Clement of Alexandria Stromata Book III Et rursus cure dicit: "Bonum est homini uxorem non tangere, sed propter fornicationes unusquisque suam uxorem habeat; "[176] Tertullian On Monogamy as being Himself, withal, a virgin; to whom looking, the apostle also-himself too for this reason abstinent-gives the preference to continence.[10] The very phases themselves of this (inexperience) are intelligible from (the apostle's) rescripts, when he says:[91] Tertullian On Modesty and with what an axe of censorship he lops, and eradicates, and extirpates, every forest of lusts, for fear of permitting aught to regain strength and sprout again; behold him desiring souls to keep a fast from the legitimate fruit of nature-the apple, I mean, of marriage: "But with regard to what ye wrote, good it is for a man to have no contact with a woman; but, on account of fornication, let each one have his own wife: let husband to wife, and wife to husband, render what is due."[176] Cyprian Treatise XII Three Books of Testimonies Against the Jews But I wish that all men should be even as I am. But every one has his proper gift from God; one in one way, but another in another way."[574] Methodius Discourse III. Thaleia desiring with all his might that believers in Christ should be chaste, endeavours by many arguments to show them the dignity of chastity, as when he says,[39] Come, now, and let us examine more carefully the very words which are before us, and observe that the apostle did not grant these things unconditionally to all, but first laid down the reason on account of which he was led to this. For, having set forth that "it is good for a man not to touch a woman,"[42] The Testaments of the Twelve Patriarchs VIII For the commandments of the law are twofold, and through prudence must they be fulfilled. For there is a season for a man to embrace his wife, and a season to abstain therefrom[7]