Epistula ad Philippenses

Let us teach the widows to be discreet in the faith of the Lord, praying ceaselessly for all men, being far from all slander, evil speaking, false witness, love of money, and all evil, knowing that they are an altar of God, and that all offerings are tested, and that nothing escapes him of reasonings or thoughts, or of the secret things of the heart.

Knowing then that God is not mocked we[*](Christian obligations to a virtuous life) ought to walk worthily of his commandment and glory.

Likewise must the deacons be blameless; before his righteousness, as the servants of God and Christ and not of man, not slanderers, not double-tongued, not lovers of money, temperate in all things, compassionate, careful, walking according to the truth of the Lord, who was the servant of all. For if we please him in this present world we shall receive from him that which is to come; even as he promised us to raise us from the dead, and that if we are worthy citizens of his community, we shall also reign with him, if we have but faith.

Likewise also let the younger men be blameless in all things; caring above all for purity, and curbing themselves from all evil; for it is good to be cut off from the lust of the things in the world, because every lust warreth against the Spirit, and neither fornicators nor the effeminate nor sodomites shall