with their cries be recognised. Let the rich woman and the poor give birth together; let them
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take no notice of their children, let them go away for a little while; then let them return, and
recognise them if they can. See then, O rich man, “thou broughtest nothing into this world;
neither canst thou carry anything out.” What I have said of them at their birth, I may say
of them in death. If it be not so, when by any chance old sepulchres are broken up, let the
bones of the rich be recognised if they can. Therefore, thou rich man, give ear to the Apostle,
“We brought nothing into this world.” Acknowledge it, true it is. “Neither can we carry
anything out.” Acknowledge it, this is true also.
10. What follows then? “Having food and covering, let us be therewith content; for they
who wish to be rich fall into temptation, and many and hurtful lusts, which drown men in
destruction and perdition. For avarice is the root of all evil, which some following after,
have erred from the faith.”2152 Now consider what they have abandoned. Grieved thou art
that they have abandoned this, but see now in what they have entangled themselves. Hear;
“They have erred from the faith, and entangled themselves in many sorrows.” But who?
“They who wish to be rich.” It is one thing to be rich, another to wish to become rich. He
is rich, who is born of rich parents, and he is rich not because he wished it, but because
many left him their inheritances. His 2153 wealth I see, I make no question as to the pleasure
he takes in it. In this Scripture it is covetousness that is condemned, not gold, or silver, or
riches, but covetousness. For they who do not wish to become rich, or do not care about it,
who do not burn with covetous desires, nor are inflamed by the fires of avarice, but who yet
are rich, let them hear the Apostle (it has been read to-day), “Charge them that are rich in
this world.”2154 Charge them what? Charge them before all things, not to be proud in their
conceits, for there is nothing which riches do so much generate as pride. Each several fruit,
each several grain of corn, each several tree, has its peculiar worm, and the worm of the
apple is of one kind, and of the pear another, and of the bean another, and of the wheat an-
other. The worm of riches is2155 pride.
11. “Charge therefore the rich of this world that they be not proud in their conceits.”
He hath shut out the abuse,2156 let him teach now the proper use. “That they be not proud
in their conceits.” But whence cometh the defence against pride? From that which follows:
“Nor trust in the uncertainty of riches.” They who trust not in the uncertainty of riches, are
not proud in their conceits. If they be not proud in their conceits, let them fear. If they fear,
they are not proud in their conceits. How many are they who were rich yesterday, and are
2152 1 Tim. vi. 8–10.
2153 Video facultates non interrogo voluptates.
2154 1 Tim. vi. 17.
2155 Sermon 35 (85, Bened.) 3.
2156 Vitium.
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On the words of the Gospel, Matt. vii. 7, ‘Ask, and it shall be given you;’…