The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 5

IV. Concerning the duty of Bishops to receive the repentance of those who turn, See then, beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord God; who is good and just, and loveth mankind; merciful and compassionate to those who turn unto repentance. For He delighteth not in hardness and deceitfulness of heart, without compassion; but willeth that a man should turn sinners, and receive again those who have transgressed, into the true religion, that they may be able to return unto repentance. And if Bishops teach not and do not thus, the Lord shall require at their hands the sin of the people; as the Prophet Isaiah saith: Exhort my people, saith the Lord; and ye priests, speak unto Jerusalem, unto her heart. It becometh the Bishop to examine into the life of the people; and if there be any man that hath sinned, let them turn him unto repentance, that they may obtain for themselves a good reward. But if they do not teach, nor turn the people unto godliness, they shall obtain condemnation. And now, then, let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn unto the Lord: and upon those who have sinned let us pass sentence with mercy and compassion, as is meet toward the penitent. And if thou see a man who committeth sin, and is slipping into error, raise him up from his fall; but if thou make his way pleasant to him, behold, thou hast killed thy brother. But it becometh thee to raise up him that slippeth from his fall, that he perish not, and that others seeing it may be instructed and understand, and receive the word of reproof. The Bishop must not delay with respect to the sin of the people, nor neglect the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest the flock of Christ perish through his slothfulness. For concerning them hath the Lord spoken, by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying. Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard and polluted my portion; and have made my portion, which I love, a desolation, and it is become a ruin and destruction: through me all the land is destroyed, through me it hath perished. And thou, when thou seest a man who sinneth, command the deacons to take him away, and put him forth without, and instruct him, and reprove him, that others, seeing him, may fear. But if he turn and repent, let them ask and entreat for him with the Bishop, that he may teach and instruct him: for the Saviour prayed to His Father for sinners; as it is written in the Gospel, Father, forgive them this, and lay not this sin to their charge; for they know not what they do. And then let them examine him that hath sinned, whether he leaveth his evil way: and if he confess his sins and turn unto repentance, let them bring him in, and give him power to enter the Church; and let them command him to fast, according to the sin that he hath done, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right to teach the sinner and instruct him, and reprove him, without anger or partiality, that he may humble himself, and pray unto the Lord, that he may find mercy and compassion when he standeth before the Lord. For he saith. If Thou, O Lord, shouldst strictly observe sin, O Lord, who should stand before Thee! for forgiveness is from Thee, and mercy is in Thine hand. Thus then do, and make a difference. For the Lord said to Cain, Thou hast sinned: be silent therefore, and lift not up thy hand. But it is right that the sinner should sorrow and grieve, and abhor himself. Let us understand the word which the Lord spake to Moses, concerning Miriam: If her father had spit in her face, should she not be ashamed seven days? Let her remove without from the camp seven days, and then let her enter in. And Miriam removed without from the camp seven days. And the people moved not forward, until Miriam was cleansed. And after this the people moved. Let us speak thus, therefore, unto those who desire to repent for their sins. Let us appoint unto them a set time of days, according to their sin, in which they may repent; and when they have repented, let us receive them, as fathers have compassion upon their children. But if Bishops, and other ordained persons, have a stain or spot upon them, and are brought to shame on account of it, and judge not what is right for the poor and the orphan and the widow, but judge with partiality, that they may get lucre and gifts, these shall perish with the hypocrites. As it is written in the Gospel, saying. Why dost thou regard the mote that is in thy neighbour's eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? Let the Bishops, therefore, and Priests, take heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort, lest others be offended, seeing these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasion to destroy others, and to scatter the flock. And a httle leaven leaveneth much meal. Thus sin followeth after those who commit it, and goeth on to destroy many more. As when a thief is found in the treasure-house, and bringeth an evil name upon his whole family through his evil deeds; and as when the stinking flesh of the dead is put into ointment, its whole savour is corrupted; and as when a king is violent and cruel without justice, so are also his rulers. And as when a scabbed sheep feedeth in the midst of the sheep, they all become scabbed if it be not separated from them; and as a mad dog that biteth every one that he findeth, if they kill him not, those whom he biteth become mad together with him; so if there be a scorner, and mocker, and contentious man, and transgressor of the commandments of the law, let them put him forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the House of the Lord, and make it a den of thieves. We must not be silent concerning sinners and wicked men; but must reprove them, that they may leave their evil doings, and put away from themselves corrupt practices. But let us exhort them to fast and pray and give alms, that they may be taught to fear the Lord. For the Lord said unto the Children of Israel, Fear ye me, and keep my commandments. The Bishop should have anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each of them, that he may become to them a guide of salvation into works of righteousness; that so they may be prepared for the Lord, that they may be saved from the condemnation that shall overtake sinners in the day of judgment. And let those who are negligent hear what He saith: Wherefore have ye been silent concerning the transgressors, and have gathered their fruits? The Bishop must feed the people in peace. Those who have not sinned, let him not leave to fall; and those who have sinned, let him turn unto repentance. Hear what the Lord saith unto you, O Bishops, Offend ye not one of these little ones. But it is right that they should pardon and forgive him that hath sinned. And if the sinner confess his sin, and cry unto the Lord from the bottom of his heart, in weeping and groaning, with humility, the Holy Spirit will answer him, saying. The Lord hath pardoned thee all thy sin. Understand then, O Bishop, how much glory and honour the Lord hath bestowed upon thee, who hath given thee power to bind and to loose. Take heed to thyself, and keep the flock of Christ, and walk in the right way, while thou livest in this world: for it shall be required of thee in the day of judgment. For to whom men have committed much, of him will they require much: and there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, but one, who became man for our sakes, even the Lord, the Word. And for this cause the deeds and the lives of the just men who have kept themselves have been committed to writing. For he saith: My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me; and I give unto them life everlasting. He answered and said unto the people: Lo, I judge between sheep and sheep. Know, then, that ye are fed in the good pasture. And that which was left of the pasture ye have trodden under your feet, and my sheep have eaten it. And again he saith: Now shall ye know that I am the Lord. And ye my sheep, are the sheep of my pasture; and I the Lord am your God, saith the Lord. Hear, O ye Bishops, and hear, O people, what the Lord saith. Behold, I will judge between the flock and the goats. And moreover He saith, I will judge the shepherds of the sheep, that have destroyed my sheep by their slothfulness. And again He saith, I will judge between the Bishop and his fellow, between people and people, between ruler and rulers; for my sheep are reasonable creatures, and not without reason. And for this cause let not the people say, We are sheep, and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that follows the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf that destroys, is safe, so he that followeth a foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf shall swallow him up before his face. And therefore we must keep far from evil and destructive shepherds, who spare not, nor save their flocks. For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him, as a father, and a lord, and a priest, and a chief of the priests of the Lord; for he reproveth them, and guideth them unto godliness. For he that obeyeth him, obeyeth Christ; and he that heareth his voice, heareth the voice of Christ. And he that obeyeth Christ, obeyeth God the Father. And moreover he saith. He that heareth you, heareth me; and he that refuseth you, refuseth me; and he that refuseth me, refuseth Him that sent me. And thus it becomes the Bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and let him nourish them with love and instruction, as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and cherisheth her young ones until they fly. So let him teach the people the word of the Lord; and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give their desire unto all who wish to receive of him. And let him not be harsh upon them; but reprove them by the word of wisdom, and put them in fear, that they turn not unto sin; but let him rather exhort them to walk in the right way and keep the faith, and let him feed the people in peace. And moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather in the scattered, and heal the wounded, and comfort the faint-hearted, and set right the lame in heart, that they maybe strengthened by the word of instruction; and let him lighten the heavy burden of their sin, that they may attain unto good hope. And as to them, let them receive instruction in the law of the Church, and turn to repentance: and if a man be cast out through not understanding the word of the Scriptures, despise him not, neither leave him to fall into sin; but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him unto thee, and bring him again into the flock of the Church. But he who refuseth to return, shall be cast out from the flock, and become food for the beasts of the field: and his portion shall be with those who say. Let us eat and drink, for to-morrow we die; who consider not their latter end. And if the Bishop see any man who doeth thus, he should say to him, I will bear thy sins for thee, and die in thy stead, as Christ died for the sin of the world. And then let him toil and labour with him, until he return unto repentance. For the good shepherd giveth his life a ransom for the sheep; but the hireling, who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and leaveth the sheep, and the wolf teareth them and scattereth them; for he is an hirehng, he careth not for the sheep. We. ought to know that the Lord is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and returning to repentance. And if a man transgress, understanding not the commandments that the Lord hath set forth for repentance, but walk in the deceit of his heart, and remember not his sin and his evil that he hath done, understanding not the word of Holy Scripture which proclaimeth mercy to him, that man shall perish and be without hope. But do thou search out the good shepherd, and the humble and patient teacher and reprover, and the merciful, and peace-maker, that goeth round about and feedeth his sheep and seeketh that which is lost, like the Lord our God. For our Father which is in heaven sent his beloved Son, our Saviour, the Good Shepherd, our Teacher, Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the wilderness, and went to seek the one sheep that was lost: and when he had found it, he laid it upon his shoulder, and brought it into the flock with joy; for He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O Bishop! guide them that have erred, and gather in again them that are scattered, and search out them that are lost; for thou hast power for the turning of men to bind and to loosen. So the Lord said to the paralytic, I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace. Now the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, into which thou shouldst bring back those that have repented of then* sins, who have repented and done that which is right and good, and have found the hope of life. The Bishop ought to heal the afflicted, who are sick through the deeds of sin; to visit them, and comfort them, and heal their wounds. For the whole need not a physician, but they that are sick; for the Son of Man came to seek and to succour that which was lost. Inasmuch as thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, give to every one healing according as it is fit, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may stand fast in the Holy Church. Feed the flock of Christ with humility and love, and reproof, without anger; not puffed up with the power of thy office, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of the flock of Christ. And gather thou the lambs into thy bosom; and be good and merciful and just, without deceit, or revenge, or jealousy, or accusings, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or blasphemy, or pride, or vain-glory. Despise not the people that are under thee, and hide not from them the commandments of the Lord; neither turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, to drive them out from the church of the Lord. Be of good understanding, therefore, in judgment; and receive not the witness of one against any man, but only the witness of three men, good and true, concerning whom others witness that they are good and true, who have no hatred or revenge or jealousy. For there are many that speak falsely, that have two tongues or three, who rejoice in evil deeds, haters of their brethren, who desire to scatter the flock of Christ. And if thou hast heard their voice, and believed those who do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and hast delivered them to evil and ravening wolves, which are wicked men. Or rather, they are not men, but beasts in the likeness of men, transgressors and heretics and unbelievers, who know not the Lord. These are they that lie in wait by the way; like a devouring wolf, they tear them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is gone out of the way, they think they have found for themselves great gain. For their father the devil is a murderer; and they that are separated from the Church, and depart from the law, the devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of the transgressors, and shall lose their hope, and depart farther and farther from the Lord; and the Bishop too, if he judge not according to right, his portion shall It is not right, therefore, to reject the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou wanting in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin; and have no communion with the bloody man. For concerning such the Scripture saith. Their feet are swift to shed blood, shame and destruction are in their ways, they know not the way of peace, and there is no fear of God before their eyes. But the way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying. Forgive, that he may forgive you; give, that he may give unto you: that is to say. Forgive men their trespasses, that your Heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. And, moreover, he hath taught us in his prayer, saying, But ye, when ye pray, say thus: Our Father which art in heaven. Hallowed be thy name; Thy kingdom come; Thy will be done, as in heaven, so also upon earth: Give us this day our daily bread; Forgive us our trespasses and sins, as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us. And if, then, ye cannot forgive the trespass of your neighbour, how shall ye find forgiveness of your trespasses? But if there be any one that hath been driven forth without transgression, and then returning asketh pardon, and the Bishop receiveth him not, such an one is the murderer of his brother and a shedder of blood; like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto the Lord. And if any Bishop expel a man without transgression, he is become, like