The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 2

I. That it is the duty of the Rich to search into the profit of the Scriptures at all times, (in the strength of) the Holy Spirit. If then thou art rich, and needest not the art and labour of thy hands, with which to get thy bread and to live, be not slothful and sit not idle; but go to the faithful, and sit with them, with those that are united with thee in the faith; and talk of the word of life, and read that which is in the Scriptures, the Law, the Kings, and the Prophets; and sing a Psalm of praise, and listen to the word of the Gospel, which is the completion of the whole. And be far from all subjection to the gods of the Gentiles; and be not engaged in vain words which profit not; and seek not another law, nor false prophets, who change and corrupt the faith. What then is there that thou canst not find in the Law of the Lord, that thou shouldst seek after the learning of the Gentiles? If thou desirest to know l-he force of the interpretation of the Scriptures, search the Book of Kings: and if thou desirest to know the power of the wise and their doctrine, thou hast the Prophets, Job, and Solomon; these are they who are filled with wisdom, and with them thou shalt find knowledge. These shall increase understanding more than all teachers; for their words are the voice of the Lord God, who alone is Most Wise. And if thou desirest a song, thou hast the Psalms of David. If again thou desirest to understand the creation of the world, and the generation of the ancient Fathers, thou hast the Books of Moses. And if thou desirest to know wisdom and doctrine, thou hast the Book of the Law, which is full of the glory of the Lord God. Keep far, then, from every evil work and doctrine of Satan, and every vain word which is not in the Law. But read what is in the Law of Ceremonies, that thou mayest understand and know certainly the glory of the Lord, who hath saved thee from the many snares of Satan. For the Saviour came not to destroy the Law and the Prophets, but to fulfil them, and to loose the bonds which are in the Law of Ceremonies and bring men into a spiritual doctrine. And for this cause he invites us, saying, " Come unto me, all ye that are weary and heavy-laden! and I will give you rest." And thou, when thou hast read the Law, and the Prophets, and the Kings, and the Gospel, shalt understand how many have been the good men who have reigned in righteousness and pleased the Lord in their lives, and for this cause have obtained life everlasting. And moreover thou shalt know the number of evil kings who have transgressed the commandment of the Lord, in their want of understanding. But these have perished, and come to an end by the stroke of the Lord's judgment, and have lost eternal life. Being then acquainted with these things, thou shalt abide in the right faith, and find grace and favour with Jesus Christ; for thou art become one of his members. Thou moreover, when thou wilt bathe thyself, enter not into the bath where the women wash themselves, lest they see the beauty of thy youth and the fairness of thy flesh, and thou be a stumbling-block to them, and thyself also shouldst sin and fall into error with them. My children, let us hear and understand the voice of the holy man, who said, "Observe ye my commandment. Say unto Wisdom, Thou art my sister; and make Knowledge thy familiar friend, that she may keep thee from the strange and evil woman, though she bring unto thee enticing words. For she looketh out from the windows of her house into the streets; and if she seeth one of the foolish children, a young man void of understanding, who walketh in the corners of the paths of her house, and talketh at even in the darkness of night, when the quietness and darkness of night is come on, then the woman cometh upon him, having the ornaments of adultery, which she puts on to make the hearts of young men flutter. She is rambling and wanton, and her feet rest not in her house: at times she wanders about out of doors a little, and at times is in the streets and in every corner, and waits. Then she takes hold of him and kisses him, and with a shameless face says to him, * I have a peace-offering; to-day I pay my vows; therefore came I out to meet thee, desiring thy countenance, and have found thee. I have spread my bed with fine hnen, I have spread out carpets from Egypt; I have sprinkled my bed with saffron and my house with cinnamon. Come, let us enjoy ourselves with kisses till the morning, and wanton in love: for my husband is not in the house; he is gone on a far journey, taking his bag of gold in his hand, for many days ere he return into the house.' Thus she deceiveth him with many words, and draweth him in with the net of her lips; and he followeth her, in the evil desire of his soul, and in the blindness of his heart." And again he saith, " Look not on the evil woman; for honey floweth from the lips of the adulterous woman, which for a time is sweet to thy throat, but afterward thou shalt find that it is more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two- And again he saith, " Turn thy way far from her; draw not near to the door of her house; lest thou give thy life to strangers, and thy substance to them that are without mercy; lest strangers be satisfied with thy strength, and thy labour enter into the house of a stranger. Then shalt thou repent afterwards, when the flesh of thy body faileth, and say. How have I hated instruction, and mine ear hath turned away from reproof, and I have not heard the voice of them that rebuked me and instructed me, and have not caused mine ear to listen: almost have I been in all evil." And now I say to you, choose for yourselves all good things, which are vn-itten in the Holy Scriptures, that we may not neglect this testimony, and turn away into a multitude of words, but may abide in the right faith, and in doing that which is good. And let us be far from every evil work, and clean from all impurity before the Lord, that we may obtain everlasting life.