Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 42

and strengthen the weak, and gather in the scattered, and heal the wounded, and comfort the faint-hearted, and set right the lame in heart, that they maybe strength- ened by the word of instruction ; and let him lighten the heavy burden of their sin, that they may attain unto good hope. And as to them, let them receive instruc- tion in the law of the Church, and turn to repentance : and if a man be cast out through not understanding the word of the Scriptures, despise him not, neither leave him to fall into sin ; but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him unto thee, and bring him again into the flock of the Church. But he who refuseth to return, shall be cast out from the flock, and become food for the beasts of the field : and his portion shall be with those who say. Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die ; who consider not their latter end. And if the Bishop see any man who doeth thus, he should say to him, I will bear thy sins for thee, and die in thy stead, as Christ died for the sin of the world. And then let him toil and labour with him, until he return unto repentance. For the good shepherd giveth his life a ransom for the sheep; but the hireUng, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and the wolf teareth them and scattereth them; for he is an hirehng, he careth not for the sheep. We. 42