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.”