Брак

It is better to marry, and I agree to this, for the marriage will be honest and the bed undefiled (Heb. 13:4), but it is better for those who are moderate, and not for the insatiable, not for those who want to show more respect to the flesh than it should. When marriage is actually marriage, and a conjugal union, and the desire to leave children behind, then marriage is good, because it increases the number of those pleasing to God. But when he inflames the coarse flesh, surrounds it with thorns and becomes, as it were, a path to vice, then I will say: it is better not to marry. Marriage is a good thing, but I cannot say that it is higher than chastity. For integrity would not be recognized as something high if it were not the best of the best. Let those who bear the bonds of marriage not be upset by this! One must obey God rather than men (Acts 5:29). On the contrary, virgins and wives, unite together, become one in the Lord and serve as an adornment to each other! There would be no celibates if there were no marriage, for where would a virgin come into the world? Marriage would not be honest if it did not bring forth virgins to God and life. Honor your (virgin) mother, from whom you come; Honor also you (who are committed to marriage) who came from your mother and mother, although she is not a mother, but the bride of Christ. Visible beauty is not hidden, but invisible beauty is visible to God, all the glory of the King’s daughter is within; she is dressed with golden fringe (Ps. 44:14), that is, both in deeds and in contemplation. And let the one who enters into marriage belong to Christ, and let the virgin be entirely Christ’s! Let one not be completely attached to the world, let the other not be completely outside the world! What belongs to a married woman in part belongs to a virgin wholly (1). Marriage is not dishonorable only because chastity is more honorable than it. I will imitate Christ, the pure Bridegroom and Bridegroom, who works miracles on marriage and brings honor to marriage by His presence. Let only the marriage be pure and without any admixture of impure desires (1). Blessed is he who, having yielded a little to the laws of marriage, brings as a gift to Christ the greater part of love (2). You, who have been bound by an honest marriage in this life, apply your mind to how you can bring more fruit into the heavenly wine presses 33 (2)! May such a marital union perish, which is not sealed by the marriage law (2)! A sharpener is something that exudes something. – Approx. ed. You might be interested in: