Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol VIII:
Two Epistles Concerning Virginity.: Chapter IX

Chapter IX.—Continuation of the Subject of Mortification; Dignity of Persons Consecrated to God.

He in whomsoever the Spirit of God is, is in accord with the will of the Spirit of God; and, because he is in accord with the Spirit of God, therefore does he mortify the deeds of the body and live unto God, “treading down and subjugating the body and keeping it under; so that, while preaching to others,” he may be a beautiful example and pattern to believers, and may spend his life in works which are worthy of the Holy Spirit, so that he may “not be cast away,” 372 but may be approved before God and before men.  For in “the man who is of God,” 373 with him I say there is nothing of the mind of the flesh; and especially in virgins of either sex; but the fruits of all of them are “the fruits of the Spirit” 374 and of life, and they are truly the city of God, and the houses and temples in which God abides and dwells, and among which He walks, as in the holy city of heaven.  For in this “do ye appear to the world as lights, in that ye give heed to the Word of life,” 375 and thus ye are in truth the praise, and the boast, and the crown of rejoicing, and the delight of good servants in our Lord Jesus Christ.  For all who see you will “acknowledge that ye are the seed which the Lord hath blessed;” 376 in very deed a seed honourable and holy, and “a priestly kingdom, a holy people, the people of the inheritance,” 377 the heirs of the promises of God; of things which do not decay, nor wither; of “that which eye hath not seen, and ear hath not heard, and which hath not come up into the heart of man; of that which God hath prepared for those who love Him and keep His commandments.” 378

Footnotes

1 Cor. ix. 27.

1 Tim. vi. 11.

Gal. v. 22.

Phil. 2:15, 16.

Isa. lxi. 9.

1 Pet. ii. 9.

1 Cor. ii. 9.