Augustine of Hippo : So keep a moderate amount of money for temporal uses; treat it as journey money, with the end in view stated in the text. Notice above all what he put first: "Free from love of money," he says, put your hand in the purse in such a way that you release your heart from it. — SERMON 177.3 Clement of Alexandria : We must then exercise ourselves in taking care about those things which fall under the power of the passions, fleeing like those who are truly philosophers such articles of food as excite lust, and dissolute licentiousness in chambering and luxury; and the sensations that tend to luxury, which are a solid reward to others, must no longer be so to us. For God's greatest gift is self-restraint. For He Himself has said, "I will neyer leave thee, nor forsake thee," as having judged thee worthy according to the true election. Thus, then, while we attempt piously to advance, we shall have put on us the mild yoke of the Lord from faith to faith, one charioteer driving each of us onward to salvation, that the meet fruit of beatitude may be won. — The Stromata Book 2 Clement of Alexandria : We must join in disciplining ourselves to beware of all that is subject to the passions. We must, like true philosophers, escape from any foods that arouse sexual desire, from a dissolute relaxation in bed, from luxury and all the passions that make for luxury. We realize that others find this a grievous struggle. It is no longer so for us, since self-discipline is God's greatest gift. He has said, "I will never forsake you or abandon you," who have judged you worthy by a decision that is wholly genuine. In this way, as we carefully strive to go to him, the Lord's "easy yoke" will receive us.… There is, according to Hippocrates of Cos, a discipline of the soul as well as of the body, "a state of health which does not shrink from hardship and cannot have enough nourishment." — The Stromata Book 2 John Chrysostom : "Let your conversation be without covetousness," he says. He did not say, Possess nothing, but, "Let your conversation be without covetousness": that is, let it show forth the philosophical character of your mind. For he says above also, "And ye took joyfully the spoiling of your goods." (c. x. 34.) He gives these exhortations, that they might not be covetous. "Being content" (he says) "with such things as ye have." Then here also the consolation; "For He" (he says) "hath said, I will never leave thee nor forsake thee"; "so that we may boldly say, the Lord is my helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Again consolation in their trials. — Homily on Hebrews 33 John Chrysostom : "Let your conversation" (he says) "be without covetousness": since many after having exhausted their property, afterwards wish to recover it again under the guise of alms, therefore he says, "Let your conversation be without covetousness"; that is, that we should be desirous only of what is necessary and indispensable. What then (you say) if we should not have a supply even of these? This is not possible; indeed it is not. "For He hath said," and He doth not lie, "I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee. So that we boldly say, The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me." Thou hast the promise from Himself: do not doubt henceforward. He has promised; make no question. But this, "I will never leave thee," he says not concerning money only, but concerning all other things also. "The Lord is my Helper, and I will not fear what man shall do unto me"; with good reason. — Homily on Hebrews 33 Oecumenius : "Let your conversation be without greed." Paul did not say, "Do not possess anything"; (and it is clear from what he leads to: Being content with what is present, whatever it may be.) but rather, "You have a philosophical and ungreedy opinion." For he himself has said: "for he has said, 'I will never leave you, nor forsake you.'" Since your possessions have been seized; for Paul said: And you have received the confiscation of your possessions with joy (Heb. 10:34); he advises them to be content with what is present; lest they say: With what present things shall we be content? We have been seized, and we have nothing; he says: but even if you have been seized, you can be content with what remains, even if it is very little, because of the one who says, God: 'I will not forsake you,' that is, I will not leave you, nor will I abandon you. "So that we may boldly say." If he does not allow it, God does not abandon either, therefore, he says, we must speak boldly the words of David: "The Lord is my helper." (Ps. 118:6-7) For if God helps, one should not be afraid of those who seize or threaten." — The Pseudo-Oecumenian Catena on Hebrews Theodoret of Cyrus : He forbade not possessions but the love of money, from which greed springs. — INTERPRETATION OF Hebrews 13