The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 12

XI. That it is not lawful for Christians to enter into the assemblies of the Heathen, nor to see the playing, nor to hear the singing. Take heed therefore, and keep yourselves from deeds like these, neither associate with the assemblies of the Gentiles; but keep far from the devices of Satan; for the devil hath no fellowship with the Lord; and he who joineth himself with the singer, to do the pleasure of the enemy, shall be numbered with the devil, and shall inherit a curse. Keep far, therefore, from evil doings, in which there is no profit, such as plays, the worshipping of idols, and resorting to soothsayers, and magicians, and enchanters, and diviners by birds, and necromancers. As it is written. Let there not be evil upon Jacob, nor reproach upon Israel. Depart, therefore, from such customs as these, which the idolaters follow, to lead men astray, which are the works of the devil. It behoveth the faithful to separate themselves from the assemblies of the wicked, and not to unite to keep a feast with them. And let us then likewise keep far from them, and not enter into their houses, nor eat nor drink with them; for these things are done amidst deeds of Satan. Let us separate ourselves from the worship of idols, and from error; from their social meetings, and vows to their gods. Ye also, O young men! discharge all duties that are fitting towards the Holy Church, without idleness; and live by the fruit of your labour, in purity, that ye may not be in want of any thing, nor be a burden to the Church of Christ; that we may be without care, except for the preaching of the Holy Gospel; and that we may not be negligent to work with the labour of our hands, nor be idle. For there are some among us, fishermen, and some tent-makers, and some cultivators of the earth. Solomon saith. Turn to the ant, thou sluggard, and, seeing her ways, imitate her, and become wiser than she. For she, having no field, and none that compelleth her, having no master, prepareth her meat in the summer; in the time of harvest she laboureth much. Or go to the bee, and learn how she laboureth, and how good is her work; whose labour kings and people alike take, for health: she is desirable and honourable with all, yet in strength is she weak; by honouring wisdom, she is become honourable. How long, O sluggard! wilt thou sleep? and when wilt thou awake up from thy sleep? A little while thou sleepest, a little while thou sittest; and a little thou wilt dose, and a little thou wilt fold thy hands upon thy breast: and then poverty shall come upon thee as an evil messenger, and want as a swift runner. But if thou be not slothful, thy harvest shall come as a spring of water; and poverty, like an evil runagate, shall depart far from thee. A foolish and violent man walketh in ways that are not good. And again he saith. He that tilleth the land shall be filled with bread. And yet again he saith. The slothful man hideth his hand in his bosom, and it troubleth him to lift it to his mouth. The wise man provideth for himself. The foolish sluggard foldeth his hands together, and eateth his own flesh; for the doings of the sluggard are without remedy. If any man will not work, neither let him eat; and let not the idle man sit with you. Fear the slothful therefore, at all times, and depart far from them; for the Lord God hateth all the slothful. Let not the slothful man sit with those that are obedient unto God the Father; unto whom be praise and glory for ever. Amen. Let her be appbinted who is of threescore years, who hath good works, chosen, and pure, who desireth not again a husband; but let not the younger widows be appointed. And if thou appoint a young widow, who cannot endure as the aged widows, but desireth to marry again, trust her not, for she will bring reproach and disgrace and a stain upon the Church, and shall be condemned before the Lord; because she hath married a second husband, and hath not kept the command of the Scripture. Wherefore it is not right to appoint them hastily, without inquiring into their lives, and examining them, whether they have continence. And if they cannot persevere, it is better not to name them; for they keep not that which they have promised. But if there be a young widow, who hath had a husband and hath been separated from him for a httle while by death, and then she live alone, and keep the observance of widows, she that doeth thus is blessed: for she is like the widow at Sarepta of Sidon, to whom Elijah the holy Prophet of the Lordcame, and she received him: and like the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Aser, who lived in the House of the Lord day and night, always ready for prayer and supplication, though her years were so many. At seven years did she enter into the Temple, and she remained fifty-seven years, continuing a virgin; looking for the coming of Christ, and giving thanks unto the Lord, and proclaiming concerning Him to all that looked for the coming of the salvation of Israel. Now the widow who doeth after this manner, shall find favour and honour and praise in this world, and in that also which is to come, before the Lord, in the Kingdom of Heaven. But let not the younger widows be appointed into the institutions of the Church: for they cannot contain with respect to marriage, while they are in the strength of their youth; and they will marry a second husband. Now as to these, their youth is given to the devil: but rather let them take heed, for the saving of themselves, that they marry not a second husband. It behoveth you to understand this, that a first marriage is pm-e before the Lord: but they who marry a second time are transgressors of the Law; yet not on account of their being joined in marriage, but because they have been false against God the Creator. And they who marry a third time are not to be numbered with the flock of Christ. But as to those who marry a fourth time, their lasciviousness is yet more evident, and they shall find reproach and dishonour. For in the first creation the Lord gave one woman to one man, and for this cause they two became one flesh. Thus we command the young women: if their first husbands die, and they cannot contain, let them marry again, lest they fall into the snare of the devil and his devices, and into evil desires, that destroy the soul, and they themselves go down into the everlasting condemnation of hell, where there is no rest nor refreshment. But widows who are known for righteousness, women who have married one man, and to whom many bear witness that they have lived in purity, let these be numbered with the faithful widows, even those who bring up their children without spot: such as are of this kind it is right to help, and to make due provision for them, for their trust And thou moreover, O Bishop, stretch forth thine hand to give, and remember the poor and needy, and give to every one his desire, according as they stand in need; and visit the widows and orphans, and the afflicted. It behoveth the Bishop then to help such, and save them, and make due provision for them, even for all the needy and afflicted; and to feed all the people in the good flock, who bring their offering of alms. And when they have brought it unto thee, give to every one according as it is fit, as a good and merciful steward; for this is acceptable with the Lord. For every one that giveth to the poor shall find a good reward; and thou that hast laboured for the Lord shalt receive a recompence. And say thus unto those to whom thou givest. That which I give unto you, such an one hath offered; that they may pray and make supplication for him. It is right that we should do good to all men; and say not. To this man I will give, and that man I will refuse. Do not thou make a difference between any. For our Lord saith. To every one that asketh thee, give; whether he be a friend or an enemy, and whether he be of thy kindred or a stranger, whether he be married or have not a wife, whether it be a widow or an orphan, even to all the needy do good. For our Lord hath commanded in the Scriptures, that we should have compassion upon the poor: for he saith, by the mouth of the Prophet Isaiah, Break thy bread to the hungry; and bring in the poor, and cause him to dwell under the shadow of thine house. And when thou seest the naked, clothe him, and hide not thine eyes from the seed of thine house. And Daniel also saith. Wherefore let my counsel please thee, O King, and by almsgiving in righteousness thou shalt be saved; and purge out thy sin also by shewing pity unto the poor, until the Lord pardon thy transgression. And again he saith. For by mercy and faith shall sin be blotted out. And again he saith. Blessed be he that considereth the poor and needy: the Lord shall deliver him from the day of evil. And again he saith. He hath scattered abroad, and given to the poor, and his righteousness endureth for ever and ever. And moreover Solomon saith again. He that hath pity on the poor, lendeth unto the Lord; and he shall be recompensed according as he hath given. For he that stoppeth his ears, that he hear not the cry of the poor, against him the Lord also will stop his ears. And he that shutteth his eyes, that he see not the oppressed, unto him also the Lord will stop His ears, and will not hear him. It behoveth the widows to be meek and quiet, no talkers, without malice or anger; but pure and humble, and worshipping the Lord in righteousness. And if they see evil doings, or hear unseemly words, let them be silent, as though they saw not and heard not. And let there be no care upon the widow for any thing, but for prayer and supplication on behalf of them that give alms and bring offerings unto the Church. And if there be any man who seeketh idle words of vanity, let them not answer him, but let them receive such as seek after the word of faith, and deeds of righteousness, and a good hope before the Lord. And let those who desire to be taught go to the Ordained Ministers, to hear the word of exhortation; and let them not hear slanderous reports, nor follow after other Gods; but let them worship the one Lord, who hath created all things. For the Lord hath compared the kingdom of heaven to a grain of mustard-seed, which is less than all seeds; and yet, when a man tasteth it, it burneth him. And so is the doctrine of the word of faith, it burneth the devil. It is not right that we should transgress the word of the Prophets, nor reveal mysteries to them that rebel against the faith; but let us be firm in believing: for our Lord hath commanded us, saying. Cast not your pearls before swine; neither give your holy things unto dogs, lest they turn and tear you; nor unto swine, lest they trample your pearls under their feet. For when unbelievers know the doctrine of the mysteries, they will despise it, and make it a reproach and shame, through their folly. But teach them rather to understand the word of the Law and the Prophets, who prophesied concerning the coming of Christ. For our Lord Jesus Christ sent us twelve, to teach all nations; but he commanded not women to teach, nor to speak in the church unto the people. Let them rather receive instruction, and abstain from deeds of fornication, and be obedient, with fasting and prayer, to hear the word of Scripture. For there were with us His mother and sisters, Mary Magdalene, and Mary the sister of Lazarus, and Martha, and Salome, and others also; yet these he commanded not to teach with us, and neither is it right that other women should teach. For if the man be the head of the woman, it is not right that the members should be greater than the head. It is not becoming, then, for the widows and virgins to walk up and down in the streets, or enter into public assemblies. And they who do after this manner are not widows or virgins, but become a stumbling-block to men: they who cleave not unto the Church, are idle and wanton, and seek other men's goods, and take men captive, and become seducers of others, and cause souls to fall; and they who follow them are far from the Lord. And as to those who enter into the Church, and consider not the word of Scripture, neither listen to the word of exhortation, of those who do after this manner the Prophet Isaiah saith. Hearing they shall hear and not understand, and seeing they shall see and not perceive: for the heart of this people is darkened. Unto such widows as these show thou not the sacrifice of Christ. But let her, who desireth to please the Lord, dwell in her house quietly, and praise him day and night, with a mouth that keepeth not silence; and let her pray unto the Lord with a pure heart, like wise Judith, who prayed to the Lord for Israel, day and night. So will the compassionate widow pray unto the Lord, neglecting not to go to the church; for all her thoughts are ever ready for His service, neither doth she turn to the desire of worldly pleasures. Her eyes are pure, and her ears holy; neither doth she stretch out her hand unto violence. Her feet run in the way of peace; neither doth her mouth speak falsely; and her manner of living is with moderation. Now as for her who doeth thus, the Lord will hear her prayer and supplication: for he saith. In the day when I call upon thee, hear me speedily. Let such a widow as this be appointed of the number, one who loveth not money, who hath no vanity nor wantonness, who is not a lover of gain, but is well-pleasing and prudent, and sitteth in her house, praising and singing, and reading the Scriptures, and observeth the times of the hours day and night, and fasteth and prayeth unto the Lord at all times, and giveth from the labour of her hands unto the poor, and hath no possessions; remembering the widow who brought two mites into the sanctuary of the Lord. And concerning her our Lord Jesus Christ hath testified in the Gospel, and said. Verily I say unto you, that this widow hath brought in more than all they that have brought into the treasury of alms: for all they that brought in, have brought in of their substance; but she hath brought in of her poverty, even all her living. It behoveth the widows, then, to be pure, and to be in subjection with fear, and more especially to the Bishops and Priests, and Deacons and Deaconesses. And let them do nothing without the counsel of the Deacon, not going after pleasant meats, or vain conversation; and if they be found doing thus, let them be reproved by the Deacon, and let him command them to fast. And so the Priests likewise, let them not receive gain from robbers and adulterers. Receive thou nothing from those who do such things, neither bring in their offering unto the Lord thy God. It behoveth the widows then to be ready to hear the voice of those that are over them, and to do all that they command them, and to observe the word of the Bishop, and to honour him as the Lord. And if any one receive alms of the unbelievers and unjust, he falleth himself into their error, and dieth in their transgression. And if he pray for them, he grieveth Christ. But rather let him turn them to repentance; for those who convert not the unjust and sinners, and them that are in error, shall be accounted partakers in