Didascalia Apostolorum

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DIDASCALIA. 29 that confesseth to Thee." Again, in Jeremiah He saith thus, about the repentance of those that sin, " He that falleth, shall he not rise ; or he that Jer. viii. 4 turneth away [shall he] not turn back ? Why hath My people turned away 5 with a shameless turning; they are held fast in their thoughts, and do not wish to repent and be converted." Because of this therefore receive him who repenteth, not doubting in the least, and be not prevented by those who have no mercy, those who say, We must not be defiled by those. For the Lord _, 2 Chron. God hath said, "The fathers shall not die for the children, nor the children xxv. 4 for the fathers." And again in Ezekiel he saith thus, "The word of the Lord ^zek- xiv- came unto me, saying, Son of man, when a land sinneth against Me, and doeth wickedness before Me, I will stretch out My hand against it, and 1 will destroy from it the staff of bread, and I will send famine upon it, and I will destroy from it man and beast. Though these three men were 14 in it, Noah, and Daniel, and Job, they should deliver their souls by their righteousness, saith the Lord God." The Scripture therefore plainly sheweth that if the righteous be found with the wicked, he will not perish with him, but every man shall live by his righteousness, and if he be prevented, he is prevented by his own sins. In Wisdom again He saith, "Every man is bound PTOV. v. 22 with the cord of his sins." Every one of the laity therefore shall give an account of his own sin and no man will be hurt because of the foreign sins of others. Not even Judas did cause us any loss by praying with f. 19 a us, but he alone perished. Noah also in the Ark and two of his sons who were s.aved, were blessed ; but Ham, the other, was not blessed ; but his seed was cursed, Because he mocked at his father, for going out to the beasts1. We do not require you therefore to confirm2 those who delight in death, hate their brethren, and love quarrels, for which reason they are ready to kill ; but help those who are very sick, and are in danger and sin, and deliver them from death, not according to the hardness of their heart and their word and 3their thoughts3. For it is not required of thee, O Bishop, that being the head thou shouldst listen to the tail, that is to say, to the layman, to the quarrelsome man who delights in the destruction of another; but look thou only at the command of the Lord God, and for this reason, that they may not expect to perish, nor be defiled with the sins of others. Cut away also their evil thoughts. Even in Ezekiel the Lord God saith thus, " The word of the Lord came unto me, saying, Son of man, why use ye this proverb in the land of Israel, 2 saying, The fathers have eaten sour grapes, and the children's teeth are set 1 S. for he who came in as beast went out as beast. 2 S. obey. 3 S. the thoughts of men.