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It is a matter of no moment in the city of God whether he who adopts
the faith that brings men to God adopts it in one dress and manner of
life or another, so long only as he lives in conformity with the
commandments of God. And hence, when philosophers themselves become
Christians, they are compelled, indeed, to abandon their erroneous
doctrines, but not their dress and mode of living, which are no
obstacle to religion. So that we make no account of that distinction
of sects which Varro adduced in connection with the Cynic school,
provided always nothing indecent or self-indulgent is retained. As to
these three modes of life, the contemplative, the active, and the
composite, although, so long as a man's faith is preserved, he may
choose any of them without detriment to his eternal interests, yet he
must never overlook the claims of truth and duty. No man has a right
to lead such a life of contemplation as to forget in his own ease the
service due to his neighbor; nor has any man a right to be so immersed
in active life as to neglect the contemplation of God. The charm of
leisure must not be indolent vacancy of mind, but the investigation or
discovery of truth, that thus every man may make solid attainments
without grudging that others do the same. And, in active life, it is
not the honors or power of this life we should covet, since all things
under the sun are vanity, but we should aim at using our position and
influence, if these have been honorably attained, for the welfare of
those who are under as, in the way we have already explained. It is
to this the apostle refers when he says, "He that desireth the
episcopate desireth a good work." He wished to show that the
episcopate is the title of a work, not of an honor. It is a Greek
word, and signifies that he who governs superintends or takes care of
those whom be governs: for epi means over, and skopein, to see;
therefore episkopein means "to oversee." So that he who loves to
govern rather than to do good is no bishop. Accordingly no one is
prohibited from the search after truth, for in this leisure may most
laudably be spent; but it is unseemly to covet the high position
requisite for governing the people, even though that position be held
and that government be administered in a seemly manner. And therefore
holy leisure is longed for by the love of truth; but it is the
necessity of love to undertake requisite business. If no one imposes
this burden upon us, we are free to sift and contemplate truth; but if
it be laid upon us, we are necessitated for love's sake to undertake
it. And yet not even in this case are we obliged wholly to relinquish
the sweets of contemplation; for were these to be withdrawn, the
burden might prove more than we could bear.
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