Marriage and Virginity
initiated internally. As it comes from the mouth of the heart it already defiles the person, even if, for lack of opportunity, the external action is not done with the body. If nothing of this kind is allowed to emerge, because there is a gate of continence put on the mouth of the heart, which is where everything that defiles a person comes from, the result is a purity in which conscience can already rejoice, even though there is not yet that perfect state where continence no longer has to struggle against vice. Now, however, as long as the flesh has desires opposed to the spirit, and the spirit has desires opposed to the flesh (Gal 5:17), it is enough for us that we do not consent to the evil feelings that we experience within us. When that consent is given, then what defiles a person comes out from the mouth of the heart.
When, on the other hand, through continence that consent is not given, the evil of carnal desire, against which spiritual desire is in combat, is prevented from doing harm.
The Struggle of Continence with Evil Desires
3, 6. It is one thing, however, to fight well, as happens now when the deadly assault is resisted, but another to have no enemy, as will be the case then, when the last enemy, death, will be destroyed (1 Cor 15:26). When that continence is in control of sensuality and keeps it in check, it is at the same time both zealous for the perfection we aspire to in immortality, and hostile to the evil we strive against in our present mortality. It looks on the former with love, and attests with enmity to the latter; aspiring to what is honorable, fleeing from what is dishonorable. Continence certainly would not toil to restrain our desires, if we had no inclination toward anything improper, if there were no resistance to our good intentions from evil desires. The apostle cries out and says, I know that goodness does not dwell in me, that is, in my body. I have the desire to do good, but I do not have the ability to bring the good to completion (Rom 7:18). At present good can be accomplished by not consenting to evil; but good will be brought to completion only when the evil desires themselves come to an end.
The same Doctor of the Gentiles also cries out: I find pleasure in God's law in my inner self, but I am aware of another law in my body that rebels against the law of my mind (Rom 7:22-
23).†2
7. People do not experience this struggle within themselves unless they are fighting for virtue and battling against vice, and the evil of carnal desire is not conquered except by the good of continence. There are those, however, who are entirely unaware of God's law, and do not even count evil desires as an enemy,