By Water & Blood

On continence

Concerning continence.

Abstinence from wine and from eating meat, and the rest of continence, the Church does not embrace in the same way as the heretics. For they legislate abstinence from these things as from abominations; but the Church has legislated nothing about these, nor does she forbid partaking of them. For this reason some without fear enjoy the customary pleasant things, while others abstain. And no one of sound mind condemns the one who eats; for both abstinence and partaking fall under the authority of choice, and the solitary life too is not compulsory but voluntary.

And this also we have been taught from the apostolic laws: “For the one who eats,” he says, “must not despise the one who does not eat, and the one who does not eat must not judge the one who eats.” And again: “All things are clean, but it is evil for the human being who eats through stumbling.” And accusing these same unholy people in the Letter to Timothy he wrote these things: “But the Spirit expressly says that in later times some will wander from the faith, attending to spirits of error and teachings of demons, in the hypocrisy of liars, seared in their own conscience, forbidding to marry, to abstain from foods which God created for partaking with thanksgiving by the faithful and those who have come to know the truth; because every creature of God is good, and nothing is to be rejected when received with thanksgiving; for it is sanctified through the word of God and intercession.”

And to the Corinthians he also commanded that they eat everything sold in the meat-market, asking no questions because of conscience. And he ordered that the one invited to a feast by one of the unbelievers partake without fear of what is set before him, unless someone should indicate that some of the dishes are idol-offerings. So far was that divine man from forbidding the partaking of meats.

And the Lord himself said concerning himself: “The Son of Man came eating and drinking, and they say: ‘Look, a man who is a glutton and a wine-drinker, a friend of tax-collectors and sinners.’” And when he kept the Passover, he ate the lamb, clearly with the disciples; and when called to the wedding, he not only did not forbid drinking, but also miraculously created wine for those feasting.

Therefore the divine doctrines also brightly refute the error of the Encratites; and the Church of God sets herself against the myths of the heretics, and follows the divine doctrines. I urge, then, those who will meet with this composition to set the divine teachings beside each of those wicked doctrines, and by the comparison to learn how great is the interval between the lie and the truth. For what fellowship has light with darkness? And what agreement has Christ with Belial? For truly those are inventions of the devil’s evil craftsmanship; but these are doctrines of the divine Spirit, which it is fitting to follow continually, and to keep their rule unswerving, and by this to direct one’s own soul—in Christ Jesus our Lord, with whom to the Father with the all-holy Spirit glory is due, honor, and magnificence, now and always, and unto the ages of ages. Amen.