arity. And to give these his endeavors their due force, he lived
an exact model of what he inculcated to others: but his zeal exasperated
the tepid part of that order, and raised a storm against himself. The
immodesty {241} of women in their dress in that gay capital excited in
him sentiments of the most just abhorrence and indignation. Some young
ladies seemed to have forgot that clothing is the covering of the
ignominy of sin, and ought to be an instrument of penance, and a motive
of confusion and tears, not of vanity. But the exhortations of St.
Chrysostom moved many to despise and lay aside the use of purple, silks,
and jewels. It was a far more intolerable scandal that some neglected to
cover their necks, or used such thin veils as served only to invite the
eyes of others more boldly. Our saint represented to such persons that
they were in some respects worse than public prostitutes: for these hide
their baits at home only for the wicked: "but you," said he, "carry your
snare everywhere, and spread your nets publicly in all places. You
allege, that you never invited others to sin. You did not by your
tongue, but you have done it by your dress and deportment more
effectually than you could by your voice: when you have made another to
sin in his heart, how can you be innocent? You sharpened and drew the
sword: you gave the thrust by which the soul is wounded.[13] Tell me,
whom does the world condemn? whom do judges punish? Those who drink the
poison, or those who prepare and give the fatal draught? You have
mingled the execrable cup; you have administered the potion of death:
you are so much more criminal than poisoners, as the death which you
cause is the more terrible; for you murder not the body, but the soul.
Nor do you do this to enemies; nor compelled by necessity, nor provoked
by any injury; but out of a foolish vanity and pride. You sport
yourselves in the ruin of the souls of others, and make their spiritual
death your pastime." Hence he infers, how false and absurd their excuse
is in saying, they mean no harm. These and many other scandals he
abolished. He suppressed the wicked custom of swearing, first at
Antioch, then at Constantinople. By the invincible power of his
eloquence and zeal he tamed the fiercest sinners, and changed them into
meek lambs: he converted an incredible number of idolaters and
heretics.[14] His mildness towards sinners was censured by the
Novatians; he invited them to repentance with