they are thine own: for if ye are fellow partakers in that which is immortal, how much more in things which are mortal."—Didaché, iv.
Aristides—circa A.D. 130-40:
"They (the Christians) love one another, and from the widows they do not turn away their countenance, and they rescue the orphan . . . and he who has, gives to him who has not without grudging . . . and if they hear that any of their number is imprisoned or oppressed for the name of their Messiah, all of them provide for his needs. . . . And if there is among them a man that is poor and needy, and they have not an abundance of necessaries, they fast two or three days, that they may supply the needy with their necessary food."[1]—Apol. xv.
Hermas—Shepherd—circa A.D. 135-40:
"You know that you, servants of God, dwell in a foreign land, for your city is far from this city. If, then, you know the city where you are to dwell, why provide yourselves here with fields and costly luxuries? He who makes such provision for this city has no mind to return to his own city. . . . Instead of fields, then, buy souls in trouble as each of you is able. Visit widows and orphans, and neglect them not; expend on such fields and houses, God has given you your wealth and all your gains. The Master endowed you with riches that you might perform such ministries for Him.
"Far better is it to buy fields, possessions, houses of this kind. Thou wilt find them in thine own city when thou dost visit it. Such expenditure is noble and joyous: it brings gladness, not fear and sorrow."—Simil. i.
Harnack, Mission, etc., of Christianity (book ii. chap. i.), commenting on this passage of the Shepherd, has an interesting and suggestive Note, in which he says: "For all the
- ↑ The last clause is a very important one. It tells us that to the collections made in the assembly for the poor and needy, even the poorest artisan and slave contributed, and positively fasted for two or three days that they might save the necessary few coins to help those poorer and more sorrowful than themselves. On this beautiful act of Christian charity, see, too, such passages as Hermas Shepherd, Simil. iii.
