52. Here some one will say,
This is now not to write of virginity, but of humility. As though
truly it were any kind of virginity, and not that which is after
God, which we had undertaken to set forth. And this good, by how
much I see it to be great, by so much I fear for it, lest it be
lost, the thief pride. Therefore there is none that guardeth the
virginal good, save God Himself Who gave it: and God is Charity.22112211 The
Guardian therefore of virginity is Charity: but the place of this
Guardian is humility. There forsooth He dwelleth, Who said, that on
the lowly and quiet, and that trembleth at His words, His Spirit
resteth.22122212 What,
therefore, have I done foreign from my purpose, if wishing the
good, which I have praised, to be more securely guarded, I have
taken care also to prepare a place for the Guardian? For I speak
with confidence, nor have I any fear lest they be angry with me,
whom I admonish with care to fear for themselves together with me.
More easily do follow the Lamb, although not whithersoever He shall
have gone, yet so far as they shall have had power, married persons
who are humble, than virgins who are proud. For how doth one follow
Him, unto Whom one wills not to approach or how doth one approach
Him, unto Whom one comes not to learn, “in that I am meek and
lowly of heart?” Wherefore those the Lamb leadeth following
whithersoever He shall have gone, in whom first Himself shall have
found where to lay His Head. For also a certain proud and crafty
person had said to Him, “Lord, I will follow Thee whithersoever
Thou shalt have gone;”22132213 to whom He made answer, “Foxes
have dens, and fowls of heaven nests: but the Son of Man hath not
where to lay His Head.” By the term of foxes He reproved wily
craftiness, and by the name of birds puffed-up arrogance, wherein
He found not pious humility to rest in. And by this no where at all
did he follow the Lord, who had promised that he would follow Him,
not unto a certain point of progress, but altogether whithersoever
He should have gone.
