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Ambrose of Milan, On the Duties of the Clergy
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A duty is to be chosen from what is virtuous, and from what is useful, and also from the comparison of the two, one with the other; but nothing is recognized by Christians as virtuous or useful which is not helpful to the future life. This treatise on duty, therefore, will not be superfluous.
27. The philosophers considered that duties35 Cic. de Off. I. 3, § 9. Cic. de Off. II. 9, § 34. were derived from what is virtuous and what is useful, and that from these two one should choose the better. Then, they say, it may happen that two virtuous or two useful things will clash together, and the question is, which is the more virtuous, and which the more useful? First, therefore, “duty” is divided into three sections: what is virtuous, what is useful, and what is the better of two. Then, again, these three are divided into five classes; that is, two that are virtuous, two that are useful, and, lastly, the right judgment as to the choice between them. The first they say has to do with the moral dignity and integrity of life; the second with the conveniences of life, with wealth, resources, opportunities; whilst a right judgment must underlie the choice of any of them. This is what the philosophers say.36 Cic. de Off. I. 3. Prov. xxvii. 6.
28. But we measure nothing at all but that which is fitting and virtuous, and that by the rule of things future rather than of things present; and we state nothing to be useful but what will help us to the blessing of eternal life; certainly not that which will help us enjoy merely the present time. Nor do we recognize any advantages in opportunities and in the wealth of earthly goods, but consider them as disadvantages if not put aside, and to be looked on as a burden, when we have them, rather than as a loss when expended.
29. This work of ours, therefore, is not superfluous, seeing that we and they regard duty in quite different ways. They reckon the advantages of this life among the good things, we reckon them among the evil things; for he who receives good things here, as the rich man in the parable, is tormented there; and Lazarus, who endured evil things here, there found comfort.37 S. Luke xvi. 25. 1 [3] Kings x. 2, 3. Lastly, those who do not read their writings may read ours if they will—if, that is, they do not require great adornment of language or a skilfully-treated subject, but are satisfied with the simple charm of the subject itself.
CAPUT IX.
Officium ab honesto et utili, nec non ab amborum inter se comparatione desumi: sed a Christianis nihil 0031C quod ad futuram vitam non conferat, honestum aut utile agnosci; atque adeo non supervacaneum fore hunc de Officio tractatum.
27. Officia autem ab honesto et utili duci existimaverunt, et de iis duobus eligere quid praestet: deinde incidere ut duo concurrant honesta, et duo utilia; et quaeratur quid honestius, et quid utilius. Primum igitur in tres partes Officium dividitur: honestum, et utile, et quid praestantius. Deinde haec 0032A tria in quinque genera diviserunt, in duo honesta, et duo utilia, et eligendi judicium. Prima pertinere dicunt ad decus honestatemque vitae, secunda ad vitae commoda, copias, opes, facultates: de iis eligendis subesse judicium. Haec illi.
28. Nos autem nihil omnino nisi quod deceat et honestum sit, futurorum magis quam praesentium metimur formula: nihilque utile nisi quod ad vitae illius aeternae prosit gratiam definimus, non quod ad delectationem praesentis. Neque aliqua commoda in facultatibus et copiis opum constituimus: sed incommoda haec putamus, si non rejiciantur; eaque oneri cum sint aestimari magis, quam dispendio cum erogantur.
29. Non superfluum igitur scriptionis nostrae est 0032B opus, quia Officium diversa aestimamus regula atque illi aestimaverunt. Illi saeculi commoda in bonis ducunt, nos haec etiam in detrimentis; quoniam qui hic recipit bona, ut ille dives, illic cruciatur: et Lazarus qui mala hic pertulit, illic consolationem invenit (Luc. XVI, 25). Deinde qui illa non legunt, nostra legent si volent: qui non sermonum supellectilem, neque artem dicendi; sed simplicem rerum exquirunt gratiam.