Paul says he did, "Keeping his body
under, and bringing it into subjection."
For, see, the Collect does not say, "Give us grace to use
abstinence," as if abstinence were a good thing in itself, but "to
use such abstinence, that"--to use a certain kind of abstinence, and
that for a certain purpose, and that purpose a good one; such
abstinence that our flesh may be subdued to our spirit; that our
flesh, the animal, bodily nature which is in us, loving ease and
pleasure, may not be our master, but our servant; so that we may not
follow blindly our own appetites, and do just what we like, as brute
beasts which have no understanding. And our flesh is to be subdued
to our spirit for a certain purpose; not because our flesh is bad,
and our spirit good; not in order that we may puff ourselves up and
admire ourselves, and say, as the philosophers among the heathen
used, "What a strong-minded, sober, self-restraining man I am! How
fine it is to be able to look down on my neighbours, who cannot help
being fond of enjoying themselves, and cannot help caring for this
world's good things. I am above all that. I want nothing, and I
feel nothing, and nothing can make me glad or sorry. I am master of
my own mind, and own no law but my own will.
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