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

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 upon chastity. Hence arose the decree: “Ye shall not suffer adulteresses to live.”8    Lev. xx. 10.  Hence the apostle says: “This is the will of God, that ye abstain from fornication.”9    1 Thess. iv. 3. Hence also he says the same thing: “That the members of Christ must not be joined with the members of an harlot.”10    1 Cor. vi. 15. Hence the man is delivered over unto Satan for the destruction of the flesh, who, treading under foot the law of chastity, practises the vices of the flesh. Hence with reason adulterers do not attain the kingdom of heaven. Hence it is that every sin is without the body, but that the adulterer alone sins against his own body. Hence other authoritative utterances of the instructor, all of which it is not necessary at this time to collect, especially among you, who for the most part know and do them; and you cannot find cause for complaint concerning these things, even though they are not described. For the adulterer has not an excuse, nor could he have, because he might take a wife.

VI. Hanc sententiam Christus quando uxorem dimitti non nisi ob adulterium dixit (Matth. V, 32): interrogatus, tantum honorem pudicitiae dedit. Hinc nata est illa sententia: Adulteras non sinetis vivere (Levit. XX, 10). Hinc Apostolus dicit: Haec est voluntas Dei, ut abstineatis vos a fornicatione (I Thessal. IV, 3). Hinc et illud dicit: Membra Christi, membris meretricis non esse jungenda (I Cor. VI, 9, 15). 0822D Hinc traditur Satanae in interitum carnis qui, proculcato jure pudicitiae, vitia carnis exercet. Hinc merito regnum coelorum non tenent adulteri; hinc est omne peccatum extra corpus esse, solum adulterum peccare in suum corpus: hinc caeterae praeceptoris auctoritates, quas nunc recolere omnes non est necesse, apud vos praesertim qui illas nostis frequenter et facitis; quae licet descripta non sint, queruli tamen de his non potestis esse. Adulter enim 0823A non habet excusationem, aut habere potuit, quia ducere licebat uxorem.