Didascalia Apostolorum

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DIDASCALIA. 83 liberal God. Be very watchful therefore that ye serve not the Altar of God f. 58 a from the services of a transgressor, for there is no cause for your saying, We did not know, for ye have heard what the Scripture has said, " Remove is. iiv. 14 from evil, and fear not " (S. B. C. + and terror shall not come near thee). Ap- G°?- Say not, These are they who alone give alms, and if we do not accept from them, from whence shall the orphans and widows who are in straits be served? God has said to you xnot to take from the wicked and help the Churches1, it were profitable for you to be tortured by hunger, rather than to take from the wicked. Therefore investigate and prove, that ye may receive from believers, those who are in communion with the Church2 and • conduct themselves aright, that ye may nourish those who are in straits. Do not receive from those who are put out of the Church and are blame- able, until they are thought worthy to become members of the Church. But if ye be in want, tell the brethren, let them work amongst you, and give; serve thus with justice. Teach and say to the people, that it is fv'j^on' written, " Honour the Lord with honest work, and with the first of all thy Prov. ill. 9 fruits." Therefore with the honest work of believers nourish and clothe those who are greatly in want (S. C. + and what is given to you by them, as we said to you before, distribute it at the time for the ransom of believers). Ransom slaves and captives, and those who are treated with violence, those who are condemned 3by the mob3, (S. + those who are condemned to the circus, or to the mines, or to exile, or to the amphitheatre), and those who are in straits (S. C. + Let the Deacons go in to them), let them visit every one and provide them with what they are in want of. If it should happen £*• Con- that ye take from the wicked, against your will, make no use of it for nourishment, unless it be just a little, expend it in wood 4for fire4 ; lest a widow being in straits should buy with it some food for herself. Thus let the widows, not being polluted by evil, pray that they may receive from f. 58 b God all good things that they ask and seek. Also each one of them by herself, and ye also, will not be held by these sins. 1 S. B. C. Because ye have received the gifts of the Levites, the firstfruits and offerings of your people, that ye may be nourished, and have also a superfluity that ye be not straitened and take from the wicked. But if the Churches are so poor, that those who are in want must be nourished by such people 2 S. Churches 3 S. unlawfully by the crowd. 4 S. C. for yourselves and for the widows