Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 73

DIDASCALIA. 45 And in David and in all the Prophets and also in the Gospel, our Saviour entreats on account of our sins, He who was without sins. Therefore as ye have the example of the Christ, thus also be ye an example to the people that are under your hands, that as He hath taken our sins (S. so do ye also take the sins of the people). Do not imagine that the burden of the Bishopric is a light and easy one. Therefore as ye have received the burden of all men, thus also the fruits which ye draw from all the people, are yours for all things that are necessary to you. Provide well f- 3° b for those that are in want, like people who give account to an inquisitor who does not err and cannot be got over. As ye serve in the office of the bishopric, thus it is meet that from the office of the bishopric ye provide for yourselves ; like priests and Levites and deacons who serve before God ; as it is written in the Book of Numbers, that God spake to Aaron and said, " Thou, and thy sons, and thy father's Numbers house shall bear the sins of the holy things ; and thou and thy sons shall bear the sins of the priesthood ; and thy brethren the sons of thy 2 father, the tribe of Levi, bring with thee ; let them be placed beside thee and let them serve thee. Thou and thy sons with thee shall serve before this Tabernacle of witness, except that the sons of Levi shall not approach 3 the vessels of the sanctuary nor the altar, that they and ye die not ; but they shall be added unto thee, and they shall keep the watches of 4 the Tabernacle of witness for all the service of the Tabernacle, and a stranger shall not come nigh unto thee. Ye shall keep these charges 5 of the holy things, and the charges of the altar; and there shall be no wrath upon the children of Israel. And behold, I have taken your 6 brethren the sons of Levi from among the children of Israel, they are given as a gift to the Lord, to do the service of the Tabernacle of witness. Thou, and thy sons with thee, keep your priesthood for all the service 7 of the altar, and of that within the Veil ; do your service, as something that is given to your Priesthood ; the stranger that cometh nigh shall die the death. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and s said, Behold, I have given you the charges and the firstfruits of all that is hallowed to me by the children of Israel, to thee I have given them for service, and to thy sons after thee, a law for ever. This shall 9 be thine of all the holy things that are hallowed from their fruits and f. 31 a from their offerings, and from all their sacrifices, from all their errors and from all their sins, all that they offer to Me of all the holy things, let it be for thee and for thy sons ; eat it in the Holy place ; every male 10 shall eat it, thou and thy sons, it shall be holy to thee. These shall be 11