that is void of fruit: so too, for a Christian, right doctrines profit nothing if one is negligent in his life. A For this reason, Christ also called such men blessed, saying: *Blessed is he who has done and taught.* For the teaching that comes through deeds is much more accurate and trustworthy than that which comes through words; for such a man, even while silent and being observed, is able to instruct some through sight and others through hearing. He shall enjoy great favor from God, not only through himself, but also through those who look upon him, causing his Master to be glorified. Such a man, through a thousand tongues and many more, will offer thanksgiving and hymns to the God of all. For not only his acquaintances and those who are witnesses of his life will admire him and his Master, but even those who know him not, learning of these things from others; and those who live afar off and those who dwell in distant regions, and not only friends, B but even enemies shall revere the excellence of his virtue. For such is its power, that it even stops the mouths of those who fight against it and bridles their tongues. And just as weak eyes dare not look directly at the rays of the sun, so neither shall wickedness ever be able to look face to face at virtue; but it shall give way, turn its back, and confess its defeat. Being persuaded of this, let us hold fast to virtue, and let us order our own life with security, and let us strive to abstain from sins that seem small and trivial, whether in words or in deeds. For thus we shall never fall into greater sins if we abstain from the small ones; and as time goes on, we shall be able, also enjoying help from above, to attain to the highest virtue, and to escape the punishment that is laid up, and to obtain eternal goods, by the grace and love for mankind of our Lord Jesus Christ, with whom to the Father together with the Holy Spirit be glory, power, and honor, now and always and unto the ages of ages. Amen.
The following homily, or the 19th, begins thus: Consider when this happened after the transgression.
FRAGMENT ON THE BOOKS OF KINGS
(Ang. Mai, Bibliotheca nova, t. II, p. 495.)C
Saint John Chrysostom, from the third sermon on the Books of Kings
(34).It brings pleasure to farmers to reap a rich harvest from both mountain and lowland fields. If, however, after great care, one should be able to enjoy some good fruit even from rocky and thin, sandy soil, the pleasure for the farmer is even greater; because, having struggled with the nature of the soil and having pitted his own labors against the barrenness of the land, he carries away a testimony of victory from those who rightly esteem the art of farming.