WORKS OF ST. CHRYSOSTOM. [HOMII.V III. own soul besides, and thou wilt be derided by thy brethren, and again wilt lose it wretchedly. For the demon, knowing that thou canst not bear thy loss, but for the sake of these things deniest even thy God, again gives thee wealth, that he may have an opportunity of deceiving thee again, and making thee fall away. And if the diviners should tell thee, wonder not. The demon is without body : he is everywhere going about. It is he who arms the robbers them selves. For these things do not take place with out the demon. If therefore he arms them, he knows also where it is deposited. He is not ig norant of his own ministers. And this is not wonderful. If he sees thee grieving at the loss, he adds yet another to it. If he sees thee laugh ing at it, and despising it, he will desist from this course. For as we deal to our enemies those things by which we grieve them, but ifwe see that they do not grieve, we henceforth de sist, as being unable to plague them ; so does the devil also. What sayest thou? Dost thou not see those who sail on the sea, how, when a storm arises, they regard not their wealth, but even throw overboard their substance ? " O man, what dost thou say? Art thou cooperating with the storm and the shipwreck ? Before the wave has taken away thy wealth, dost thou do it with thine own hands? Why, before the shipwreck, dost thou wreck thyself ? " But indeed a rustic inexperienced in the trials of the sea might say this. But the naval man, and one who truly knows what are the causes of calm, and what of storm, will even laugh at him who talks thus. For I throw it overboard, he says, that there may be no whelming sea. ] So he who is expe rienced in the events and trials of life, when he sees the storm impending, and the spirits of evil wishing to cause shipwreck, throws over board even the remainder of his wealth. Hast thou been plundered ? Do alms, and thou light- enest the ship. Have robbers ravaged thee? Give what remains to Christ. So thou wilt con sole thy poverty from thy former loss. Lighten 1 Calm, storm, &c., seem to be used here in a relative sense; what is a storm to a deep-laden vessel being less to a light one. the ship, do not hold fast what remains, lest the vessel fill with water. They, to preserve their bodies, throw their goods overboard, and wait not for the assailing wave to overturn the vessel. And wilt thou not stay the shipwreck, that thou mayest save souls? Make the trial, I beseech you if you disbe lieve, make the trial, and you will see the glory ofGod. When anything grievous has happened, immediately give alms ; render thanks that it has happened, and thou wilt see how much joy will come upon thee. For spiritual gain, though it be small, is so great as to throw into the shade all bodily loss. As long as thou hast to give to Christ, thou art rich. Tell me, if when thou wast robbed, the king coming to thee held out his hand, begging to receive something from thee, wouldest thou not then think thyself richer than all, if the king not even after so great pov erty was ashamed of thee? Be not carried away with thy wealth, only overcome thyself, and thou wilt overcome the assault of the devil. It is in thy power to acquire great gain. Let us despise wealth, that we may not de spise the soul. But how can any one despise it? Dost thou not see in the case of beautiful bodies, and the lovers of them, how as long as they are in their sight the fire is kindled, the flame rises bright ; but when any one has re moved them afar off, all is extinguished, all is lulled to sleep ; so also in the case of wealth, let no one provide gold, nor precious stones, nor necklaces ; when seen, they ensnare the eyes. But if thou wouldest be rich like the ancients, be rich not in gold, but in necessary things, that thou mayest bestow on others from that which thou hast ready. Be not fond of ornament. Such wealth is both easy to be plotted against by robbers, and a thing that brings us cares. Not vessels of gold and silver, but let there be stores of bread and wine and oil, not that being sold again they may procure money, but that they may be supplied to those who need. If we withdraw ourselves from those superfluities, we shall obtain the heavenly goods ; which God grant that we may all obtain, in Jesus Christ our Lord, with whom, &c.