Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 55

DIDASCALIA. 27 for this is manifest and known to all men, that every one who doeth evil things after having received baptism, is already condemned to the Gehenna of fire. We think that even the heathen blaspheme on account of these Ap. con. things, because we do not mix with them, nor are we partakers with them ; Hl ytii' and by means of the falseness of the heathen, keep the more, brethren, to the truth; for He saith thus in the Gospel, "Blessed are ye when they Matt. v. n shall revile you, and shall say against you every evil word falsely for my sake; rejoice then and be glad, for great is your reward in Heaven, for 12 thus your fathers persecuted the prophets." Therefore if they blaspheme against a man falsely he is blessed, because he is tried by temptations, saith the Lord. And the Scripture saith, A man who is not tried is also not proved. For if a man be reproved for doing wicked works, he is not a Christian, but is false, and by hypocrisy he has adhered to the worship of God. On this account when some of these are detected and reproved in truth publicly, let the Bishop reject them, he who is without offence and without hypocrisy. If then even his mind be not pure, having respect to Ap. Con. persons on account of filthy lucre, or on account of the presents he has received, and he should spare him who has sinned wickedly [and] allow him x. to remain in the Church, the Bishop who is such pollutes the congregation before God, and also before men, and before many of the communicants who are young in their minds, or before the hearers; again also he destroys f. 17 b those that are young along with himself; for on account of the wicked lasciviousness which they saw in him among them, they also doubt in their souls, and imitate him, and they also stumble and are taken by this passion and perish with him... .But if he who sinneth see the Bishop and the Deacons, that they are free from accusation and that all the flock are pure, in the first place he will not dare to go up to the congregation because he is reproved by his mind ; and if it should happen that he have courage, and should go to the church in his impudence, let him be reproved and reprimanded by the Bishop ; he will look at them all, and will not find an offence in one of them, neither in the Bishop, nor in those who are with him ; he will blush therefore, and with much shame he will go out quickly, weeping, and be in penitence of soul. Thus the flock will remain pure. Again, when he has gone out he will repent of his sin and weep and be consoled before God, that he may have hope. Then again, all the flock, having seen his weeping and his tears, will fear, knowing and understanding that every one that sins shall perish. Because of this, therefore, O Bishop, strive tc/be pure in thy works, and ^j?^011- know thy place, that thou art appointed in the semblance of God Almighty,