Christian Network
You are visitor: 
In Scotland the time is: 
Christian Network
XXVI. How St. Augustine in Kent followed the doctrine and manner of life of the primitive Church,
CHAP. XXVI. How St. Augustine in Kent followed the doctrine and manner of life
of the primitive Church, and settled his episcopal see in the royal city. [597
A. D.]
AS soon as they entered the dwelling-place assigned to them, they began to
imitate the Apostolic manner of life in the primitive Church; applying
themselves to constant prayer, watchings, and fastings; preaching the Word of
life to as many as they could; despising all worldly things, as in nowise
concerning them; receiving only their necessary food from those they taught;
living themselves in all respects conformably to what they taught, and being
always ready to suffer any adversity, and even to die for that truth which they
preached. In brief, some believed and were baptized, admiring the simplicity of
their blameless life, and the sweetness of their heavenly doctrine. There was on
the east side of the city, a church dedicated of old to the honour of St.
Martin, (Note: St. Martin was regarded with special reverence in Britain and
Ireland. Possibly some of the earliest missionaries may have been his disciples,
e.g., St. Ninian and, St. Patrick. The Roman church of St. Martin at Canterbury
has been frequently altered and partly rebuilt, so that "small portions only of
the Roman walls remain. Roman bricks are used as old materials in the parts
rebuilt") built whilst the Romans were still in the island, wherein the queen,
who, as has been said before, was a Christian, was wont to pray. In this they
also first began to come together, to chant the Psalms, to pray, to celebrate
Mass, to preach, and to baptize, till when the king had been converted to the
faith, they obtained greater liberty to preach everywhere and build or repair
churches.
When he, among the rest, believed and was baptized, attracted by the pure life
of these holy men and their gracious promises, the truth of which they
established by many miracles, greater numbers began daily to flock together to
hear the Word, and, forsaking their heathen rites, to have fellowship, through
faith, in the unity of Christ’s Holy Church. It is told that the king, while he
rejoiced at their conversion and their faith, yet compelled none to embrace
Christianity, but only showed more affection to the believers, as to his fellow
citizens in the kingdom of Heaven. For he had learned from those who had
instructed him and guided him to salvation, that the service of Christ ought to
be voluntary, not by compulsion. Nor was it long before he gave his teachers a
settled residence suited to their degree in his metropolis of Canterbury, with
such possessions of divers sorts as were necessary for them.
