6. Which thing whoso thinks
cannot have been done by the Apostles, that with them women of holy
conversation should go about wheresoever they preached the Gospel,
that of their substance they might minister to their necessities,
let him hear the Gospel, and learn how in this they did after the
example of the Lord Himself. Our Lord, namely, according to the
wont of His pity, sympathizing with the weak, albeit Angels might
minister unto Him, had both a bag in which should be put the money
which was bestowed doubtless by good and believing persons, as
necessary for their living, (which bag He gave in charge to Judas,
that even thieves, if we could not keep clear of such, we might
learn to tolerate in the Church. He, namely, as is written of him,
“stole24892489 what was
put therein:”) and He willed that women should follow Him for the
preparing and ministering what was necessary, showing what was due
to evangelists and ministers of God as soldiers, from the people of
God as the provincials; so that if any should not choose to use
that which is due unto him, as Paul the Apostle did not choose, he
might bestow the more upon the Church, by not exacting the pay
which was due to him, but by earning his daily living of his own
labors. For it had been said to the inn-keeper to whom that wounded
man was brought, “Whatever thou layest out more, at my coming
again I will repay thee.”24902490 The Apostle Paul, then, did “lay
out more,”24912491 in that
he, as himself witnesseth, did at his own charges go a warfare. In
the Gospel, namely, it is written, “Thereafter also Himself was
making a journey through cities and villages preaching and
evangelizing of the kingdom of God; and the twelve with Him, and
certain women which had been healed of evil spirits and
infirmities: Mary who is called Magdalene, out of whom seven devils
had gone forth, and Joanna wife of Chuza Herod’s steward, and
Susanna, and many others, who ministered unto Him of their
substance.”24922492 This
example of the Lord the Apostles did imitate, to receive the meat
which was due unto them; of which the same Lord most openly
speaketh: “As ye go,” saith He, “preach, saying, The kingdom
of heaven is at hand. Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse
lepers, cast out devils. Freely have ye received, freely give.
Possess not gold nor silver nor money in your purses, neither scrip
on your journey, neither two coats, neither shoes, neither staff:
for the workman is worthy of his meat.”24932493 Lo, where the Lord appointeth the
very thing which the Apostle doth mention. For to this end He told
them not to carry all those things, namely, that where need should
be, they might receive them of them unto whom they preached the
kingdom of God.