A short sketch of the practical side of the teaching current at these meetings of the brethren will complete our description of these primitive Christian gatherings. The teaching dwelt on duties for the most part absolutely novel to the Roman world of the first and second centuries of our era. The inescapable duties pressed home to the listeners were duties generally quite unknown to noble, artisan, or slave in Roman society of the first three centuries. If carried out they would essentially change the old view of life current in all grades of the Roman world. As before, we draw our information exclusively from the remains of very early Christian letters (Epistles) and tractates of well-known and honoured teachers in the Brotherhood which have been preserved to us. The practical side of the teaching current in the gatherings was very largely based on the strange, beautiful, but perfectly novel saying of the Founder of the religion. It was, in fact, a new language which was used: “_Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself._” The instructions given in the early assemblies defined the term “neighbour,” and explained how the love enjoined was to be especially shown. Now in all the early Christian writings the persons to be helped in the first place seem invariably to have been “_the widows and orphans_” of the new Society; for example, _S. James_, the Lord’s disciple, writes how “pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, to visit the fatherless and widow in their affliction,” etc. (i. 27). _Hermas_--_circa_ A.D. 135-40--in his list of good deeds which ought to be done, after faith and the fear of the Lord--love, concord, words of righteousness, truth, patience--places “the helping widows, looking after orphans.”--_Shepherd_, Comm. viii. _Aristides_--_circa_ A.D. 130-40--has been already quoted. _Clement of Rome_--_circa_ A.D. 90--gives as one of his quotations: “He--the Master of the Universe--saith, ... Give judgment for the orphan, and execute righteousness for the widows.”--_1 Epistle_, 8.