OLD AND WIDOWS.

Rebuke not an old man, but exhort him as a father, to younger men as brothers, older women as mothers, younger women as sisters, with all purity. Honour widows that are widows indeed. But if any widow has children or grandchildren, let them learn first to show piety towards their own family, and to requite their parents: for this is pleasing to God. Now she that is a widow indeed, and desolate, trusteth in God, and continueth night and day in supplications and prayers, but who lives in pleasure, though alive, are dead. Command therefore these things, so that they may be blameless. But if any provide not for his own, and specially for those of his household, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever. There is a widow who has no less than sixty years, and that was the only wife of one husband.

Approved as testimony of good works, if brought up children, if lodged strangers, washed the saints' feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if practiced all sorts of good works. But refuse younger widows, for when they grow wanton against Christ, they will marry; already having his conviction for having violated the first faith-and, withal they learn to be idle, wandering about from house to house; and not only idle, but also gossips and busybodies, speaking things which they ought not. I will therefore that the younger women marry, bear children, guide the house, give none occasion to the adversary to speak reproachfully because some are already turned aside after Satan. If any woman that believeth have widows, let them relieve them, and not the church be burdened, that it may relieve them that are widows indeed. (I Timothy 5:1-16)