12. There is, then, in pain a virtue that
can display the sweetness of a good conscience, and therefore it serves
as a proof that pain does not lessen the pleasure of virtue. As,
then, there is no loss of blessedness to virtue through pain, so also
the pleasures of the body and the enjoyment that benefits give add
nothing to it. On this the Apostle says well: “What
things to me were gain, those I counted loss for Christ,” and he
added: “Wherefore I count all things but loss, and do count
them but dung, that I may win Christ.” Phil. iii. 7, 8.