On Chastity
Honoring Christ's body
by AUGUSTINE OF HIPPO
Do ye who are married keep the fidelity of the marriage-bed
with your wives? Render what you require. As a husband
thou requirest chastity from thy wife; give her an example,
not words. Thou art the head, look where thou goest. For
thou oughtest to go where it may not be dangerous for
her to follow: yea, thou oughtest to walk thyself where
thou wouldest have her follow. Thou requirest strength
from the weaker sex; the lust of the flesh ye have both
of you: let him that is the stronger, be the first to
conquer.
And yet, which is to be lamented, many men are conquered
by the women. Women preserve chastity, which men will
not preserve; and in that they preserve it not, would
wish to appear men: as though he was in sex the stronger,
only that the enemy might more easily subdue him. There
is a struggle, a war, a combat. The man is stronger than
the woman, the "man is the head of the woman."
The woman combats and overcomes; dost thou succumb to
the enemy? The body stands firm, and does the head lie
low?
But those of you who have not yet wives, and who yet
already approach to the Lord's Table, and eat the Flesh
of Christ, and drink His Blood, if ye are about to marry,
keep yourselves for your wives. As ye would have them
come to you, such ought they also to find you. What young
man is there who would not wish to marry a chaste wife?
And if he were to espouse a virgin who would not desire
she should be unpolluted?
Thou lookest for one unpolluted, be unpolluted thyself.
Thou lookest for one pure, be not thyself impure.
For it is not that she is able, and thou art not able.
If it were not possible, then could not she be so. But,
seeing that she can, let this teach thee, that it is possible.
And that she may have this power, God is her ruler. But
thou wilt have greater glory if thou shalt do it. Why
greater glory? The vigilance of parents is a check to
her, the very modesty of the weaker sex is a bridle to
her; lastly, she is in fear of the laws of which thou
art not afraid. Therefore know then that thou wilt have
greater glory if thou shall do it; because if thou do
it, thou fearest God. She has many things to fear besides
God, thou fearest God alone. But He whom thou fearest
is greater than all. He is to be feared in public, He
in secret. Thou goest out, thou art seen; thou goest in,
thou art seen; the lamp is lighted, He seeth thee; the
lamp is extinguished, He seeth thee; thou enterest into
thy closet, He seeth thee; in the retirement of thine
own heart, He seeth thee. Fear Him, Him whose care it
is to see thee; and even by this fear be chaste. Or if
thou wilt sin, seek for some place where He may not see
thee, and do what thou wouldest.
But ye who have taken the vow already, chasten your
bodies more strictly, and suffer not yourselves to loosen
the reins of concupiscence even after those things which
are permitted; that ye may not only turn away from an
unlawful connection, but may despise even a lawful look.
Remember, in whichever sex ye are, whether men or women,
that ye are leading on earth the life of Angels: "For
the Angels are neither given in marriage, nor marry."
This shall we be, when we shall have risen again. How
much better are ye, who before death begin to be what
men will be after the resurrection! Keep your proper degrees,
for God keepeth for you your honours. The resurrection
of the dead is compared to the stars that are set in heaven.
"For star differeth from star in glory," as
the Apostle says; "so also is the resurrection of
the dead." For after one manner virginity shall shine
there, after another shall wedded chastity shine there,
after another shall holy widowhood shine there. They shall
shine diversely, but all shall be there. The brilliancy
unequal, the heaven the same.
With your thoughts then on your degrees, and keeping
your professions, approach ye to the Flesh of the Lord,
approach to the Blood of the Lord. Whoso knoweth himself
to be otherwise, let him not approach. Be moved to compunction
rather by my words. For they who know that they are keeping
for their wives, what from their wives they require, they
who know that they are in every way keeping continence,
if this they have vowed to God, feel joy at my words;
but they who hear me say, "Whosoever of you are not
keeping chastity, approach not to that Bread," are
saddened. And I should have no wish to say this; but what
can I do?
Shall I fear man, so as to suppress the truth? What,
if those servants do not fear the Lord, shall I therefore
too not fear? as if I do not know that it is said, "`Thou
wicked and slothful servant, thou shouldest dispense,
and I require." Lo, I have dispensed, O Lord my God;
lo, in Thy Sight, and in the sight of Thy Holy Angels,
and of this Thy people, I have laid out Thy money; for
I am afraid of Thy judgment. I have dispensed, do Thou
require. Though I should not say it, Thou wouldest do
it. Therefore I rather say, I have dispensed, do Thou
convert, do Thou spare.
Make them chaste who have been unchaste, that in Thy
Sight we may rejoice together when the judgment shall
come, both he who hath dispensed and he to whom it hath
been dispensed. Doth this please you? May it do so! Whosoever
of you are unchaste, amend yourselves, whilst ye are alive.
For I have power to speak the word of God, but to deliver
the unchaste, who persevere in wickedness, from the judgment
and condemnation of God, have I no power.
from Sermon LXXXII.
