{"collection":"chr","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/browse/chr/ecf/008/0080045.htm","path":"chr/ecf/008/0080045.htm","source_url":"https://sacred-texts.com/chr/ecf/008/0080045.htm","text":"Chapter VI.\u2014How Christians Should Behave Themselves Among Heathens.\nIf, moreover, it chance that we go to a place in which there are no Christians, and it be imp. 63 portant for us to stay there a few days, let us be \u201cwise as serpents, and harmless as doves;\u201d 458 and let us \u201cnot be as the foolish, but as the wise,\u201d 459 in all the self-restraint of the fear of God, that God may be glorified in everything through our Lord Jesus Christ, through our chaste and holy behaviour. For, \u201cwhether we eat, or drink, or do anything else, let us do it as for the glory of God.\u201d 460 Let \u201call those who see us acknowledge that we are a blessed seed,\u201d 461 \u201csons of the living God,\u201d 462 in everything\u2014in all our words in shamefastness, in purity, in humility, forasmuch as we do not copy the heathen in anything, nor are as believers like other men, but in everything are estranged from the wicked. And we \u201cdo not cast that which is holy before dogs, nor pearls before swine;\u201d 463 but with all possible self-restraint, and with all discretion, and with all fear of God, and with earnestness of mind we praise God. For we do not minister where heathens are drinking and blaspheming in their feasts with words of impurity, because of their wickedness. 464 Therefore do we not sing psalms to the heathens, nor do we read to them the Scriptures, that we may not be like common singers, either those who play on the lyre, 465 or those who sing with the voice, or like soothsayers, as many are, who follow these practices and do these things, that they may sate themselves with a paltry mouthful of bread, and who, for the sake of a sorry cup of wine, go about \u201csinging the songs of the Lord in the strange land\u201d 466 of the heathen, and doing what is not right. Do not so, my brethren; we beseech you, my brethren, let not these deeds be done among you; but put away those who choose thus to behave themselves with infamy and disgrace. It is not proper, my brethren, that these things should be so. But we beseech you, brethren in righteousness, that these things be so done with you as with us, as for a pattern of believers, and of those who shall believe. Let us be of the flock of Christ, in all righteousness, and in all holy and unblemished conduct, behaving ourselves with uprightness and sanctity, as is right for believers, and observing those things which are praiseworthy, and pure, and holy, and honourable, and noble; and do ye promote 467 all those things which are profitable. For ye are \u201cour joy, and our crown,\u201d and our hope, and our life, \u201cif so be that ye stand in the Lord.\u201d 468 So be it! 469\nBeelen joins \u201cbecause of their wickedness\u201d with the words that follow.\n63:465 63:466 63:467 63:468 63:469","title":"Ante-Nicene Fathers, Vol VIII: Two Epistles Concerning Virginity.: Chapter VI","type":"page"}