on the other hand, whatever belongs to the whole body belongs to each individual." "There is no one who has a house so absolutely his own private property that it does not in some sense also belong to every one; for besides that they all dwell together in companies, the house is open to all those of the same notions who come to them from other quarters. Then there is one magazine among them all; their expenses are all in common; their garments belong to them all in common; their food is common, since they all eat in messes."

CHRISTIANS.—“And all that believed were together, and had all things common; and sold their possessions and goods, and parted them to all men, as every man had need" (Acts ii. 44, 45). "And the multitude of them that believed were of one heart and of one soul; neither said any of them that ought of the things which he possessed was his own, but they

Neither was there

among

had all things common. them that lacked, for as many as were possessors of lands or houses sold them, and brought the prices of the things that were sold and laid them down at the apostles' feet and distribution was made unto every man according as he had need" (Acts iv. 32-35).

(4.) ESSENES. "Then, because of their anxious desire for an immortal and blessed existence, thinking that their mortal life has already come to an end, they leave their possessions to their sons or daughters, or perhaps to other relations, giving them up their inheritance with willing cheerfulness."

CHRISTIANS.-"Jesus said unto him, If thou wilt be perfect, go and sell that thou hast, and give to the poor, and thou shalt have treasure in heaven: and come and follow me" (Matt. xix. 21). "And Jesus said unto Simon, Fear not: from henceforth thou shalt catch men. And when they had brought their ships to land, they forsook all, and followed him" (Luke v. 11). "And after these things he went forth and saw a publican named Levi sitting at the receipt of custom and he said, unto him, Follow me. And he left all, rose up, and followed him" (Luke v. 27, 28). "Then Peter began to say unto him, Lo, we have left all, and have followed thee. And Jesus answered and said, Verily I say unto you, There is no man that hath left house, or brethren, or sisters, or father, or mother, or wife, or children, or lands, for my sake, and the gospel's, but he shall receive an hundred-fold now in this time,

houses, and brethren, and sisters, and mothers, and children, and lands, with persecutions; and in the world to come, eternal life” (Mark x. 28-30). "So, likewise, whosoever he be of you that forsaketh not all that he hath, he cannot be my disciple" (Luke xiv. 33). Yea, doubtless, and I count all things but loss for the excellency of the knowledge of Christ Jesus my Lord, for whom I have suffered the loss of all things, and do count them but dung, that I may win Christ" (Phil. iii. 8).

(5.) ESSENES. "They have no certain city, but many of them dwell in every city; and if any of their sect come from other places, what they have lies open for them, just as if it were their own; and they go into such as they never knew before, as if they had been ever so long acquainted with them. For which reason they carry nothing with them when they travel into remote parts."

CHRISTIANS.-"Provide neither gold, nor silver, nor brass in your purses, nor scrip for your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, nor yet staves; for the workman is worthy of his meat. And into whatsoever city or town ye shall enter, enquire who in it is worthy; and there abide till ye go thence. And when ye come into an house, salute it. And if the house be worthy, let your peace come upon it; but if it be not worthy, let your peace return to you. And whosoever shall not receive you, nor hear your words, when ye depart out of that house or city, shake off the dust of your feet. Verily I say unto you, it shall be more tolerable for the land of Sodom and Gomorrha in the day of judgment than for that city" (Matt. x. 9-15). And he said unto them, When I sent you without purse, and scrip, and shoes, lacked ye anything? And they said, Nothing" (Luke xxii. 35).

(6.) ESSENES." Nor do they allow of the change of garments, or of shoes, till they be first entirely torn to pieces, or worn out by time."

CHRISTIANS." He that hath two coats, let him impart to him that hath none" (Luke iii. 11).

(7.) ESSENES.-"Only these two things are done among them at everyone's own free will, which are, to assist those that want it, and to show mercy."

CHRISTIANS. "But rather give alms of such things as ye have" (Luke xi. 41). "Distributing to the necessitvf

saints; given to hospitality" (Rom. xii. 13). "But this I say, He which soweth sparingly shall reap also sparingly; and he which soweth bountifully shall reap also bountifully. Every man according as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity for God loveth a cheerful giver" (2 Cor. ix. 6, 7). "Charge them that are rich in this world, . . . that they do good, that they be rich in good works, ready to distribute, willing to communicate" (1 Tim. vi. 17, 18). "But to do good and to communicate forget not: for with such sacrifices God is well pleased" (Heb. xiii. 16). Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father, is this, To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world" (James i. 27). "But whoso hath this world's good, and seeth his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of God in him ?" (1 John iii. 17).

(8.) ESSENES. "They also think it a good thing to obey their elders."

CHRISTIANS." Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God." "Obey them that have the rule over you, and submit yourselves; for they watch for your souls, as they that must give account, that they may do it with joy, and not with grief." "Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints" (Heb. xiii. 7, 17, 24).

(9.) ESSENES. They undertake that they "will ever show fidelity to all men, and especially to those in authority, because no one obtains the government without God's assistance."

CHRISTIANS." Let every soul be subject unto the higher powers. For there is no power but of God: the powers that be are ordained of God. Whosoever, therefore, resisteth the power, resisteth the ordinance of God" (Rom. xiii. 1, 2). "Put them in mind to be subject to principalities and powers, to obey magistrates, to be ready to every good work" (Tit. iii. 1). "Submit yourselves to every ordinance of man for the Lord's sake: whether it be to the king, as supreme, or unto governors, as unto them that are sent by him for the punishment of evil doers, and for the praise of them that do well. For so is the will of God, that with well doing ye may put to silence the ignorance of foolish men" (1 Pet. ii. 13-15).

(10.) ESSENES. "They are eminent for fidelity."

CHRISTIANS."He that is faithful in that which is least, is faithful also in much" (Luke xvi. 10). "Moreover it is required in stewards, that a man be found faithful" (1 Cor. iv. 2). "They that are with him are called, and chosen, and faithful" (Rev. xvii. 14). "And I saw heaven opened, and behold a white horse; and he that sat upon him was called Faithful and True" (Rev. xix. 11).

(11.) ESSENES." And are the ministers of peace."

CHRISTIANS." Blessed are the peacemakers: for they shall be called the children of God" (Mat. v. 9). "Have salt in yourselves, and have peace one with another" (Mark ix. 50). "If it be possible, as much as lieth in you, live peaceably with all men" (Rom. xii. 18). "Let us therefore follow after the things which make for peace, and things wherewith one may edify another" (Rom. xiv. 19). "Be perfect, be of good comfort, be of one mind, live in peace; and the God of love and peace shall be with you" (2 Cor. xiii. 11). "Follow peace with all men, and holiness, without which no man shall see the Lord" (Heb. xii. 14).

(12.) ESSENES. "They dispense their anger after a just manner, and restrain their passion.'

CHRISTIANS.- "But I say unto you, That whosoever is angry with his brother without a cause shall be in danger of the judgment: and whosoever shall say to his brother, Raca, shall be in danger of the council: but whosoever shall say, Thou fool, shall be in danger of hell fire" (Matt. v. 22). Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but rather give place unto wrath for it is written, Vengeance is mine; I will repay, said the Lord" (Rom. xii. 19). "Be ye angry and sin not: let not the sun go down upon your wrath." "Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice and be ye kind one to another, tender-hearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ's sake hath forgiven you" (Eph. iv. 26, 31, 32). "Forbearing one another, and forgiving one another, if any man have a quarrel against any even as Christ forgave you, so also do ye" (Col. iii. 13). "Wherefore, my beloved brethren, let every man be swift to hear, slow to speak, slow to wrath':

for the wrath of man worketh not the righteousness of God" (James i. 19, 20).

(13.) ESSENES." Whatsoever they say also is firmer than an oath; but swearing is avoided by them, and they esteem it worse than perjury; for they say, that he who cannot be believed without swearing by God, is already condemned.”

CHRISTIANS.-"But I say unto you, Swear not at all; neither by heaven; for it is God's throne: nor by the earth; for it is his footstool: nor by Jerusalem; for it is the city of the great king. Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black. But let your communication be Yea, yea; Nay, nay: for whatsoever is more than these cometh of evil" (Matt. v. 34-37). "But above all things, my brethren, swear not, neither by heaven, neither by the earth, neither by any other oath but let your yea be yea; and your nay nay; lest you fall into condemnation" (James v. 12).

(14.) ESSENES." Nor is there ever any clamour or disturbance to pollute their house, but they give every one leave to speak in their turn; which silence thus kept in their house, appears to foreigners like some tremendous mystery; the cause of which is that perpetual sobriety they exercise."

CHRISTIANS." He shall not strive, nor cry; neither shall any man hear his voice in the streets" (Matt. xii. 19). "And the chief priests accused him of many things: but he answered nothing. And Pilate asked him again, saying, Answerest thou nothing? behold how many things they witness against thee. But Jesus yet answered nothing; so that Pilate marvelled" (Mark xv. 3-5). "Then he (Herod) questioned with him in many words; but he answered him nothing. And the chief priests and scribes stood and vehemently accused him" Luke xxiii. 9, 10). And the servant of the Lord must not strive; but be gentle unto all men, apt to teach, patient, in meekness instructing those that oppose themselves; if God peradventure will give them repentance to the acknowledging of the truth" (2 Tim. ii. 24, 25).

(15.) ESSENES." These Essenes reject pleasures as an evil, but esteem continence, and the conquest over our passions to be virtue." "Perceiving with more than ordinary acuteness and accuracy, what is alone or at least above all other things cal