Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 64

36 DIDASCALIA. have sinned, but harshly and mercilessly hide repentance from them, thou wilt even be a helper in their conversion to evil, and in scattering the flocks to be food for the beasts of the field, that is to say, to the wicked men of this world, but not to men in truth, but to the beasts, to the heathen, to the heretics ; for him who goes out of the Church they follow immediately, like evil beasts, to swallow him for food ; because of thine own harshness, he then that goeth out of the Church, 'either goeth and entereth in unto the heathen, or plunges into heresies ; he will be entirely a stranger, and be removed from the Church, and from the hope of God, and thou wilt be guilty of his ruin, because thou wert ready to put out and to cast away those who sin ; and when they repented and returned, thou didst not wish to receive them. Behold, thou art fallen under the condemnation of this word which said, " Your feet hasten to iii. 16 evil, and are swift to shed blood ; affliction and misery are in their paths, and the way of peace have they not known." The Way of Peace Luke vi. 37 is our Saviour, as He said, "Forgive the sins of those who sin, that your sins also may be forgiven ; give and it shall be given unto you," f. 24 a which is, " Give the pardon of sins, that you also may receive pardon." He also teaches us that we should be constant in prayers at all times, Matt. vi. and that we should say, " Forgive us our debts and our sins, as we also 12 forgive our debtors." For if thou forgivest not those that sin, how canst thou receive forgiveness? Behold, will not thy mouth accuse thee, and thou wilt convict thyself of having said, " I forgive " when thou hast not forgiven, but hast verily murdered; for he who puts any one out of the Church without mercy, what else does he do but murder bitterly, and shed blood without pity ? For if a righteous man is unjustly killed by any one by means of the sword, he is received to rest with God ; but he who puts any one out of the Church and receives him not again, kills verily evilly and bitterly for eternity ; and God gives to be food to cruel fire for ever, him who puts out of the Church, and does not look at the mercy of God, and does not remember His goodness to the penitent, and does not bear the likeness of the Christ, nor pay attention to any people who repent of the multitude of their failings that Ap. con. they may receive pardon from him. It is required of thee then, O Bishop, that the things which happened of old should be put before thine eyes, that from them thou mayest understand and be taught the cure of souls, and admonition and reproof and intercession. When thou judgest men, compare cautiously and with much investigation, and cleave to the will of God ; and according as He acts, thus ought ye also to act