[Concerning the Receiving Such as are Persecuted for Christ’s Sake.]
XLV. Receive ye those that are persecuted 200 [A token of the early origin of what is genuine in these interpolated Constitutions.] on account of the faith, and who fly from city to city, 201 Matt. x. 23. as mindful of the words of the Lord. For, knowing that though “the spirit be willing, the flesh is weak,” 202 Matt. xxvi. 41. they fly away, and prefer the spoiling of their goods, that they may preserve the name of Christ in themselves without denying it. Supply them therefore with what they want, and thereby fulfil the commandment of the Lord.
[Sec. V.—All the Apostles Urge the Observance of the Order of the Church.]
[45] Τοὺς διωκομένους διὰ πίστιν καὶ πόλιν ἐκ πόλεως φεύγοντας διὰ τὸ μεμνῆσθαι τῶν λόγων τοῦ Κυρίου προσλαμβάνεσθε: ἐπιστάμενοι γὰρ ὅτι τὸ μὲν πνεῦμα πρόφυμον, ἡ δὲ σὰρξ ἀσθενής, ἀποδιδράσκουσιν καὶ τὴν ἁρπαγὴν τῶν ὑπαρχόντων προΐενται, ἵνα ἀνεξάρνητον ἐν ἑαυτοῖς τὸ ὄνομα τοῦ Χριστοῦ διατηρήσωσιν. Ἐπικουρεῖτε οὖν αὐτοῖς τὰ πρὸς τὰς χρείας, ἐντολὴν κυριακὴν πληροῦντες.