19. But what rich man passes to eternal life unless he be supported by the riches of virtue, that gift which is the portion of all, S. Matt. xix. 26. and declared to be impossible for the rich alone? Happiness then does not consist in using these things but in perceiving that whereby you may despise them,may regard them as void of truth[164], may judge them to be empty and fruitless, and may love the true beauty of naked truth which confesses the cheating vanities of this world.
20. Lift up therefore your eyes, O my soul; those eyes of which the Word of God saith, Cant. iv. 9. Thou hast ravished my heart, my sister, my spouse, thou hast ravished my heart with one of thine eyes. Ib. vii. 8. Go up then to the palm tree, overcome the world, that thou mayest reach the height of the Word. Leave out of doors the vain shows of this world, leave its malice, but bring in with you that goodness of mind which has grace in the tree of life, that is, if she wash her robes and enter into the city which is the true grace of the saints, wherein is the Tabernacle of God,around which the scribes of the Lord encamp, where neither day nor sun nor moon afford light, but Rev. xxi. 23. the Lord Himself is the light thereof, and enlightens all that city. For He is the S. John viii. 12. Light of the world, not indeed the visible light, but the intellectual brightness of the souls which are in this world, upon which He pours the bright beams of reason and of prudence, S. Luke xxiv. 32. and in the Gospel is said to inspire with the breath of His spiritual influences the inmost soul, and the recesses of the mind.
21. If then any man hath begun to be an inhabitant of that heavenly city, an inhabitant, that is, by his life and manners, let him not depart from it, let him not go out again, or retrace his steps, the steps, that is, not of his body but of his mind; let him not turn back. Behind is luxury, behind is impurity. Gen. xix. 30. When Lot went up into the mountain he left behind him the crimes of Sodom, but she who looked back, could not reach the higher ground. It is not your feet but your manners which are never to turn back. Let not your hands hang down, or the knees of your faith and devotion become feeble. Let not the weakness of your will be backsliding, let there be no recurrence of crime. Thou hast entered in, remain therefore; thou hast arrived, stay still; Ib. 17. escape for thy life.
22. In your ascent your steps must tend directly upwards, no man can safely turn back. Here is the way, there, downfall; here ascent, there a precipice. In ascending there is labour, in descending danger; but the Lord is mighty, Who, when thou art founded there will guard and hedge thee round with prophetic walls and apostolic bulwarks. Therefore the Lord says to thee, Joel iii. 13. Come, get you down, for the press is full. Let us be found within, not out of doors. In the Gospel too the Son of God saith, S. Luke xvii. 31. He which shall be upon the house-top let him not come down to take away his vessels. And this He says not of this house-top, but of that of which it is said, Ps. civ. 2. He spreadeth out the heavens like a vault.
23. Remain within therefore, within Jerusalem, within thine own soul, peaceful, meek, and tranquil. Leave her not, nor descend in order to raise up this vessel of thine, either with honour, or wealth, or pride. Remain within,that aliens may not pass through thee, that sins may not pass through thy mind, vain acts, and idle thoughts: and they will not pass, if thou wilt wage a holy war in the cause of faith and devotion, for the love of truth against the snares of passion, and wilt take up the arms of God against spiritual wickedness and the craft of the devil, who tempts our senses by fraud and stratagem, but who is easily crushed by the gentle warrior, who sees no strife, but, as becomes the servant of God, teaches the faith with modesty, and convinces those who oppose themselves. Of him the Scripture says, Joel iii. 9. Let the warrior who is gentle arise[165], and let him that is weak say, Phil. iv. 13. I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.
24. Supported by this faith, even he who is weak shall prevail, and his soul will be holy, and the prophetic or apostolic mountains shall Joel iii. 18. drop down new wine for him, and the hills shall flow with milk, like that hill which 1 Cor. iii. 2. gave milk to the Corinthians to drink, and water shall flow for him from their vessels, and from their well-heads. S. John iv. 14. From his belly shall flow living water, that spiritual water which the Holy Spirit supplies to His faithful; may He vouchsafe to water thy soul also, that in thee may be a fountain springing up into life eternal. Farewell: love me as a son, for I love you as a father.
LETTER XXX.
A.D. 389.
S. AMBROSE here continues the subject of the last Letter, dwelling especially on the duty of rising above the level of earthly things, and bringing together various passages of the Old Testament which he interprets spiritually as setting forth this Lesson. The true follower of Christ will build Him a Temple in his heart, which his Lord will fill with the adornment of spiritual graces.
AMBROSE TO IRENÆUS, GREETING.