Didascalia Apostolorum

Historical source scan page 75

DIDASCALIA. 47 inheritance, offer up from them also an heave offering to the Lord, even a tenth part of the tithes. The heave offering shall be reckoned to you 27 as the wheat of the threshing-floor, and as the offering of the wine-press. Thus ye also shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes 28 which ye receive from all the children of Israel, and ye shall give of them a heave offering to the Lord, to Aaron the priest, of all your gifts 29 ye shall offer a heave offering to the Lord, of the firstfruits which He hath sanctified. And say unto them, When ye offer the firstfruits of them, so it shall be reckoned unto the Levites as the produce of the threshing-floor, and as the produce of the wine-press ; they shall eat it in every place, 31 ye and your households, because that is your reward for your service in the Tabernacle of witness, and ye shall have no sin because of it, f. 32 a 32 when ye have offered the firstfruits of it ; ye shall not pollute the offerings of the children of Israel, that ye die not." CHAPTER IX. Exhortation to the people that they bring heave offerings of prayers and confessions to God, and that they honour the Bishop as \they honour] God, and reverence him, and that they do nothing apart from his permission, nor even give alms to those that are in need without him ; but make everything known to him by means of the Deacon, and he will administer whatever is given, and that every one of the orders of the Church take its place and be honoured as befits it ; condemnation and commination on those who speak zvickedly to priests or despise them ; that they think of them as of their kings, that they take them gifts from their labour for the supply of the need of the poor and tJie orphans and the widoivs, making no reckoning with them, as to whether they give or do not give. Hear, therefore, these things, ye also, ye laymen, the Church chosen of God, because that even the first people was called the Church. Ye then, Holy and perfect Catholic Church, royal priesthood, holy assembly, people of inheritance, great Church, Bride adorned for the Lord God. As therefore was said before, hear also now, Bring heave offerings and tithes and firstfruits to the Christ, the true High Priest, also to His servants bring tithes of salvation, Him the beginning of whose name is the letter 10. Hear, thou Catholic Church, which art of God, who hast been delivered from 10 plagues, and hast received 10 commandments, and hast learnt the law and hast held the faith, and hast believed in a yod the beginning of a name, and art confirmed by the perfection of His glory ; instead of the sacrifices of that time, offer now prayers and supplications and thanks-