{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/211/2110877.htm","path":"chr/ecf/211/2110877.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/211/2110877.htm","text":"To whom the method of perfection should be laid open.\nTake care too, when your riper age leads you to teach, lest you be led astray by the love of vainglory, and teach at random to the most impure persons these things which you have learnt not so much by reading as by the effects of experience, and so incur what Solomon, that wisest of men, denounced: \u201cAttach not a wicked man to the pastures of the just, and be not led astray by the fulness of the belly,\u201d for \u201cdelicacies are not good for a fool, nor is there room for wisdom where sense is wanting: for folly is the more led on, because a stubborn servant is not improved by words, for even though he understands, he will not obey.\u201d And \u201cDo not say anything in the ears of an imprudent man, lest haply he mock at thy wise speeches.\u201d 1926 And \u201cgive not that which is holy to dogs, neither cast ye your pearls before swine, lest haply they trample them under foot and turn again and rend you.\u201d 1927 It is right then to hide the mysteries of spiritual meanings from men of this sort, that you may effectually sing: \u201cThy words have I hid within my heart: that I should not sin against Thee.\u201d 1928 But you will perhaps say: And to whom are the mysteries of Holy Scripture to be dispensed? Solomon, the wisest of men, shall teach you: \u201cGive, says he, strong drink to those who are in sorrow, and give wine to drink, to those who are in pain, that they may forget their poverty, and remember their pain no more,\u201d 1929 i.e., to those who in consequence of the punishment of their past actions are oppressed with grief and sorrow, supply richly the joys of spiritual knowledge like \u201cwine that maketh glad the heart of man,\u201d 1930 and restore them with the strong drink of the word of salvation, lest haply they be plunged in continual sorrow and a despair that brings death, and so those who are of this sort be \u201cswallowed up in overmuch sorrow.\u201d 1931 But of those who remain in coldness and carelessness, and are smitten by no sorrow of heart we read as follows: \u201cFor one who is kindly and without sorrow, shall be in want.\u201d 1932 With all possible care therefore avoid being puffed up with the love of vainglory, and so failing to become a partaker with him whom the prophet praises, \u201cwho hath not given his money upon usury.\u201d 1933 For every one who, from love of the praise of men dispenses the words of God, of which it is said \u201cthe words of the Lord are pure words, as silver tried by the fire, purged from the earth, refined seven times,\u201d 1934 puts out his money upon usury, and will deserve for this not merely no reward, but rather punishment. For this reason he chose to use up his Lord\u2019s money that he might be the garner from a temporal profit, and not that the Lord, as it is written, might \u201cwhen He comes, receive His own with usury.\u201d 1935\nProv. 24:15, Prov. 19:10, Prov. 18:2, Prov. 29:19, Prov. 23:9 (LXX.).\n444:1927\nS. Matt. vii. 6.\n444:1928 444:1929\nProv. 31:6, 7.\n444:1930 444:1931 444:1932 444:1933 444:1934 444:1935\nS. Matt. xxv. 27.","title":"Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Ser. II, Vol. XI: The Wor...","type":"page"}