Didascalia Apostolorum

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DIDASCALIA. 25 commandments of the Law and the Prophets agree with the Gospel. Before all things then let him be a good discriminator of the Law, and of Deutero- nomy, so that he may distinguish and shew what is the law of believers, and what are the chains of the unbelievers ; lest any man of those who are under thy hand should take the chains to be the Law, and should put heavy burdens upon his soul, and should become a son of perdition. Be therefore f. i6a diligent and careful about the Word, O Bishop, if thou l canst explain1 every commandment as it is in the doctrine. (Cod. S. in order that by much teaching, thou mayest abundantly nourish and water thy people, for it is written in Wisdom, " Take care of the herb of the field, Prov. and shear thy flock; and gather the grass of summer, that there may be sheep for thy xxvil- 25 clothing. Take care and attend to thy flock, so that thou mayest have lambs." There- fore let not the Bishop love filthy lucre, especially not from the heathen ; let him be oppressed and not be an oppressor, and let him not love riches, and let him not murmur at any one, and do not let him bear false witness, nor be wrathful, nor let him love disputes, nor let him love rule ; let him not be double-minded, nor double- tongued; and let him not love to incline his ear to the words of an accuser and a murmurer, and let him not be a respecter of persons.) Let him not love heathen feasts, nor be led by vain error. Let him Ap. con. H. vi. not be covetous, nor love money, because all these things come from the operation of demons. Then let the Bishop inquire into all these things and warn the whole world. Let him be wise and self-denying. Let him be a monitor and a teacher in his doctrine and in the discipline of God. Let his mind be clear, let him be far from all wicked designs of the heathen ; let his mind be sharp to compare, that he may anticipate and know the wicked, and ye may keep yourselves from them. Let him be a lover of all men, being a righteous judge. Everything that is found good among men, let these things be in the Bishop ; because when the pastor is far from all evil things, he can also constrain his disciples, and encourage them by his good manners, that they may be imitators of his good works ; as the Lord said in the Twelve Prophets, " let the people be like the Hos. iv. 9 priest " ; for it is required of you that ye be an example to the people, for ye also have the example of the Christ. Therefore be ye also a good example to your people. For the Lord has said in Ezekiel the Prophet, " The word of the Lord was upon me, saying, Son of man, speak to the children of thy people, and say unto them, The land, when I bring a sword upon it, and captivity upon the people of this land, and they appoint a man from among them and make him a watchman, and he seeth the 3 sword coming upon the land, and he bloweth with the trumpet and warneth 4 1 Cod. canst not explain. D. D