48. What now shall I say
concerning the very carefulness and watchfulness against sin?
“Who shall boast that he hath a chaste heart? or who shall boast
that he is clean from sin?”22002200 Holy virginity is indeed inviolate
from the mother’s womb; but “no one,” saith he, “is clean
in Thy sight, not even the infant whose life is of one day upon the
earth.”22012201 There is
kept also in faith inviolate a certain virginal chastity, whereby
the Church is joined as a chaste virgin unto One Husband: but That
One Husband hath taught, not only the faithful who are virgin in
mind and body, but all Christians altogether, from spiritual even
unto carnal, from Apostles even unto the last penitents, as though
from the height of heaven even unto the bounds of it,22022202 to pray,
and in the prayer itself hath admonished them to say, “And
forgive us our debts, even as we also forgive our debtors:”22032203 where, by
this which we seek, He shews what also we should remember that we
are. For neither on behalf of those debts, which for our whole past
life we trust have been forgiven unto us in Baptism through His
peace, hath He charged us to pray, saying, “And forgive us our
debts, even as we also forgive our debtors:” otherwise this were
a prayer which Catechumens rather ought to pray up to the time of
Baptism; but whereas it is what baptized persons pray, rulers and
people, pastors and flocks; it is sufficiently shown that in this
life, the whole of which is a trial, no one ought to boast himself
as though free from all sins.22042204