To abolish the sacrilegious custom of swearing at Constantinople, as he
had done at Antioch, he strained every sinew, and in several sermons he
exerted his zeal with uncommon energy, mingled with the most tender
charity. In Hom. 8, in Act t. 9, pp. 66, 67, he complains that some who
had begun to correct their criminal habit, after having fallen through
surprise, or by a sudden fit of passion, had lost courage. These he
animates to a firmer resolution and vigor, which would crown them with
victory. He tells them he suffers more by grief for them than if he
languished in a dungeon, or was condemned to the mines; and begs, by the
love which they bear him, they would give the only comfort which could
remove the weight of his sorrow by an entire conversion. It will not
justify him, he says, at the last day, to allege that he had reprimanded
those who swore. The judge will answer: "Why didst not thou check,
command, and by laws restrain those that disobeyed?" Heli reprimanded
his sons; but was condemned for not having done it, because he did not
use sufficient severity. 1 Kings xi. 24. "I every day cry aloud," says
the saint, "yet am not heard. Fearing to be myself condemned at the last
day for too great lenity and remissness, I raise my voice, and denounce
aloud to all, that if any swear, I forbid them the church. Only this
month is allowed for persons to correct their habit." His voice he calls
a trumpet, with which in different words he proclaims thrice this
sentence of excommunication against whosoever should persist refractory,
thought he were a prince, or he who wears the diadem. Hom. 9, p. 76, he
congratulates with his audience for the signs of compunction and
amendment which they had given since his last sermon, and tells the
greatest part of the difficulty is already mastered by them. To inspire
them with a holy dread and awe for the adorable name of God, he puts
them in mind that in the Old Law only the high priest was allowed ever
to pronounce it, and that the devils trembled at its sound. Hom. 10, he
charges them never to name God but in praising him or in imploring his
mercy. He takes notice that some among them still sometimes swore, but
only for want of attention, by the force of habit, just as they made the
sign of the cross by mere custom, without attention, when they entered
the baths, or lighted a candle. He tells them (Hom. 11, p. 95) that the
term of a month, which he had fixed, was almost elapsed, and mos