his own custom was the same as that of his brother saint; “but,” he added, “we know that charity is better than fasting; for charity is enjoined by the Divine law, but fasting is left in our own power and will.”(347) St. Epiphanius having invited St. Hilarius to his cell, placed before him a dish of fowl. “Pardon me, father,” said St. Hilarius, “but since I have become a monk I have never eaten flesh.” “And I,” said St. Epiphanius, “since I have become a monk have never suffered the sun to go down upon my wrath.” “Your rule,” rejoined the other, “is more excellent than mine.”(348) While a rich lady was courteously fulfilling the duties of hospitality to a monk, her child, whom she had for this purpose left, fell into a well. It lay unharmed upon the surface of the water, and afterwards told its mother that it had seen the arms of the saint sustaining it below.(349) At a time when it was the custom to look upon the marriage state with profound contempt, it was revealed to St. Macarius of Egypt that two married women in a neighbouring city were more holy than he was. The saint immediately visited them, and asked their mode of life, but they utterly repudiated the notion of their sanctity. “Holy father,” they said, “suffer us to tell you frankly the truth. Even this very night we did not shrink from sleeping with our husbands, and what good works, then, can you expect from us?” The saint, however, persisted in his inquiries, and they then told him their stories. “We are,” they said, “in no way related, but we married two brothers. We have lived together for fifteen years, without one licentious or angry word. We have entreated our husbands to let us leave them, to join the societies of holy virgins, but they refused to permit us, and we then promised before Heaven that no worldly word should sully our lips.” “Of a truth,” cried St. Macarius, “I see that God regards not whether one is virgin or married, whether one is in a monastery or in the world. He considers only the disposition of the heart, and gives the Spirit to all who desire to serve Him, whatever their condition may be.”(350)