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In Chapter 9, he emphasizes that true Christian living is demonstrated through good deeds, reflecting love for God and others. Chapter 11 highlights the power of the tongue, showing how words can build or destroy, urging careful speech. Chapter 9 The Voice of Good Deeds (continuation) “But why do I say that Christ does everything unto this end? Tell me, if anyone gave you your choice either to raise up the dead in His name or to die for His name’s sake, which would you choose? The latter surely; for the one is a sign and the other is a deed. Again, if anyone offered you the power of turning grass into gold, or that of looking down upon all gold as if it were grass, would you not rather choose the latter, and with good reason? It would be this which would attract men. For if they were to see food turned into gold, and were even desirous of taking the same power into their own hands, as Simon was, the love of money would be increased in them; but if they were to see all men looking down upon money as upon grass, and making little of it, they would be cured of this disease.” Chapter 11 The Tongue a Royal Power. “Let us understand what those things are which sully a man, and when we have understood let us shun them. In the church we see a certain habit prevailing amongst the majority of men -- how they are eager to come in with spotless clothes and clean hands, whilst they do not trouble themselves about how they are to offer up a pure heart to God. I say this, not forbidding men to wash their hands or their mouths; my wish, however, is that they should wash them in the right way, not with water alone, but rather with virtues. For slandering, blasphemy, foul language, bad words, laughter at low jokes, are the mouth’s defilement. […]Therefore do not defile that tongue, lest He should say to you, And when you multiply your prayer I will not hear. For, in the hand of the tongue are life and death; and, again, By thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. Therefore guard the tongue more carefully than the pupil of the eye […] Dishonour not the tongue, for how will it pray for you when it has lost its proper confidence? Adorn it rather with mildness and humility; make it worthy of the God Whom you are invoking; fill it with words of kindness and much almsgiving. For there is an alms which is to be given by words: The good word is better than the gift; and, again, Answer the poor man in mildness and gentleness. And make the rest of your time profitable by dwelling on the divine laws. Let all thy conversation be on the law of the Most High. […]”
