Didascalia Apostolorum

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34 DIDASCALIA. that they may remain as they are without sin ; also for those who have sinned, that they may repent, and let him give them pardon for their sins, is. iviii. 6 as it is written in Isaiah that the Lord hath said, " Loose all the bands of wickedness, and cut all the burdens of deceit and of oppression." [CHAPTER VII. in Cod. S.] Therefore, O Bishop, teach, and reprove, and loosen by pardon, and know that thy place is that of God Almighty, and thou hast received Matt. power to forgive sins, for it is said to you Bishops, " All that ye shall bind xviii. lo on earth shall be bound in Heaven ; and all that ye shall loose shall be loosed." As therefore thou hast power to loose, know thyself and thy conduct and thy works, that in this life they may be (S. worthy) of thy place, but there is no man among the sons of men who is without Job xiv. 4 sins, for it is written, "There is no man that is pure from the uncleanness of sin, no, not one, even if he have lived only one day in this world." Because of this the conversation and the conduct of the works of the righteous, and of the first Fathers were written, that it might be known f. 22 b that in each one of them was found just a little sin, that it might be Psalm u. 4 known that the Lord God alone is sinless, as David said, "That thou mightest be justified in thy sayings and be clear in thy judgments." For the uncleanness of the righteous is to ourselves a comfort and a consolation and a good hope, that we, though we have also sinned a little, have an ex- pectation of getting pardon. There is therefore no man without sin. But thou, according to thy strength, be diligent that thou be not overtaken in aught, and be careful about every one, lest any man should be offended, and should perish because of thee ; because the layman is careful of his own soul alone, but thou carriest the weight of every man, and it is a very Lukexii. great burden that thou bearest ; "for he to whom the Lord hath given 48 much, from him much will be required." Forasmuch, therefore, as thou bearest the burdens of all men, be watchful. For it is written that the Numbers Lord said to Moses, " Thou and Aaron shall bear the sins of the priest- xviii. 1 jfV . , hood. For thus, as thou shalt give a sufficient answer for many, so thou shalt care for every one ; that thou mayest keep those that are whole, and admonish those that sin, and correct and reprove and punish and lighten them by means of repentance and pardon ; and when a sinner repents and weeps, receive him ; and when the people have prayed for him, lay [thy hands] upon him, and allow him thenceforth to be in the Church. Those who sleep and are negligent restore and rouse and confirm, and pray for them and heal them, for thou knowest where is the reward to thee if