THE LIKENESS OF VIRTUE AND THE  LIKENESS OF THE DEVIL

Let not the devil find his likeness in you; let him not find fury or rage nor any wickedness.  Let him not find desire for gold nor money, nor the appearance of any vice lest he take away from you the voice of liberty.  

Only he is free who can say, "The prince of darkness shall come and shall find no part in me, no likeness in me.  Only he is blessed who has wisdom, faith and contempt of the world."  

It is vanity to heap up riches or even to speak of riches; when you gather up riches, you do not even know if you can possess them.  It is vanity, too, for one to work day and night to heap up treasures.  It is vanity to gather merchandize and worry how to price it for fear of losing profit; that he should strive everywhere for high prices and invite thieves to steal from him, and making his heirs and successors envy their share of inheritance.  

O, Christian soul, why dost thou spin a web which is worthless and fruitless.  An overflow of wealth denudes you of the likeness of God and puts on thee the likeness of the tyrant demon, making you go about judging and condemning others.  You put aside the likeness of the eternal King and put on the image of death when you are vain.          

St. Ambrose: Duties of the Clergy, Chapter 49, Bk I  

(05-11-05)