10. Let not the virgin say, “I shall alone be there.” For Mary shall not be there alone but
the widow Anna shall be there also. Let not the woman which hath an husband say, “The
widow will be there, not I;” for it is not that Anna will be there, and Susanna not be there.
But by all means let them who would be there prove themselves hereby, that they who have
here a lower place envy not, but love in others the better place. For, for instance, my Brethren,
that ye may understand me; one man has chosen a married life, another a life of continence;
if he who has chosen the married life, has adulterous lusts, he has “looked back;” he has
lusted after that which is unlawful. He too who would wish afterwards to return from con-
tinence to a married life, has “looked back;” he has chosen what is in itself lawful, yet he has
“looked back.” Is marriage then to be condemned? No. Marriage is not to be condemned;
but see whither he had come who has chosen it. He had already got before it. When he was
living as a young man in voluptuousness, marriage was before him; he was making his way
towards it; but when he had chosen continence, marriage was behind him. “Remember,”
saith the Lord, “Lot’s wife.”3174 Lot’s wife, by looking behind, remained motionless. To
whatever point then any one has been able to reach, let him fear to “look back” from thence;
and let him walk in the way, let him “follow Christ.” “Forgetting those things which are be-
hind, and stretching forth unto those things which are before, let him by an earnest inward
intention press on toward the prize of the calling of God in Christ Jesus.”3175 Let those that
are married regard the unmarried as above themselves; let them acknowledge that they are
better; let them in them love what themselves have not; and let them in them love Christ.
3174 Luke xvii. 32.
3175 Phil. iii. 13, 14.
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On the words of the Gospel, Mark viii. 34, ‘If any man would come after…