Therefore that marriage takes place for the sake of begetting youngsters, the Apostle is a witness thus, I’ll, says he, that the youthful girls be married. 34. But these of ours who’ve wives we advise, with all our power, that they dare not to evaluate of these holy fathers after their very own weakness, evaluating, because the Apostle says, themselves with themselves; and therefore, not understanding how nice strength the soul has, doing service unto righteousness towards lusts, that it acquiesce not in carnal motions of this kind, or undergo them to glide on or advance unto sexual intercourse past the necessity of begetting children, so far because the order of nature, so far as using customized, to this point because the decrees of legal guidelines prescribe. But nevertheless let equivalent to are continent, either men, who, on the demise of their wives, or, ladies, who, on the loss of life of their husbands, or each, who, with mutual consent, have vowed continence unto God, know that to them indeed there is due a greater recompense than marriage chastity demands; however, (as regards) the marriages of the holy Fathers, who had been joined after the style of prophecy, who neither in sexual intercourse sought something save children, nor in children themselves something save what should set ahead Christ coming hereafter in the flesh, not only let them not despise them compared of their very own purpose, however allow them to with none doubting prefer them even to their own goal.
For how rather more simply may they, on the bidding or exhortation of God, not use sexual intercourse, who, as an act of obedience, may slay the little one, for the begetting of which alone they used the ministry of sexual intercourse? 33. And, the case being thus, enough and greater than sufficient answer has been made to the heretics, whether or not they be Manichees, or whosoever different that carry false fees against the Fathers of the Old Testament, with regards to their having several wives, pondering this a proof whereby to convict them of incontinence: offered, that’s, that they understand, that that is not any sin, which is dedicated neither towards nature, in that they used these women not for wantonness, however for the begetting of youngsters: nor in opposition to customized, forasmuch as such issues were often done at these times: nor against command, forasmuch as they were forbidden by no regulation. Whence who doubts that we do not rightly compare unto the excellence of these holy fathers and mothers begetting sons, the men and women of our time, though free from all intercourse, but in virtue of obedience inferior: even when there had been wanting to these men in habit of mind also, what’s plain in the deed of the latter.
Answer, I’m better, however than those, who are void of the advantage of continence, which I consider not of Sara: she subsequently together with this advantage did what was suited to that time, from which I’m free, that in my body also might seem, what she saved in her mind. And by way of this means, they, who corrupt good manners by evil communications, with empty and vain craft, say to a Christian man exercising continence, and refusing marriage, What then, are you higher than Abraham? Or, if he feels and is aware of himself to be such, as that, (the virtue of continence being preserved and continued in the habit of his thoughts, in case he had descended unto the use of marriage from some responsibility of religion,) he ought to be such an husband, and such a father, as Abraham was; let him dare to make plain reply to that captious questioner, and to say, I’m not indeed higher than Abraham, only in this sort of continence, of which he was not void, though it appeared not: but I’m such, not having apart from he, but doing other. But it may occur that the virtue of continence is much less in his thoughts, who uses not marriage, which Abraham used: but yet it is greater than in his thoughts, who on this account held chastity of marriage, in that he could not a better.
Who see that the advantage of continence must exist even in the behavior of the soul, but to be proven forth in deed, in accordance with opportunity of things and instances; even as the advantage of persistence of holy martyrs appeared in deed; however of the remaining equally holy was in behavior. But now, at this time, not to seek offspring after the flesh, and by this means to keep up a certain perpetual freedom from every such work, and to be made subject after a spiritual manner unto one Husband Christ, is assuredly better and holier; offered, that is, males so use that freedom, as it’s written, so as to have their ideas of the issues of the Lord, how you can please the Lord; that’s, that Continence at all times do take thought, that obedience fall not brief in any matter: and this advantage, as the root-virtue, and (as it’s wont to be called) the womb, and clearly universal, the holy fathers of outdated exercised in deed; however that Continence they possessed in behavior of mind. But unto the sanctity of the Sacrament that saying, The spouse to not depart from her husband, but, in case she shall have departed, to stay unmarried, or to be reconciled to her husband: and let not the husband put away his wife.