Clement of Alexandria · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Luxury wandering off into pleasures becomes a grievous shipwreck for men; for this life, sweet as it is and inglorious for the many, is alien to true love of beauty and to seemly pleasures. For man by nature is a lofty creature and proud and a seeker after the beautiful, being the handiwork of the only Beautiful, but the life devoted to the belly is unseemly and reproachable and unsightly and ridiculous. Most alien of all to the divine nature is love of pleasure — to feed just as sparrows do, and to mate just as swine and goats do; for to consider pleasure a good is the mark of complete boorishness, and love of riches drives a man out of right living, persuading him to feel no shame before disgraceful things, "if only he has the power, like a beast, to eat all sorts of things and likewise to drink, and in every way to provide himself with a complete satiety of sexual pleasures." On account of this he very rarely inherits the kingdom of God. To what end, then, are so many dainty dishes prepared, if not merely to fill a single belly? The uncleanness of gluttony is exposed by the privies, into which our bellies spit out the leftovers of the feast. To what end do they gather together so many wine-pourers, when they could be satisfied with a single cup? To what end the chests of clothing? And the gold — to what end? And the ornaments — to what end? These are prepared for cloak-thieves and evildoers and for greedy eyes. "Let not almsgiving and faithfulness fail you," says Scripture. See, then, we have a fine example of frugality also in Elijah the Tishbite, when "he sat under the broom tree" and an angel set food before him: "a cake of barley baked upon coals, and a jug of water." With such fare did the Lord provision his breakfast. It is necessary, then, for us who journey toward the truth to travel light: "Carry not," said the Lord, "a purse, nor a bag, nor sandals" — that is, do not acquire wealth that is treasured up only in a purse, do not fill your own storehouses as though laying up seed in a bag, but rather share with those in need; do not busy yourselves over beasts of burden and servants, who are allegorically spoken of as the sandals carrying the baggage of the rich on their journey. One must, then, cast off the multitude of vessels, along with cups of silver and gold for drinking, and the throng of attendants, taking as one's fair and dignified companions, in place of these, self-sufficiency and frugality from the Instructor; and indeed one must walk in harmony with the Word, even if a wife and children are present to someone — the household is not a burden to one who has learned to accompany a self-controlled traveler. The wife who loves her husband must likewise be equipped just as the husband, bringing frugality along as a fine traveler's provision for the journey to the heavens, together with one sober dignity. And the measure of each person's possessions should be like the foot to the sandal — fitted to the body; but what is excessive, the so-called ornaments and the furnishings of the wealthy, weighs one down instead of adorning the body. It is necessary for one who strives to ascend into the heavens to carry about beneficence as a fine walking staff, and, having shared with the afflicted, to receive in turn a share of true rest; for Scripture acknowledges that "a man's own riches are the ransom of his soul" — meaning, should he possess wealth, sharing it will bring him safety. For just as wells that naturally well up, when drawn from, spring back up again to their original measure, so the sharing of goods, being a good spring of love of humanity, when it shares its drink with the thirsty, grows again and is refilled, in the way that milk is accustomed to flow upon breasts nursed by an infant or drawn by hand. For whoever possesses the all-powerful God as his own Word lacks nothing and is never in need; the Word, held as a possession, knows no want and is the source of every abundance. And if someone should say he has often seen a righteous man in want of bread — this is rare indeed, and there no other is righteous — let him nevertheless take note also of this: "Man, if righteous, subsists not on bread alone, but on the utterance issuing from God's mouth," who is himself the genuine bread, that bread come down from heaven. Never, then, is the good man in want, so long as he keeps safe his confession toward God; for nothing prevents him from asking and obtaining all that his need requires from the Father of the universe, and from enjoying his own possessions, provided he remains a son; and this too lies within his reach — to want for absolutely nothing. This instructive Word of ours gives us wealth, and there is no grudging in being rich with the wealth of freedom from want acquired through him; whoever possesses such riches will come into possession of God's kingdom.
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