4. What had been read to them in public, out of the holy scriptures, the faithful read again in private. They talked of it in the house and by the way; they meditated thereon day and night. Indeed, particular houses, as St. _Chrysostom_ observes, were then churches. Every father being a pastor to his family, instructing his wife, children, servants; exhorting them familiarly, presiding over their joint devotion, and every way assisting to preserve them in the unity of the church, and to build them up in faith and love. 5. In the mean while they did not neglect to work with their hands, both, that they might avoid idleness, the root of all vices, that they might provide for their own housholds, and that they might have the more ability to help their brethren. But they took care to chuse not only innocent employs, but such as best suited with retirement and humility, and did not too much engage the mind, or dissipate the thoughts: what time they could spare from these, they employed in works of charity: in visiting the sick or afflicted, and assisting whoever stood in need of their assistance. So that the life of a Christian was a continued course of prayer, reading and labour, succeeding each other; and as little as possible interrupted by the necessities of life. Whatever calling they were of, they regarded it always, as only an accessory or help to religion; which they ever remembered was the one single business, that was to take up all their lives. Their profession was, purely and simply to be Christians. They assumed no other distinction: and when they were questioned concerning their name, their country, their condition, their one answer was, “I am a _Christian_.” CHAPTER V. _Of their fasts, meals, modesty and seriousness._ 1. THE fasts of the ancients were either yearly, as that of _Lent_, which they observed daily till six in the evening; or weekly, as those of _Wednesday_ and _Friday_, which they observed till three in the afternoon. The yearly they kept in memory of their Lord, and in obedience to that command, _When the bridegroom shall be taken away, then shall they fast in those days_. And the weekly too were observed throughout the whole church, in remembrance of his passion: because on _Wednesday_ the council against him was held, and on _Friday_ he was put to death. During the whole _Lent_, many eat only bread and water: some added thereto nuts and almonds: and others were obliged to use different food, according to their different infirmities. But all abstained from wine and delicate meats, during whatever time was set apart for fasting, and spent as large a proportion of it as they could, in retirement, reading and prayer.