Things Of God And Caesar

Εἴ τι τῆς ὕλης ἴδιον, εἴ τι πλάνης ἐφόδιον, εἴ τι ἀπάτης εἴδωλον ἐν ἡμιν ἡ ἔνοικος εἰσεφρησε ῥᾳθὺμία τοῦτο τῷ δημιουργῷ καὶ ποιητῇ τῆς κακίας ἐπιῥῥίπτεσθαι παρ' ἡμῶν ὁ Κύριος βούλεται. Εἴ τι δὲ ἀρετῆς σύμβουλον, εἴ τι σεμνότητος γνώρισμα, εἴ τι νήψεως καὶ ἀσφαλείας ἐμπόρευμα, τοῦτο Θεοῦ καὶ ἡγεῖσθαι καὶ πεπεῖσαι τυγχάνειν δώρημα, καὶ ἀξίαν αὐτῷ προσκομίζειν τὴν αἴνεσιν. Τοῦτό ἐστιν ὅ φησιν, Ἀπόδοτε τὰ Καίσαρος Καίσαρι, καὶ τὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ τῷ Θεῷ Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολή ΣΘ Θεογνωστῳ Source: Migne PG 78.316a

If something is one's own, if it is an instrument of error, if it is an idol of deceit in us bearing us off to negligence, this is what the Lord wishes to be cast from us to the architect and effector of vice. But if something is a symbol of virtue, if it bears the mark of nobility, if it is a possesion for vigilence and prudence, this we should consider and be persuaded is a gift of God, worthy to give Him thanks for. So it is said: 'Give to Caesar what is Caesar's and to God what is God's' 1 Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 209 to Thegnostos 1 Mt 22.21