A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 16. Moral Ideas in the Post-Apostolic Period 57a). Christianity was a revealed code of morals, by the observanceof which men might escape the fires of hell and obtainthe bliss of immortality (a) (cf. infra, § 30). At the same timethere was developed a tendency toward asceticism, by which ahigher excellence might be obtained than the law required ofordinary Christians (b, c). This higher morality was not withoutits compensations; superior merit was recognized by God, andwas accordingly rewarded; it might even be applied to offset sinscommitted (d, e). This last idea is to be traced to the book ofTobit (cf. also James 5:20; I Peter 4:8). The fuller developmentis to be found in the theology of Tertullian and Cyprian (v. infra,§ 39).(a) Justin Martyr, Apologia, I, 10, 12. (MSG, 6:339, 342.)Ch. 10. We have received by tradition that God does not needman's material offerings, since we see that He himself providesall things. And we have been taught, have been convinced, and dobelieve that He accepts only those who imitate the virtues whichreside in Him, temperance and justice and philanthropy, and asmany virtues as are peculiar to a God who is called by no givenname. And we have been taught that He in the beginning, sinceHe is good, did for man's sake create all things out of unformedmatter; and if men by their works show themselves worthy ofHis design, they are deemed worthy, for so we have received,of reigning in company with Him, having become incorruptible [046]and incapable of suffering. For as in the beginning He createdus when we were not, so we consider that, in like manner, thosewho choose what is pleasing to Him are, on account of theirchoice, deemed worthy of incorruption and of fellowship withHim. For the coming into being at first was not in our power;and in order that we may follow those things which please Him,choosing them by means of the rational faculties with which He