Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 56

milk, and have clothed yourselves with wool, and have killed bulls ; ye have not raised that which was fallen, nor helped that which was lost. Must ye indeed live alone upon the earth ? Therefore hath he commanded you in the Law, saying. Love your neighbour as yourselves. And moreover he saith. Thou shalt not muzzle the mouth of the ox, while he treadeth out the corn. And seek not ye to take any thing but that which is in proportion to your labour and toil, as it is right. For the holy threshing-floor is the Church of the Lord. And eat ye in it, as the Levites, who serve in the tabernacle of the covenant, which is the image of the Holy Church. It is right, then, that the priests should eat the offerings, with their wives and their sons and their daughters, when men have brought their offering unto the Lord, whether a vow that they have vowed, or fruits, or tithes, or sacrifices or oblation ; for they have no other occupation, nor any portion of land with the Children of Israel, but only to do the service of the tabernacle ; for the offering that the people bring, that is the portion of the Levites. And now ye, O Bishops, are the simihtude of the Priests and Levites, as those who were from the beginning. It is right that ye should entreat and pray for the people ; for ye are ordained for the service of this Holy and Blessed Church, who stand before the 56