XII.  Now what is it, brethren, to cry out unto Christ, but to correspond to the grace of Christ by good works?  This I say, brethren, lest haply we cry aloud with our voices, and in our lives be dumb.  Who is he that crieth out to Christ, that his inward blindness may be driven away by Christ as He is passing by, that is, as He is dispensing to us those temporal sacraments, whereby we are instructed to receive the things which are eternal?  Who is he that crieth out unto Christ?  Whoso despiseth the world, crieth out unto Christ.  Whoso despiseth the pleasures of the world, crieth out unto Christ.  Whoso saith, not with his tongue but with his life, the world is crucified unto me, and I unto the world, crieth out unto Christ.  Whoso disperseth abroad and giveth to the poor, that his righteousness may endure forever, crieth out unto Christ.  For let him that hears, and is not deaf to the sound, sell that ye have, and give to the poor; provide yourselves bags which wax not old, a treasure in the heavens that faileth not; let him as he hears the sound as it were of Christ’s footsteps passing by cry out in response to this in his blindness; that is, let him do these things.  Let his voice be in his actions.  Let him begin to despise the world, to distribute to the poor his goods, to esteem as nothing worth what other men love, let him disregard injuries, not seek to be avenged, let him give his cheek to the smiter, let him pray for his enemies; if any one who have taken away his goods, let him not ask for them again; if he have taken anything from any man, let him restore fourfold.

XIII.  When he shall begin to do all this, all his kinsmen, relations, and friends will be in commotion.  They who love the world will oppose him.  What madness this!  You are too extreme!  What!  Are not other men Christians?  This is folly, this is madness.  And other such like things do the multitude; cry out to prevent the blind from crying out.  The multitude rebuked them as they cried out; but did not overcome their cries.  Let them who wish to be healed understand what they have to do.  Jesus is now also passing by; let them who are by the wayside cry out.  These are they, who know God with their lips, but their heart is far from Him.  These are by the wayside, to whom, as blinded in heart, Jesus gave His precepts.  For when those passing things which Jesus did are recounted, Jesus is always represented to us as passing by.  For even unto the end of the world there will not be wanting blind men sitting by the wayside.  Need then there is that they who sit by the wayside should cry out.  The multitude that was with the Lord would repress the crying of those who were seeking for recovery.  Brethren, do you see my meaning?  For I know not how to speak, but still less do I know how to be silent.  I will speak then, and speak plainly.  For I fear Jesus passing by and Jesus standing still; and therefore I can not keep silence.  Evil and unknown Christians