Didascalia Apostolorum

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DIDASCALIA. 59 t/ient be pacified, even if one of them lose something according to the flesh ; and let him that is hard and obstinate about peace be kept from the Church until lie repent ; when the two persons approach ', let those jtidge who judge without respect of persons, with much caution, on Monday, investigating the conduct of him who brings the accusation, and his conscience, and the reason of his law- suit and contention. And him that is accused in like manner. Let them punish justly him that is found guilty. Again, about those who are angry, that it is right they sJwuld forgive each other 's faults , if it be that we seek forgiveness from God. Strive therefore, O Bishops, with the Deacons, that ye be righteous before the Lord, because the Lord hath said, "If ye be righteous with 2 J xxii. 27 sic Me, I also will be righteous with you ; and if ye walk with Me frowardly, PS. xviii. I also will walk frowardly, saith the Lord of Hosts." Be ye therefore 26m righteous, that ye may be worthy to receive praise from the Lord1. Let Ap. Con. therefore both the Bishops and the Deacons be of one mind, and let them feed the people carefully in one opinion. For it is required of you twain that ye be one flesh, father and son, for ye are in the likeness of the Divinity. Let the Deacon make known everything to the Bishop, as the Christ doth to His Father; let the Deacon settle some of them himself that he can ; the rest of the other things the Bishop must judge ; f. 41 b but nevertheless let the Deacon be the ear of the Bishop, and his mouth and his heart, and even his soul ; for when ye twain are of one mind and in one .consent there is peace in the Church. This praise then AP- Con. becomes the Christian, that he have not an evil word with any one. But if some temptation should happen to some one from the operation of the Enemy, and he have a lawsuit, let him strive to be delivered from it, even if he lose somewhat by it. Only let him not go to the Ap. con. judgment of the heathen, and do not ye receive the testimony of the heathen about any of our people, for by means of the heathen the Enemy plots against the servants of God. Because the heathen are destined to stand on the left, he calls them the left, for our Lord hath said to us thus, " Let not thy left hand know what thy right hand doeth." Let Matt. vi. 3 not then the heathen know anything about your lawsuits, and receive not testimony against yourselves from them. Be not judged before them, as also it is said in the Gospels, " Give to Caesar that which is Caesar's, Lukexx.25 and to God that which is God's." Be therefore willing to lose, and more zealous to make peace though losing somewhat in worldly matters for the sake of peace ; before God it will be thy gain, because thou fearest 1 S. + and not the blame which is its opposite