1. WITH all this disengagement from the world, the greatest part of the first Christians were married. They were sensible indeed of the vast advantages, which St. _Paul_ observes belong to a single life. And many accordingly chose it, both men and women, for the kingdom of heaven’s sake: but they knew, _all men cannot receive this saying_: and therefore never ♦condemned those who did not receive it. Those who bred up orphans generally married them young, and usually to their own children. For interest had nothing to do with their choice, nor indeed any other consideration but the glory of God. In this, as in all important affairs, they failed not to consult the bishop; and when all was fixed, the marriage was publicly and solemnly celebrated in the church, where it was consecrated by the blessing of the pastor, and confirmed by the oblation of the holy eucharist. ♦ “cendemned” replaced with “condemned” 2. The happiness of a Christian marriage, is thus represented by _Tertullian_. “Two Christians bare the same yoke together; they are but one flesh, and one spirit. They pray together; they prostrate themselves together; they fast together; they instruct; and they exhort each other. They are together in the house of God and at the table of the Lord; in times of persecutions and peaceful times. They give one another no uneasiness: they conceal nothing from each other: they stir up one another to praise God, to relieve the poor, to visit the sick, and not to be weary of offering any of those sacrifices wherewith God is well pleased.” 3. Such was then the life of particular Christians. None regarded himself alone. But all the Christians of one place, considered themselves as only one body. They all knew each other, not only by their constantly meeting together in the public assemblies, but likewise by their embracing all opportunities, of opening their hearts to each other in private. Their joys and their griefs were common to all. If one received a particular blessing, they all took part in it; if one fell into sin, they all implored mercy. They lived together as relations, indeed as allied by nearer ties than those of flesh and blood; and called each other, _fathers_, _children_, _brethren_ and _sisters_, according to their sex and age.