about steeping themselves in a multitude of debaucheries, or
CHAP. XIX.] THE OLD DISPENSATION FIGURATIVE. 97 it. And tlie wretched man does not perceive tliat such matters are recorded with this useful design, that men of good hope may learn the salutary lesson, both that the custom they spurn can be turned to a good use, and that which they embrace can be used to condemnation, if the use of the former be accompanied with charity, and the use of the latter with lust.
2 7. For, if it was possible for one man to use many wives with chastity, it is possible for another to use one wife with lust. And I look with greater approval on the man who uses the fruitfulness of many wives for the sake of an ulterior object, than on the man who enjoys the body of one wife for its own sake. For in the former case the man aims at a useful object suited to the circumstances of the times ; in the latter case he gratifies a lust which is engrossed in temporal enjoyments. And those men to whom the apostle permitted as a matter of indulgence to have one wife because of their incontinence,^ were less near to God than those who, though they had each of them numerous wives, yet just as a wise man uses food and drink only for the sake of bodily health, used marriage only for the sake of offspring. And, accordingly, if these last had been still alive at the advent of our Lord, when the time not of casting stones away but of gathering them together had come,^ they would have immediately made themselves eunuchs for the kingdom of heaven's sake. For there is no difficulty in abstaining unless when there is lust in enjoying. And assuredly those men of whom I speak knew that wantonness even in regard to wdves is abuse and intemperance, as is proved by Tobit's prayer when he was married to his wife. For he saj^s : " Blessed art Thou, God of our fathers, and blessed is Thy holy and glorious name for ever ; let the heavens bless
Thee, and all Thy creatures. Thou madest Adam, and gavest him Eve his wife for an helper and stay. . . . And now, O Lord, Thou knowest that I take not this my sister for lust, but uprightly : therefore have pity on us, Lord."^
Chap. xix.— Wicked menjudfje othem hy themselves.
28. But those who, giving the rein to lust, either wander about steeping themselves in a multitude of debaucheries, or
1 1 Cor. vii. 1, 2, 9. ^ Eccles. iii. 5. ^ ^obit viii. 5-7.
CHPi. DOCT. U