when he is holding up before virgins who have made their
l.'S ON CHRISTIAN DOCTRINE. [bOOK IV.
lioliness of the Lord, the brighter portion of the flock of Christ. The glorious fruitfillness of their mother the Church rejoices in them, and in them flourishes more abundantly ; and in l)roportion as bright virginity adds to her numbers, in the same proportion does the mother's joy increase.' ^ And at another place in the end of the epistle, ' As we have borne,' he says,
the image of the earthly, we shall also bear the image of the heavenly.'^ Virginity bears this image, integrity bears it, holiness and truth boar it ; they bear it who are mindful of the chastening of the Lord, who observe justice and piety, who are strong in faith, humble in fear, stedfast in the endurance of suffering, meek in the endurance of injury, ready to pity, of one mind and of one heart in brotherly peace. And every one of these things ought ye, holy virgins, to observe, to cherish, and fulfil, who having hearts at leisure for God and for
Christ, and having chosen the greater and better part, lead and point the way to the Lord, to whom you have pledged your vows. Ye who are advanced in age, exercise control over the younger. Ye who are younger, wait upon the elders, and encourage your equals ; stir up one another by mutual exhorta-; provoke one another to glory by emulous examples of tions virtue ; endure bravely, advance in spirituality, finish your course with joy ; only be mindful of us when your vii'ginity shall begin to reap its reward of honour."^
48. Ambrose also uses the temperate and ornamented style when he is holding up before virgins who have made their profession a model for their imitation, and says : " She was a virgin not in body only, but also in mind ; not mingling the purity of her aff'ection with any dross of hypocrisy ; serious in speech; prudent in disposition; sparing of words; delighting in study; not placing her confidence in uncertain riches, but in the prayer of the poor ; diligent in labour ; reverent in word accustomed to look to God, not man, as the guide of her conscience ; injuring no one, wishing well to all ; dutiful to her elders, not envious of her equals ; avoiding boastfulness, following reason, loving virtue. When did she wound her parents even by a look ? Wiien did she quarrel with her
• De haUtu Mrglnnm, cliaj). vii. ' 1 Cor. xv. 49.
De habitu Virjinum, chap. ,\viii.