In the same Cassinese codex XII, page 331, there stands this third moral sermon, marked in express words, both in the title and in the margin, with the name of Saint Maximus the bishop. There can be no doubt to anyone that it came forth from the same source as the two preceding, since there is found here the same manner of speaking and the same use of the Scriptures in which Saint Maximus especially excelled. It is fitting and necessary for us, brethren, for our common instruction and correction, to review the apostolic admonitions, and to search out in simple words the saving commandments, as it is written: 'Blessed are they that search His testimonies; that seek Him with their whole heart' (Ps. 118). Therefore the most glorious Paul says: 'Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth' (Eph. 4).
How beautifully and how magnificently the most eloquent doctor of heavenly disciplines corrects, by the force of almost a single sentence, the unbridling of evil-speaking and the obstinacy of a petulant tongue! On account of which, see, dearest brethren, how the teacher of the nations and the excellent pruner of the Lord's vineyard cuts down with the pruning-knife of his precept all the shoots of the vices destined to be burned. For by saying 'Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth,' he wipes away at once all the harmful refuse of our heart and mouth. For he brings it about that if perchance any malice, inspired by the devil, has beaten upon someone's heart, it may not find in him the effect of a working speech.
For indeed all the poisons of hidden thoughts, if they are not brought forth into words, straightway vanish as if drained of their strength. For thus the prophetic word bears witness, expressing the intent of a malignant heart concerning a certain wicked man, saying: 'He hath conceived sorrow, and brought forth iniquity' (Ps. 7): that is, the impious and unjust man has brought forth with his lips the malice which he had conceived in his heart. Take away truly the offspring of speech from malignity, and whatever sadness has been conceived in the heart of man will, like some miscarriage, have no power of being born, and will soon die within its own bowels. Therefore let no evil speech proceed from your mouth, because without doubt in evil speech there is blasphemy.
Remove therefore the whispering of iniquitous words, and envy will not have the incitement of its own malignity. Remove the base mystery of soft lips, and no snare of flatterers will be stretched out for simple men. Take away the craftsman's fabrication of the tongue, and the malice of crimes will remain empty of avarice: for the mad hunger of a greedy heart is not fed unless malignant speech has gone forth to its prey. Let no evil speech proceed from your mouth. How far it behooves us to be from evil deeds, when it is not permitted us to transgress even in speech! For the most blessed Paul says in what follows: 'But fornication and all uncleanness let it not so much as be named among you, nor filthy talk nor scurrility, which is to no purpose' (Eph. 4).
For this reason indeed the Apostle forbids that all these things be even named among the faithful, lest either the habit of evil-speaking plunge us into the worst work, or the tongue dedicated to the praises of God and of the saints be defiled by the obscenity of filthy speech. For who could bear that now divine oracles, now the words of demons should come forth from one and the same mouth? Who could bear one and the same tongue to sing psalms to God and to sing to the devil? And that we may more fully recognize what and how great are the incitements of malignant speech, let us return to at least a few examples of the holy Scriptures. For the evil speech of Simon Magus proceeded from his mouth, when, having offered the apostles a price, he demanded that the grace of God be sold to him.
The evil speech of the Egyptian woman proceeded from her mouth, who with foul address inflamed the chaste Joseph to lie with her. The evil speech of the most avaricious king Ahab proceeded from his mouth, who, kindled by the flame of frenzied greed, with shameless tongue demanded another's vineyard, and, by the evil-speaking of Jezebel his wife serving him, possessed by the death of the murdered poor man a thing not owed to him. The evil speech of the traitor Judas proceeded from his mouth, when by an impious conversation he sold the Lord's blood to the chief priests of the Jews. Hear still further, dearest ones, how great a discipline not only of the mouth but also of the eyes is formed in man through the divine oracles. For the Apostle says, as has been said: 'Therefore let no evil speech proceed from your mouth' (Eph. 4).
And the Lord says: 'He that shall look on a woman to lust after her hath already committed adultery with her in his heart' (Matt. 5). You perceive, brethren, with how great care and with how great solicitude we are forbidden either to speak base things or to see them; with how great agreement of precepts the good Lord and the faithful servant destroy the instruments of our sins. For He restrains the eyes, this one the tongue, because through the eyes lust creeps into the heart of man, and the concupiscence of the heart is fulfilled by the ministry of slippery speech. Therefore through these commandments Christ purges the filthy gaze, lest through the eyes sin be able to be perpetrated in the inner parts of our breast; and the Apostle corrects our tongue, lest a fouler speech accomplish a foul desire.
On account of which, most beloved, let us with all vigilance beware lest an evil or base speech proceed from our mouth, so that a chaste tongue may transmit to God our prayers, which we entreat to be received in heaven.