{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/211/2110431.htm","path":"chr/ecf/211/2110431.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/211/2110431.htm","text":"Of the difference between one who renounces the world badly and one who does not renounce it at all.\nOf those then who say that they have renounced this world, and afterwards being overcome by want of faith are afraid of losing their worldly goods, a charge is given mystically in Deuteronomy. \u201cIf any man is afraid and of a fearful heart let him not go forth to war: let him go back and return home, lest he make the hearts of his brethren to fear as he himself is timid and frightened.\u201d 885 What can one want plainer than this testimony? Does not Scripture clearly prefer that they should not take on them even the earliest stages of this profession and its name, rather than by their persuasion and bad example turn others back from the perfection of the gospel, and weaken them by their faithless terror. And so they are bidden to withdraw from the battle and return to their homes, because a man cannot fight the Lord\u2019s battle with a double heart. For \u201ca double-minded man is unstable in all his ways.\u201d 886 And thinking, according to that p. 253 Parable in the Gospel, 887 that he who goes forth with ten thousand men against a king who comes with twenty thousand, cannot possibly fight, they should, while he is yet a great way off, ask for peace; that is, it is better for them not even to take the first step towards renunciation, rather than afterwards following it up coldly, to involve themselves in still greater dangers. For \u201cit is better not to vow, than to vow and not pay.\u201d 888 But finely is the one described as coming with ten thousand and the other with twenty. For the number of sins which attack us is far larger than that of the virtues which fight for us. But \u201cno man can serve God and Mammon.\u201d 889 And \u201cno man putting his hand to the plough and looking back is fit for the kingdom of God.\u201d 890\nS. James i. 8.\n253:887\nS. Luke 14:31, 32.\n253:888\nEccl. v. 4 (LXX.).\n253:889\nS. Matt. vi. 24.\n253:890\nS. Luke ix. 62.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XI: The Wor...","type":"page"}