Ethiopic Didascalia

Ethiopic Didascalia — Platt English translation page 65

one who entered into the temple, or did any thing therein, but the Priest. The Prophet Malachi saith. For the Ups of the priest keep counsel, and search out the Law. For they who serve idols, and do according to their own will, and make as though they were righteous, while they are polluted and tlieir deeds are evil and they have no good work, though they make themselves like the Saints; — men indeed, seeing their doings, will laugh at them and despise them — yet now even these cannot accomplish or do any thing vdthout the counsel of the priests of their gods : but they lift up their eyes unto them, and listen to what their voice commandeth them, and do every thing that it saith to them ; they give glory to the priests of their gods, and put confidence in them, and trust in their gods. But if these trust in things that have not life, and are subject to evil spirits in whom is no profit, and hope in vanity, while they make as though they were righteous, how then should we, who have received the grace of the Holy Spirit, and have enUghtened faith, and a perfect hope, in which is no iniquity, which is not deceit — how ought we to trust in the preaching of the Gospel, which is full of glory, and without fear, that we may be pleasing unto the Lord our God ! For the ancient Fathers, and the Bishops, doubtless they are the mouth K 65