G14 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. Xviil.
forthem to enter,but itisdifficult.For they might through
theirrichesreap an heavenlyreward,but itis a hard thing:,
seeing that riches are more tenaciousthan birdlime,and
hardlyisthe soul everplucked away, thatisonce seizedby
them. But He next speaksof itas impossible. Itiseasier
for a camel to go through a needle'seye. The word in the
Greek answers equallyto the animal calledthe camel,and
to a cable,or ship rope. However we may understandit,
impossibilityisimplied. What must we say then ? Firstof
allthat the thingis positivelytrue,forwe must remember
that the richman differsfrom the steward,or dispenserof
riches.The richman ishe who reserveshisrichestohimself,
the steward or dispenserone who holds them entrustedto
Chrys. his care forthe benefitof others. CHRYS. Abraham indeed
Pom-j4.possessedwealth forthe poor. And allthey who righteously
Cor. possessit,spend it as receivingit from God, accordingto
the divinecommand, while thosewho have acquiredwealth
in an ungodly way are ungodly in theiruse of it; whether
in squanderingiton harlotsor parasites,or hidingitin the
Hom.18.ground, but sparing nothing for the poor. He does not
inJoan. then forbidmen to be rich,but to be the slavesof their
riches. He would have us use them as necessary,not keep
guard over them. It is of a servantto guard,of a master
to dispense. Had He wished to preservethem, He would
never have giventhem to men, but leftthem to remain in
the earth.
THEOPHYL. Again, observethatHe says,a rich man can
not possiblybe saved,but one who possessesricheshardly;
as ifHe said,The richman who has been taken captiveby
his riches,and is a slaveto them, shallnot be saved;but
he who possessesor isthe masterof them shallwith difficulty
be saved,becauseof human infirmity.For the devilisever
tryingto make our foot slipas long as we possessriches,
and itisa hard matterto escapehiswiles.Povertytherefore
Ch is a blessing,and as itwere freefrom temptation. CHRTS.
Hom.80.There is no profitin richeswhile the soul sufferspoverty,
no hurt in poverty,whilethe soul abounds in wealth. But
ifthe sighof a man waxing richisto be in need of nothing,
and of becoming poorto be inwant,itisplainthatthe poorer
a man is,the richerhe grows. For it is fareasierforone