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a symbol of friendship, which God commanded through Christ. But concerning virginity, we have not received a command, but we permit this to the will of those who wish it, as a vow, admonishing them only of this, not to promise anything rashly, since Solomon says: “It is good not to vow, than to vow and not to pay.” Therefore, let this virgin be holy in body and soul, as a temple of God, as a house of Christ, as a dwelling-place of the Holy Spirit. For she who has made the promise must, by performing works worthy of the promise, show that her profession is true and is made for the sake of leisure for piety, not out of slander against marriage. Let her not be a gadabout nor a wanderer at unseasonable times, not double-minded, but modest, continent, sober, pure, avoiding the company of the many and especially of the immodest.

BOOK V Concerning martyrs. a. That it is just for the faithful to provide what is necessary to those who are afflicted by the unbelievers for Christ’s sake, according to the Lord’s ordinance. b. That one must flee from the company of false brethren, when they persist in their wickedness. c. That one must lend a hand to those who are plundered for Christ’s sake, even if danger is present. d. That it is a dreadful and destructive thing to deny Christ. e. That one must imitate Christ in suffering and emulate His endurance. f. That the faithful must not be reckless for the sake of safety, nor overly fearful out of cowardice, but should both flee out of caution and, when falling into trial, contend for the crown that is laid up. g. Concerning the resurrection, various proofs. h. Concerning James the brother of the Lord and Stephen the first martyr. i. Concerning false martyrs. j. That one must flee from vain talk, filthy language, coarse jesting, drunkenness, lewdness, effeminacy, immoderate anger, a pagan or lewd song, and the naming of idols or demons. k. An exhortation teaching to flee from the abomination of idolatry. l. That it is not fitting to sing a pagan song, nor to swear by an idol, nor to give heed to omens or portents or divinations or twitchings or Judaic observances; for this is impious and hostile to the knowledge of God. m. A list of the Lord’s feasts, which must be observed, and when

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φιλίας σύμβολον, ὃ ὁ Θεὸς διετάξατο διὰ Χριστοῦ. Περὶ δὲ παρθενίας ἐντολὴν οὐκ ἐλάβομεν, τῇ δὲ τῶν βουλομένων ἐξουσίᾳ τοῦτο ἐπιτρέπομεν ὡς εὐχήν, ἐκεῖνο μόνον αὐτοῖς παραινοῦντες, μὴ προχείρως τι ἐπαγγείλασθαι, ἐπείπερ ὁ Σολομών φησιν· «Ἀγαθὸν τὸ μὴ εὔξασθαι, ἢ τὸ εὔξασθαι καὶ μὴ ἀποδοῦναι.» Ἡ παρθένος οὖν αὕτη ἔστω ἁγία σώματι καὶ ψυχῇ, ὡς ναὸς Θεοῦ, ὡς οἶκος Χριστοῦ, ὡς Πνεύματος ἁγίου καταγώγιον. ∆εῖ γὰρ τὴν ἐπαγγειλαμένην, ἄξια τῆς ἐπαγγελίας ἔργα διαπρασσομένην, δεικνύειν τὸ ἐπάγγελμα αὐτῆς, ὅτι ἔστιν ἀληθὲς καὶ διὰ σχολὴν εὐσεβείας, οὐ κατὰ διαβολὴν γάμου γινόμενον. Ἔστω δὲ μὴ ·εμβὰς μηδὲ ἀκαιροπεριπάτητος, μὴ δίγνω μος, ἀλλὰ σεμνή, ἐγκρατής, σώφρων, ἁγνή, φεύγουσα τὰς τῶν πολλῶν συντυχίας καὶ μάλιστα τὰς τῶν ἀσέμνων.

ΒIΒΛIOΝ E Περὶ μαρτύρων α. Ὅτι τοῖς διὰ Χριστὸν θλιβομένοις παρὰ τῶν ἀπίστων δίκαιον τοῖς πιστοῖς τὰ δέοντα παρέχειν κατὰ τὴν τοῦ Κυρίου διάταξιν. β. Ὅτι φευκτέον τῆς πρὸς τοὺς ψευδαδέλφους συνουσίας, ὅταν ἐπι μένωσι τῇ φαυλότητι. γ. Ὅτι τοῖς διὰ Χριστὸν πορθουμένοις χρὴ χεῖρα ὀρέγειν, κἂν κίνδυνος παρῇ. δ. Ὅτι φρικτὸν καὶ ὀλέθριον τὸ ἀρνεῖσθαι Χριστόν. ε. Ὅτι μιμητέον Χριστὸν ἐν τῷ πάσχειν καὶ ζηλωτέον τὴν αὐτοῦ ὑπομονήν. ς. Ὅτι χρὴ τὸν πιστὸν μὴ ·ιψοκίνδυνον εἶναι δι' ἀσφάλειαν μήτε περιδεῆ δι' ἀνανδρίαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ φεύγειν δι' εὐλάβειαν καὶ ἐμπί πτοντα ἀγωνίζεσθαι διὰ τὸν ἀποκείμενον στέφανον. ζ. Περὶ ἀναστάσεως ἀποδείξεις διάφοροι. η. Περὶ Ἰακώβου τοῦ ἀδελφοῦ τοῦ Κυρίου καὶ Στεφάνου τοῦ πρωτο μάρτυρος. θ. Περὶ ψευδομαρτύρων. ι. Ὅτι δεῖ φεύγειν ματαιολογίας, αἰσχρολογίας, εὐτραπελίας, μέθην, λαγνείαν, θρύψιν, ὀργὴν ἄμετρον, ᾠδὴν ἐθνικὴν ἢ πορνικόν, ὀνο μασίαν τε εἰδώλων ἢ δαιμόνων. ια. Παραίνεσις παιδεύουσα φεύγειν τῆς εἰδωλολατρείας τὸ μύσος. ιβ. Ὅτι μὴ προσήκει ᾠδὴν ἐθνικὴν °δειν οὔτε ἐπομνύεσθαι εἴδωλον οὔτε οἰωνοῖς ἢ κληδόσιν ἢ μαντείαις ἢ παλμοῖς ἢ παρατηρήσεσιν ἰουδαϊκαῖς προσανέχειν· ἀσεβὲς γὰρ τοῦτο καὶ τῆς τοῦ Θεοῦ γνώσεως ἐχθρόν. ιγ. Κατάλογος τῶν τοῦ Κυρίου ἑορτῶν, ἃς δεῖ φυλάσσειν, καὶ πότε