_Their care of the poor and sick. Their hospitality. Their patience._
1. THE church took care of all who were unable to help themselves, of whatever age or sex: the blind, the lame, the maimed, the decrepit; and these they esteemed the treasure of the church. They took likewise a particular care of children; not only of the orphan children of Christians, but of those whom their Heathen parents exposed, and indeed of all others they could procure. Their end in all was, by means of temporal, to lead them to spiritual good. Therefore, in like circumstances, they relieved a Christian before a Heathen, and of Christians, the most holy first. For this every church had a common stock, which the deacons distributed according to the orders of the bishop, after giving him an account of the conduct as well as wants of the people committed to his charge.
2. And as soon as a stranger shewed, that he was in the communion of the church, he was received with open arms: for which end the Christians who travelled, took letters of their bishop, declaring the condition of the bearer: whether he was a _catechumen_, a _penitent_, or one of the _faithful_: beside which, there were recommendatory letters, to distinguish priests, deacons, confessors, and those who stood in need of any particular assistance.
3. Not that their hospitality was confined to their brethren. It extended to all, Heathens as well as Christians. Of which we have a remarkable instance in the case of St. _Pacomius_, a young _Roman_ captain, who being upon his march with his men, and taking up his quarters in a city they came to, was amazed to find the inhabitants receive them with as much affection, as if they had been their old friends. He enquired who they were? And was answered, they were a people of a particular religion, called _Christians_. He desired to be informed, what the grounds of this religion were? And this was the beginning of his conversion.
*4. But their care and tenderness toward the sick, was yet more observable. No difficulty, no danger, no discouragements could prevent their ministring to these. When _Alexandria_ was dreadfully afflicted with the plague, in the time of the Emperor _Valerian_, they confirmed their love even to their persecutors, by assisting such as were infected, though many of them died with them. And the priests constantly visited the sick Christians, administered the holy eucharist, prayed with them and for them, exhorted, comforted, and commended their souls to God. They did not fear, but desire death, as only the gate of eternity. And even when their relations went before them, they less grieved for their own present loss, than they rejoiced for their happy deliverance, and in a stedfast hope of meeting them again in paradise.
*5. Such were the manners of the _ancient Christians_: such were the followers of Jesus Christ, both in _faith_ and _practice_, while Heathenism reigned, and persecution continued. This obliged them to a continual sense of the presence of God and watchfulness over themselves: every one expecting the hour when he should be betrayed by his wife, his child, or his nearest relation. And herein was seen the patience of the _saints_, then a common name for all Christians. Even in peace they daily looked for the return of war: nor was that peace itself ever entire, for many Christians suffered, even to blood, where there was no open persecution: and many of them were spoiled and pillaged with impunity even at noon-day. Or, if oppression and violence ceased for awhile, contempt and hate never ceased. To speak and write all manner of evil of the Christians, to revile, to mock at them, to turn them into ridicule: this was not only permitted, but approved, applauded, authorized. But this moved them not: neither unjust contempt, nor ill-grounded calumnies drew from them any murmuring or complaint. They continually returned good for evil. They laboured, if it had been possible, to live peaceably with all men. They studied all ways of gaining their affections. They conformed to all their innocent customs. And of so doing, they were never tired, never overcome with evil, even where they could not overcome evil with good.
6. Their patience shone most with regard to princes and magistrates. Nothing could force them, to _speak evil of dignities_. They honoured them as the ministers of God. They paid them all the obedience, which consisted with their duty to him. Prest as they were by such injustice and unheard-of cruelties, they never thought of taking up arms for their defence. So far from it, that as numerous as the Christian soldiers were in all the _Roman_ armies, they never made use of the arms they had in their hands, but according to the orders of their generals. Nay, we see the entire legion of St. _Mauritius_, known by the name of the _Thebæan_ legion, suffering themselves to be massacred without resistance, rather than be wanting in their duty to God or _Cæsar_.