On the Twelve Abuses of the World

baptism, loves the fleeting delights of the world against the words and purpose of Christ. For everything that one contends for is desired either because of the love of the thing itself about which it is acted, or because of the love of another which lies hidden under a hateful appearance. For example, the battle of those fighting with an angry clash, because it is a hateful thing, is carried out for the love of victory and liberty; and many other species of desired things are sought quite contentiously under hateful labor or fear. Whence it is clearly understood that nothing can be contended for there except for the sake of a separate love—namely, through the subsequent lovable remuneration. Whoever, therefore, contends for the present world for any cause whatsoever, clearly shows that he loves it. How, therefore, do the sermons of the Holy Spirit through John forbid the world to be loved, to whom he says: "Do not love the world nor the things that are in the world." For the love of the world and of God cannot coexist in one heart, because the eyes of the same [person] can by no means behold heaven and earth at once. But it must be discerned if there be anything in the world [that] ought to be [loved], and what that world is which divine eloquence forbids to be loved. The rest, however, with the things born from it—both metals and animals, and the beauty of garments, and the pleasures of foods, and those things which pertain to these—are perceived not to be loved, but the neighbor, for whose sake all these things were made, is commanded to be loved. For all these aforesaid things, as if not remaining, cannot accompany one to the heavenly homeland; the neighbor, however, remaining there, co-heirs of the King, as if themselves, love one another freely. What, therefore, always remains in the world, and in the world likewise will perish, and the world itself is commanded not to be loved; the neighbor, however, who is a part of the celestial kingdom, is indeed desired with internal alms; the kingdom of heaven is not inappropriately loved, while in that highest homeland one will have a co-heir forever. For this reason, the present world is not loved, so that no one may be affected by the love of the age, being made alien from the love of God. Therefore, that which is not allowed to be loved ought not to be held as a matter of contention. Therefore, a Christian who holds the likeness of the name of Christ must also have the likeness of his morals. For a Christian is not rightly said to be one unless he is made equal to Christ in morals. Concerning Christ, it is written through the prophet thus: "Behold my son, my elect, in whom my soul is well pleased. I will put my spirit upon him. He will not contend, nor will he cry out, nor will anyone hear his voice in the street." Behold, Christ does not contend, and you, if you desire to retain the likeness of his morals, do not contend, nor be an abusive Christian in the church. For Christ commands his followers: "Do not be called Rabbi. For one is your master, who is Christ,"