_Of their fasts, meals, modesty and seriousness._
1. THE fasts of the ancients were either yearly, as that of _Lent_,
which they observed daily till six in the evening; or weekly, as
those of _Wednesday_ and _Friday_, which they observed till three in
the afternoon. The yearly they kept in memory of their Lord, and in
obedience to that command, _When the bridegroom shall be taken away,
then shall they fast in those days_. And the weekly too were observed
throughout the whole church, in remembrance of his passion: because on
_Wednesday_ the council against him was held, and on _Friday_ he was
put to death. During the whole _Lent_, many eat only bread and water:
some added thereto nuts and almonds: and others were obliged to use
different food, according to their different infirmities. But all
abstained from wine and delicate meats, during whatever time was set
apart for fasting, and spent as large a proportion of it as they could,
in retirement, reading and prayer.
2. At all times the meals of Christians were plain and frugal. They
did not live to eat, but eat to live. They used only such food and such
a measure of it, as was necessary for health and strength. As to the
kinds of food, they eat whatever was set before them, except blood
and things strangled; from which they carefully abstained, according
to the decree of the apostles speaking by the Holy Ghost. Some indeed
there were in all ages, who eat only herbs with bread and water: not
out of any abhorrence of other food; but believing this to be best
for their own weakness. No Christians eat with ♦heretics, or persons
excommunicate: but they did sometimes with infidels, that they might
not break off all society with them.
♦ “hereticks” replaced with “heretics” for consistency
3. The same air of modesty appeared in all the other parts of their
life. They valued only inward greatness; they esteemed no nobility,
but nobleness of soul. They made no account of perishable goods, or
of any riches but spiritual. They utterly despised all that luxury had
introduced; all the idle expence of magnificent buildings; of costly
apparel; of sumptuous furniture, and vessels of gold and silver. Behold
the furniture which her persecutors found in the chamber of _Domna_,
a rich lady of _Nicomedia_: the _Acts_ of the apostles, two matts upon
the floor, a wooden box, and an earthen censer.
4. As to their dress, they wore no glaring colours, but mostly white,
the emblem of purity. They used no costly stuffs, no rings, jewels,
perfumes; nothing fine or delicate; plainness, modesty, gravity and
a contempt of ornament, were visible in their whole exterior. They
made use of none of the public diversions, but accounted them all
abominations; not only as being idolatrous, but as being one great
source of the general corruption of manners. And in fact the theatre
was no other than a school of immodesty: the amphitheatre where men
fought with each other, or with wild beasts, was evidently a school
of cruelty. And all these diversions fomented all sorts of passions,
which it is the business of Christianity to calm. Therefore it is, that
even the races of the _Circus_ which appeared the most innocent, are
constantly mentioned, by the fathers, with horror and detestation: not
only on account of the idleness they promoted, and the vast expence
that attended them; but likewise of the promiscuous converse of men
and women, and the factions which reigned there, producing every day
quarrels and furious animosities, that often proceeded even to blood.
5. They likewise entirely disapproved of dice, and all other sedentary
games, the least mischief of which they judged to be, the nourishing of
sloth and idleness. They did not approve of loud laughter, or whatever
has a tendency thereto: as light discourses, ludicrous gestures or
actions, buffoonery, drollery. They thought all these beneath the
dignity of a Christian, and absolutely unworthy his high calling:
whose conversation ought to be always _good, to the use of edifying_,
that it may _minister grace to the hearers_. They considered, that both
our Lord and all his apostles, led the most serious life possible: and
that St. _Paul_ condemns by name, that habit of jesting, raillery or
facetiousness, which the Heathens ranked among their virtues, as not
convenient for a follower of Christ.
6. But as strict as the life of these Christians was, we must not
imagine it was melancholy. No, as they _prayed without ceasing, and
in every thing gave thanks_, so they _rejoiced evermore_. They were
not disquieted by covetousness or ambition. They were free from pride,
malice, envy, and all that train of uneasy passions, by which, men of
the world are continually tormented: not being attached to the goods of
the present life; they were little touched with the calamities of it:
having always the peace of a good conscience, the joy of doing well,
and a full assurance of the favour of God, both in time and in eternity.
7. Nor did the care of their posterity give them any inquietude. The
happiness they wished their children was no other, than that they
desired for themselves, even to finish their course with joy. If they
left them orphans, they knew the church would be their mother, and
supply all their wants. Thus they lived without care, without fear,
without desire of any of the things of the world. But not without
pleasure. What pleasure, (says _Tertullian_) is greater than contempt
of the world, “contempt of death, true liberty, purity of conscience;
contentedness with all things? You tread under foot the gods of the
Heathens; you heal diseases; you cast out devils; you are led by
the Holy Ghost; you live to God. These are the pleasures; these the
diversions of Christians.”