1. I do not conceive that I have exceeded any portions of my duty, in always striving as much as possible, by daily discussions of the Gospels, to aff

 2. Although, therefore, I exhort you always, as you are aware, to many things, and to the precepts of the Lord’s admonition—for what else can be desir

 3. Chastity is the dignity of the body, the ornament of morality, the sacredness of the sexes, the bond of modesty, the source of purity, the peaceful

 4. But chastity maintains the first rank in virgins, the second in those who are continent, the third in the case of wedlock. Yet in all it is gloriou

 5. The precepts of chastity, brethren, are ancient. Wherefore do I say ancient? Because they were ordained at the same time as men themselves. For bot

 6. Christ gave this judgment when, being inquired of, He said that a wife must not be put away, save for the cause of adultery such honour did He put

 7. But as laws are prescribed to matrons, who are so bound that they cannot thence be separated, while virginity and continency are beyond all law, th

 8. But since the precepts of chastity have thus briefly been set forth to us, let us now give an instance of chastity. For it is more profitable when

 9. But not less from a different direction arises to us another similar instance of chastity from the continence of women. Susanna, as we read, the da

 10. The memory of noble descent could not enervate them, although to some this is a suggestive licence to lasciviousness nor the comeliness of their

 11. Nothing so delights the faithful soul as the healthy consciousness of an unstained modesty. To have vanquished pleasure is the greatest pleasure

 12. For what is chastity but a virtuous mind added to watchfulness over the body so that modesty observed in respect of the sexual relations, atteste

 13. But to return to what I began with: chastity is ever to be cultivated by men and women it is to be kept with all watchfulness within its bounds.

 14. It must be said, moreover, that adultery is not pleasure, but mutual contempt nor can it delight, because it kills both the soul and modesty. Let

1. I do not conceive that I have exceeded any portions of my duty, in always striving as much as possible, by daily discussions of the Gospels, to afford to you from time to time the means of growth, by the Lord’s help, in faith and knowledge. For what else can be effected in the Lord’s Church with greater advantage, what can be found more suitable to the office of a bishop, than that, by the teaching of the divine words, recommended and commented on by Him, believers should be enabled to attain to the promised kingdom of heaven? This assuredly, as the desired result day by day of my work as well as of my office, I endeavour, notwithstanding my absence, to accomplish; and by my letters I try to make myself present to you, addressing you in faith, in my usual manner, by the exhortations that I send you. I call upon you, therefore, to be established in the power of the Root2    [This illustrates pp. 322 and 389, note 7.] of the Gospel, and to stand always armed against all the assaults of the devil. I shall not believe myself to be absent from you, if I shall be sure of you. Nevertheless, everything which is advantageously set forth, and which either defines or promises the condition of eternal life to those who are investigating it, is then only profitable, if it be aided in attaining the reward of the effort by the power of the divine mercy. We not only set forth words which come from the sacred fountains of the Scriptures, but with these very words we associate prayers to the Lord, and wishes, that, as well to us as to you, He would not only unfold the treasures of His sacraments, but would bestow strength for the carrying into act of what we know.  For the danger is all the greater if we know the Lord’s will, and loiter in the work of the will of God.

0819C I. Aliquas officiorum meorum partes non aestimo praeterisse, dum semper enitor, vel maxime quotidianis Evangeliorum tractatibus, aliquando vobis fidei et scientiae per Dominum incrementa praestare. Quid enim aliud in Ecclesia Domini utilius geri, quid accommodatius officio episcopi potest inveniri, quam ut doctrina divinorum, per ipsum insinuata collataque, verborum, possint credentes ad repromissum regnum pervenire coelorum? Hoc certe mei et operis et muneris, quotidianum votivum negotium, absens licet, obtinere connitor; et per litteras praesentiam meam vobis reddere conor. Dum vos solito more allocutionibus missis in fide interpello, ideo convenio, in Evangelicae radicis firmitate solidati, adversus omnia diaboli praelia stetis semper armati. Absentem 0819D me non credam, si fuero securus. Verumtamen omnia quae utiliter proferuntur, et aeternae vitae statum tractantibus vel definiunt, vel promittunt; ita demum fructuosa sunt, si ad emolumentum operis, divinae 0820C indulgentiae viribus, adjuventur. Non solum proferimus verba quae de Scripturarum sacris fontibus veniunt, sed cum ipsis verbis, preces ad Dominum et vota sociamus, ut tam nobis quam vobis, et sacramentorum suorum thesauros aperiat, et vires ad implenda quae cognoscimus, tribuat. Periculum enim majus est voluntatem Domini cognovisse, et in Dei voluntatis opere cessasse.