is to see thee; and even by this fear be chaste. Or if thou wilt sin, seek for some place where
He may not see thee, and do what thou wouldest.
3. But ye who have taken the vow already, chasten your bodies more strictly, and suffer
not yourselves to loosen the reins of concupiscence even after those things which are per-
mitted; that ye may not only turn away from an unlawful connection,3957 but may despise
even a lawful look. Remember, in whichever sex ye are, whether men or women, that ye are
leading on earth the life of Angels: “For the Angels are neither given in marriage, nor
marry.”3958 This shall we be, when we shall have risen again. How much better are ye, who
before death begin to be what men will be after the resurrection! Keep your proper degrees,
for God keepeth for you your honours. The resurrection of the dead is compared to the stars
that are set in heaven. “For star differeth from star in glory,” as the Apostle says; “so also is
the resurrection of the dead.”3959 For after one manner virginity shall shine there, after an-
other shall wedded chastity shine there, after another shall holy widowhood shine there.
They shall shine diversely, but all shall be there. The brilliancy unequal, the heaven the same.
4. With your thoughts then on your degrees, and keeping your professions, approach
ye to the Flesh of the Lord, approach to the Blood of the Lord. Whoso knoweth himself to
be otherwise, let him not approach. Be moved to compunction rather by my words. For
they who know that they are keeping for their wives, what from their wives they require,
they who know that they are in every way keeping continence, if this they have vowed to
God, feel joy at my words; but they who hear me say, “Whosoever of you are not keeping
chastity, approach not to that Bread,” are saddened. And I should have no wish to say this;
but what can I do? Shall I fear man, so as to suppress the truth? What, if those servants do
506
not fear the Lord, shall I therefore too not fear? as if I do not know that it is said, “‘Thou
wicked and slothful servant,’3960 thou shouldest dispense, and I require.” Lo, I have dispensed,
O Lord my God; lo, in Thy Sight, and in the sight of Thy Holy Angels, and of this Thy people,
I have laid out Thy money; for I am afraid of Thy judgment. I have dispensed, do Thou re-
quire. Though I should not say it, Thou wouldest do it. Therefore I rather say, I have dis-
pensed, do Thou convert, do Thou spare. Make them chaste who have been unchaste, that
in Thy Sight we may rejoice together when the judgment shall come, both he who hath
dispensed and he to whom it hath been dispensed. Doth this please you? May it do so!
Whosoever of you are unchaste, amend yourselves, whilst ye are alive. For I have power to
speak the word of God, but to deliver the unchaste, who persevere in wickedness, from the
judgment and condemnation of God, have I no power.
3957 Concubitu.
3958 Matt. xxii. 30.
3959 1 Cor. xv. 41, 42.
3960 Matt. xxv. 26.
1047
On the words of the Gospel, John vi. 55,’For my flesh is meat indeed, and…