unmarried, and to the widows: it is good for them, if they so continue, even as I.-But if they do not contain themselves, let them marry.”—Ibid. 25. “Now concerning virgins, I have no commandment of the Lord: but I give counsel, as having obtained mercy of the Lord, to be faithful.”26. I think therefore that this is good for the present necessity, that it is good for a man so to be.”—27. “ Art thou bound to a wife? Seek not to be loosed. Art thou loosed from a wife? Seek not a wife." --28. “ But if thou take a wife, thou hast not sinned. And if a virgin marry, she hath not sinned ; nevertheless, such shall have tribulation of the flesh. But I spare you.”—32. “ But I would have you be without solicitude. He that is without a wife, is solicitous for the things that belong to the Lord, how it may please God.”—33. “But he that is with a wife, is solicitous for the things of the world, how he may please his wife; and he is divided."-35. “And this I speak for your profit: not to cast a snare upon you, but for that which is decent, and which may give you power to attend upon the Lord, without impediment.” 1 Cor. vii. 7, 8, 9.
{{c|FATHERS.
To quote their sentiments on the subject, is unnecessary ; for they unanimously, in all their writings, inculcate a compliance with the counsel of St. Paul; and, when the discipline of the Church permitted marriage, themselves chose a life of voluntary celibacy. They saw, how true was the observation, that the married man was divided, and that solicitude for the things of the world was inseparable from the state. And where the fewer of these cares should be, there, they again saw, would the mind be more at liberty to attend upon the Lord, that is, to fulfil the duties of the ecclesiastical calling.
