So then I would have the men everywhere pray, lifting to God holy hands which are unstained with anger or strife;

Never administer a sharp reprimand to a man older than yourself; but entreat him as if he were your father, and the younger men as brothers;

the elder women too as mothers, and the younger women as sisters, with perfect modesty.

But the younger widows you must not enrol; for as soon as they begin to chafe against the yoke of Christ, they want to marry,

and they incur disapproval for having broken their original vow.

I would therefore have the younger women marry, bear children, rule in domestic matters, and furnish the Adversary with no excuse for slander.