{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/008/0080052.htm","path":"chr/ecf/008/0080052.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/008/0080052.htm","text":"Chapter XIII.\u2014The History of Susanna Teaches Circumspection with the Eyes and in Society.\nHast thou not read, and dost thou not know, concerning those elders who were in the days of Susanna, who, because they were constantly with women, and looking upon the beauty which was another\u2019s, 486 fell into the depths of wantonness, and were not able to keep themselves in a chaste mind, 487 but were overcome by a depraved disposition, and came suddenly 488 upon the blessed Susanna to corrupt her. But she did not consent to their foul passion, but cried unto God, and God saved her out of the hands of the bad old men. Does it not, therefore, behove us to tremble and be afraid, forasmuch as these old men, judges and elders of the people of God, fell from their dignity because of a woman? For they did not keep in mind that which is said: \u201cLook thou not on the beauty which is another\u2019s;\u201d and, \u201cThe beauty of woman has destroyed many;\u201d 489 and \u201cWith a married woman do not sit;\u201d 490 and that, again, in which it says: \u201cIs there any one that puts fire in his bosom, and does not burn his clothes;\u201d 491 or, \u201cDoes a man walk on fire, and his feet are not scorched? So whosoever goeth in to another man\u2019s wife is not pure from evil, and whosoever comes near to her shall not escape.\u201d 492 And again it says: \u201cThou shalt not long after the beauty a woman, lest she take thee captive with her eyelids;\u201d 493 and, \u201cThou shalt not look upon a maiden, lest thou perish through desire of her;\u201d 494 and, \u201cWith a woman that sings beautifully thou shalt not constantly be;\u201d 495 and, \u201cLet him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.\u201d 496\nSusanna having a husband, Joachim.\n64:487 64:488 64:489 64:490 64:491 64:492\nProv. 6:28, 29.\n64:493 64:494 64:495 64:496","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol VIII: Two Epistles Concerning Vi...","type":"page"}