Untitled - Saints' Books

364 Material for Instructions. [PART n.
vices and concupiscences. Hence the saints have been so
careful to macerate the flesh. St. Peter of Alcantara
purposed never to give any indulgence to the body, and
observed his resolution till death. St. Bernard mal
treated his body to such a degree, that at death he asked
its pardon. St. Teresa used to say that "it would be
silliness to imagine that God admits to his friendship
3
persons who seek their own ease and convenience;"
and in another place she says:
"Souls that truly love
God cannot ask for comforts." And !
St. Ambrose has
written that he who does not cease to indulge the
body shall cease to please God. 4 According to St.
Augustine, he who subjects reason to. the flesh is a mon
ster that walks with his head downwards and his feet
upwards. 5 We are born for a more noble end than to
be the slaves of the body, said the pagan Seneca. 6
How
much more should we say it, who know by faith that
we have been created to enjoy God for eternity? St.
Gregory says that by gratifying the
we only nourish enemies. 7
desires of the flesh
St. Ambrose weeps over the misfortune of Solomon,
saying that this unhappy king had the glory of building
the temple of God, but that it would have been far bet
ter for him to preserve to God the temple of his body,
for the gratification of which he lost his body, his soul,
and his God. A 8
man mounted on a furious horse must
1 "
Qui autem sunt Christi, carnem suam crucifixerunt cum vitiis et
concupiscentiis." Gal. v. 24.
2
4 "
5.
Way of Per f. ch. 19.
3
Foundat. ch.
Qui nori peregrinatur a corpora, peregrinatur a Domino." In
L^lc. c. 9.
5 "Inversis pedibus ambulat." Ad Fr. in er. s. 50.
6
Major sum et ad majora genitus, quam ut mancipium sim mei
corporis." Ep. 65.
Dum (carni) parcimus, ad praelium hostem nutrimus." Mor. 1.
30, c. 28.
8 "Salomon templum Deo condidit; sed utinam corporis templum
pse servasset!" Apol. David. 1. 2,