Homily XVII.

1 Timothy vi. 2–7

“These things teach and exhort. If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness; he is proud, knowing nothing, but doting about questions and strifes of words, whereof cometh envy, strife, railings, evil surmisings, perverse disputings of men of corrupt minds, and destitute of the truth, supposing that gain is godliness: from such withdraw thyself. But godliness with contentment is great gain. For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.”

A teacher has need not only of authority, but of gentleness, and not only of gentleness, but of authority. And all these the blessed Paul teaches, at one time saying, “These things command and teach” (1 Tim. iv. 11.); at another, “These things teach and exhort.”214    Or “entreat.” For if physicians entreat the sick, not for the benefit of their own health, but that they may relieve their sickness, and restore their prostrate strength, much more ought we to observe this method, of entreating those whom we teach. For the blessed Paul does not refuse to be their servant: “We preach not ourselves,” he says; “but Christ Jesus the Lord; and ourselves your servants for Jesus’ sake” (2 Cor. iv. 5.); and again, “All things are yours, whether Paul or Apollos.” (1 Cor. iii. 12.) And in this service he serves with alacrity, for it is not slavery, but superior to freedom. For He says, “Whoever committeth sin is the servant of sin.” (John viii. 34.)

“If any man teach otherwise, and consent not to wholesome words, even the words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is proud, knowing nothing.” Presumption therefore arises not from knowledge, but from “knowing nothing.” For he that knows the doctrines of godliness is also the most disposed to moderation. He who knows sound words, is not unsound. For what inflammation is in the body, that pride is in the soul. And as we do not in the first case say that the inflamed part is sound, so neither do we here consider the arrogant. It is possible then to be knowing, and yet to know nothing. For he that knows not what he ought to know, knows nothing. And that pride arises from knowing nothing is manifest from hence. Christ “made Himself of no reputation” (Philip. ii. 7.), he therefore who knows this will not be high-minded. Man hath nothing except from God, therefore he will not be high-minded. “For what hast thou that thou didst not receive?” (1 Cor. iv. 7.) He washed the feet of His disciples, how can he who knows this be setting himself up? Therefore He says, “When ye have done all, say we are unprofitable servants.” (Luke xvii. 10.) The publican was accepted only from his humility, the Pharisee perished by his boastfulness. He who is puffed up knoweth none of these things. Again, Christ Himself says, “If I have spoken evil, bear witness of the evil; but if well, why smitest thou me?” (John xviii. 23.)

“Doting215    νοσῶν. about questions.” To question then is to dote. “And strifes of words”; this is justly said. For when the soul is fevered with reasonings, and stormy, then it questions, but when it is in a sound state, it does not question, but receives the faith. But from questionings and strifes of words nothing can be discovered. For when the things which faith only promises are received by an inquisitive spirit, it neither demonstrates them, nor suffers us to understand them. If one should close his eyes, he would not be able to find anything he sought: or if, again with his eyes open, he should bury himself, and exclude the sun, he would be unable to find anything, thus seeking. So without faith nothing can be discerned, but contentions must needs arise. “Whereof come railings, evil surmisings”; that is, erroneous opinions and doctrines arising froth questionings. For when we begin to question, then we surmise concerning God things that we ought not.

“Perverse disputings,”216    διαπαρατριβαί, rec. παραδιατριβαί. that is, leisure or conversation, or he may mean intercommunication, and that as infected sheep by contact217    παρατριβόμενα. communicate disease to the sound, so do these bad men.

“Destitute of the truth, thinking that gain is godliness.” Observe what evils are produced by strifes of words. The love of gain, ignorance, and pride; for pride is engendered by ignorance.

“From such withdraw thyself.” He does not say, engage and contend with them, but “withdraw thyself,” turn away from them; as elsewhere he says, “A man that is an heretic after the first and second admonition reject.” (Tit. iii. 10.) He shows that they do not so much err from ignorance, as they owe their ignorance to their indolence. Those who are contentious for the sake of money you will never persuade. They are only to be persuaded, so long as you give, and even so you will never satisfy their desires. For it is said, “The covetous man’s eye is not satisfied with a portion.” (Ecclus. xiv. 9.) From such then, as being incorrigible, it is right to turn away. And if he who had much obligation to fight for the truth, is advised not to engage in contention with such men, much more should we218    This he would hardly have said at Constantinople, when he was Bishop. avoid it, who are in the situation of disciples.

Having said, “They think that godliness is a means of gain,” he adds: “But godliness with contentment is great gain,” not when it possesses wealth, but when it has it not. For that he may not despond on account of his poverty, he encourages and revives his spirit. They think, he says, that godliness is a means of gain,219    This is undoubtedly the true sense, as the article is attached to “godliness.” and so it is; only not in their way, but in a much higher. Then having demolished theirs he extols the other. For that worldly gain is nothing, is manifest, because it is left behind, and does not attend us, or go along with us at our departure. Whence is this plain? Because we had nothing when we came into this world, therefore we shall have nothing when we depart from it. For nature came naked into the world, and naked she will go out of it. Therefore we want no superfluities; if we brought nothing with us, and shall take nothing away with us.

Ver. 8. “And having food and raiment, let us be therewith content.”

Such things, and so much ought we to eat, as will suffice to nourish us, and such things should we put on, as will cover us, and clothe our nakedness, and nothing more; and a common garment will answer this purpose. Then he urges them from the consideration of things here, saying,

Ver. 9. “But they that will be rich”; not those that are rich, but those who wish to be. For a man may have money and make a good use of it, not overvaluing it, but bestowing it upon the poor. Such therefore he does not blame, but the covetous.

“They that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.”

He has justly said, “they drown men,” since they cannot be raised from that depth. “In destruction and perdition.”

Ver. 10. “For the love of money is the root of all evil; which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.”

Two things he mentions, and that which to them might seem the more weighty he places last, their “many sorrows.” And to learn how true this is, the only way is to sojourn with the rich, to see how many are their sorrows, how bitter their complaints.

Ver. 11. “But thou, O man of God.”

This is a title of great dignity. For we are all men of God, but the righteous peculiarly so, not by right of creation only, but by that of appropriation.220    οἰκειώσεως. If then thou art a “man of God,” seek not superfluous things, which lead thee not to God, but

“Flee these things, and follow after righteousness.” Both expressions are emphatic; he does not say turn from one, and approach the other, but “flee these things, pursue righteousness,” so as not to be covetous.

“Godliness,” that is, soundness in doctrines.221    See on Stat. Hom. iv. 3.

“Faith,” which is opposed to questionings.

“Love,” patience, meekness.

Ver. 12. “Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life.” Lo, there is thy reward, “whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession,” in hope of eternal life, “before many witnesses.”

That is, do not put that confidence to shame. Why dost thou labor to no profit? But what is the “temptation and snare,” which he says, those that would be rich fall into? It causes them to err from the faith, it involves them in dangers, it renders them less intrepid. “Foolish desires,” he says. And is it not a foolish desire, when men like to keep idiots and dwarfs, not from benevolent motives, but for their pleasure, when they have receptacles for fishes in their halls, when they bring up wild beasts, when they give their time to dogs, and dress up horses, and are as fond of them as of their children? All these things are foolish and superfluous, nowise necessary, nowise useful.

“Foolish and hurtful lusts!” What are hurtful lusts? When men live unlawfully, when they desire what is their neighbor’s, when they do their utmost in222    προσπαλαίωσιν, lit. wrestle with. luxury, when they long for drunkenness, when they desire the murder and destruction of others. From these desires many have aimed at tyranny, and perished. Surely to labor with such views is both foolish and hurtful. And well has he said, “They have erred from the faith.” Covetousness attracting their eyes to herself, and gradually stealing away their minds, suffers them not to see their way. For as one walking on the straight road, with his mind intent on something else, proceeds on his way indeed, but, often without knowing it, passes by the very city to which he was hastening, his feet plying on at random and to no purpose: such like a thing is covetousness. “They have pierced themselves through with many sorrows.” Dost thou see what he means by that word “pierced”? What he means to express by the allusion223    ἐμφάσεως, a form of speech implying something not directly expressed. is this. Desires are thorns, and as when one touches thorns, he gores his hand, and gets him wounds, so he that falls into these lusts will be wounded by them, and pierce his soul with griefs. And what cares and troubles attend those who are thus pierced, it is not possible to express. Therefore he says, “Flee these things, and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.” For meekness springs from love.

Ver. 12. “Fight the good fight.”

Here he commends his boldness and manliness, that before all he confidently “made profession,” and he reminds him of his early instruction.

“Lay hold on eternal life.”

There is need not only of profession, but of patience also to persevere in that profession, and of vehement contention, and of numberless toils, that you be not overthrown. For many are the stumbling-blocks, and impediments, therefore the way is “strait and narrow.” (Matt. vii. 14.) It is necessary therefore to be self-collected,224    συνεστράφθαι. and well girt on every side. All around appear pleasures attracting the eyes of the soul. Those of beauty, of wealth, of luxury, of indolence, of glory, of revenge, of power, of dominion, and these are all fair and lovely in appearance, and able to captivate those who are unsteady, and who do not love the truth. For truth has but a severe and uninviting countenance. And why? Because the pleasures that she promises are all future, whereas the others hold out present honors and delights, and repose; though all are false and counterfeit. To these therefore adhere gross, effeminate, unmanly minds, indisposed to the toils of virtue. As in the games of the heathens, he who does not earnestly covet the crown, may from the first give himself up to revellings and drunkenness, and so do in fact the cowardly and unmanly combatants, whilst those who look steadfastly to the crown sustain blows without number. For they are supported and roused to action by the hope of future reward.

Moral. Let us then flee from this root of all evils, and we shall escape them all. “The love of money,” he says, “is the root;” thus says Paul, or rather Christ by Paul, and let us see how this is. The actual experience of the world testifies it. For what evil is not caused by wealth, or rather not by wealth, but by the wicked will of those who know not how to use it? For it is possible to use wealth in well doing, and even through means of it to inherit the kingdom. But now what was given us for the relief of the poor, to make amends for our past sins, to win a good report, and to please God, this we employ against the poor and wretched, or rather against our own souls, and to the high displeasure of God. For as for the other, a man robs him of his wealth, and reduces him to poverty, but himself to death; and him he causes to pine in penury here, but himself in that eternal punishment. Are they equal sufferers, think you?

What evils then does it not cause! what fraudulent practices, what robberies! what miseries, enmities, contentions, battles! Does it not stretch forth its hand even to the dead, nay, to fathers, and brethren? Do not they who are possessed by this passion violate the laws of nature, and the commandments of God? in short everything? Is it not this that renders our courts of justice necessary? Take away therefore the love of money, and you put an end to war, to battle, to enmity, to strife and contention. Such men ought therefore to be banished from the world, as wolves and pests. For as opposing and violent winds, sweeping over a calm sea, stir it up from its foundations, and mingle the sands of the deep with the waves above, so the lovers of wealth confound and unsettle everything. The covetous man never knows a friend: a friend, did I say? he knows not God Himself, driven mad, as he is, by the passion of avarice. Do ye not see the Titans going forth sword in hand? This is a representation of madness. But the lovers of money do not counterfeit, they are really mad, and beside themselves; and if you could lay bare their souls, you would find them armed in this way not with one or two swords, but with thousands, acknowledging no one, but turning their rage against all; flying and snarling at all, slaughtering not dogs,225    There was a heathen festival at Argos, called Cynophontis (Athenæus, l. 3, Cas. p. 99), in which dogs met abroad were killed; but whether this was done in the warlike dance called Titanes (which was practiced even by persons of rank, Lucian, de Salt. § 21, p. 37 and 79) does not appear. but the souls of men, and uttering blasphemies against heaven itself. By these men all things are subverted, and ruined by their madness after wealth.

For whom indeed, whom I should accuse, I know not! It is a plague that so seizes all, some more, some less, but all in a degree. Like a fire catching a wood, that desolates and destroys all around, this passion has laid waste the world. Kings, magistrates, private persons, the poor, women, men, children, are all alike affected by it. As if a gross darkness had overspread the earth, no one is in his sober senses. Yet we hear, both in public and private, many declamations226    See Libanius, Or. 7. against covetousness, but no one is mended by them.

What then is to be done? How shall we extinguish this flame? For though it has risen up to heaven itself, it is to be extinguished. We have only to be willing, and we shall be able to master the conflagration. For as by our will it has got head, so it may be brought under by our will. Did not our own choice cause it, and will not the same choice avail to extinguish it? Only let us be willing. But how shall that willingness be engendered? If we consider the vanity and the unprofitableness of wealth, that it cannot depart hence with us, that even here it forsakes us, and that whilst it remains behind, it inflicts upon us wounds that depart along with us. If we see that there are riches There, compared to which the wealth of this world is more despicable than dung. If we consider that it is attended with numberless dangers, with pleasure that is temporary, pleasure mingled with sorrow. If we contemplate aright the true riches of eternal life, we shall be able to despise worldly wealth. If we remember that it profits nothing either to glory, or health, or any other thing; but on the contrary drowns men in destruction and perdition. If thou consider that here thou art rich, and hast many under thee, but that when thou departest hence, thou wilt go naked and solitary. If we often represent227    ἐπάδωμεν. these things to ourselves, and listen to them from others, there will perhaps be a return to a sound mind, and a deliverance from this dreadful punishment.

Is a pearl beautiful? yet consider, it is but sea water, and was once cast away in the bosom of the deep. Are gold and silver beautiful? yet they were and are but dust and ashes. Are silken vestments beautiful? yet they are nothing but the spinning of worms. This beauty is but in opinion, in human prejudice, not in the nature of the things. For that which possesses beauty from nature, need not any to point it out. If you see a coin of brass that is but gilded over, yon admire it at first, fancying that it is gold; but when the cheat is shown to you by one who understands it, your wonder vanishes with the deceit. The beauty therefore was not in the nature of the thing. Neither is it in silver; you may admire tin for silver, as you admired brass for gold, and you need some one to inform you what you should admire. Thus our eyes are not sufficient to discern the difference. It is not so with flowers, which are much more beautiful. If you see a rose, you need no one to inform you, you can of yourself distinguish an anemone, and a violet, or a lily, and every other flower. It is nothing therefore but prejudice. And to show, that this destructive passion is but a prejudice; tell me, if the Emperor were pleased to ordain that silver should be of more value than gold, would you not transfer your love and admiration to the former? Thus we are everywhere under the influence of covetousness and opinion.228    πλεονεξίας καὶ ὑπονοίας. The latter is literally suspicion, but in ver. 4he seems to render it opinions, in the sense of imaginations bred by selfishness. And that it is so, and that a thing is valued for its rarity, and not for its nature, appears hence. The fruits that are held cheap among us are in high esteem among the Cappadocians, and among the Serians229    Seres, a people on the borders of China. In Tac. Ann. ii. 33, A.D. 16, we find a law at Rome against men wearing silk, vestris Serica. even more valuable than the most precious among us, from which country these garments are brought; and many such instances might be given in Arabia and India, where spices are produced, and where precious stones are found. Such preference therefore is nothing but prejudice, and human opinion. We act not from judgment, but at random, and as accident determines. But let us recover from this intoxication, let us fix our view upon that which is truly beautiful, beautiful in its own nature, upon godliness and righteousness; that we may obtain the promised blessings, through the grace and lovingkindness of Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom, &c.

ΟΜΙΛΙΑ ΙΖʹ. Ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει. Εἴ τις ἑτε ροδιδασκαλεῖ, καὶ μὴ προσέρχεται ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις τοῖς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ τῇ κατ' εὐσέβειαν διδασκαλίᾳ, τετύφωται, μηδὲν ἐπιστάμενος, ἀλλὰ νοσῶν περὶ ζητή σεις καὶ λογομαχίας, ἐξ ὧν γίνεται φθόνος, ἔρις, βλασφημίαι, ὑπόνοιαι πονηραὶ, διαπα ρατριβαὶ διεφθαρμένων ἀνθρώπων τὸν νοῦν, καὶ ἀπεστερημένων τῆς ἀληθείας, νομιζόντων πορισμὸν εἶναι τὴν εὐσέβειαν. Ἀφίστασο ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων. Ἔστι δὲ πορισμὸς μέγας ἡ εὐ σέβεια μετὰ αὐταρκείας. Οὐδὲν γὰρ εἰσηνέγ καμεν εἰς τὸν κόσμον τοῦτον: δῆλον ὅτι οὐδὲ ἐξενεγκεῖν τι δυνάμεθα. αʹ. Οὐκ αὐθεντίας δεῖ τῷ διδασκάλῳ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ προσηνείας πολλῆς, ὥσπερ οὐ προσηνείας μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ αὐθεντίας. Καὶ ταῦτα πάντα διδάσκει ὁ μακάριος Παῦλος, ποτὲ μὲν λέγων: Παράγγελλε ταῦτα καὶ δίδασκε, ποτὲ δὲ, Ταῦτα δίδασκε καὶ παρακάλει. Εἰ γὰρ ἰατροὶ τοὺς κάμνοντας παρακαλοῦσιν, οὐχ ἵνα αὐτοὶ τῆς ὑγείας ἐπιτύχωσιν, ἀλλ' ἵνα ἐκείνους ἀπαλλάξωσι τῆς ἀσθενείας καὶ κειμένους ἀναστήσωσι: πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡμᾶς τούτῳ πρὸς τοὺς διδασκομένους τῷ ἤθει κεχρῆσθαι χρὴ παρακαλοῦντας. Οὐδὲ γὰρ δοῦλος αὐτῶν εἶναι παραιτεῖται ὁ μακάριος Παῦλος, λέγων: Οὐ γὰρ ἑαυτοὺς κηρύσσομεν, φησὶν, ἀλλὰ Χριστὸν Ἰησοῦν, ἑαυτοὺς δὲ δούλους ὑμῶν διὰ Ἰησοῦν: καὶ πάλιν, Πάντα ὑμῶν ἐστιν, εἴτε Παῦλος, εἴτε Ἀπολλώς. Καὶ δουλεύει τὴν δουλείαν ταύτην μετὰ προθυμίας: οὐ γάρ ἐστι δουλεία, ἀλλ' ἐλευθερίας βελτίων. Ἐκεῖνος γάρ ἐστι, φησὶ, δοῦλος ὁ ποιῶν τὴν ἁμαρτίαν. Εἴ τις ἑτεροδιδασκαλεῖ, καὶ μὴ προσέρχεται ὑγιαίνουσι λόγοις τοῖς τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, καὶ τῇ κατ' εὐσέβειαν διδασκαλίᾳ, τετύφωται, μηδὲν ἐπιστάμενος. Οὐκ ἄρα ἐκ τοῦ εἰδέναι τὸ εἰς ἀπόνοιαν αἴρεσθαι συμβαίνει, ἀλλ' ἐκ τοῦ μὴ εἰδέναι. Ὁ γὰρ εἰδὼς τοὺς κατ' εὐσέβειαν λόγους, οὗτος μάλιστα καὶ μετριάζειν οἶδεν: ὁ τοὺς ὑγιαίνοντας ἐπιστάμενος λόγους, οὐ νοσεῖ. Ὅπερ γὰρ ἐπὶ σωμάτων φλεγμονὴ, τοῦτο ἐν ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἀπόνοια: ὥσπερ ἐκεῖ τὸ φλεγμαῖνον οὐ φαμὲν ὑγιαίνειν, οὕτως οὐδὲ ἐνταῦθα τοὺς ἀλαζόνας. Ἄρα ἔστιν εἰδότα τι μηδὲν εἰδέναι: ὁ γὰρ μὴ εἰδὼς ἅπερ εἰδέναι χρὴ, οὐδὲν οἶδε. Καὶ ὅτι ἐκ τοῦ μηδὲν εἰδέναι ὑπερηφανία γίνεται, δῆλον ἐκεῖθεν: ὁ Χριστὸς ἐκένωσεν ἑαυτόν: ὁ τοῦτο τοίνυν εἰδὼς οὐ μέγα φρονήσει ποτέ: οὐδὲν γὰρ ἔχει ἄνθρωπος, εἰ μὴ παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ: οὐκοῦν οὐ μέγα φρονήσει. Τί γὰρ ἔχεις ὃ οὐκ ἔλαβες; Αὐτὸς τοὺς πόδας ἔνιψε τῶν μαθητῶν. Ὁ τοῦτο εἰδὼς, πῶς ἐπαρθήσεται; Διὰ τοῦτό φησιν, Ὅταν πάντα ποιήσητε, λέγετε ὅτι Ἀχρεῖοι δοῦλοί ἐσμεν. Ὁ τελώνης ἀπὸ μόνης ταπεινοφροσύνης εὐδοκίμησεν, ὁ Φαρισαῖος ἐξ ἀλαζονείας ἀπώλετο. Ὁ τοίνυν τετυφωμένος οὐδὲν τούτων ἐπίσταται. Αὐτὸς πάλιν ὁ Χριστός φησιν: Εἰ κακῶς ἐλάλησα, μαρτύρησον περὶ τοῦ κακοῦ: εἰ δὲ καλῶς, τί με δέρεις; Ἀλλὰ νοσῶν, φησὶ, περὶ ζητήσεις. Ἄρα νοσεῖν ἐστι τὸ ζητεῖν. Καὶ λογομαχίαι: εἰκότως. Ὅταν γὰρ ὑπὸ τῶν λογισμῶν ἡ ψυχὴ πυρέττῃ, ὅταν χειμάζηται, τότε ζητεῖ, ὅταν δὲ ἐν ὑγείᾳ ᾖ, τότε οὐ ζητεῖ, ἀλλὰ τὴν πίστιν δέχεται. Ἀπὸ δὲ ζητήσεως καὶ λογομαχίας οὐδὲν ἔστιν εὑρεῖν. Ἃ γὰρ ἡ πίστις ἐπαγγέλλεται μόνη, ἡ ζήτησις ἐπειδὰν ἀναδέξηται, οὔτε δείκνυσιν, οὔτε συνιέναι ἀφίησιν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ εἴ τις μύσας τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς, βούλεται εὑρεῖν τι τῶν ζητουμένων, δυνήσεται, ἢ αὖ πάλιν, εἰ τούτων ἀνεῳγμένων, κατορύξας ἑαυτὸν, καὶ τὴν ἀκτῖνα ἀποστραφεὶς, ἐκεῖ ζητοίη, δυνήσεταί τι εὑρεῖν. Οὕτω πίστεως χωρὶς οὐδὲν εὑρίσκεται, ἀλλὰ μάχας ἀνάγκη τίκτεσθαι. Ἐξ ὧν γίνονται βλασφημίαι, ὑπόνοιαι πονηραί. Τουτέστι, δόξαι καὶ δόγματα πονηρὰ ἀπὸ τῶν ζητήσεων. Τότε περὶ Θεοῦ ἃ μὴ δεῖ ὑποπτεύομεν, ὅταν εἰς ζητήσεις ἐμπέσωμεν. Διαπαρατριβαί: τουτέστι, σχολὴ, ἢ διατριβή. Ἢ τοῦτό φησι, διαπαρατριβαί: καθάπερ τὰ ψωραλέα τῶν προβάτων παρατριβόμενα νόσου καὶ τὰ ὑγιαίνοντα ἐμπίπλησιν, οὕτω καὶ οὗτοι οἱ πονηροὶ ἄνδρες. Καὶ ἀπεστερημένων, φησὶ, τῆς ἀληθείας, νομιζόντων πορισμὸν εἶναι τὴν εὐσέβειαν. Ὁρᾷς πόσα τίκτειν φησὶ τὰς λογομαχίας; αἰσχροκέρδειαν, ἄγνοιαν, ἀπόνοιαν: τὴν γὰρ ἀπόνοιαν ἡ ἄγνοια τίκτει. Ἀπὸ τούτων, φησὶν, ἀφίστασο. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Ὁμόσε χώρει, ἀλλ', Ἀφίστασο, τουτέστιν, ἐκτρέπου. Αἱρετικὸν γὰρ, φησὶν, ἄνθρωπον μετὰ μίαν ἢ δευτέραν νουθεσίαν παραιτοῦ. Δείκνυσιν αὐτοὺς οὐκ ἀπὸ ἀγνοίας τοσοῦτον, ὅσον ἀπὸ ῥᾳθυμίας καὶ αὐτὴν τὴν ἄγνοιαν ἔχοντας. Ἀνθρώπους γὰρ χρημάτων ἕνεκεν μαχομένους πότε δυνήσῃ πεῖσαι; Ἄλλως οὐ πείσεις τοὺς τοιούτους, ἂν μὴ δῷς πάλιν, καὶ οὐδὲ οὕτως αὐτῶν τὴν ἐπιθυμίαν ἐμπλήσεις. Πλεονέκτου γὰρ ὀφθαλμὸς, φησὶν, οὐκ ἐμπίπλαται μερίδι. Δεῖ τοίνυν αὐτοὺς ἀδιορθώτως ἔχοντας ἐκτρέπεσθαι. Εἰ δὲ τῷ τοῦ μάχεσθαι πολλὴν ἔχοντι τὴν ἀνάγκην παραινεῖ μὴ ὁμόσε χωρεῖν μηδὲ συμπλέκεσθαι, πολλῷ μᾶλλον τοῖς μαθητευομένοις ἡμῖν, τοῖς ἐν τάξει μαθητῶν οὖσιν. Εἰπὼν δὲ ὅτι νομίζουσι πορισμὸν εἶναι τὴν εὐσέβειαν, ἐπήγαγεν: Ἔστι δὲ πορισμὸς μέγας ἡ εὐσέβεια μετὰ αὐταρκείας, οὐχ ὅταν χρήματα ἔχῃ, ἀλλ' ὅταν μὴ ἔχῃ. Ἵνα γὰρ μὴ καταπέσῃ εἰς ἀθυμίαν διὰ τὴν πενίαν, ἀνίστησιν αὐτὸν καὶ ἀνορθοῖ: Νομίζουσι, φησὶν, ὅτι πορισμός ἐστιν. Ἔστι μὲν γὰρ, ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτως, ἀλλὰ μειζόνως. Εἶτα πρότερον καταβαλὼν ἐκείνην, τότε ταύτην ἐπαίρει. Ὅτι γὰρ οὐδέν ἐστιν ὁ πορισμὸς οὗτος, δῆλον ἐκ τοῦ μένειν ἐνταῦθα, μηδὲ συμμεθίστασθαι ἡμῖν, μηδὲ συναποδημεῖν. Πόθεν τοῦτο δῆλον; Ὅτι οὐδὲν ἔχοντες ἤλθομεν εἰς τὸν βίον: οὐκοῦν οὐδὲν ἀπελευσόμεθα ἔχοντες: γυμνὴ γὰρ παρεγένετο ἡ φύσις, γυμνὴ καὶ ἄπεισιν. Οὐ τοίνυν ἡμῖν δεῖ τῶν περιττῶν: εἰ μηδὲν εἰσηνέγκαμεν, μηδὲ ἔχοντες ἀπελευσόμεθα. Ἔχοντες δὲ διατροφὰς καὶ σκεπάσματα, τούτοις ἀρκεσθησόμεθα. Τοσαῦτα ἐσθίειν χρὴ καὶ τοιαῦτα, ἃ θρέψαι ἀρκεῖ: τοιαῦτα ἀμφιέννυσθαι, ἃ σκεπάσαι μόνον ἡμᾶς ὀφείλει καὶ περιστεῖλαι τὴν γύμνωσιν, μηδὲν περιττόν: τοῦτο δὲ καὶ τὸ τυχὸν ποιῆσαι δύναται ἱμάτιον. Εἶτα ἀπὸ τῶν ἐνταῦθα προτρέπει: Οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι, φησὶ, πλουτεῖν. βʹ. Οὐχ ἁπλῶς εἶπεν, Οἱ πλουτοῦντες, ἀλλ', Οἱ βουλόμενοι. Ἔστι γάρ τινα καὶ χρήματα ἔχοντα καλῶς οἰκονομεῖν, καταφρονοῦντα αὐτῶν, καὶ εἰς πένητας διανέμοντα. Οὐκ ἄρα τοὺς τοιούτους, ἀλλὰ τοὺς ἐπιθυμοῦντας διαβάλλει. Οἱ δὲ βουλόμενοι, φησὶ, πλουτεῖν, ἐμπίπτουσιν εἰς πειρασμὸν καὶ παγίδα τοῦ διαβόλου καὶ ἐπιθυμίας πολλὰς καὶ ἀνοήτους καὶ βλαβερὰς, αἵτινες βυθίζουσι τοὺς ἀνθρώπους. Καλῶς εἶπε, Βυθίζουσιν, ὡς μηδὲ ἀνενεγκεῖν δύνασθαι. Εἰς ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν. Ῥίζα γὰρ πάντων τῶν κακῶν ἐστιν ἡ φιλαργυρία, ἧς τινες ὀρεγόμενοι ἀπεπλανήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως, καὶ περιέπειραν ἑαυτοὺς ὀδύναις πολλαῖς. Ἰδοὺ δύο τίθησιν, ἀλλ' ὃ μᾶλλον αὐτοῖς ἰσχυρότερον εἶναι δοκεῖ, τοῦτο ἐνταῦθα ὕστερον τέθεικε, τὸ, Ὀδύναις πολλαῖς. Καὶ ταῦτα ἑτέρως οὐκ ἔστι μαθεῖν, ἢ τοῖς πλουσίοις παροικοῦντα, πόσα ἀποδύρονται, πόσα θρηνοῦσι. Σὺ δὲ, ὦ ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ. Μέγα ἀξίωμα: πάντες μὲν γὰρ ἄνθρωποι τοῦ Θεοῦ, ἀλλὰ κυρίως οἱ δίκαιοι, οὐ κατὰ τὸν τῆς δημιουργίας λόγον μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ κατὰ τὸν τῆς οἰκειώσεως. Εἰ τοῦ Θεοῦ ἄνθρωπος, φησὶν, εἶ, μὴ ζήτει τὰ περιττὰ, καὶ οὐκ ἄγοντα πρὸς τὸν Θεόν: ἀλλὰ Ταῦτα φεῦγε, δίωκε δὲ δικαιοσύνην. Ἀμφότερα μετ' ἐπιτάσεως. Οὐκ εἶπεν, Ἀφίστασο, καὶ πρόσιθι, ἀλλὰ, Φεῦγε, καὶ δίωκε δικαιοσύνην, ὥστε μὴ πλεονεκτεῖν. Εὐσέβειαν, τὴν τῶν δογμάτων: πίστιν, ἥπερ ἐστὶν ἐναντία τῇ ζητήσει: ἀγάπην, ὑπομονὴν, πραότητα. Ἀγωνίζου τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα τῆς πίστεως, ἐπιλαβοῦ τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς. Ἰδοὺ καὶ ὁ μισθός. Εἰς ἣν ἐκλήθης, καὶ ὡμολόγησας τὴν καλὴν ὁμολογίαν, ἐπὶ ἐλπίδι ζωῆς αἰωνίου, ἐνώπιον πολλῶν μαρτύρων. Τουτέστι, μὴ καταισχύνῃς τὴν παῤῥησίαν ἐκείνην: τί ἀνόνητα κάμνεις; Ποῖον δὲ πειρασμὸν καὶ παγίδα φησὶν ὑπομένειν τοὺς βουλομένους πλουτεῖν; Τῆς γὰρ πίστεως αὐτοὺς ἀποπλανᾷ, κινδύνοις αὐτοὺς περιβάλλει, καὶ ἀτολμοτέρους ἐργάζεται. Καὶ ἐπιθυμίας ἀνοήτους, φησί. Πῶς γὰρ οὐκ ἀνόητος ἐπιθυμία, ὅταν μωροὺς ἔχωσιν, ὅταν νάνους, οὑ φιλανθρωπίας ἕνεκεν, ἀλλὰ τέρψεως; ὅταν ἰχθῦς ἀποκλείωσιν ἐν ταῖς αὐλαῖς, ὅταν θηρία τρέφωσιν, ὅταν περὶ κύνας ἠσχόληνται, ὅταν ἵππους κοσμῶσι, καὶ τῶν παίδων οὐχ ἧττον περὶ αὐτοὺς διακέωνται; Πάντα ταῦτα ἀνόητα καὶ περιττὰ, οὐδὲν ἀναγκαῖον, οὐδὲν χρήσιμον. Ἐπιθυμίας, φησὶν, ἀνοήτους καὶ βλαβεράς. Ποῖαι βλαβεραί; Ὅταν ἐρῶσιν ἔρωτας ἀτόπους, ὅταν τῶν τοῦ πλησίον ἐφίενται, ὅταν τῇ τρυφῇ προσπαλαίωσιν, ὅταν μέθης ὀρέγωνται, ὅταν σφαγῆς καὶ τῆς ἑτέρων ἀπωλείας. Πολλοὶ δὲ ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων ἐρώτων καὶ τυραννίδι ἐπέθεντο, καὶ ἀπώλοντο. Ὄντως ὁ τοιοῦτος κάμνει εἰς ἀνόνητα, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ βλαβερά. Καὶ καλῶς εἶπεν, Ἀπεπλανήθησαν ἀπὸ τῆς πίστεως: οὐ γὰρ ἀφίησιν αὐτοὺς τὴν ὁδὸν ἰδεῖν ἀνθέλκουσα τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς πρὸς ἑαυτὴν ἡ φιλαργυρία, καὶ κατὰ μικρὸν ὑποκλέπτουσα. Καθάπερ γάρ τις εὐθεῖαν ὁδὸν βαδίζων, καὶ πρὸς ἕτερόν τι τὸν νοῦν ἐσχηκὼς, βαδίζει μὲν, οὐκ εἰδὼς δὲ παρέρχεται τὴν πόλιν πολλάκις ἐκείνην, εἰς ἣν ἔσπευδεν, ἑλκομένων αὐτῷ τῶν ποδῶν ἁπλῶς καὶ μάτην: τοιοῦτόν τι καὶ ἡ φιλαργυρία ἐστί. Καὶ περιέπειραν ἑαυτοὺς ὀδύναις πολλαῖς. Ὁρᾷς, τῷ Περιέπειραν τί ᾐνίξατο; Ὃ δὲ βούλεται δηλοῦν διὰ τῆς ἐμφάσεως, τοῦτό ἐστιν: ἄκανθαί εἰσιν αἱ ἐπιθυμίαι, καὶ καθάπερ ἐν ἀκάνθαις, ὅθεν ἄν τις ἅψηται αὐτῶν, ᾕμαξε τὰς χεῖρας καὶ τραύματα ἐργάζεται: οὕτω καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν ἐπιθυμιῶν τὸ αὐτὸ πείσεται ὁ ταύταις ἐμπεσὼν, καὶ τὴν ψυχὴν ἀλγηδόσι περιβαλεῖ. Πόσας ἔχουσι φροντίδας, πόσας ὀδύνας οἱ περιπαρέντες, εἰπέ μοι; Οὐκ ἔστιν εἰπεῖν. Διὰ τοῦτό φησι, Ταῦτα φεῦγε, δίωκε δὲ δικαιοσύνην, εὐσέβειαν, πίστιν, ἀγάπην, ὑπομονὴν, πραότητα. Ἀπὸ γὰρ τῆς ἀγάπης ἡ πραότης. Ἀγωνίζου τὸν καλὸν ἀγῶνα. Ἐνταῦθα αὐτοῦ τὴν παῤῥησίαν καὶ τὴν ἀνδρείαν ἐπαινεῖ: ὅτι μετὰ παῤῥησίας, φησὶν, ἐπὶ πάντων ὡμολόγησας. Ἀναμιμνήσκει δὲ καὶ τῆς κατηχήσεως αὐτόν: Ἐπιλαβοῦ, φησὶ, τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς. Οὐκ ἄρα ὁμολογίας χρεία μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ὑπομονῆς, ὥστε διαπαντὸς ἐμμένειν τῇ ὁμολογίᾳ, καὶ ἀγῶνος σφοδροῦ καὶ μυρίων ἱδρώτων εἰκότως, ὥστε μὴ περιτραπῆναι: πολλὰ γὰρ τὰ σκάνδαλα, πολλὰ τὰ κωλύματα. Διὰ τοῦτο στενὴ καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδός. Πάντοθεν οὖν χρὴ συνεστράφθαι, πάντοθεν χρὴ εὔζωνον εἶναι: μυρίαι πανταχόθεν φαίνονται ἡδοναὶ ἕλκουσαι τῆς ψυχῆς τοὺς ὀφθαλμοὺς, αἱ τῶν σωμάτων, αἱ τῶν χρημάτων, αἱ τῆς τρυφῆς, αἱ τῆς ῥᾳθυμίας, αἱ τῆς δόξης, αἱ τῆς ὀργῆς, αἱ τῆς δυναστείας, αἱ τῆς φιλαρχίας, καὶ φαίνονται λαμπρὰς ὄψεις ἔχουσαι καὶ ἐπεράστους, ἱκανὰς ἐπισπάσασθαι τοὺς ἐπτοημένους, τοὺς μὴ σφόδρα τῆς ἀληθείας ἐρῶντας: αὕτη μὲν γὰρ ἀπεσκληκυῖά ἐστι, καὶ οὐδὲν ἐπιτερπὲς ἔχουσα. Τί δήποτε; Ὅτι πᾶσαν τὴν ἡδονὴν ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι ὑπισχνεῖται: ἐκεῖναι δὲ προτείνουσιν ἤδη τιμὰς, ἡδονὰς, ἀναπαύσεις οὐκ ἀληθεῖς, ἀλλ' ἐπικεχρωσμένας. Ἂν τοίνυν βάναυσος ᾖ τις καὶ μαλακὸς καὶ ἄνανδρος, ἐκείνων ἀνθέξεται, ἐκλυθεὶς πρὸς τοὺς ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀρετῆς πόνους. Οὕτω καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν ἀγώνων τῶν ἔξωθεν τῷ μὲν μὴ σφόδρα ἐρῶντι τῶν στεφάνων, ἔξεστιν ἐκ πρώτης συμποσίοις καὶ μέθαις προσανέχειν: οὕτω γοῦν οἱ δειλοὶ καὶ ἄνανδροι τῶν πυκτευόντων ποιοῦσιν: οἱ δὲ πρὸς τὸν στέφανον ὁρῶντες, μυρίας αἴρουσι πληγάς: τῇ γὰρ ἐλπίδι τῶν μελλόντων τρέφονται καὶ διανίστανται. γʹ. Φύγωμεν τοίνυν τὴν ῥίζαν τῶν κακῶν, καὶ πάντα φευξόμεθα. Ἡ φιλαργυρία, φησὶν, ἐστὶ ῥίζα, Παῦλος ἐφθέγξατο, μᾶλλον δὲ ὁ Χριστὸς διὰ Παύλου. Ἴδωμεν δὲ τοῦτο πῶς. Καὶ αὐτὴ τῶν πραγμάτων μαρτυρεῖ ἡ πεῖρα. Τί γὰρ κακὸν οὐ διὰ τὰ χρήματα, μᾶλλον δὲ οὐ διὰ τὰ χρήματα, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν κακὴν προαίρεσιν τῶν οὐκ εἰδότων αὐτοῖς κεχρῆσθαι; Ἐπεὶ ἐξῆν τοῖς χρήμασιν εἰς δέον κεχρῆσθαι, ἐξῆν καὶ βασιλείαν δι' αὐτῶν κληρονομεῖν: νυνὶ δὲ ἅπερ ἐδόθη εἰς ἐπικουρίαν τῶν πενήτων, εἰς παραμυθίαν τῶν ἡμαρτημένων ἡμῖν, εἰς εὐδοκίμησιν καὶ ἀρέσκειαν Θεοῦ, τούτοις κεχρήμεθα κατὰ τῶν ἀθλίων πενήτων, μᾶλλον δὲ κατὰ τῆς ἑαυτῶν ψυχῆς, καὶ εἰς προσκρουσμὸν τοῦ Θεοῦ. Τὸν μὲν γὰρ χρήματα ἀφείλετό τις, καὶ πενίᾳ περιέβαλεν, ἑαυτὸν δὲ θανάτῳ: καὶ τοῦτον μὲν ἐνταῦθα τῇ πενίᾳ κατατήκει, ἑαυτὸν δὲ τῇ διηνεκεῖ τιμωρίᾳ. Ἆρα μὴ ἴσον ἐστί; Τί τοίνυν κακὸν οὐ διὰ ταῦτα; οὐχὶ πλεονεξίαι; οὐχ ἁρπαγαί; οὐκ ὀλοφυρμοί; οὐκ ἔχθραι; οὐ μάχαι; οὐ φιλονεικίαι; οὐχὶ μέχρι τῶν νεκρῶν τὰς χεῖρας ἐξέτειναν; οὐχὶ καὶ μέχρι πατέρων καὶ ἀδελφῶν; οὐχὶ φύσεως νόμους, καὶ Θεοῦ προστάγματα, καὶ πάντα ἁπλῶς ἀνέστρεψαν, ὑπὸ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας ἐκείνης κατεχόμενοι; τὰ δικαστήρια οὐ τούτων ἕνεκεν; Ἄνελε τοίνυν τὴν φιλοχρηματίαν, καὶ πέπαυται πόλεμος, πέπαυται μάχη, πέπαυται ἔχθρα, πέπαυται ἔρις καὶ φιλονεικία. Ὥσπερ λυμεῶνας καὶ λύκους ἐλαύνεσθαι τοὺς τοιούτους ἐκ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἐχρῆν. Καθάπερ γὰρ ἀνεμοί τινες ἐναντίοι καὶ σφοδροὶ εἰς γαληνὸν ἐμπνέοντες πέλαγος ἐκ βάθρων αὐτὸ ἀναστρέφουσιν, ὡς καὶ τὴν βύθιον ἄμμον τοῖς ἄνω μίγνυσθαι κύμασιν: οὕτως οἱ φιλοχρήματοι πάντα ἄνω καὶ κάτω ποιοῦσιν. Οὐδένα οἶδεν ὁ φιλοχρήματος φίλον: τί δὲ λέγω φίλον; οὐδὲ αὐτὸν τὸν Θεὸν ἐπίσταται: ὑπὸ γὰρ τῆς ἐπιθυμίας ἐκείνης κατεχόμενος, μέμηνεν. Οὐχ ὁρᾶτε τοὺς Τιτᾶνας ξιφήρεις προϊόντας; Ἐκεῖνα μανίας ἐστὶν ὑπόκρισις. Οὗτοι δὲ οὐ τοιοῦτοι, ἀλλ' ἀληθῶς μαινόμενοι καὶ ἐξεστηκότες: κἂν ἀποδύσῃς αὐτῶν τὴν ψυχὴν, οὕτως εὑρήσεις ἐσκευασμένην, οὐχ ἓν ξίφος οὐδὲ δύο, ἀλλὰ μυρία κατέχουσαν, οὐδένα ἐπιγινώσκουσαν, ἀλλὰ κατὰ πάντων λυττῶσαν, πᾶσιν ἐπιπηδῶσαν καὶ ὑλακτοῦσαν κατὰ πάντων, οὐ κύνας σφάζουσαν, ἀλλὰ ψυχὰς ἀνθρώπων, καὶ εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν αὐτὸν μεγάλα βλασφημοῦσαν. Ὑπὸ τούτων πάντα ἀνατέτραπται, πάντα διόλωλεν ἀπὸ τῆς τῶν χρημάτων μανίας. Τίνας γὰρ, τίνας αἰτιάσομαι, οὐκ οἶδα: οὕτως οὗτος ὁ λοιμὸς πάντας κατέχει, τοὺς μὲν ἐκ πλείονος, τοὺς δὲ ἐξ ἐλάττονος μοίρας, πάντας δὲ ὅμως. Καὶ καθάπερ πυρά τις εἰς ὕλην ἐμπεσοῦσα καταστρέφει πάντα καὶ ἐρημοῖ, οὕτω καὶ αὕτη τὴν οἰκουμένην ἀνέστρεψε: βασιλεῖς, ἄρχοντες, ἰδιῶται, πένητες, γυναῖκες, ἄνδρες, παῖδες ἐξ ἴσης πάντες κατέχονται τῷ κακῷ. Καθάπερ ζόφου τινὸς τὴν οἰκουμένην ἐπιπνέοντος, οὐδεὶς ἀνανήφει: ἀλλὰ κατηγορίαι μὲν μυρίαι κατὰ πλεονεξίας καὶ ἰδίᾳ καὶ δημοσίᾳ γίνονται, διόρθωσις δὲ οὐδαμοῦ. Τί οὖν ἂν γένοιτο; πῶς σβέσομεν τὴν φλόγα; Ἔνεστι γὰρ, κἂν πρὸς αὐτὸν ἀρθῇ τὸν οὐρανόν: θελῆσαι δεῖ μόνον, καὶ πάντως περιεσόμεθα τῆς πυρᾶς. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ἀπὸ τοῦ θέλειν ηὐξήθη, οὕτω καὶ ἀπὸ τοῦ θέλειν καθαιρηθήσεται. Οὐχὶ ἡ προαίρεσις ἡ ἡμετέρα αὐτὴν ἐποίησεν; Οὐκοῦν δυνήσεται καὶ ἡ προαίρεσις σβέσαι: μόνον βουληθῶμεν. Πῶς δὲ τὸ θέλειν ἐγγενήσεται; Ἂν ἴδωμεν αὐτῆς τὸ μάταιον καὶ περιττόν: ὅτι ἐκεῖ ἡμῖν συναπελθεῖν οὐ δυνήσεται, ὅτι καὶ ἐνταῦθα ἡμᾶς ἀφίησιν: ὅτι αὐτὴ μὲν ὧδε μένει, τὰ δὲ ἐξ αὐτῆς ἡμῖν τραύματα συναπέρχεται: ἂν ἴδωμεν, ὅτι πολὺς ἐκεῖ πλοῦτός ἐστιν: ἂν πρὸς ἐκεῖνον τοῦτον παραβάλωμεν, καὶ βορβόρου εὐτελέστερος φανεῖται: ἂν ἴδωμεν, ὅτι μυρίους ἔχει κινδύνους, ὅτι ἡδονὴν πρόσκαιρον, ὅτι ἡδονὴν ἀναμεμιγμένην ἀθυμίαις: ἂν ἐκεῖνον τὸν πλοῦτον καλῶς περισκεψώμεθα τὸν τῆς αἰωνίου ζωῆς, οὕτω δυνησόμεθα τούτου καταφρονεῖν: ἂν ἴδωμεν, ὅτι οὐδὲν ἡμᾶς ὀνίνησιν, οὐ πρὸς δόξαν, οὐ πρὸς ὑγείαν, οὐ πρὸς ἄλλο οὐδὲν, ἀλλὰ τοὐναντίον καὶ βυθίζει εἰς ὄλεθρον καὶ ἀπώλειαν: ἂν μάθῃς ὅτι ἐνταῦθα πλουτεῖς καὶ πολλοὺς ἔχεις ὑπὸ σαυτὸν, ἐκεῖ δὲ ἀπελθὼν, ἔρημος ἀπελεύσῃ καὶ γυμνός. Ἂν ταῦτα ἐπᾴδωμεν συνεχῶς, καὶ παρὰ τῶν ἄλλων ἀκούωμεν, ἴσως ἔσται τις ὑγεία, ἔσται τις ἀπαλλαγὴ τῆς κολάσεως ταύτης τῆς χαλεπῆς. Καλὸν ὁ μαργαρίτης; ἀλλ' ἐννόησον ὅτι ὕδωρ ἐστὶ θαλάττιον, ὅτι ἐν τοῖς κόλποις αὐτῆς τὸ πρότερον ἦν ἐῤῥιμμένος. Καλὸν τὸ χρυσίον καὶ τὸ ἀργύριον; ἀλλ' ἐννόησον, ὅτι γῆ καὶ σποδὸς καὶ ἦν καὶ ἔστι. Καλὰ τὰ σηρικὰ ἱμάτια; ἀλλὰ σκωλήκων ἐστὶν ὕφασμα: ὑπόληψίς ἐστι καὶ πρόληψις ἀνθρωπίνη, οὐκ ἐν τῇ φύσει τὸ κάλλος ἔχει. Τὰ γὰρ ἐν τῇ φύσει τὸ κάλλος ἔχοντα οὐ δεῖται τῶν διδασκόντων. Σὺ δὲ ἂν ἴδῃς νόμισμα χαλκοῦν ἁπλῶς ἀνακεχρωσμένον χρυσῷ, πρῶτον μὲν θαυμάζεις, χρυσὸν αὐτὸν ὀνομάζων: ὅταν δὲ οἱ περὶ ταῦτα δεινοὶ τὴν ἀπάτην σε διδάξωσι, συνεξῆλθε τὸ θαῦμα μετὰ τῆς ἀπάτης. Ὁρᾷς ὅτι οὐκ ἐν τῇ φύσει ἔχει τὸ καλόν; Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ ὁ ἄργυρος: καὶ γὰρ ἂν ἴδῃς κασσίτερον, θαυμάζεις ὡς ἄργυρον, ὥσπερ τὸν χαλκὸν ὡς χρυσόν: καὶ χρεία τῶν διδασκόντων ποῖα χρὴ θαυμάζειν. Οὕτως οὐκ ἀρκοῦσιν ἡμῖν οἱ ὀφθαλμοὶ πρὸς τὴν διάγνωσιν. Τὰ δὲ ἄνθη οὐ τοιαῦτα, ἀλλ' ἐκείνων βελτίω πολλῷ. Ῥόδον ἂν ἴδῃς, οὐ χρεία τῶν διδασκόντων, ἀλλ' οἶδας ἀφ' ἑαυτοῦ τὴν ἀνεμώνην διαιρεῖν καὶ ἴα: οὕτω καὶ κρίνα, καὶ ἕκαστον ἄνθος. Οὐδὲν οὖν ἕτερον ἢ πρόληψις τὸ γινόμενον. Καὶ ὅτι προλήψεώς ἐστι τὸ ὀλέθριον τοῦτο πάθος, φέρε, εἰπέ μοι, εἰ ἔδοξε τῷ βασιλεῖ τιμιώτερον νομοθετῆσαι τοῦ χρυσοῦ τὸ ἀργύριον, οὐ μετεθήκατε ἂν τὸ θαῦμα καὶ τὸ φίλτρον; οὕτω πανταχοῦ τῆς πλεονεξίας ἐσμὲν καὶ τῆς ὑπονοίας. Καὶ ὅτι οὕτως ἐστὶ, καὶ τῷ σπανίῳ τιμᾶται, ἀλλ' οὐ τῇ φύσει: εἰσὶν καρποὶ παρ' ἡμῖν εὐτελεῖς, ἐν δὲ τῇ Καππαδοκῶν χώρᾳ τίμιοι, καὶ τῶν παρ' ἡμῖν τιμίων πολυτελέστεροι πάλιν ἐν τῇ Σηρῶν χώρᾳ ἕτεροι, ὅθεν τὰ ἱμάτια ταῦτα. Ἐν δὲ τῇ ἀρωματοφόρῳ Ἀραβίᾳ καὶ Ἰνδίᾳ, ἔνθα εἰσὶν οἱ λίθοι, πολλὰ τοιαῦτα ἔστιν εὑρεῖν. Οὕτω πρόληψίς ἐστιν, οὕτως ὑπόνοιά ἐστιν ἀνθρωπίνη τὰ τοιαῦτα: καὶ οὐδὲν κρίσει πράττομεν, ἀλλ' ἁπλῶς καὶ ὡς ἔτυχεν. Ἀνανήψωμεν τοίνυν ποτὲ ἐκ τῆς μέθης ταύτης: ἴδωμεν τὸ ὄντως καλὸν, τὸ φύσει καλὸν, τὴν εὐσέβειαν, τὴν δικαιοσύνην, ἵνα ἐπιτύχωμεν τῶν ἐπηγγελμένων ἀγαθῶν, χάριτι καὶ φιλανθρωπίᾳ τοῦ Κυρίου ἡμῶν Ἰησοῦ Χριστοῦ, μεθ' οὗ τῷ Πατρὶ ἅμα τῷ ἁγίῳ Πνεύματι δόξα, κράτος, τιμὴ, νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ, καὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. Ἀμήν.