St. Symeon suggests to Stephen [of Nikomedia] that he give up being a busybody and lay aside the blasphemy of words [this was concerning the relationship between person and essence in the Trinity]. He urges him to tell what the Christians should do in order to gain their salvation or preferably to tell how he himself was saved, so as to teach the people not by words but by works. He urges him to keep Christ's commandments because in that way, through action, he will attain the vision of God. Otherwise it is as if he wanted to drink wine before the harvest. He should teach about the judgement of God and the things which will happen at that day and hour. He should philosophize about death, which is useful for everybody. He should speak about the creation, heaven, earth, the stars, the animals, and see the divine wisdom. He should concentrate his nous within himself and see all the passions that are there, and take thought for his cure.
"And while you are explaining with everyone, you will have enough to say about such things till you die, and these things will be useful to you after death."
- from The Person in the Orthodox Tradition (pages 189-190)
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