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THEONAS: Your inquiry once more raises before us a question of no small
extent. The explanation of which though I know that it cannot be taught to
or understood by the inexperienced, yet as far as I can, I will try to set
forth in words and briefly to explain, if only your minds will follow up
and act upon what we say. For whatever is known not by teaching but by
experience, just as it cannot be taught by one without experience, so
neither can it be grasped or taken in by the mind of one who has not laid
the foundation by a similar study and training. And therefore I think it
necessary for us first to inquire somewhat carefully what is the purpose or
meaning of the law, and what is the system and perfection of grace, that
from this we may succeed in understanding the dominion of sin and how to
drive it out. And so the law chiefly commands men to seek the bonds of
wedlock, saying: "Blessed is he that hath seed in Sion and an household in
Jerusalem;" and: "Cursed is the barren that hath not borne." On the
other hand grace invites us to the purity of perpetual chastity, and the
undefiled state of blessed virginity, saying: "Blessed are the barren, and
the breasts which have not given suck;" and: "he that hateth not father and
mother and wife cannot be my disciple;" and this of the Apostle: "It
remaineth that they that have wives be as though they had them not." The
law says: "Thou shall not delay to offer thy tithes and firstfruits;" grace
says: "If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell all that thou hast and give to
the poor:" The law forbids not retaliation for wrongs and vengeance for
injuries, saying" "An eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth." Grace would
have our patience proved by the injuries and blows offered to us being
redoubled, and bids us be ready to endure twice as much damage; saying: "If
a man strike thee on one cheek, offer him the other also; and to him who
will contend with thee at the law and take away thy coat, give him thy
cloak also." The one decrees that we should hate our enemies, the other
that we should love them so that it holds that even for them we ought
always to pray to God.
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