markedly referred to by the Emperor Julian—"Not only their own poor, but ours do they care for," wrote the great Emperor; "our poor lack our care," was his bitter reproach to paganism.—Letter to Arsacius.
Hospitality was another urgent recommendation pressed home by the early Christian teachers to their flocks. Clement of Rome (quoted above) in the first century dwells on this special virtue in his Letter to the Corinthian Church.
The Didaché—circa end of first century—dwells on this. "If he who comes is a traveller, help him to the best of your ability" (chap. xii.).
Much is said in this very early treatise on the duty of caring for strangers, but care is specially enjoined to guard against any imposture here.
Hermas in the Shepherd writes: "In hospitality, good-doing finds a field" (Comm. viii.).
Aristides, quoted above, tells us how Christians "when they see the stranger, bring him to their dwellings, and rejoice over him as over a true brother."
Justin Martyr (quoted above), in his picture of a Christian meeting on Sunday, especially directs that out of the alms contributed by the faithful, among those who were to be succoured were "the strangers sojourning amongst us."—1 Apol. lxvii.
Melito of Sardis--so Eusebius, H. E. iv. 26, tells us—wrote a treatise "on hospitality."
Cyprian expressly directs that the expenses of any stranger who may happen to be in want, be paid out of certain moneys he had left for that purpose.—Ep. vii.
Among other direct references to this duty may be quoted Tertullian, ad Uxor. ii. 4, and the Apost. Constit. iii. 3; the Emperor Julian in his Letter to Arsacius wishes the pagans would imitate these Christian practices.
This striking and unique custom, which no doubt very largely contributed to the feeling of Christian brotherhood, was, of course, based upon the directions so often repeated in the New Testament Epistles.
"Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares," Heb. xiii. 2. "Dis-
