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There is also another reason, because trading engages the mind too much with worldly cares, and consequently withdraws it from spiritual cares; wherefore the Apostle says: "No man being a soldier to God entangleth himself with secular business."
Moreover, I have always followed, as a heavenly, supreme, and divine maxim, those great words of the Apostle: No man being a soldier to God entangleth himself with secular business that he may please Him to whom he hath engaged himself." St. Francis was truly like Aaron called to the pastoral charge by God alone, without his having used artifices or other means to procure himself such honour.
Verily association with fools produceth an illusion that entangleth the mind, as daily communion with the good and the wise leadeth to the practice of virtue. Therefore, they that desire emancipation should associate with those that are wise and old and honest and pure in conduct and possessed of ascetic merit.
If any man among you thinketh himself a wise man in this world, let him become a fool, that he may be wise. For the wisdom of this world is folly in the sight of God. For it is written, "He entangleth the wise in their own craftiness ." And again , "The Lord knoweth the reasonings of the wise, that they are futile." Wherefore let no man glory in men.
"No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please Him who hath chosen him to be a soldier." Not to be entangled with the affairs of this life! and my heart and soul were in a whirl of them; I might say, in a snarl. And true the words were.
Who can express the wretchedness of that folly, which so entangleth us with inextricable knots, and enchaineth our souls so rashly with desperate obligations? "As," saith he, "is the good, so is the sinner; and he that sweareth, as he that feareth an oath." In fine, even a heathen philosopher, considering the nature of an oath, did conclude the unlawfulness thereof in such cases.
For this cause do many things displease thee and often trouble thee, that thou art not yet perfectly dead to thyself nor separated from all earthly things. Nothing so defileth and entangleth the heart of man as impure love towards created things. If thou rejectest outward comfort thou wilt be able to contemplate heavenly things and frequently to be joyful inwardly. Luke xvii. 21. John xiv. 23.
Paul's precept: "No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life." For they have discovered that they are engaged in a war a veritable war against the rulers of darkness, against ignorance and its twin children, fear and cruelty. Of that war they see neither the end nor even the plan.
As cloth, water, the ground, and sesame seeds are perfumed by association with flowers, even so are qualities ever the product of association. Verily association with fools produceth an illusion that entangleth the mind, as daily communion with the good and the wise leadeth to the practice of virtue.
Thou therefore endure hardness, as a good soldier of Jesus Christ. No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life; that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier. And if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned, except he strive lawfully. The husbandman that laboureth must be first partaker of the fruits.