§11f De generationibus si cetera delictorum recogitemus, inprimis cupiditatem radicem omnium malorum, qua quidam inretiti circa fidem naufragium sunt passi, cum bis et idololatria ab eodem apostolo dicta sit cupiditas, tum mendacium cupiditatis ministrum — taceo de periurio, quando ne iurare quidem liceat — negotiatio seruo dei apta est? ceterum si cupiditas abscedat, quae est causa adquirendi? cessante causa adquirendi non erit necessitas negotiandi.
f Concerning trades, if we reflect on the other sins, especially covetousness, the root of all evils, in which some being entangled made shipwreck concerning the faith, since covetousness has been called idolatry twice by the same apostle, and falsehood is the minister of covetousness—I say nothing of perjury, since it is not lawful even to swear—is trade suitable for a servant of God? But if covetousness is removed, what is the cause of acquiring? When the cause of acquiring ceases, there will be no necessity of trading.
sit nunc aliqua iustitia quaestus secura de cupiditatis et mendacii obseruatione, in crimen offendere idololatriae eam opinor, quae ad ipsam idolorum animam et spiritum pertinet, quae omne daemonium saginat.
Suppose now there be some honesty of gain, secure from the watchfulness of covetousness and falsehood; I think that this gain runs into the crime of idolatry, which pertains to the very soul and spirit of idols, which fattens every demon.
sane non illa principalis idololatria? uiderint, si eaedem merces, tura dico et cetera peregrinitatis ad sacrificium idolorum etiam hominibus ad pigmenta medicinalia, nobis quoque insuper ad solacia sepulturae usui sunt.
Indeed, is not that the principal idolatry? Let them look to it, if those same goods—I mean frankincense and other foreign wares for the sacrifice of idols—are also of use to men for medicinal pigments, and to us moreover for the solaces of burial.
certe cum pompae, cum sacerdotia, cum sacrificia idolorum de periculis, de damnis, de incommodis, de cogitationibus, de discursibus negotiationibusue instruuntur, quid aliud quam procurator idolorum demonstraris? nemo contendat posse hoc modo omnibus negotiationibus controuersiam fieri.
Certainly, when the pageants, when the priesthoods, when the sacrifices of idols are furnished from your dangers, losses, inconveniences, thoughts, runnings to and fro, or trades, what else are you shown to be than a procurator of idols? Let no one contend that in this way a controversy can be raised against all trades.
grauiora delicta quaeque pro magnitudine periculi diligentiam extendunt obseruationis, ut non ab his tantum abscedamus, sed et ab iis per quae fiunt.
The more serious sins, each in proportion to the magnitude of the danger, extend the diligence of watchfulness, so that we may not only withdraw from them, but also from those things through which they are committed.
licet enim ab aliis fiat, non interest, si per me.
For though it be done by others, it makes no difference, if it is done through me.
in nullo necessarius esse debeo alii, cum facit quod mihi non licet.
In nothing ought I to be necessary to another, when he does what is not lawful for me.
ex hoc, quod uetor facere, intellegere debeo curandum mihi esse, ne fiat per me.
From this, that I am forbidden to do it, I ought to understand that I must take care lest it be done through me.
denique in alia causa non leuioris reatus praeiudicium istud obseruo.
In short, in another case of no lighter guilt, I observe this precedent.
nam quod mihi de stupro interdictum sit, aliis ad eam rem nihil aut operae aut conscientiae exhibeo.
For because I am forbidden fornication, I afford to others for that thing nothing of either assistance or complicity.
nam quod ipsam carnem meam a lupanaribus segregaui, agnosco me neque lenocinium neque id genus lucrum alterius causa exercere posse.
For because I have separated my own flesh from brothels, I acknowledge that I can neither practice pandering nor that kind of gain for the sake of another.
sic et homicidii interdictio ostendit mihi lanistam quoque ab ecclesia arceri: nec per se non faciet quod faciendum alio subministrat.
So also the prohibition of homicide shows me that the gladiator-trainer also is excluded from the church; nor will he not be doing by himself what he supplies to be done by another.
ecce magis proximum praeiudicium.
Behold a more immediate precedent.
si publicarum uictimarum redemptor ad fidem accedat, permittes ei in eo negotio permanere? aut si iam fidelis id agere susceperit, retinendum in ecclesia putabis? non opinor, nisi si quis et de turario dissimulabit.
If a contractor of public victims should come to the faith, will you permit him to remain in that business? Or if one who is already a believer should undertake to do this, will you think he ought to be retained in the church? I think not, unless someone will also turn a blind eye to the frankincense-seller.
scilicet ad alios peruenit procuratio sanguinis, ad alios odorum.
To be sure, to some belongs the procurement of blood, to others of odors.
si, antequam idola in saeculo essent, his mercibus adhuc informis idololatria transigebatur, si et nunc fere sine idolo opus idololatriae incendiis odorum perpetratur, ecquid maioris operae et erga daemonia turarius? nam facilius sine idolo idololatria, quam sine turarii merce.
If, before there were idols in the world, idolatry, as yet shapeless, was transacted by these wares; if even now the work of idolatry is performed almost without an idol by the burning of odors, is not the frankincense-seller of even greater service towards demons? For idolatry is easier without an idol than without the ware of the frankincense-seller.
ipsius fidei conscientiam perrogemus.
Let us thoroughly question the conscience of faith itself.
quo ore Christianus turarius, si per templa transibit, quo ore fumantes aras despuet et exsufflabit, quibus ipse prospexit? qua constantia exorcizabit alumnos suos, quibus domum suam cellarium praestat? ille quidem si excluserit daemonium, non sibi placeat de fide. neque enim inimicum exclusit.
With what face will a Christian frankincense-seller, if he passes by temples, with what face will he spit upon and blow away the smoking altars, for which he himself provided? With what consistency will he exorcise his own foster-children, to whom he offers his own house as a storehouse? Indeed, if he has cast out a demon, let him not please himself concerning his faith; for he has not cast out an enemy.
facile debuit de eo impetrare, quem cotidie pascit.
He must easily have obtained his request from one whom he feeds daily.
nulla igitur ars, nulla professio, nulla negotiatio, quae quid aut instruendis aut formandis idolis administrat, carere poterit titulo idololatriae; nisi si aliud omnino interpretemur idololatrian, quam famulatum idolorum colendorum. ,
No art, therefore, no profession, no trade, which administers anything either for equipping or forming idols, will be able to escape the name of idolatry; unless we interpret idolatry to be something entirely different from the service of worshiping idols.