vER. 11 — 16. ST. LUKE. 533
accordingtohispassions.TIT.Bosr.The youngersonthen
wentaway not yet matured in mind, and seeksfrom his
fatherthe partof hisinheritancewhich felltohim,thatin
truthhe might not serveof necessity.For we are rational
animalsendowed withfreewill.
CHRYS.Now the Scripturesays,thatthe fatherdividedChrys.equallybetween his two sons his substance,that is,theu sup'
knowledgeofgood and evil,which isa trueand everlasting
possessionto the soulthatusesitwell. The substanceof
reasonwhichflowsfrom God tomen at theirearliestbirth,
isgivenequallytoallwho come intothisworld,but afterthe
intercoursethatfollows,each one isfound to possessmore
orlessofthe substance; sinceone believingthatwhich he
hasreceivedtobe from hisfather,preservesitas hispatri
mony,anotherabusesitas somethingthatmay be wasted
away,by thelibertyofhisown possession.But thefreedom
ofwillisshewn inthatthefatherneitherkept back theson
whowishedtodepart,norforcedtheothertogo thatdesired
toremain,lesthe shouldseem rathertheauthorof theevil
thatfollowed.But the youngestson went afaroff,not by
changinghisplace,but by turningasidehisheart.Hence it
follows,He tookajourneyintoafar country.AMBROSE. For
whatismore afaroffthan to departfrom one'sself,tobe
separatenot by countrybut by habits.For he who severs
himselffromChristisan exilefromhiscountry,and a citizen
ofthisworld.Fitlythendoeshe wastehispatrimonywho de
partsfrom theChurch. TIT.BOST.Hence toowas thepro
digaldenominatedone who wastedhissubstance,thatis,his
rightunderstanding,theteachingofchastity,theknowledge
of the truth,the recollectionsof hisfather,the senseof
creation.
AMBROSE.Now therecame to passinthatcountrya famine
notoffoodbut ofgood worksand virtues,whichisthemore
wretchedfast. For he who departsfrom theword ofGod
ishungry,becauseman doesnotliveon breadalone,but on Matt.4,4.
everyword ofQod. And he who departsfrom histreasures
isinwant. Thereforebegan he to be in want and tosuffer
hunger,becausenothingsatisfiesa prodigalmind. He went
awaytherefore,and attachedhimselfto one of thecitizens.
For he who is attached,is in a snare. And thatcitizen