unmarried women enjoy, their holy conversa- the testimony of our conscience.''® But of
ON THE GOOD OF WIDOWHOOD.
be loved. For, in the case of what is loved, either there is no labor, or the labor also is loved. And consider how it should be matter for shame and grief, if there be pleasure in
He made mention above; but good report unto praise. I think that the Apostle took not the praise of men for any great thing, Saying in another place, '' But to me it is the least thing, that I be judged of you, or of day of man;''° and in another place, ''If I were labor, to take a wild beast, to fill cask and purse,' to cast aball, and there be no pleasure in labors to win God!
pleasing men, I should not be a servant of Christ; ''? and again, '' For our glory is this, the testimony of our conscience.''® But of these two, that is, of a good life, and a good report, or as is said more shortly, of virtue and praise, the one for his own sake he most wisely kept, the other for the sake of others he most mercifully provided. But, forasmuch as human caution, how great soever, cannot on every side avoid most malevolent suspicions, when for our good report we shall have done whatever we rightly can,if any, either by falsely pretending evil things of us, or from believing
27. Indeed in all spiritual delights, which unmarried women enjoy, their holy conversation ought also to be with caution; lest haply, though their life be not evil through naughtiness, their report be evil through negligence. Nor are they to be listened to, whether they be holy men or women, when (upon occasion of their neglect in some matter being blamed, through which it comes to pass that they fall into evil suspicion, from which they know that their life is far removed) they say that it is enough for them their conscience before God, despising what men think of them, not only imprudently? but also cruelly; when they slay the souls of others; whether of such as blaspheme the way of God, who following their suspicion are displeased at what is the chaste life of the Saints, as though evil of us, endeavor to stain our fair fame, let there be present the solace of conscience, and clearly also the joy, in that our reward is great in Heaven, even when men say many evil things of us,° and we yet live godly and righteously. For that reward is as the pay it were shameful, or of such also as make excuse, and imitate, not what they see, but what they think. Wherefore whosoever guards his life from charges of shameful and evil deeds, does good to himself; but whosoever guards his character too, is merciful also towards others. For unto ourselves our own life is necessary, unto others our character; and certainly even what we mercifully minister unto others, for their health, abounds also to our own profit. Whence not in vain the Apostle, '' We provide good things," saith he, of such as serve as soldiers, through the arms of righteousness, not only on the right hand, but on the left also; that is to say, through glory and mean estate, through ill report and good report."
28. Go on therefore in your course, and run with perseverance, in order that ye may obtain; and by pattern of life, and discourse of exhortation, carry away with you into this same your course, whomsoever ye shall have had power. Let there not bend you from this earnest purpose, whereby ye excite many to follow, the complaint of vain persons, who say, How shall the human race subsist, if all shall have been continent? As though it were for any other reason that this world is delayed, save that the predestined number of the Saints be fulfilled, and were this the sooner fulfilled, assuredly the end of the world would not be put off. Nor let it stay you from your earnest purpose of persuading others to the same good ye have, if it be said to you, Whereas marriage also is good, how shall there be all goods in the Body of Christ, both the greater, forsooth, and the lesser, if all through praise and love of continence imitate ? In the first place, because with the endeavor that all be continent, there will still be but few, for ''not all receive this word.'' But forasmuch as it is written, "' Whoso can receive, let him receive;" ™ then do they receive who can, when silence is not kept even toward those who cannot. Next, neither ought we
'"not only before God, but also before men; 73 also he saith, ** Please ye all men through all things; even as I also please all men through all things, not seeking what is of profit unto myself, but what unto many, that they may be saved.'* Also in a certain exhortation he says, "'For the rest, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are holy, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are most dear, whatsoever things are of good report; if any virtue, if any praise, these things think on, which ye have both learned, and received, and heard, and seen in me.''5 You see how among many things, unto which by exhortation he admonished them, he neglected not to set,
whatsoever things are of good report;" and in two words included all things, where he cdithe "i any virtue, if any=praise.'' For unto virtue pertain the good things of which
I Cupa et sacculus. 2al. "Zmpudenter,"' '* with lack of modesty." 3 2 Cor, viii. 21. [See R.V.] AriCors xa 5 Phil. iv. 8, 9.
8 2 Cor. i. 12. 11 Matt, xix. 11, 12. 7 Gal, 1. ro. Giri Cora tv. 3. : to 2 Cor, vi. 7, 8. OUMattr Vite, 12s