One Exhortation for Many Hearers at Once

These are the things a bishop of souls should keep in view in the variety of his preaching, so that he may take care to set the right medicines against the diseases of each of his hearers. It is a matter of great anxiety, when exhorting individuals, to serve each according to his own needs, since it is a very hard thing to instruct each person in what concerns him and to give each case its due consideration. Yet it is far harder to admonish countless hearers, struggling under various passions, at one and the same time with one common exhortation. For in this case the speech must be tempered with such art that, though the vices of the hearers are diverse, it may be found to suit each of them, and yet not be at odds with itself. It should pass with one stroke through the midst of the passions, but, like a two-edged sword, cut away the swellings of fleshly thoughts on either side. So humility should be preached to the proud in such a way that fear is not increased in the timid. Confidence should be poured into the timid in such a way that the unbridled license of the proud does not grow. Care in doing good should be preached to the listless and sluggish in such a way that the restless are not given more license for excessive activity. Limits should be set for the restless in such a way that careless sluggishness is not produced in the listless. Anger should be put out in the impatient in such a way that negligence does not grow in the easygoing and softhearted. The softhearted should be fired with zeal in such a way that fire is not added to the angry. Generosity in giving should be poured into the stingy in such a way that the reins are in no way loosened for the wasteful. Thrift should be preached to the wasteful in such a way that the stingy are not made more anxious to hold on to perishable things. Marriage should be praised to those who lack self-control in such a way that those who already live in self-control are not called back to sensual pleasure. Virginity of the body should be praised to those who live in self-control in such a way that the married do not come to despise the fruitfulness of the flesh. Good things should be preached in such a way that evil things are not helped along sideways. The highest good should be praised in such a way that the lowest is not despaired of. The lowest should be cherished in such a way that no one stops striving for the highest because he thinks the lowest is enough.