one another in fasting, and shew a marvellous emulation in it; (some indeed who spend two
whole days without food; and others who, rejecting from their tables not only the use of
wine, and of oil, but of every dish, and taking only bread and water, persevere in this practice
during the whole of Lent); so, indeed, let us also contend mutually with one another in ab-
olishing the frequency1226 of oaths. For this is more useful than any fasting; this is more
profitable than any austerity. And this same care which we display in abstaining from food,
let us exhibit with respect to abstinence from oaths; since we shall be chargeable with the
reproach of extreme folly, while we regard not things that are forbidden, and expend all our
care upon things indifferent; for to eat is not forbidden, but to swear is forbidden; we,
however, abstaining from those things that are permitted, daringly venture upon those
things that are forbidden! On this account I beseech your Charity to make some change,
and to let the beginning of it be visible from this day. For if we spend the whole of the present
fast with such zeal, having in this week attained the practice of not swearing at all; and in
the following having extinguished wrath; and in that which succeeds it, having pulled up
evil-speaking by the roots; and after that, having amended what yet remains; thus going
forward in our course, we shall come by little and little to the very summit of virtue; and we
shall escape the present danger; and shall make God propitious; and the multitude will come
back again to our city; and we shall teach the fugitives that we are to place our hopes of
safety neither in security of place, nor in flight and retirement; but in piety of soul, and in
virtue of manners. And thus shall we obtain the good things of this and of the future life;
which, God grant! we may all be found worthy of, by the grace and loving-kindness of our
Lord Jesus Christ, through whom and with whom be glory to the Father, together with the
Holy Ghost, now and for ever and ever. Amen.
1226 νιφ€δας, lit. snowflakes. Comp. Il. iii. 222.
522
Homily IV