[Footnote 1:  Matt. xiii. 22; Mark iv. 19; Luke viii. 14.]

[Footnote 2:  Matt. vi. 11; Luke xi. 3.  This is the meaning of the word [Greek:  epiousios].]

[Footnote 3:  Luke xii. 33, 34.]

[Footnote 4:  Luke xii. 20.]

[Footnote 5:  Luke xii. 16, and following.]

[Footnote 6:  Jos., Ant., XVII. x. 4, and following:  Vita, 11, etc.]

The infant Christianity, moreover, in this only followed the footsteps of the Essenes, or Therapeutae, and of the Jewish sects founded on the monastic life.  A communistic element entered into all these sects, which were equally disliked by Pharisees and Sadducees.  The Messianic doctrine, which was entirely political among the orthodox Jews, was entirely social amongst them.  By means of a gentle, regulated, contemplative existence, leaving its share to the liberty of the individual, these little churches thought to inaugurate the heavenly kingdom upon earth.  Utopias of a blessed life, founded on the brotherhood of men and the worship of the true God, occupied elevated souls, and produced from all sides bold and sincere, but short-lived attempts to realize these doctrines.

Jesus, whose relations with the Essenes are difficult to determine (resemblances in history not always implying relations), was on this point certainly their brother.  The community of goods was for some time the rule in the new society.[1] Covetousness was the cardinal sin.[2] Now it must be remarked that the sin of covetousness, against which Christian morality has been so severe, was then the simple attachment to property.  The first condition of becoming a disciple of Jesus was to sell one’s property and to give the price of it to the poor.  Those who recoiled from this extremity were not admitted into the community.[3] Jesus often repeated that he who has found the kingdom of God ought to buy it at the price of all his goods, and that in so doing he makes an advantageous bargain.  “The kingdom of heaven is like unto treasure hid in a field; the which when a man hath found, he hideth, and for joy thereof goeth and selleth all that he hath and buyeth that field.  Again, the kingdom of heaven is like unto a merchantman seeking goodly pearls; who, when he had found one pearl of great price, went and sold all that he had and bought it."[4] Alas! the inconveniences of this plan were not long in making themselves felt.  A treasurer was wanted.  They chose for that office Judas of Kerioth.  Rightly or wrongly, they accused him of stealing from the common purse;[5] it is certain that he came to a bad end.

[Footnote 1:  Acts iv. 32, 34-37; v. 1, and following.]

[Footnote 2:  Matt. xiii. 22; Luke xii. 15, and following.]

[Footnote 3:  Matt. xix. 21; Mark x. 21, and following, 29, 30; Luke xviii. 22, 23, 28.]

[Footnote 4:  Matt. xiii. 44-46.]

[Footnote 5:  John xii. 6.]