72. Marriage, then,
is honourable, but chastity is more honourable, for “he that
giveth his virgin in marriage doeth well, but he that giveth her not in
marriage doeth better.” 1 Cor. vii. 28. That,
then, which is good need not be avoided, but that which is better
should be chosen. And so it is not laid upon any, but set before
him. And, therefore, the Apostle said well:
“Concerning virgins I have no commandment of the Lord, yet I give
my counsel.” 1 Cor. vii. 25. For a
command is issued to those subject, counsel is given to friends.
Where there is a commandment, there is a law; where counsel, there is
grace. A commandment is given to enforce what is according to
nature, a counsel to incite us to follow grace. And, therefore,
the Law was given to the Jews, but grace was reserved for the
elect. The Law was given that, through fear of punishment, it
might recall those who were wandering beyond the limits of nature, to
their observance, but grace to incite the elect both by the desire of
good things, and also by the promised rewards.