Traduction Masquer
De la conduite des vierges

XI.

Vous péchez contre Dieu, si vous croyez qu’il vous a donné la richesse pour en abuser. Dieu nous a donné la voix: est-ce une (17) raison pour chanter des airs obscènes? Il nous a donné le fer pour cultiver la terre : est-ce une raison pour en faire un instrument meurtrier? Il a créé l’encens, le vin, le feu : doit-on s’en servir pour sacrifier aux idoles? parce que les troupeaux abondent dans vos champs, devez-vous offrir des victimes aux faux dieux? Certes, c’est une grande tentation qu’un grand patrimoine. Que l’homme, guidé par la prudence chrétienne, en fasse un bon usage, afin que, plus riche que ses possessions, il rachète ses fautes au lieu de les aggraver.

Traduction Masquer
On the Dress of Virgins

11.

You say that you are wealthy and rich, and you think that you should use those things which God has willed you to possess. Use them, certainly, but for the things of salvation; use them, but for good purposes; use them, but for those things which God has commanded, and which the Lord has set forth. Let the poor feel that you are wealthy; let the needy feel that you are rich. Lend your estate to God; give food to Christ. Move Him by the prayers of many ¹ to grant you to carry out the glory of virginity, and to succeed in coming to the Lord's rewards. There entrust your treasures, where no thief digs through, where no insidious plunderer breaks in. Prepare for yourself possessions; but let them rather be heavenly ones, where neither rust wears out, nor hail bruises, nor sun burns, nor rain spoils your fruits constant and perennial, and free from all contact of worldly injury. For in this very matter you are sinning against God, if you think that riches were given you by Him for this purpose, to enjoy them thoroughly, without a view to salvation. For God gave man also a voice; and yet love-songs and indecent things are not on that account to be sung. And God willed iron to be for the culture of the earth, but not on that account must murders be committed. Or because God ordained incense, and wine, and fire, are we thence to sacrifice to idols? Or because the flocks of cattle abound in your fields, ought you to immolate victims and offerings to the gods? Otherwise a large estate is a temptation, unless the wealth minister to good uses; so that every man, in proportion to his wealth, ought by his patrimony rather to redeem his transgressions than to increase them.