{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p>But you also oppose Scripture, seeing it expressly cries, “Seek first\r\nthe kingdom of heaven, and all these things shall be added unto\r\nyou.”<a class=\"fnanchor pginternal\" href=\"#Footnote_612\" id=\"FNanchor_612\">[612]</a> But if all things have been conferred on you, and all things\r\nallowed you, and “if all things are lawful, yet all things are not\r\nexpedient,”<a class=\"fnanchor pginternal\" href=\"#Footnote_613\" id=\"FNanchor_613\">[613]</a> says the apostle. God brought our race into communion\r\nby first imparting what was His own, when He gave His own Word, common\r\nto all, and made all things for all. All things therefore are common,\r\nand not for the rich to appropriate an undue share. That expression,\r\ntherefore, “I possess, and possess in abundance: why then should I\r\nnot enjoy?” is suitable neither to the man, nor to society. But more\r\nworthy of love is that: “I have: why should I not give to those who\r\nneed?” For such an one—one who fulfils the command, “Thou shalt love\r\nthy neighbour as thyself”—is perfect. For this is the true luxury—the\r\ntreasured wealth. But that which is squandered on foolish lusts is to\r\nbe reckoned waste, not expenditure. For<span class=\"pagenum\" id=\"Page_268\">[268]</span> God has given to us, I know\r\nwell, the liberty of use, but only so far as necessary; and He has\r\ndetermined that the use should be common. And it is monstrous for one\r\nto live in luxury, while many are in want. How much more glorious is it\r\nto do good to many, than to live sumptuously! How much wiser to spend\r\nmoney on human beings, than on jewels and gold! How much more useful\r\nto acquire decorous friends, than lifeless ornaments! Whom have lands\r\never benefited so much as conferring favours has? It remains for us,\r\ntherefore, to do away with this allegation: Who, then, will have the\r\nmore sumptuous things, if all select the simpler? Men, I would say,\r\nif they make use of them impartially and indifferently. But if it be\r\nimpossible for all to exercise self-restraint, yet, with a view to the\r\nuse of what is necessary, we must seek after what can be most readily\r\nprocured, bidding a long farewell to these superfluities.</p>","headings":["THE WRITINGS OF CLEMENT OF ALEXANDRIA.","THE INSTRUCTOR.","BOOK II.","CHAPTER XIII. AGAINST EXCESSIVE FONDNESS FOR JEWELS AND GOLD ORNAMENTS."],"marker_anchor":"FNanchor_613","paragraph_id":"pg71937-paragraph-463"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"134ad369e385602b53386afedadf76835962ca5f56d5b07b6ab927ab0fb81afc","edition_title":"The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)","edition_translators":["William Wilson"],"edition_year":1867,"explicit_reference_candidates":[{"book":"1CO","chapter":10,"kind":"unreviewed","source_notation":"1 Cor. x. 23","verse":23,"verse_end":23}],"headings":[],"id":"pg71937-Footnote_613","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Existing 1867 English translation; translator died 1875. Electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"Footnote_613","source_ebook":71937,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\">\n<p><a class=\"label pginternal\" href=\"#FNanchor_613\" id=\"Footnote_613\">[613]</a> 1 Cor. x. 23.</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"8e5c5bc39922dbad2626ac7651c2eb2e3d94cdcbd721f781e9792143ebb1cd03","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/71937/pg71937-images.html#Footnote_613","text_sha256":"b35872c3ddd84eb26b2fa575e6f67bd168ce5927374ba5d28292a83742afe4ae","verified":false,"work_id":null}