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Epistle to Diognetus
Polycarp to Philippians
St. Ignatius
Chastity according to Christ's teaching : CONCERNING chastity, He uttered such sentiments as these: "Whosoever looketh upon a woman to lust after her, hath committed adultery with her already in his heart before God." And, "If thy right eye offend thee, cut it out; for it is better for thee to enter into the kingdom of heaven with one eye, than, having two eyes, to be cast into everlasting fire." - Read CompleteTrue fast : This is not the fast which I have chosen, saith the Lord; but loose every unrighteous bond, dissolve the terms of wrongous covenants, let the oppressed go free, and avoid every iniquitous contract. Deal thy bread to the hungry, and lead the homeless poor under thy dwelling; if thou seest the naked, clothe him; and do not hide thyself from thine own flesh. - Read Complete
The value of the body : That the flesh is with God a precious possession is manifest, first from its being formed by Him, if at least the image is valuable to the former and artist; and besides, its value can be gathered from the creation of the rest of the world. For that on account of which the rest is made, is the most precious of all to the maker. - Read Complete
Philosophy as likeness to God : AS the good of the body is health, so the good of the soul is knowledge, which is indeed a kind of health of soul, by which a likeness to God is attained - Read Complete
Hermas' Pastor Renunciation of the riches is necessary for a man to be useful to God : When you were rich, you were useless; but now you are useful and fit for life...
The Golden Part who have escaped from this world : For as gold casts away its dross, so also will ye cast away all sadness and straitness, and will be made pure so as to fit into the building of the tower
On real fasting : First of all, be on your guard against every evil word, and every evil desire, and purify your heart from all the vanities of this world
Purity of body and soul : If you defile your flesh, you will also defile the Holy Spirit
On alms-giving : both he who is in want, and he who suffers inconveniences in his daily life, is in great torture and necessity. Whoever, therefore, rescues a soul of this kind from necessity, will gain for himself great joy
The world as a prison, the martyrs as athletes (The Christian outside the prison has renounced the world, but in the prison he has renounced a prison too. It is of no consequence where you are in the world - you who are not of it)
Patience is God's nature (He cared for the ungrateful; He yielded to His ensnarers. This were a small matter, if He had not had in His company even His own betrayer, and stedfastly abstained from pointing him out.)
Fasting as a prerequisite of the remembrance of God (if the eternal God will not hunger, as He testifies through Isaiah, this will be the time for man to be made equal with God, when he lives without food)
Of Stations, and of the Hours of Prayer (we must pray always, and everywhere, and at every time; yet still these three hours, as being more marked in things human - (hours) which divide the day, which distinguish businesses, which re-echo in the public ear - have likewise ever been of special solemnity in divine prayers)
St. Basil the Great
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