The chronicle and institution of the Order of the seraphicall father S. Francis conteyning his life, his death, and his miracles, and of all his holie disciples and companions / set foorth first in the Portugall, next in the Spanish, then in the Italian, lastlie in the French, and now in the English tongue.

A discourse of Chastity.

THE XXX. CHAPTER.

* 1.1 A Religious demaunded of the venerable Br. Giles, how a man might best keepe himselfe from the vice of the flesh: and he an∣sweared: he that will remoue a grosse stone or beame, vseth therin more industry then force: so must he doe that will preserue his chastity: for it is like to a most cleare looking glasse, which may be ble∣mished and stayned in his brightnes by one only breath.

It is impossible that a mā can attaine the diuine grace, whiles he is de∣lighted in sensuall pleasures. Consider althinges, behold, tourne and re∣tourne vp and downe, and from one side to an other, you shall finde att lenght that nothing is more necessary then to fight against the fles••, which seeketh day and night to deceaue and betray vs: he that surmoun∣teth it hath ouercome all his ennemies, and becommeth afterward assu∣redly capable of all happines.

He would ordinarily say, that if he were to make choice of the vertu∣es,

he would choose chastity. Being asked what he called chastity, he answeared: I call chastity the conseruation of all the sences of the body in the grace of our Lord.

* 1.2 A maryed man that was deuoutly affected towardes him, was one day present when he praysed chastity, and sayd vnto him: Father I desire to be resolued of you, if liuing with my wife, and keeping fidelity towardes her, I am secure touching this point? Br. Giles answeared him: what, doe you not know that a man may as well be droncken with the wine of his owne tunne, as with that of an other mannes?

Notes

• * 1.1

  Chastity like to a glasse.
• * 1.2

  A man may be dronken with his owne tunne.