Bad Advertisement?
Are you a Christian?
Online Store:Visit Our Store
| Chapter LXVII.—Weekly worship of the Christians.
PREVIOUS SECTION - NEXT SECTION - HELP 
And we afterwards
continually remind each other of these things. And the wealthy among us
help the needy; and we always keep together; and for all things wherewith
we are supplied, we bless the Maker of all through His Son
Jesus Christ, and through the Holy Ghost. And on the day called Sunday,1913
| 1913 τῇ τοῦ ῾Ηλίου λεγομένη ἡμέρᾳ.
| all who live in cities or in the country gather together to one
place, and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the prophets
are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the
president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good
things. Then we all
rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended,
bread and wine and water are brought, and the president in like manner
offers prayers and thanksgivings, according to his ability,1914
| 1914 ὅση δύναμις αὐτῷ,—a phrase
over which there has been much contention, but which seems to admit of no
other meaning than that given above. [No need of any
“contention.” Langus renders, Pro virili suâ, and
Grabe illustrates by reference to Apost. Const., lib. viii. cap.
12. Our own learned translators render the same phrase (cap. xiii.,
above) “to the utmost of our power.” Some say this favours
extemporary prayers, and others object. Oh! what matter either way? We
all sing hymns, “according to our ability.”] | and
the people assent, saying Amen; and there is a distribution to each, and
a participation of that over which thanks have been given,1915
and to those who are absent a portion is sent by
the deacons. And they who are well to do, and willing, give what each
thinks fit; and what is collected is deposited with the president, who
succours the orphans and widows and those who, through sickness or any
other cause, are in want, and those who are in bonds and the strangers
sojourning among us, and in a word takes care of all who are in need. But
Sunday is the day on which we all hold our common assembly, because it is
the first day on which God, having wrought a change in the darkness and
matter, made the world; and Jesus Christ our Saviour on the same day rose
from the dead. For He was crucified on the day before that of Saturn
(Saturday); and on the day after that of Saturn, which is the day of the
Sun, having appeared to His apostles and disciples, He taught them these
things, which we have submitted to you also for your consideration.E.C.F. INDEX & SEARCH
|
