9. Ye who hear or read these words are all
things to us. Ye are the usury of the money-lender,—the
usury on speech, not on money; ye are the return given to the
husbandman; ye are the gold, the silver, the precious stones of the
builder. In your merits lie the chief results of the labours of
the priest; in your souls shines forth the fruit of a bishop’s
work; in your progress glitters the gold of the Lord; the silver is
increased if ye hold fast the divine words. “The words of
the Lord are pure words, as silver tried in the fire; proved on the
earth, purified seven times.” Ps. xii. 6. Ye
therefore will make the lender rich, the husbandman to abound in
produce; ye will prove the master-builder to be skilful. I do not
speak boastfully; for I do not desire so much my own advantage as
yours.