{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/008/0080029.htm","path":"chr/ecf/008/0080029.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/008/0080029.htm","text":"Chapter IV.\u2014Continuation of the Remarks on Self-Denial; Object and Reward of True Virgins.\nFor he who covets for himself these things so great and excellent, withdraws and severs himself on this account from all the world, that he may go and live a life divine and heavenly, like the holy angels, in work pure and holy, and \u201cin the holiness 319 of the Spirit of God,\u201d 320 and that he may serve God Almighty through Jesus Christ for the sake of the kingdom of heaven. On this account he severs himself from all the appetites of the body. And not only does he excuse himself from this command, \u201cBe fruitful, and multiply,\u201d but he longs for the \u201chope promised\u201d and prepared \u201cand laid up in heaven\u201d 321 by God, who has declared with His mouth, and He does not lie, that it is \u201cbetter than sons and daughters,\u201d 322 and that He will give to virgins a notable place in the house of God, which is something \u201cbetter than sons and daughters,\u201d and better than the place of those who have passed a wedded life in sanctity, and whose \u201cbed has not been defiled.\u201d 323 For God will give to virgins the kingdom of heaven, as to the holy angels, by reason of this great and noble profession.\n\u201cSanctification.\u201d\u2014Beelen. [So A.V. The R.V. correctly renders \u1f01\u03b3\u03b9\u03b1\u03c3\u03bc\u03cc\u03c2, \u201csanctification,\u201d in every instance.\u2014R.]\n56:320 56:321 56:322 56:323","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol VIII: Two Epistles Concerning Virginity.: Chapter IV","type":"page"}