et, Testimonium Domini fidele, sapientiam praestat parvulis (Psal. XVIII, 8); et, Si quis indiget sapientia, postulet a Deo, qui dat omnibus affluenter, et non improperat; et dabitur ei (Jacobi I, 5). Sapientes autem esse virgines decet, ne lampades earum exstinguantur (Matth. XXV, 4). Quomodo sapientes, nisi non alta sapientes, sed humilibus consentientes (Rom. XII, 16)? Dixit enim homini ipsa Sapientia, Ecce pietas est sapientia (Job XXVIII, 28). Si ergo nihil habes quod non accepisti, noli altum sapere, sed time (Rom. XI, 20). Et 0422 noli modicum diligere, quasi a quo tibi modicum dimissum est: sed potius multum dilige, a quo tibi multum tributum est. Si enim diligit, cui donatum est ne redderet; quanto magis debet diligere, cui donatum est ut haberet? Nam et quisquis ab initio pudicus permanet, ab illo regitur; et quisquis ex impudico pudicus fit, ab illo corrigitur; et quisquis usque in finem impudicus est, ab illo deseritur. Hoc autem ille occulto judicio facere potest, iniquo non potest: et fortasse ideo latet, ut plus timeatur, et minus superbiatur.