Chapter I.—Exhortations to earnestness and moderation. I Exhort thee in God, that thou add [speed] to thy course, and that thou vindicate thy dignity. Have a care to preserve concord with the saints. Bear [the burdens of] the weak, that “thou mayest fulfil the law of Christ.”785 Devote786 thyself to fasting and prayer, but not beyond measure, lest thou destroy thyself787 thereby. Do not altogether abstain from wine and flesh, for these things are not to be viewed with abhorrence, since [the Scripture] saith, “Ye shall eat the good things of the earth.”788 And again, “Ye shall eat flesh even as herbs.”789 And again, “Wine maketh glad the heart of man, and oil exhilarates, and bread strengthens him.”790 But all are to be used with moderation, as being the gifts of God. “For who shall eat or who shall drink without Him? For if anything be beautiful, it is His; and if anything be good, it is His.”791 Give attention to reading,792 that thou mayest not only thyself know the laws, but mayest also explain them to others, as the earnest servant793 of God. “No man that warreth entangleth himself with the affairs of this life, that he may please him who hath chosen him to be a soldier; and if a man also strive for masteries, yet is he not crowned except he strive lawfully.”794 I that am in bonds pray that my soul may be in place of yours. 785 Gal. vi. 2. 786 Literally, “having leisure for.” 787 Literally, “cast thyself down.” 788 Isa. i. 19. 789 Gen. ix. 3. 790 Ps. civ. 15. 791 Eccl. ii. 25 (after LXX.); Zech. ix. 17. 792 Comp. 1 Tim. iv. 13. 793 Literally, “athlete.” 794 2 Tim. ii. 4. Chapter I.—Exhortations to earnestness and moderation. 307 Chapter I.—Exhortations to earnestness and moderation.