Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 34

6 DIDASCALIA. Deuteronomy ; for He loosened from these chains, and He called thus to Matt. xi. those who believe in Him, and said, " Come unto me all ye who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest." Thou therefore without the weight of these burdens read the simple Law which agrees with the Gospel, and again in the Gospel and in the Prophets, also in the Book of the Kings, that thou mayest know how many kings were righteous, and were made famous by the Lord God in this world, and rested also in the promises of everlasting life. But those kings who turned aside from God, and worshipped idols, justly perished cruelly by a decreed judgment, and were cut off from the kingdom of God, and instead of rest they were tormented. When therefore thou readest these things, thou shalt grow more in the faith and be increased. After these things rise and go out to the market-place, and wash in the baths for men, and not in those for women, lest, when thou hast stripped and shewn the bareness and nakedness of thy body, thou wilt either be hunted for or thou wilt constrain l to fall and be hunted by thee ; therefore be Ap. Con. i. watchful against these things and live for God. Learn therefore what the Prov.vii. i Holy Word saith in Wisdom, "My son, keep my words, and hide my com- mandments within thee. My son, honour the Lord and be strong, and fear 2 no other but Him ; keep my commandments, and live well, and my law as 3 the apples of thine -eyes, bind them on thy fingers, and write them on the 4 tables of thine heart. Say to Wisdom, Thou art my sister, and with under- 5 standing make thyself acquainted ; that she may keep thee from the 6 strange woman, and the adulteress whose words are flattering ; for from 7 the window of her house and her lattice she looketh out into the street, f. 5 b and at every young man whom she seeth, those who are childish and void 8 of understanding, who pass in the streets by the side of the corners of the 9 paths of her house, and who talk in the dark, in the evening and in the 10 thick darkness of the silence of the night ; then the woman goeth out, and in the garb of a harlot she meeteth the young man, and she causeth the 11 hearts of the youths to fly away. She is rebellious and insolent and prodigal. 12 Her feet rest not in her house but she is now wandering out, and now in 13 ambush in the street and in the corners. She catcheth him who is i* likeminded and kisseth him and maketh her face bold and saith unto him, 15 ' I have peace-offerings with me, this day I have paid my vows ; therefore I have come out to meet thee, expecting to see thee, and I have found thee. 16 With a carpet have I spread my bed, and with Egyptian tapestries have i? I covered -it ; I have sprinkled saffron upon my bed, and in my house there is is cinnamon. Come, let us enjoy ourselves with love till the morning, and 1 S. + another.