Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 119

DIDASCALIA. 91 let us receive it joyfully with all our hearts, and let us believe in the Lord God who will raise us in glorious light. As in the beginning, God commanded by a word, (S. + and the world was) arid He said, Let there be light, and night and day ; and heaven and earth and seas, and birds and beasts, and creeping things of the earth (S. + and fourfooted beasts) and trees, and everything was established (S. +in its nature) by His Word, as the Scripture hath said, (S. + all these works that were done were by means of the obedience they give Him ; they witness about God who made them, that " He created and founded them out of nothing," (S. + they also show a sign of the Resurrection. As therefore He made everything,) thus also man who is His creature He will especially vivify and raise (S. + For if He founded and established the world out of nothing, this would be still more easy, that out of nothing He should vivify and raise man, who is the creature of His hands), and as with human seed He clothes man with a garment in the womb and makes him grow. If therefore He shall raise all men, as He hath said in Isaiah, " All flesh shall see the salvation of God," IB. in. 10 yet more will He vivify and raise believers (S. + and again the believers of believers, who are the Martyrs, He will vivify and raise and establish in great glory, and make them His councillors), because to the simple disciples who believe in Him, He hath promised a glory like that of the stars ; but (S. + to the Martyrs) He hath promised to give eternal f- 62 a glory, (S. + like shining bodies that are not wearied with exceeding light, which shine continually. Therefore, as disciples of the Christ, let us believe that we shall receive from Him all good things which He hath counselled and promised us in eternal life. Let us be conformed to all His doctrine and to His patience.) Let us believe in His birth from a virgin, and in His coming and in His willing Passion. Let us be convinced by means of the Holy Scriptures, as the Prophets announced beforehand everything about His coming, and (S. + all these things) were confirmed in our hearts (S. + for even the demons, when they trembled at His name, extolled His coming. You believe therefore and are convinced of the things that we said before) ; and we still more, we who were with Him, and saw Him with our eyes and ate with Him, and were companions and witnesses of His coming, we believe in the great unspeakable things (S. gifts) which He will give as He hath promised. (S. + Let us believe and hope that we shall receive, for all our faith is surely proved) if we believe in His promises that they shall be. Let us be called to martyr- dom for His name's sake ; when we go out of this world by confession, we Ap. con. V» viii are sanctified from all our sins (S. + and follies, and we shall be found