A new history of ecclesiastical writers containing an account of the authors of the several books of the Old and New Testament, of the lives and writings of the primitive fathers, an abridgement and catalogue of their works ... also a compendious history of the councils, with chronological tables of the whole / written in French by Lewis Ellies du Pin.

An Abridgment of the Morality.

THE Morality of the Gospel has been as immutable as its Doctrine, but it has moreover this Advantage, that though there have been abundance of lewd, wicked Christians in the World, * 1.1 who lived in a manner contrary to the Rules of the Evangelick Morality; yet there were never any Persons to be found in all Antiquity, so rash as to overthrow the Rules of this Morality, and to establish Maxims opposite to it; for, there wasscarce ever any dispute in the Church, or any different Sentiments about the Questions of Morality. They followed the Precepts of the Gospel according to the Letter, and exhorted all the Faithful to imitate the Life of Jesus Christ, as a Model of what they were to observe. I should never have done, if I should endeavour to heap together all the Principles or Heads of Mo∣rality, that are to be found in the Authors of the Three first Ages: It is sufficient to say, that they not only carried the Professors of Christianity to observe the Precepts of the Decalogue and the Natu∣ral Law, but that they likewise recommended to them, the embracing the Perfection of the Christian Morality. They maintained, that the most agreeable Sacrifice that could be offered to God, was to

give him a contrite Heart; that it was necessary to love him above all things, in order to be just; that those that were influenced only by a Principle of servile fear, were not really upright; that we ought to die, and suffer all Punishments imaginable, rather than be guilty of any thing, that might give the World occasion to believe, that we have renounced or despised the Doctrine of Jesus Christ; that we ought to love our Neighbour as our self, and assist and help him; to wish ill to no body, to render Good for Evil, and Pray for those that Persecute us. They exhorted the Faithful to give large Alms, to visit the Poor, to comfort the Sick, and those that were Imprisoned upon the account of Reli∣gion. They recommended it to the Consideration of those Christians that were Rich and Powerful, to employ the Superfluities of their Fortune in these indispensible Duties, and to use the World with∣out being Wedded to it; They taught them, that they were obliged not only to avoid Criminal Plea∣sures, such as Debauchery, and those that were dangerous, such as the publick Shows and Comedies, but also all unprofitable Pleasures that had no other end but the mere entertainment of the Senses; that they ought to content themselves with what was necessary, without a sollicitous pursuit and search after those things that served only for Pleasure or Luxury: That Christian Women ought to be extremely Modest in their Garb and Dress. They commanded all Persons of whatsoever Condi∣tion, to be Obedient to all Emperours, Magistrates and Secular Powers. They exhorted Wives, to love their Husbands, Husbands to cherish their Wives, Children to obey their Fathers and Mo∣thers, and Parents to have a Care of their Children, and reprehend them without bitterness; they ad∣monished the Faithful to be submissive to their Pastors, and the Pastors to have a great deal of Charity and Zeal for their Flock.

In a word, They prescribed all the Rules and Holy Maxims of the Gospel to the Observation of Christians, and exhorted them to lead a Life conformable to them. But what is most to be admired, this excellent System of Morality was not only to be found in the Writings of the First Christians; but it appeared and glittered in their Lives and Actions. We say not great things, says one of these Ancients, but we live them. Non eloquimur magna, sed vivimus.

Notes

• * 1.1

  An Abridg∣ment of Morality.