And they [our opponents] even joined in censuring us, as if we thought the opposite to the things that we have already written. But I learn that they say this also, namely, that recently we have accepted a doctrinal statement, or a new creed, perhaps, I suppose, because we lightly esteem the ancient and august one. The fool will say foolish things, and his heart will think nonsense. However, we say this, that no individuals have demanded an explanation from us, nor have we accepted one newly coined by others. For the divinely inspired Scripture and the vigilance of our holy Fathers and the creed formulated by those who are in every way orthodox are sufficient for us.

Abraham is the more praiseworthy in that he went as the Lord told him.^[1]

It was from here that one of the wise men of Greece drew the simple saying Follow God.^[2] . . . Deliberation is an investigation of the right means to pursue in present circumstances. Wise deliberation is the application of practical wisdom to deliberations. Well? Does God, after Cain’s forgiveness, consequently introduce the repentance of Enoch in demonstration that forgiveness naturally breeds repentance?^[3] Pardon is not constituted for remission of penalty but for cure.

If those very persons, who amid the darkness of the present life shine bright by virtuous attainments—if they also cannot be void of contagion, with what guilt of wickedness are those bound, who still live after the flesh? If those persons cannot be free from sin who are already walking in the way of heavenly desires, what about those who still lie under the loads of sinful habits, who, abandoned to the gratifications of their fleshly part, still bear the yoke of rottenness? So Peter says, And if the righteous scarcely be saved, where shall the ungodly and the sinner appear?^[1] And it is said by Isaiah, Upon the land of my people shall come up thorns and briars; how much more upon all the houses of joy in the joyous city. The house of joy in the joyous city is the mind of the wicked, which neglects to regard the punishments that are destined to come, in the gratification of the flesh, and going away from itself, it revels in empty mirth.

One addicted to much speaking fails entirely to keep on the straight path of righteousness, so the prophet testifies, saying . . . The service of justice shall be quietness, that is, he indicates that the righteousness of the mind is lacking where there is not restraint on immoderate speaking.

It is the practice of the impertinent ever to answer by the opposite to what is said rightly, lest if they assent to the things asserted, they should seem inferior. . . . When wisdom reprimands sins by the mouth of the righteous, it sounds like superfluity of talkativeness to the ears of the foolish. For assertive people deem nothing right except what they themselves think, and they consider the words of the righteous to be idle to the degree that they find them to be different from their own notions. . . . As long as any one lets himself go in words, the gravity of silence being gone, he parts with the safekeeping of the soul. For this reason it is written, And the work of righteousness, silence. So Solomon says, He who has no rule over his own spirit in talking is like a city that is broken down and without walls.^[1] And he says again, In the multitude of words sin is not lacking.^[2] . . . the value of a true sentence is lost when it is not delivered under the keeping of discretion. . . . A true sentence against the wicked, if it is aimed at the virtue of the good, loses its own virtue and bounds back with blunted point. . . . But the wicked cannot hear good words with patience, and, neglecting to amend their life, they brace themselves up with words of rejoinder.

Accordingly, like a perfect man learned in the law and made firm in the gospel, accept the faith of both Testaments, for, as we read today, Blessed is he who sows upon every water, where the ox and the donkey tread, that is, who sows upon the people who follow the teaching of both Testaments. This is the ploughman’s ox, wearing the yoke of the law, of which the law says, You shall not muzzle the ox that treads out your corn,^[1] for this ox has the horns of holy Scripture. But in the Gospel the Lord, representing the people of the Gentiles, mounts the colt of a donkey.^[2]

The prophet says, Blessed is he that sows into all waters, whose ox and donkey tread, [that is] the people, from the law and from the Gentiles, gathered into one faith.

By water, peoples are denoted, as it is said by John, Now the waters are peoples.^[1] By water likewise, not only the tide of peoples drifting away, but also the minds of good men who follow the preachings of faith are denoted, as the prophet says, Blessed are you who sow upon all waters. And it is said by the psalmist, The voice of the Lord is upon the waters.^[2]

What else is meant by seed but the word of preaching? It is as the truth says in the Gospel, A sower went forth to sow;^[1] and the prophet says, Blessed are you who sow upon all waters. What else but the church ought to be understood by the threshing floor? Of this it is said by the voice of the forerunner: And he will thoroughly purge his floor.^[2]

Only let us not be condemned for frivolity by asking for little, and for what is unworthy of the giver. Blessed is he from whom Jesus asks drink, as he did from that Samaritan woman, and gives a well of water springing up unto eternal life.^[1] Blessed is he that sows beside all waters, and upon every soul, tomorrow to be ploughed and watered, which today the ox and the donkey tread, while it is dry and without water, and oppressed with lack of rationality. And blessed is he who, though he be a valley of rushes,^[2] is watered out of the house of the Lord; for he is made fruit-bearing instead of rush-bearing and produces that which is for the food of man, not that which is rough and unprofitable. And for the sake of this we must be very careful not to miss the grace.

Let them take as much pleasure as they please in their Gallican geldings;^[1] we will be satisfied with the simple donkey of Zechariah, loosed from its halter and made ready for the Savior’s service, which received the Lord on its back and so fulfilled Isaiah’s prediction: Blessed is he that sows beside all waters, where the ox and the donkey tread under foot.