Didascalia Apostolorum

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42 DIDASCALIA. correct them, so that thou mayest make their ways straight and smooth for them, and make stable their mode of life. Keep what is in health, that is to say, keep carefully him who is steadfast in the faith, and feed all the people in peace. That which is weak strengthen, that is to say, him who is tempted, strengthen by means of admonition. That which is sick heal, that is to say, him who is sick with doubt of the faith heal by means of doctrine. That which is broken bind up, that is to say, him who is beaten or struck or broken by his sins or halting in the way of righteousness, bind him up, that is to say, cure him by means of intercession and admonition ; raise him from his fall and encourage him ; shew him also that there is hope for him. Bind him up and heal him ; admit him also to the Church. That which has wandered persuade, that is to say, him that is abandoned in sins, and excommunicated as for reproof, leave not without, but teach and admonish and convert, and receive him into thy flock, that is to say, him who by the multitude of his falls has cut off his hope, and has let his soul go to perdition ; do not allow him to perish utterly, lest by means of temptation or much negligence he sleep, and through the heaviness of his slumber he forget his life, and be removed and turned from the flock, that is to say, from the Church, and he come to perdition ; for since he has got out of the fold and is removed from the flock, a wolf will eat him as he wanders,- and he will perish utterly. But f. 28 b do thou visit him, admonish and teach and convert him, command him and encourage him to awaken ; tell him that there is hope, and cut this off from their minds, that they may not say nor think that which was Ezekiel said of old, that " Our iniquities and sins are upon us, and by them we are corrupted ; how then can we live ? " It is not required of us that we should say or think these things, or suppose that their hope is cut off on account of the multitude of their sins, but that they should know that the mercies of God are many, that He hath promised with oaths and good counsel, pardon to those who have sinned. If then a man sin, and know not the Scriptures, and be not persuaded of the long-suffering and pity of God, and knoweth not the boundaries of pardon and repentance, he perisheth by this, that he knoweth not. Therefore thou, O Bishop, as a shepherd, a partaker in suffering, who art full of love and tenderness, be assiduous in visiting thy flock. Count the flock. Seek that which has wandered, as said the Lord God Jesus the Christ, our Teacher and our Good Shepherd. CHAPTER VIII. Teaches the same Bishop that he be not luxurious and covetous about tJte things that come into tlte Church, as provision for the poor, but that he furnish