On Virtue

The word virtue has more than one meaning. 1) Sometimes it means “diligence” (2 Pet. 1:5) or “earnest care” in doing good works in general (Tit. 3:8); 2) sometimes—a good disposition of the heart, which underlies a certain kind of good actions, such as, for example, humility or patience; 3) sometimes—any good work or any keeping of the commandment. The first constitutes the essential foundation of all virtuous life; the second imparts the true character of virtue to particular actions; the last serves as an expression of the first two, or more precisely, are for the first a means to establish the second in the heart (thus, for example, one who lacks patience but strives for it through particular acts of patience establishes in the heart a willing and true patience).