Didascalia Apostolorum

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6o DIDASCALIA. f. 42 a Matt, xviii. 21 Matt. v. 9 Matt, xviii. 21 22 Ap. Con. II. xlvli. Col. iii. 13 f. 42 b God, and doest according to the commandment. But if there be brethren who have an unavoidable quarrel with one another, which God forbid ! it is required of you Hhat ye immediately make peace1, that ye rulers may know that those who venture to act thus perform no act of brother- hood in the Lord. If then one of them be of the children of God, humble and much oppressed, that one is a son of light ; but he who is hard and bold and injurious and a blasphemer, he is a hypocrite (S. + and the Enemy is working through him). Reprove him therefore, and reprimand him, disgrace him and put him out of the Church as a rebel, and afterwards receive him that he may not perish utterly. When ye punish and rebuke those that are such, ye will not have many lawsuits. For if they do not know the word which was spoken by our Lord in the Gospel, about how many times, if my brother offend me, shall I forgive him ? and they are angry with one another (S. + and become enemies), teach them, and make peace between them, as it is said, " Blessed are the peacemakers." Know that it is required of the Bishop with the Elders that he judge cautiously, as our Saviour said, when they2 asked Him about how often, if my brother offend me, shall I forgive him ? until seven times ? But our Lord said, Not until seven times, but until seventy times seven seven. For thus the Lord desireth, that those who are His own in truth, should never have aught against any, and should not be angry with any one3. But if there happen anything, by the operation of the Enemy, let them be judged before you ; let it be on Monday, lest it happen that some one rise up against the word of your judgments ; that there be opportunity for you until the Sabbath, that ye may arrange the matter, and make peace, and pacify them on the Sunday. Let the Bishops then be constant in all judgments with the Elders and Deacons, and judge ye without respect of persons ; the two individuals therefore coming and standing together in judgment, as the Scripture hath said, " Those who have any controversy or litigation with one another," and when ye have heard them righteously, give an answer of judgment. Strive to keep them in love, before the judgment come out against them, (S. -f lest against one of them being a brother there come among you a condemnation of earthly judgment, but judge thus, even as ye shall certainly be judged), so that in the judgment ye may have the Christ as Associate, Counsellor, Assessor and Overseer of the Court. If there are people against whom an accusation is brought that they 1 S. om. 2 S. we 3 S.-t-and should still less have lawsuits with any one