Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 42

14 DIDASCALIA. things arises murder. Philip said, My son, be not licentious, for lust leadeth to fornication, and attracts men towards it, for lust is a feminine demon. One with anger, the other with mirth, they destroy those into whom they enter ; for the way of an evil spirit is a sin of the soul, and when it has got a little entrance, it enlarges it as itself, and brings that soul to all evil things, and does not allow the man to look and see the truth. Let there be a measure for your wrath, rule it for a little time and repress it, lest it throw you into an evil deed. For anger is an evil enjoyment, [such as] when they remain with a man for a long season, become demons, and when a man allows them, they swell up in his soul, and become greater and lead him to the works of iniquity, also they laugh at him and enjoy themselves in the destruction of the man. Simon the Zealot said, My son, be not a necromancer, for this will lead thee to the worship of idols ; nor an enchanter, nor one who teaches extraneous and heathenish doctrine, nor an augur, nor even seek to know these things ; from all these things comes the worship of idols. James said, My son, speak not foul and silly words, for these take one far from God, and be not haughty of eye, for every one that is haughty of eye falleth before God. Do not covet the wife of thy friend ; do not love sodomy ; from these things come adulteries and the wrath of God. Nathanael said, My son, be not false, for falsehood leads to theft, nor be a lover of money, nor vainglorious ; from all these things come thefts. My son, be not a murmurer, for murmuring f. 10 b brings blasphemy, and be not proud1 nor arrogant, nor a contriver of evil things, for from all these things come blasphemies. Therefore be meek and humble, for the meek and humble shall inherit the kingdom of Heaven; but be long suffering and merciful, a peace-maker, pure in heart from all evil, innocent, quiet, and gentle ; it is good that thou shouldest attend and tremble at the words which thou hast heard. Do not exalt2 thyself, nor set thyself with the proud, but with the righteous, and have intercourse with the poor ; and the events that happen to thee receive as good things, knowing that without God nothing happens. Thomas said, My son, he who speaks the Word of God, and is the cause of life to thee, and gives thee the seal that is in the Christ ; love him as the apple of the eye ; remember him then by night and by day ; honour him moreover as of God, for where the Godhead3 is spoken of, there is the Lord. Thou shalt seek then his face daily ; also the other Saints, that thou mayest be soothed by their words ; for thou being joined to the Saints, art sanctified. Thou shalt honour him then as thou art able, by thy sweat and by the labour of thy hands. For if through him the Lord has 1 C. rich. 2 C. love. 3 lit. Lordship.