[Note: 110]

Wherefore the holy Apostle admonisheth, saying: *Let us not be desirous of vain glory, provoking one another, envying one another* (Gal. 5:26). 7. The zealous [man] desireth not only the good of his fellow-men, but also observeth the brute beasts, making no distinction between the holy and the unholy; if he seeth a natural goodness in any of them, being zealous, he draweth [it] unto himself and imparteth [it] unto others. He is like unto the sun, which draweth up the sweet water from out of the salty sea by turning it to vapor, and, raining it down, watereth the earth, and becometh the cause of manifold fruitfulness. 8. Wherefore, the zealous [man] learneth obedience from the sheep, whereby he hearkeneth unto the counsel, the injunction, and the command of his superior. For the sheep obeyeth and followeth the pipe and the call of its shepherd, even as our Lord said: *My sheep hear my voice* (John 10:27). 9. From the deer (*jeyran*) he learneth compassion, whereby [he reacheth out a helping] hand unto the infirm man...