thyself.” For it is not possible that the lover of money should be able to enjoy it, since he
fears lest his gold should be diminished, lest his hoards should fail. “Be watchful,” it says,
“be suspicious of every one, even domestics and friends. Have an eye to the goods of other
men. Though you see the poor man perishing with hunger, give him nothing; but strip him,
if it be possible, even of his skin. Break thine oaths, lie, swear. Be an accuser, a false informer.
Refuse not, if it be necessary, to rush into fire, to submit to a thousand deaths, to perish with
hunger, to struggle with disease.” Does not avarice impose these laws? “Be offensive and
impudent, shameless and bold, villainous and wicked, ungrateful, unfeeling, unfriendly,
faithless, devoid of affection, a parricide, a beast rather than a man. Surpass the serpent in
bitterness, the wolf in rapacity. Exceed in brutality even the beast, nay should it be necessary
to proceed even to the malignity of the devil, refuse not. Be a stranger to thy benefactor.”
Does not avarice say all this, and is it not listened to? God on the contrary says, Be a
friend to all, be gentle, beloved by all, give offense causelessly to no one. “Honor thy father
and thy mother.” Win an honorable reputation. Be not a man, but an angel. Utter nothing
immodest, nothing false, nor even think of it. Relieve the poor. Bring not trouble on thyself,
by ravaging others. Be not bold nor insolent. God says this, but no one hearkens. Is not hell
then justly threatened, and the fire, and the worm that dieth not? How long are we thus to
thrust ourselves down the precipice? How long are we to walk upon thorns, and pierce
ourselves with nails, and be grateful for it? We subject ourselves to cruel tyrants, and refuse
the gentle Master, who imposes nothing grievous, nor barbarous, nor burdensome, nor
unprofitable, but all things such as are useful, and valuable, and beneficial. Let us then arouse
ourselves, and be self-collected, and gather our forces. Let us love God as we ought, that we
may obtain the blessings promised to those that love Him, through the grace and mercy of
our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom, to the Father, &c.
820
1 Timothy 6:13-16