The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 18

XX. That it is required of Bishops to be discreet in receiving offerings from those only who are worthy. It behoveth the Bishop to make a difference, receiving offerings from those who are worthy; but that which it is not right to receive, let him not receive. Take heed of the seller of strong drink; for his salvation from sin is far off. And for this cause he saith. Woe unto them that mingle wine with water! Let us flee, therefore, from drunkenness and fornication: for the Lord God saith. Bring not offerings from the wages of fornication, from plunder, and from them that lend their substance for usury, and from the impure in spirit: they that make offerings thus, are not accepted before the Lord. It behoveth the Bishop to be far from those that plunder widows and orphans, from those that fill prisons with the pure who have done no wrong, and from those that oppress their servants with heavy and evil servitude, and torment them with hunger and thirst. The offering of such men is polluted: receive it not of them; for every one who doeth evil, and speaketh iniquity, is rejected before the Lord. Let us be far from thieves and pubhcans, and from them that make idols, and from seducers, and such as use false balances, and wicked soldiers, who plunder the houses of the poor and needy, and seize their goods by violence. Take heed of murderers, and those that lie in wait by the way; and of such as overthrow good works; of impure wizards, and all such persons; of blasphemers; and especially of those that take usury; for it is written, saying, A little with righteousness is better than great riches of the sinner. And again it is written, saying. Thou, O Lord, hatest all the workers of iniquity, and shalt cast off all them that speak falsehood. And he that neglecteth to feed the widow and orphan shall be condemned before the Lord. For that which Adonias did is written in the Book of Kings, how he transgressed against the Lord, and eat bread and drank water in the place of which the Lord commanded that he should not eat in it, because of the transgression of Jeroboam the son of Nebat; and for this cause he was slain. For that which a man obtaineth by his labour for the maintenance of the widow, whether it be much or httle, is acceptable with the Lord, seeing that it is not gotten by iniquity; for a little with righteousness is better than great riches of the sinner. But if a widow eat that which cometh from the transgressors and be filled, and pray for them, the Lord will not hear her prayer; for the Lord trieth the doings, and what is in the heart and the reins. For the Lord saith concerning transgressors and unbelievers. Though Moses, Elias, and Samuel stood and prayed for them, I would not hear their prayer, nor pardon their sin. Now he spake not concerning these only, but concerning others also, who have sinned and refuse to turn unto repentance. When they pray, he will not hear their prayer for them that do such things; but they provoke the Lord, not remembering the evil of their doings. Flee then from deeds of this sort; for all who do such things depart from the law. For Ehas received not the offering of Hazael who reigned over Syria, neither did Ahijah receive the offering of Jeroboam; and if the Prophets of the Lord received not offerings from unbelievers, in like manner let the Bishops fear to do so. Simon also, the magician, brought to us a gift, even to us Peter and John, purposing to obtain the honour which is above every honour; but we received not the gift from him, but bound him with everlasting bonds. So did he desire to pervert the honour which was not given to him from the Lord. Flee, therefore, from the polluted offerings which they bring into the House of the Lord. And again he saith. Depart from iniquity, with fear and trembling. And if ye say. If we receive not offerings from transgressors, what shall we give to the widows and orphans, and the poor who have no maintenance? — if ye do thus, it becometh sin unto you; for the Lord hath done and appointed for you, as he did in the beginning for the Levites, that they should receive offerings from the people. And seeing that all this hath been appointed for the Church, it is right that ye should endure patiently hunger and thirst, rather than that ye should receive the offerings of the enemies of the Lord, and become a mocking and a laughing-stock. For concerning such persons, the prophet saith. Let not my head be anointed with the oil of sinners. Take heed to receive offerings from such as do that which is good; but from the transgressors receive them not. And if thou be poor, tell the faithful brethren that love the Lord, that they may give thee thy desire. And when thou hast received from them, give unto the widows and orphans according to righteousness. As Solomon saith unto the people. Give unto the Lord of thy laboiuin righteousness, that thy bams may be filled with corn, and thy wine-press may burst out as a fountain. And from the labour of the faithful clothe the naked, and entertain them from the offerings that they bring unto you, and minister unto them, according to the institution of the saints; redeem the captives, and visit the prisoners, and dehver them that are appointed unto death, that ye may find life from the Lord. Behold, we command that ye follow not the way of the ungodly and unbelievers, nor receive their offerings, for they are prepared as fuel for the fire; neither be ye partakers with them, for the offering of sinners is polluted before the Lord. These things have we spoken unto you, O Brethren, for the profit of your souls.