Pastoral Rule, Dialogues & Letters 51

These are the things which the ruler of souls should guard in the diversity of his preaching, that he may carefully apply remedies suited to the wounds of individuals. But since it is a matter of great study that it be known how to exhort individuals to what is fitting for each, and since it is very laborious to instruct any one whatever concerning his own affairs under the dispensation of due consideration, yet it is far more laborious to instruct innumerable hearers labouring under diverse passions at one and the same time with the voice of one man. And with such art the voice is to be tempered that, though the vices of the hearers be diverse, it may both be found suited to each, and yet not be at variance with itself;

so that amid the midst of the passions it may pass indeed with one stroke, but after the manner of a two-edged sword cut the swellings of carnal thoughts from either side; so that humility may be so preached to the proud that fear be not increased in the timid; so that authority may be so infused into the timid that presumption grow not in the proud. So let solicitude for good work be preached to the idle and slothful, that licence of immoderate action be not increased in the restless. So let a limit be set to the restless, that a secure torpor arise not in the idle. So let anger be extinguished in the impatient, that negligence grow not in the remiss and gentle. So let the gentle be kindled to zeal, that a conflagration be not added to the irascible.

So let liberality in giving be infused into the tenacious, that yet the reins of profusion be by no means loosed to the prodigal. So let frugality be preached to the prodigal, that yet in the tenacious the guarding of perishable things be not increased. So let marriage be granted to the incontinent, that yet those already continent be not recalled to luxury. So let virginity of the body be praised to the continent, that yet in the married the fruitfulness of the flesh become not despised. So are good things to be preached, lest from the side evil things also be aided. So are the highest goods to be praised, lest the lowest be despaired of. So are the lowest to be nourished, lest, while they are believed to suffice, there be no striving toward the highest.