Opposed Powers

Sed sunt principatus aerii, et potestates mundi, qui nos velut de muro dejicere animae, vel impedire recte gradientes, vel ad altiora tendentes quaerunt deponere, et ad terrena revocare. Sed nos multo magis ad sublimia mentem erigamus, Verum sequentes Dei. Illi principatus saecularia offundunt, quibus tuam mentem incurvent: tunc magis ad Christum, anima, dirige gressus tuos. Injiciunt cupiditatem auri, argenti, vicinae possessionis, ut acquirendae ejus gratia excuses te a coaena illius qui ad nuptias Verbi te invitavit; tu cave ne excuses, sed vestem te indue nuptialem, et utere convivio divitis, ne dives qui te invitaverat, cum excusaveris te, dum es saecularibus occupatus, alios invitet, et tu excludaris. Injiciunt etiam honoris appetentiam potestates mundi, ut te extollas sicut Adam, et dum vis adaequare Deum similitudine potestatis, divina praecepta despicias, et quae habebas, incipiat amittere. Qui enim non habet, et quod habet auferetur ab eo. Quoties in oratione nobis, qua maxime Deo appropinquamus, offunduntur ea quae plena sunt opprobii alicujus aut sceleris, quo nos a studio precationis avertant! Quoties inimicus cordi nostro conatur inserere, quo nos reflectat a sanctitatis proposito et piis votis! Quoties corpereos inflammat ardores! Quoties occursare facit oculos meretricios, quibus castum justi tentet affectum, ut improviso amoris spiculo feriat imparatum. Quoties inserit animo tuo verbum iniquum, et cogitationes cordis absconditas! De quo tibi dicit lex: Attende tibi, ne fiat verbum absconditum in corde tuo iniquum , et dicat tibi Dominus: Quid cogitas mala in corde tuo. Neve cum abundaveris auro et argento, et opimis agrorum fructibus, vel honoribus dicas: Virtus mea dedit mihi haec: et obliviscaris Dominum Deum tuum. Sanctus Ambrosius Mediolanensis, De Bono Mortis, Cap VIII Source: Migne PL 14.551a-c

But there are princes of the air, and powers of the world, 1 who will throw us down from the wall of the soul, or obstruct the right way of walking, or seek to drag down our inclination for the heights, and recall us to the earth. But we then much more must direct our minds to high things, following the Word of God. When these secular princes pour forth things by which your mind is abased, then more to Christ, with the soul, direct your steps. They cast into you desire for gold and silver, the possessions of your neighbour, that your excuse yourself from the acquiring of His grace, the feast of that one who invites you to nuptials of the Word. Be wary of excuse; rather put on the nuptial garment and attend the feast of the rich man, lest the rich man who invites you, when you excuse yourself because you are occupied by worldly matters, invites others, and excludes you. 2 The powers of the world throw in desire for honour, that you become puffed up like Adam, and while you wish to equal God in likeness of power, you scorn the Divine teaching, and what you did possess you begin to lose. For he who does not have, even that which he has shall be taken from him. 3 How often in our prayers, when we would most near to God, do those powers pour forth things with which they are full, disgrace and crime, by which they would turn us from our zeal for prayer! How often the enemy tries to insert in our hearts that by which we will be deflected from our sacred intent and our pious vows. How many times corporeal desires inflame! How many times he makes lustful visions rush before us, by which he snares the chaste disposition of the righteous, by which the unprepared are slain by the unexpected shaft of desire. How many times he inserts in our soul an iniquitous word, and steals away the thoughts of the heart. Concerning which the law says to you, 'Look to yourselves, lest there be hidden in your heart an iniquitous word.' 4 And the Lord says to you, 'Why do you think evil in your heart?' 5 Nor when you abound in gold and silver and with fields for harvest, or with honour, should you say, 'My own effort has given me these things, and you forget the Lord your God.' 6 Saint Ambrose, On the Good of Death, Chap 8 1 Ephes 6.12 2 Mt  22. 2- 14. Lk 14. 16-24 3 Mt 13.12. 25.29 4 Deut 15.9 5 Mt 9.4 6 Deut 8.17