haste.]

So St. Jerome writes of himself, that he had mortified his body to
such an extent that he had become like a Moor; still it had been of
no avail, and he had dreamed of being at Rome at a revelry among
harlots.

St. Bernard also subjected himself to such austerities, and so
mortified his body that it became offensive, as I said above. They
endured severe temptation, and purposed thus to subdue it by external
methods. But since it is external, it is only an outward plaster,
with no inward application. So that it does not suffice to subdue
lust.

But here St. Peter has prescribed an appropriate remedy,--namely,
obedience to truth in the Spirit, as Scripture also has done in other
places,--as Isaiah xi.: "Faith shall be the girdle of his reins."
This is the true plaster that girds the reins, for it must proceed
from within outward, not from without inward. For it has penetrated
into the flesh and blood, the marrow and other parts of the living
system; it is not outward in the dress or clothing. Therefore it is
not to be expected that we should subdue lust with outward things; we
may weaken the body and destroy it with fastings and labors, but the
evil lusts are not thereby banished; yet faith can subdue them, and
guard them, that they shall be compelled to give the Spirit place.

So likewise speaks the prophet Zachariah, ix., of the wine which
Christ has, whereby the pure grow, and of which he gives them to
drink. Other wine usually invites to wicked lust, but this
wine,--that is, the Gospel,--subdues it, and makes the heart chaste.
This is what St. Peter speaks of when any one heartily embraces the
truth, and is obedient to it in spirit. This is the true help and the
most powerful remedy for it, since you will find none which can still
all evil thoughts like it; for if this enters our hearts, evil
inclinations quickly leave; let whoever will try it, he shall find it
true, and whoever has tried it, knows it well; but the devil lets no
one easily attain it, and comprehend the word of God so as to delight
in it; for he well knows how powerful it is to subdue evil lusts and
thoughts.

St. Peter, therefore, would here say, if you would remain chaste,
then must you render obedience to the truth in the Spirit, that
is,--we must not only read and hear the word of God, but apprehend it
in our hearts. Therefore it is not enough that a man should preach or
hear the Gospel once, but he must ever press after it and perse