556 GOSPEL ACCORDING TO CHAP. XVI.
THEOPHYL. Thus then hithertoHe has taught us how
faithfullywe ought to disposeof our wealth. But because
the management of our wealth accordingto God isno other-
wise obtainedthan by the indifferenceof a mind unaffected
towards riches,He adds, No man can serve two masters.
AMBROSE. Not because the Lord is two, but one. For
although there are who serveMammon, yet he knoweth no
rights of lordship; but has himself placed upon himself
a yoke of servitude.There is one Lord, because thereis
one God. Hence itisevident,thatthe power of the Father
and the Son is one : and He assignsa reason,thus saying,
For eitherhe willhate the one,and lovethe other; or else
Aug.de he will hold to the one, and desjtisethe other. AUG. Butiibu'ii_v'these things were not spoken indifferentlyor at random.
q.86. ]?orno one when asked whether he lovesthe devil,answers
that he loveshim, but rather that he hates him ; but all
generallyproclaim that they love God. Thereforeeitherhe
willhatetheone,(thatis,the devil,)and lovetheother,(that
is,God ;)or willhold to theone,(thatis,the devil,when he
pursues as it were temporal wants,) and will despisethe
other,(thatis,God,) as when men frequentlyneglectHis
threatsfortheirdesires,who becauseof His goodnessflatter
themselvesthatthey willhave impunity.
CYRIL. But the conclusionof the whole discourseiswhat
follows,Ye cannot serve God and mammon. Let us then
Bedeex transferallour devotionsto the one,forsakingriches.BEDE.
ler" Let then the covetoushear this,that we cannot at the same
time serveChrist and riches;and yet He said not,"Who
Las riches,"but, \vho serves riches; for he who is the
servantof riches,watches them as a servant;but he wbo
has shaken off the yoke of servitude,dispensesthem as
a master; but he who servesMammon, verilyserveshim
who is set over those earthlythings as the reward of his
John12, iniquity,and iscalledtheprinceof thisworld.
31 ; 2 Cor.
14. And the Phariseesalso,who were covetous,
heardallthesethings; and theyderidedHim.
15. And He saidunto them, Ye are theywhich
justifyyourselvesbeforemen; but God knoweth