_Of their prayer and study of the scriptures._
1. THOSE who were baptized began to lead a new life, wholly spiritual
and supernatural: a life of faith and prayer: remembring the words
of their Lord, that _men ought always to pray and not to faint_; they
endeavoured to _pray without ceasing_, and used all sorts of means,
that the application of their spirit to God, might ♦be interrupted
the least that was possible. But of all prayer, they had the greatest
esteem for public; as well knowing, the more persons joined together,
to beg of God any mercy, the more force their prayers had to obtain it.
And the service ended, they saluted each other, the men the men, and
the women the women, with the kiss of peace.
♦ omitted word “be” added as shown by the catchword on the
previous page.
2. But besides their solemn prayers both in public and private, they
used particular prayers before all they did: following therein the
direction of St. _Paul_, _Whatsoever ye do in word or deed, do all in
the name of the Lord Jesus, giving thanks to God, even the Father by
him_. Accordingly, plowing, sowing, reaping, and all their works, were
begun and ended in prayer. They prayed when they began to build a house,
or to live in it, and on all the common ♦occurrences of life. Their
salutations when they met, and at the beginning of their letters, were
not only expressions of friendship, but prayers.
♦ “occurrrences” replaced with “occurrences”
3. The book of _Psalms_ made a great part of their prayers; as
including the sum of all the scriptures, and shewing what sentiments a
servant of God ought to have, in all the various conditions of life. To
these they always joined the reading a part of some of the other holy
books: all which the bishops and pastors of the church, explained with
all diligence, instructing their flock both publicly and from house
to house, and suiting their instructions to their several capacities.
But they all along declared, they spake not from themselves, they said
nothing new, nothing of their own. They declared, that they were only
faithful relators of the gospel of Christ, and of that interpretation
thereof, which they had received from their fore-fathers, and their
fore-fathers from the apostles. They imprinted in the faithful the
utmost abhorrence for all novelties, especially in doctrine. Insomuch
that if private Christians heard any discourse which was contrary to
the first faith, they did not amuse themselves with disputing, but
immediately left the place.
4. What had been read to them in public, out of the holy scriptures,
the faithful read again in private. They talked of it in the house and
by the way; they meditated thereon day and night. Indeed, particular
houses, as St. _Chrysostom_ observes, were then churches. Every father
being a pastor to his family, instructing his wife, children, servants;
exhorting them familiarly, presiding over their joint devotion, and
every way assisting to preserve them in the unity of the church, and
to build them up in faith and love.
5. In the mean while they did not neglect to work with their hands,
both, that they might avoid idleness, the root of all vices, that
they might provide for their own housholds, and that they might have
the more ability to help their brethren. But they took care to chuse
not only innocent employs, but such as best suited with retirement
and humility, and did not too much engage the mind, or dissipate the
thoughts: what time they could spare from these, they employed in works
of charity: in visiting the sick or afflicted, and assisting whoever
stood in need of their assistance. So that the life of a Christian
was a continued course of prayer, reading and labour, succeeding
each other; and as little as possible interrupted by the necessities
of life. Whatever calling they were of, they regarded it always, as
only an accessory or help to religion; which they ever remembered was
the one single business, that was to take up all their lives. Their
profession was, purely and simply to be Christians. They assumed no
other distinction: and when they were questioned concerning their
name, their country, their condition, their one answer was, “I am a
_Christian_.”