Tertullian

“ What if you come to feel that what we have called a loss is a gain? For continence will be a mean whereby you will traffic in [2] a mighty substance of sanctity; by parsimony of the flesh you will gain the Spirit. For let us ponder over our conscience itself, (to see) how different a man feels himself when he chances to be deprived of his wife. He savours spiritually. If he is making prayer to the Lord, he is near heaven. ”

“ Renounce we things carnal, that we may at length bear fruits spiritual. Seize the opportunity—albeit not earnestly desired, yet favourable—of not having any one to whom to pay a debt, and by whom to be (yourself) repaid! ”

“ If he is singing a psalm, he satisfies himself. [4] If he is adjuring a demon, he is confident in himself. Accordingly, the apostle added (the recommendation of) a temporary abstinence for the sake of adding an efficacy to prayers, [5] that we might know that what is profitable “for a time” should be always practised by us, that it may be always profitable. ”