Hippolytus of Rome, The Refutation of All Heresies

But to those who wish to become disciples of the sect, they do not immediately deliver their rules, unless they have previously tried them. Now for the space of a year they set before (the candidates) the same food, while the latter continue to live in a different house outside the Essenes’ own place of meeting. And they give (to the probationists) a hatchet and the linen girdle, and a white robe. When, at the expiration of this period, one affords proof of self-control, he approaches nearer to the sect’s method of living, and he is washed more purely than before. Not as yet, however, does he partake of food along with the Essenes. For, after having furnished evidence as to whether he is able to acquire self-control,—but for two years the habit of a person of this description is on trial,—and when he has appeared deserving, he is thus reckoned amongst the members of the sect. Previous, however, to his being allowed to partake of a repast along with them, he is bound under fearful oaths. First, that he will worship the Divinity; next, that he will observe just dealings with men, and that he will in no way injure any one, and that he will not hate a person who injures him, or is hostile to him, but pray for them. He likewise swears that he will always aid the just, and keep faith with all, especially those who are rulers. For, they argue, a position of authority does not happen to any one without God. And if the Essene himself be a ruler, he swears that he will not conduct himself at any time arrogantly in the exercise of power, nor be prodigal, nor resort to any adornment, or a greater state of magnificence than the usage permits. He likewise swears, however, to be a lover of truth, and to reprove him that is guilty of falsehood, neither to steal, nor pollute his conscience for the sake of iniquitous gain, nor conceal aught from those that are members of his sect, and to divulge nothing to others, though one should be tortured even unto death. And in addition to the foregoing promises, he swears to impart to no one a knowledge of the doctrines in a different manner from that in which he has received them himself.

[23] Τοῖς δὲ βουλομένοις τῇ αἱρέσει μαθ(η)τεύ(ειν) οὐκ εὐθέως τὰς παραδόσεις ποιοῦνται, εἰ μὴ πρό(τ)ερον δοκ(ι)μάσωσιν: ἐπ' ἐνιαυτὸν γὰρ [αὐτοῖς] τὰς ὁμοίας τροφὰς παρατιθέασιν, ἔξω τῆς ἑαυτῶν σ(υνό)δου (οὖ)σιν ἐν ἑτέρῳ οἴκῳ, ἀξινάριόν τε καὶ τὸ λινοῦν περίζωμα κα(ὶ) (λ)ευκὴν ἐσ(θ)ῆτα δόντες. ἐπειδὰν [δὲ] τούτῳ τῷ χρόνῳ πεῖραν (ἐ)γκρα(τεί)ας δῷ, πρόσεισιν ἔγγιον τῇ διαίτῃ καὶ καθαρωτέρως ἀπολ(ούετα)ι ἢ τὸ πρότερον, οὐδέπω δὲ σὺν αὐτοῖς [τῆς] τροφῆς μεταλαμβάνει. μετὰ γὰρ τὸ δεῖξαι εἰ ἐγκρατεύεσθαι δύναται, ἐπὶ ἔτη ἄλλα δύο δοκιμάζεται τοῦ τοιούτου [γὰρ] τὸ ἦθος, καὶ φανεὶς ἄξιος οὕτως εἰς αὐτοὺς [ἐγ]κρίνεται. Πρὶν δὲ αὐτοῖς συνεστιαθῇ, ὅρκοις φρικτοῖς ὁρκίζεται: πρῶτον μὲν εὐσεβήσειν τὸ θεῖον, ἔπειτα τὰ πρὸς ἀνθρώπους δίκαια φυλάξειν καὶ κατὰ μηδένα τρόπον ἀδικήσειν τινά: μηδένα τε μήτε ἀδικοῦντα μήτε ἐχθρὸν μισήσειν, προσεύχεσθαι δὲ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν, [καὶ] συναγωνίζεσθαι [αὐτῶν] τοῖς δικαίοις. τὸ πιστὸν πᾶσι [μὲν] παρέξειν, μάλιστα [δὲ] τοῖς κρατοῦσιν: οὐ γὰρ δίχα θεοῦ συμβαίνει[ν] τινὶ τὸ ἄρχειν. κἂν αὐτὸς ἄρχῃ, μηδέποτε ὑπερηφανεύσασθαι ἐν [τῇ] ἐξουσίᾳ, μηδὲ ἀγ[λαοῖς] ἐσθήσε[σ]ιν ἤ τινι κόσμῳ πλείον[ι] τοῦ [συν]ήθους χρήσασθαι. φιλαλήθη τε [ἀεὶ] εἶναι, τὸν δὲ ψευδόμ(εν)ο(ν) ἐλέγχειν: μηδὲ κλέπτειν μηδὲ συνείδησιν ἐπὶ ἀνόμῳ κέρδει μολύνειν. [καὶ] μηδὲν ἀποκρύπτειν τοὺς συναιρεσιώτας, ἑτέροις δὲ μηδὲν ἐξειπεῖν, κἂν μέχρι θανάτου τις βιάζηται. πρὸς τούτοις ὄμνυσι μη(δ)ενὶ μεταδοῦναι τῶν δογμάτων ἑτέρως ἢ ὡς αὐτὸς μετέλαβε.