The Book of Steps

1...in their mouths, and they announce peace; and whoever does not give to them into their mouth, they announce war against him. And do not be like the wicked priests and prophets of falsehood, who teach for a wage and divine for silver, and they ate the sin of the people, and by their iniquity they cast down their souls. And the priest became like the people, because he did not reveal to the people their sin, and the priest became like the people in their sin. And when the Word came to Him who was to fulfill it, He said to His apostles: "Freely you have received, freely give." And the teacher of the gentiles, building upon that which is of Christ, said: "Even if I preach without [wages], yet the expense I have announced in the gospel."

As for the thing which I have written, that righteous men are standing and living upon the earth, it is true without division. For because of righteous men, their Lord causes the sun to rise upon the wicked and upon the good, and He lets down the rain that the wicked may eat. And righteous men, where they are standing, are the salt of the earth, just as our Savior said to His blessed disciples: "You are the salt of the earth. If the salt becomes tasteless, with what shall it be salted?"

...to divide [the people]; but not like the false prophets, "who bite with their teeth, and preach peace; and to him who does not give in their mouth anything, they preach war against him¹." Do not also become like the wicked priests, or the prophets of falsehood, "who taught for a wage and divined for money²." "They ate the sin of the people, and they cast themselves down in their iniquity. And the priest was as the people³," because he did not rebuke the people in their sin, and the priest imitated the sin of the people. When, however, the Word came to Him who was to fulfill it, He preached to His apostles: "Freely you have received, freely give⁴." And the Doctor of the gentiles, building upon that, said: "Freely I have preached the Gospel of Christ to you⁵." And again he said: "I wish to give the Gospel without cost⁶."

10. That, however, which I wrote, that just and upright men are to be found on the earth perpetually, is truly undoubted. For on account of the just, the good [God] makes His sun rise upon the wicked and upon the good. You send down your rain so that the wicked may obtain food. The just and the upright are the salt of the earth, just as our Savior said to His blessed disciples: "You are the salt of the earth⁷." But if the salt has become tasteless...