[The Rejection of All Uncharitable Actions.]

XII. Now, as concerning envy, or jealousy, or evil-speaking, or strife, or the love of contention, we have said already to you, that these are alien from a Christian, and chiefly in the case of widows. But because the devil, who works in men, is in his conduct cunning, and full of various devices, he goes to those that are not truly widows, as formerly to Cain (for some say they are widows, but do not perform the injunctions agreeable to the widowhood; as neither did Cain discharge the duties due to a brother: for they do not consider how it is not the name of widowhood that will bring them to the kingdom of God, but true faith and holy  39  Instead of “holy,” one V. ms. reads “divine.” works). But if any one possesses the name of widowhood, but does the works of the adversary, her widowhood will not be imputed, but she will be thrust out of the kingdom, and delivered to eternal punishment. For we hear that some widows are jealous, envious calumniators, and envious at the quiet of others. Such widows as these are not the disciples of Christ, nor of His doctrine; for it becomes them, when one of their fellow-widows is clothed by any one, or receives money, or meat, or drink, or shoes, at the sight of the refreshment of their sister to say:—

[12] Περὶ δὲ φθόνου ἢ ζήλου ἢ καταλαλιᾶς ἢ ἔριδος ἢ φιλονεικίας προείρηται ὑμῖν, ὅτι ταῦτα Χριστιανοῦ ἀλλότρια, καὶ μάλιστα ἐπὶ χηρῶν. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ ὁ ἐνεργῶν διάβολος πολύτροπος καὶ πολυποικίλος ὑπάρχων εἰς τὰς μὴ χήρας ἐμπομπεύει, ὡς καί ποτε εἰς τὸν Καΐν: ἔνιαι γὰρ λέγουσιν εἶναι χῆραι, τὰ δὲ τῆς χηρείας ἄξια παραγγέλματα οὐ ποιοῦσιν, ὡς οὐδὲ ὁ Καῒν τὰ ἀδελφικὰ δικαιώματα: ἀγνοοῦσιν γάρ, ὡς οὐ τὸ ὄνομα τῆς χηρείας εἰς βασιλείαν αὐτὰς εἰσάξει, ἀλλ' ἡ ἀληθὴς πίστις καὶ τὰ ὅσια ἔργα: εἰ δέ τις τὸ μὲν ὄνομα τῆς χηρείας κέκτηται, ἐπιτελεῖ δὲ τὰ τοῦ ἀντικειμένου ἐπιτηδεύματα, ἡ μὲν χηρεία αὐτῆς οὐ λογισθήσεται, ἐξωσθεῖσα δὲ τῆς βασιλείας αἰωνίᾳ κολάσει παραδοθήσεται. Ἀκούομεν γάρ τινας χήρας ζηλοτύπους, φθονεράς, διαβόλους, βασκαινούσας ταῖς ἑτέρων ἀνέσεσιν: αἱ δὲ τοιαῦται οὐκ εἰσὶν τοῦ Χριστοῦ οὐδὲ τῆς ἐκείνου διδασκαλίας μαθήτριαι. Δέον γὰρ αὐτάς, ἐνδυθείσης αὐτῶν συγχήρας ὑπό τινος ἢ λαβούσης ἀργύρια ἢ τροφὴν ἢ πόμα ἢ ὑπόδεσιν, θεασαμένας τὴν ἀδελφὴν αὐτῶν ἀναψύξασαν εἰπεῖν: