Note 305 — Lecture VI. GREEK AND CHRISTIAN ETHICS.

e.g. Euseb. Dem. Ev. 3. 6: “Not only old men under Jesus Christ practise this mode of philosophy, but it would be hard to say how many thousands of women throughout the whole world, priestesses, as it were, of the God of the universe, having embraced the highest wisdom, rapt with a passion for heavenly knowledge, have renounced the desire of children according to the flesh, and giving their whole care to their soul, have given themselves up wholly to the Supreme King and God of the universe, to practise (ἀσκήσασθαι) perfect purity and virginity.” So also id. de Vit. Constant. 4. 26, 29; Sozom. 6. 33, of the Syrian monks.