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FOR hence it arises that in the case of some who have despised the
greatest possessions of this world, and not only large sums of gold and
silver, but also large properties, we have seen them afterwards disturbed
and excited over a knife, or pencil, or pin, or pen. Whereas if they kept
their gaze steadily fixed out of a pure heart they would certainly never
allow such a thing to happen for trifles, while in order that they might
not suffer it in the case of great and precious riches they chose rather to
renounce them altogether. For often too some guard their books so jealously
that they will not allow them to be even slightly moved or touched by any
one else, and from this fact they meet with occasions of impatience and
death, which give them warning of the need of acquiring the requisite
patience and love; and when they have given up all their wealth for the
love of Christ, yet as they preserve their former disposition in the matter
of trifles, and are sometimes quickly upset about them, they become in all
points barren and unfruitful, as those who are without the charity of which
the Apostle speaks: and this the blessed Apostle foresaw in spirit, and
"though," says he, "I give all my goods to feed the poor, and give my body
to be burned, but have not charity, it profiteth me nothing." And from
this it clearly follows that perfection is not arrived at simply by self-
denial, and the giving up of all our goods, and the casting away of
honours, unless there is that charity, the details of which the Apostle
describes, which consists in purity of heart alone. For "not to be
envious," "not to be puffed up, not to be angry, not to do any wrong, not
to seek one's own, not to rejoice in iniquity, not to think evil" etc. what
is all this except ever to offer to God a perfect and clean heart, and to
keep it free from all disturbances?
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