Clement of Alexandria · a new plain-English translation from the original language
But the Lord answers, because "what is impossible with men is possible with God." This too, again, is full of great wisdom. For a man practicing and toiling by himself to attain freedom from passion accomplishes nothing, but if he becomes manifestly overdesiring of this and zealously in earnest, he prevails through the addition of the power that comes from God; for God breathes together with souls that are willing, but if they should fall away from their eagerness, the spirit given from God is withdrawn as well. For to save the unwilling belongs to one who uses force, but to save those who choose belongs to one who bestows grace. Nor does the kingdom of God belong to those who sleep and are sluggish, but "the violent seize it by force"; for this alone is a good violence, to do violence to God and to seize life from God, and he who recognizes those who cling violently — or rather, firmly — yielded to them; for God rejoices to be overcome in such matters. Accordingly, blessed Peter, having heard these things — the chosen one, the distinguished one, the first of the disciples, for whom alone, besides himself, the Savior paid the tax — quickly seized upon and grasped the meaning. And what does he say? "See, we have left all things and followed you." Now if by "all things" he means his own possessions — four obols, so to speak, as the saying goes — then in leaving them behind he is magnified, and by declaring them worth an equivalent he might unwittingly lay claim to the kingdom of heaven. But if, as we are just now saying, having cast away the old intelligible possessions and the diseases of the soul, they follow in the footsteps of the Teacher, this would already be counted toward those who are to be enrolled in the heavens. For this is truly to follow the Savior — pursuing his sinlessness and perfection, and adorning and tuning the soul toward him as toward a mirror, and disposing all things through all things alike.
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