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taught or hinted at in the early Church—(C) Special
dogmatic instruction respecting the value of almsgiving was
given by some early teachers—Several of these instructions
are given here—(D) Apart from this somewhat strange dogmatic
teaching on the value of almsgiving, the general duty
of almsgiving was most strongly impressed on the faithful—Passages
emphasizing this from very early writers are here
quoted—(E) Special recipients of these alms are particularized;
amongst these, in the first place, widows and
orphans, and the sick, appear—(F) These alms in some
cases were not to be confined to the Household of Faith—(G)
Hospitality to strangers is enjoined—References here are
given from several prominent early teachers—Help to
prisoners for the Name's sake enjoined—Assistance to be
given to poorer Churches is recommended—(H) Burial
expenses for the dead among the poorer brethren are to be
partly defrayed from the "alms" contributed at the
assemblies, partly from private sources—Lactantius, in his
summary of Christian duties, dwells markedly on this duty—Important
witness of the Roman catacombs here 113

V

THE SLAVE IN EARLY CHRISTIAN LIFE

Position in Christian society—How the slave was regarded in
the "assemblies"—Paulinus of Nola quoted on the general
Christian estimate of a slave—How this novel view of the
slave was looked on by pagans 134

A general summary of the effect which all this teaching current
in the primitive "assemblies" had on the policy and work
of the Church in subsequent ages 137

VI

DIFFICULTIES IN ORDINARY LIFE AMONG THE EARLY CHRISTIANS

Difficulties in common life for the Christian who endeavoured to
carry out the precepts and teaching given in the "assemblies"
are sketched—In family life—In trades—In the
amusements of the people—In civil employments—In the
army—In matters of education—A general summary of
such difficulties is quoted from De Broglie (l'Église et
l'Empire) 140