40. Now the things which are
to be kept safe for sanctity’s sake are these: pudicity of body,
and chastity of soul,23712371 and verity of doctrine. Pudicity
of body, without consent and permission of the soul, doth no man
violate. For, whatever against our will and without our empowering
the same is by greater force done upon our body, is no lewdness.
Howbeit, of permitting there may be some reason, but of consenting,
none. For we consent, when we approve and wish: but we permit even
not willing, because of some greater turpitude to be eschewed.
Consent, truly, to corporal lewdness violates also chastity of
mind. For the mind’s23722372 chastity consists in a good will
and sincere love, which is not corrupted, unless when we love and
desire that which Truth teaches ought not to be loved and desired.
We have therefore to guard the sincerity of love toward God and our
neighbor; for in this is chastity of mind sanctified: and we must
endeavor with all the strength in our power, and with pious
supplication, that, when the pudicity of our body is sought to be
violated, not even that outermost sense of the soul,23732373 which is
entangled with the flesh, may be touched with any delight; but if
it cannot this, at least the mind and thought23742374 in not consenting may have its
chastity preserved entire. Now what we have to guard in chastity of
mind,23752375 is, as
pertaining to the love of our neighbor, innocence and benevolence;
as pertaining to the love of God, piety. Innocence is that we hurt
no man; benevolence, that we also do good to whom we can; piety,
that we worship God. But as for verity of doctrine, of religion and
piety, that is not violated unless by a lie; whereas the highest
and inmost Verity Itself, Whose that doctrine is, can in no wise be
violated: which Truth to attain unto, and in It on every wise to
remain, and to It thoroughly to cleave, will not be permitted, but
when this corruptible shall have put on incorruption, and this
mortal shall have put on immortality. But, because all piety in
this life is practice by which we tend to that life, which practice
hath a guidance afforded unto it from that doctrine, which in human
words and signs23762376 of
corporal sacraments doth insinuate and intimate Truth herself: for
this cause this also, which by lying is possible to be corrupted,
is most of all to be kept incorrupt; that so, if aught in that
chastity of mind be violated, it may have that wherefrom it may be
repaired. For once corrupt authority of doctrine, and there can be
none either course or recourse to chastity of mind.