Working And Guarding

Non idem est operari et custodire. In opere enim quidam virtutis processus est, in custodia quaedam consummatio operis deprehenditur; eo quod quasi consummata custodiat. Haec duo ab homine requiruntur, ut et operibus nova quaerat, et parta custodiat, quod est generale. Philon autem, quoniam spiritalia Judaico non capiebat affectu, intra moralia se tenuit, ut dice et haec duo quaeri, opera in agro, custodiam domus. Et quamvis paradisus operibus, inquit, ruralibus non egeret; tamen quia primus homo lex posteritatis futurus erat, ideo legitimi etiam in paradiso speciem suscepit laboris, ut nos ad operationem et custodiam debiti officii, et haereditariae successionis munus astringeret. Haec duo ergo a te exiguntur sive moraliter, sive spiritaliter. Quod etiam psalmus te propheticus docet, quia scriptum est: Nisi Dominus aedificaverit domum; in vanum laboraverunt qui aedificant eam. Nisi Dominus custodierit civitatem, in vanum vigilant qui custodiunt eam. Vides illos laborare qui in operis sunt aedificationisque processu; istos vero vigilare qui jam custodiam perfecti operis receperunt. Unde et Dominus Apostolis quasi jam perfectioribus: Vigilate, inquit, et orate, ne intretis in tentationem; docens perfectae naturae munus, et plenae virtutis gratiam esse servandam, nec quemquam etiam perfectiorem nisi vigilaverit, sui debere esse securum. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, De Paradiso, Caput IV Source: Migne PL 14.284-285a

It is not the same to work and to guard. In working we make a certain advancement in virtue, in guarding we attend to the perfection of the work, by which that which is perfect is guarded. These two things are required from man, that with work he come to new things, and that what is done he guard, that he be complete. Philo, because the Jewish spirit did not grasp this completely, among his morals holds, as he says, that these two things should be attended to, work in the field and guardianship of the house, and although in Paradise man did not require rustic work, he says, however because from the first man the future law was given for posterity, therefore it was fitting that in paradise he take up this type of labour, that he give to us the duties both of working and guarding, and that this inheritance he bind on his successors. These two things, then, are required from you either morally or spiritually. Which even the Prophet teaches in the Psalm, where it is written: 'Unless the Lord builds the house in vain they labour who build it. Unless the Lord guard the city, in vain they watch who guard it.' 1 You see that those who labour are those who progress in the work of building, and those who watch attend to the guarding of the perfected work. Whence the Lord says to the perfected Apostles, 'Watch and pray that you do not enter into temptation.' 2 teaching that they should guard the gift of perfected nature and the grace of complete virtue, for no one is perfect unless he is vigilant, which he should be to be secure. Saint Ambrose, from On Paradise, Chap 4 1 Ps 126.1 2 Mt 26.41