Opening the library…

Search the Bible

Of the Discipline and Advantage of Chastity

Pseudo-Cyprian

Section 14

About this work

Author: Pseudo-Cyprian

14. It must be said, moreover, that

‹ Section 13

adultery

is

not

pleasure

,

but

mutual

contempt

;

nor

can

it

delight

,

because

it

kills

both

the

soul

and

modesty

.

Let

the

soul

restrain

the

provocations

of

the

flesh

;

let

it

bridle

the

impulses

of

the

body

.

For

it

has

received

this

power

,

that

the

limbs

should

be

subservient

to

its

command

;

and

as

a

lawful

and

accomplished

charioteer

,

it

should

turn

about

the

fleshly

impulses

when

they

lift

themselves

above

the

allowed

limits

of

the

body

,

by

the

reins

of

the

heavenly

precepts

,

lest

that

chariot

of

the

body

,

carried

away

beyond

its

limits

,

should

hurry

into

its

own

peril

the

charioteer

himself

as

well

as

it

.

But

in

the

midst

of

these

things

,

nay

,

before

these

things

,

in

opposition

to

disturbances

and

all

vices

,

help

must

be

sought

for

from

the

divine

camp

;

for

God

alone

,

who

has

condescended

to

make

men

,

is

powerful

also

to

afford

sufficient

help

to

men

.

I

have

composed

a

few

words

,

because

I

did

not

propose

to

write

a

volume

,

but

to

send

you

an

address

.

Look

ye

to

the

Scriptures

;

seek

out

for

yourselves

from

those

precepts

greater

illustrations

of

this

matter

.

Beloved

brethren

,

farewell

.

Notes

16
[Everything in antiquity breathes this spirit of “searching the Scriptures.” Compare Hippol., p. 219, note 4, supra.]