ASCETICS

Men in the second century, who made profe ion of uncommon degrees of sanctity and virtue, and declared their resolution of obeying all the counsels of Christ , in order to their enjoying communion with God here; and also, in expectation that, after the di olution of their mortal bodies, they might ascend to him with the greater facility, and find nothing to retard their approach to the supreme centre of happine and perfection. They looked upon themselves as prohibited the use of things which it was lawful for other Christians to enjoy, such as wine , flesh , matrimony , and commerce . They thought it their indispensable duty to attenuate the body by watch ings, abstinence, labour, and hunger. They looked for felicity in solitary retreats, in desert places, where, by severe and a iduous efforts of sublime meditation, they thought to raise their souls above all external objects and all sensual pleasures. Both men and women imposed upon themselves the most severe tasks, the most austere discipline; all which, however it might be the fruit of pious intention, was in the i ue extremely detrimental to Christianity, and tended to introduce the doctrine of justification by inherent righteousne . These persons were called ascetics (from ἀσκησις , exercise or discipline) and philosophers ; nor were they only distinguished by their title from other Christians, but also by their garb. In the second century, indeed, such as embraced this austere kind of life submitted themselves to all these mortifications in private, without breaking asunder their social bonds, or withdrawing themselves from the concourse of men. But in proce of time, they retired into deserts; and, after the example of the E enes and Therapeutæ, they formed themselves into certain companies.—See Origen, contr. Cels. lib. v.; Can. Apostol. cap. 51; Cyril, Catech. 10, n. 9; Bingham, Antiq. Chr. Ch.