{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/211/2110118.htm","path":"chr/ecf/211/2110118.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/211/2110118.htm","text":"Wherefore, I beseech you, O virgin, do not flatter yourself on the ground of your purity alone, and do not trust in the perfection of one member; but according to the Apostle, maintain the sanctity of your body throughout. Cleanse thy head from all defilement, because it is a disgrace that it, after the sanctifying oil has been applied to it, should be polluted with the juice or powder of either crocus, or any other pigment, or should be adorned with gold or gems or any other earthly ornament, because it already shines with the radiance of heavenly adornment. It is undoubtedly a grave insult to Divine grace to prefer to it any mundane and worldly ornament. And next, cleanse thy forehead, that it may blush at human, and not at Divine works, and may display that shame which gives rise not to sin, but to the favor of God, as the sacred Scripture declares, \u201cThere is a shame that causes sin, and there is a shame that brings with it the favor 187 of God.\u201d Cleanse, too, thy neck, that it may not carry thy 188 locks in a golden net and necklaces hung round it, p. 63 but may rather bear about it those ornaments of which the Scripture says, \u201cLet not 189 mercy and faith depart from thee,\u201d and hang them upon thy heart as upon thy neck. Cleanse thine eyes, whilst thou dost withdraw them from all concupiscence, and dost never turn them away from the sight of the poor, and dost keep them from all dyes, in that purity in which they were made by God. Cleanse thy tongue from falsehood, because \u201ca mouth 190 which tells lies destroys the soul\u201d: cleanse it from detraction, from swearing, and from perjury. I beg you not to think it is an inverted order that I have said the tongue should be cleansed from swearing before perjury, for one will then the more easily escape perjury, if he swears not at all, so that there may be fulfilled in him that statement, \u201cKeep 191 thy tongue from evil, and thy lips from speaking guile.\u201d And be mindful of the Apostle who says, \u201cBless, and 192 curse not.\u201d But often call to mind the following words, \u201cSee that no one render evil for evil to any man, or cursing for cursing, but on the contrary, do ye bless them, because to this ye have been called, that ye should possess a blessing 193 by inheritance\u201d; and this other passage, \u201cIf any 194 one offend not in tongue, he is a perfect man.\u201d For it is shameful that those lips, by which you confess God, pray to him, bless him, and praise him, should be defiled by the pollution of any sin. I know not with what conscience any one can pray to God with that tongue with which he either speaks falsehood, or calumniates, or detracts. God listens to holy lips, and speedily answers those prayers which an unpolluted tongue pours forth. Cleanse also thine ears, so that they may not listen except to holy and true discourse, that they never admit into them obscene, or infamous, or worldly words, or tolerate any one detracting from another, on account of that which is written, \u201cHedge up 195 thine ears with thorns, and do not listen to a wicked tongue, that you may have your part with him, of whom it is said, that he was 196 righteous in hearing and seeing; i.e. he sinned neither with his eyes nor his ears. Cleanse, too, thy hands, \u201cthat they be not stretched out to receive, but shut against giving,\u201d and that they 197 be not prompt to strike, but ever ready for all the works of mercy and piety. In fine, cleanse thy feet, that they follow not the broad and ample way which leads to grand and costly worldly banquets, but that they tread rather the difficult and narrow path, which guides to heaven, for it is written, \u201cMake a 198 straight path for your feet.\u201d Acknowledge that your members were formed for you by God the Maker, not for vices, but for virtues; and, when you have cleansed the whole of your limbs from every stain of sin, and they have become sanctified throughout your whole body, then understand that this purity will profit you, and look forward with all confidence to the prize of virginity.\nThe text here is most uncertain; Halm\u2019s \u201cut non aurea reticula capillus portet\u201d is \u201cthat thy hair may not carry golden nets.\u201d\n63:189 63:190 63:191 63:192 63:193 63:194 63:195 63:196 63:197 63:198","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XI: The Wor...","type":"page"}