{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/008/0080030.htm","path":"chr/ecf/008/0080030.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/008/0080030.htm","text":"Chapter V.\u2014The Irksomeness and the Enemies of Virginity.\nThou desirest, then, to be a virgin? Knowest thou what hardship and irksomeness there is in true virginity\u2014that which stands constantly at all seasons before God, and does not withdraw from His service, and \u201cis anxious how it may please its Lord with a holy body, and with its spirit?\u201d 324 Knowest thou what great glory pertains to virginity, and is it for this that thou dost set thyself to practise it? Dost thou really know and understand what it is thou art eager to do? Art thou acquainted with the noble task of holy virginity? Dost thou know how, like a man, to enter \u201clawfully\u201d upon 325 this contest and \u201cstrive,\u201d 326 that, in the might of the Holy Spirit, 327 thou choosest this for thyself, that thou mayest be crowned with a crown of light, and that they may lead thee about in triumph through \u201cthe Jerusalem above\u201d? 328 If so be, then, that thou longest for all these things, conquer the body; conquer the appetites of the flesh; conquer the world in the Spirit of God; conquer these vain things of time, which pass away and grow old, and decay, and come to an end; conquer the dragon; 329 conquer the lion; 330 conquer the serpent; 331 conquer Satan;\u2014through Jesus Christ, who doth strengthen thee by the hearing of His words and the divine Eucharist. 332 \u201cTake up thy cross and follow\u201d 333 Him who makes thee clean, Jesus Christ thy Lord. Strive to run straight forward and boldly, not with fear, but with courage, relying on the promise of thy Lord, that thou shalt obtain the victor-crown 334 of thy \u201ccalling on high\u201d 335 through Jesus Christ. For whosoever walks perfect in faith, and not fearing, doth in very deed receive the crown of virginity, which is great in its toil and great in its reward. Dost thou understand and know how honourable a thing is sanctity? 336 Dost thou understand how great and exalted and excellent is the glory of virginity? 337\nThe words, \u201cin the might of the Holy Spirit,\u201d appear to obscure the sense.\u2014Beelen.\n56:328 56:329 56:330 56:331 56:332\nLit. \u201cthe Eucharist of the Godhead.\u201d This is an evidence of later date than the sub-apostolic age.\u2014R.]\n56:333 56:334 56:335 56:336\ni.e. continency. [The use of the terms \u201csanctity,\u201d \u201choly,\u201d etc., in the limited sense of \u201ccontinency,\u201d \u201cchaste,\u201d etc., is strong evidence of the later origin.\u2014R]\n56:337\nThe last two sentences properly belong to chap. vi.","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol VIII: Two Epistles Concerning Virginity.: Chapter V","type":"page"}