Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 23

baptism, turn back to the works of iniquity, go down into the condemnation of hell. And there are others, also, who have not been believers ; but after- wards, when they have been baptized, they become blessed before the Lord ; as our Lord said in the Gospel, Blessed are ye when men shall persecute you, and revile you, and speak all evil against you falsely, for my sake : rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in heaven. If there be any one against whom men have spoken falsely, he is blessed. For it is written, saying. Every man who is not tried, is not chosen before the Lord. If any man have departed from the Law, and men curse him, he hath brought the curse upon his own head. And so we also, if we obey not the commandments of the Lord, and do not His will, shall bring upon ourselves a curse, and moreover shall be driven far from the Lord. For those who do not what themselves teach, neither turn from following their own ways, such men the Bishop ought to reprove and put to shame. But he must teach them, in the love of Christ, how they ought to be obedient. The Bishop ought to seek after righteousness, and not honour transgressors, nor shew partiality in judgment, nor receive gifts from any one ; for a gift blindeth the eyes of the wise : nor must he pervert the right cause. And, moreover, it is said in a certain place. Remove from yom'selves all evil 23