OF THE DISCIPLINE OF CHASTITY. 203
they may be hated; letthatmisshapen and degraded shame
which belongs to sin be kept beforeour eyes. Repentance
itself,with allitsstruggles,is a discreditabletestimonyto
sins committed. Let not curiositybe indulged in scanning
other people'scountenances. Let one'sspeechbe brief,and
one'slaughtermoderate,for laughteris the signof an easy
and a negligentdisposition;and let allcontact,even that
which is becoming, be avoided. Let no indulgencebe per
mitted to the body, when bodilyvice is to be avoided. Let
it be consideredhow honourable it is to have conquered
dishonour,how disgracefulto have been conquered by dis
honour.
14. It must be said,moreover,that adulteryis not plea
sure,but mutual contempt; nor can it delight,because it
killsboth the soul and modesty. Let the soulrestrainthe
provocationsof the flesh;letit bridlethe impulsesof the
body. For ithas receivedthispower, that the limbsshould
be subservientto itscommand ; and as a lawfuland accom
plishedcharioteer,it should turn about the fleshlyimpulses
when they liftthemselvesabove the allowed limitsof the
body, by the reinsof the heavenlyprecepts,lestthatchariot
of the body, carriedaway beyond itslimits,should hurry
into itsown perilthe charioteerhimselfas wellas it. But
in the midst of these things,nay, before these things,in
oppositionto disturbancesand allvices,help must be sought
for from the divinecamp ; for God alone,who has conde
scended to make men, is powerful also to affordsufficient
help to men. I have composed a few words, becauseI did
not propose to writea volume,but to send you an address.
Look ye to the Scriptures; seek out for yourselvesfrom
those preceptsgreaterillustrationsof thismatter. Beloved
brethren,farewell.