< Page:A history of Bohemian literature.pdf
This page needs to be proofread.

A HISTORY OF BOHEMIAN LITERATURE

68

the first book, which deals with the three general matters that are necessary to all, of whatever condition they may be, and without which no one can be saved, I have

it,

written for you this second book. It deals with purity, and how it should be preserved by those who wish to dwell with God in His kingdom, in whichever of the three conditions ^ they may belong. For that heavenly city, the godly, holy. New Jerusalem is thus ruled, and is so very pure that, since the beginning of ages, nothing as indeed the holy St. John had impure has entered declared in the Book of Secret Revelation,"

is

'

i.e. virgins, widows, and married people.

is

a

is

it

a

A

a

it is

I

a

It

is

a

a

is

Stitny's book. Of Virgins, of Widows, and of Married written from highly moral and wise point of People, somewhat outview, but he deals with his subject in often necessary when spoken manner, and caution interesting to find in the writings quoting from it. of moralist of the fourteenth century views as to the relative position of the sexes similar to some that have quite recently given rise to consideiable controversy. In the chapter entitled, " What those who wish to get " To those married should beware of," Stitny writes maidens who seek a husband, and to bachelors also, will give this advice, that every young man should preserve himself for his bride free from all impurity as completely for as she does so for him God's law that no man should outside of the bonds of matrimony commit any offence with any woman. For as young man would be displeased should the maiden whom he wishes to marry quit the state of virginity, in the same manner he also should preserve his innocence. man indeed stronger than woman, and as shameful for virgin to leave her state except through matrimony, thus before See p. 66.

This article is issued from Wikisource. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.