Chapter
V.—The Reward of Virginity.
These, O fair virgins, are the orgies of our
mysteries; these the mystic rites of those who are initiated in
virginity; these the “undefiled rewards”
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of the conflict of virginity. I
am be
trothed to the
Word, and receive as a reward the eternal crown of immortality and
riches from the Father; and I triumph in eternity, crowned with the
bright and unfading flowers of wisdom. I am one in the choir with
Christ dispensing His rewards in heaven, around the unbeginning and
never-ending King. I have become the torch-bearer of the
unapproachable lights,
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and I join with their company in the
new song of the archangels, showing forth the new grace of the Church;
for the Word says that the company of virgins always follow the Lord,
and have fellowship with Him wherever He is. And this is what
John signifies in the commemoration of the hundred and forty-four
thousand.
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Go then, ye virgin band of the new ages. Go, fill
your vessels with righteousness, for the hour is coming when ye must
rise and meet the bridegroom. Go, lightly leaving on one side the
fascinations and the pleasures of life, which confuse and bewitch the
soul; and thus shall ye attain the promises, “This I swear by Him
who has shown me the way of life.” This crown, woven by the
prophets, I have taken from the prophetic meadows, and offer to thee, O
Arete.
Agathe having thus admirably brought her discourse to an
end, she said, and having been applauded for what she had uttered,
Arete again commanded Procilla to speak. And she, rising and
passing before the entrance, spoke thus.
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Wisd. iv. 2
.
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Although the Greek word is not the same as in
1 Tim. vi. 16
, the meaning is probably this
rather than
unquenchable
, as it is rendered in the
Latin.—
Tr
. [See Discourse XI. cap.
2,
infra
.]
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Rev. vii. 4; xiv.
4
.