The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 8

VII. That it is not lawful for the Deacon to do any thing but by authority As the Son is the good pleasure of the Father, and his Messenger of Counsel, and his Prophet, so the Deacon also is the Messenger and Prophet of the Bishop: wherefore it is not right that he should do any thing without the counsel of the Bishop. And if he give secretly to the needy without the knowledge of the Bishop, he causes him to be reproached, and occasions a charge against him of despising and neglecting the poor and needy and destitute and afflicted. But he who utters reproachful words, or doeth any thing evil against the Bishop, hath transgressed against the Lord; not understanding that which He hath said. Thou shalt not speak evil of the Ruler of thy People. For this law was not ordained with respect unto stocks and stones which the Gentiles worship, but for the sake of the Priests, the Teachers, and Wise Men. For unto them he said. Ye are Gods, and all of you are the children of the Most High. Understand then, O Deacon, if thou see a poor man, and he be ashamed to ask, tell the Bishop secretly concerning him; and reveal not nor tell to others his poverty, lest he be ashamed and murmur. But if thou reveal his secrets, thou bringest sorrow upon thy brother; and for his sake the Lord shall be angry with thee. And the Lord said unto them. Wherefore have ye not been ashamed to speak evil against my servant Moses? and the judgment of the wrath of the Lord came upon them. And Moses said unto them who murmured against him. And we, what are we? in this your murmuring, it is not against me that ye murmur, but against your Maker. And if any one say against one of the people, Thou fool! he shall be condemned; for he hath blasphemed against the name of Christ. And if this be so, how then shall it be with them who blaspheme against the Bishop? For when he stretcheth out his hands upon any one, the Holy Spirit cometh down upon him: and by him ye are taught the spiritual covenant, and know the Lord, and have believed in Christ, by whom also ye are saved; and are anointed with the oil of joy, and with the holy unction, and become the children of light. For when the Bishop layeth his hands upon you in the holy baptism, the Lord sendeth His Holy Word upon you, which saith. Ye are my Children, and this day have I begotten you. Understand therefore, O man, that through the prayer of the Bishop thou wast called a Child of God. And now acknowledge this grace which is given thee; and love him who hath loved thee and called thee into this glory and honour. Bow down unto him who is thy father, under God. For ye have heard the word which saith concerning those who have begotten you according to the flesh. Honour thy father and thy mother; and thereby thou shalt find good; and. He that speaketh evil against his father or his mother, let him die the death. But if these things be so, how is it that ye do not magnify and honour them who have begotten you again by water and by the Holy Spirit, who have fed you with spiritual milk, and nourished you by the word of exhortation, and strengthened you by the Eucharist, and made you prepared to receive the holy flesh and the precious blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? These are they who have loosed you from the bonds of sin; and have made you partakers of the Holy Eucharist, and of the love of God, that ye should be partakers of the inheritance and joint-heirs with his Son. Fear them therefore, and honour them in every thing; for they have the grace of life from the Lord, that they may be judges over them that have transgressed, and may save them from the fire of hell, and absolve them that turn from their sins. It is right that ye should fear these as Princes and Rulers, and be obedient unto them as Kings, and receive them into your houses. Even as Samuel the Prophet gave commandment to the people concerning the King, in the First Book of Kings; and moreover, Moses gave commandment concerning the Priests. And thus we also command you concerning the Bishops, that ye give them their due respect, as it is ordained. For in old time Moses and Samuel commanded the people to honour Kings and Priests, who minister for the affairs of this world; but if this be so, much more is it fitting that ye should give their due respect and maintenance unto the Bishops and Priests, who watch and minister for your sakes, and are your guides unto the kingdom of Heaven. And if from the beginning Kings have raised annies to make war and fight, that they may defend and save the bodies of men, how much more, then, are those worthy of honour who have received the ordination of the Priesthood from the Lord, who heal both soul and body from condemnation! For the soul is greater than the body, and the Priest's office is greater than the King's; for this is the office that bindeth those who deserve condemnation, and looseth those who seek forgiveness. And therefore it is right that ye should love the Bishop as a Father, and fear him as a King, and trust in him as in the Lord. Bring unto him your fruits of the earth, and the labour of your hands, and your first-fruits and tithes and oblations, and the first of corn and wine, and oil, and wool. And then shall he give a blessing upon you, that your offering may be well-pleasing and accepted, as incense of a sweet savour before the Lord your God; and the Lord shall bless the works of your hands, and multiply the good fruits of your land; for the Lord giveth his blessing upon the heads of the righteous who shew mercy. Behold, then, and know that the Lord hath delivered us from the curse of the Law, and brought us into life, while we were scattered and lost as sheep that have no shepherd, and as the brute beast that cannot reason. He hath turned us from our sins, and cleansed us from our transgressions, and commanded us to bring our oblations to the Priests, and to give alms to the poor who have nothing. For our Lord saith in the Gospel, Except your righteousness exceed that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye cannot enter into the kingdom of God. Let it then be your care to give to the Priests and widows and orphans; as it is written, saying. He hath dispersed and given to the poor, and his righteousness remaineth for ever; for by righteousness and uprightness and mercy sin is pardoned, for a pure and blessed soul pleaseth the Lord. Do then righteousness thus, as the Lord hath commanded; give to the Priests, as is fitting, the first-fruits of thy wine-press and of thy threshing-floor; for they have power to give to every one that is in need, and they have authority over every matter of the Church. Resist not therefore the Bishops, in any of their doings; saying. When did he do it? or. To whom did he give? or. When did he spend this? and. Where did he receive that? nor judge whether he do what is good or evil, whether with justice or without justice: for the Lord God shall call them to account for these things, who hath given them the oflfice of the priesthood, and hath granted unto them But do thou set the fear of the Lord before thine eyes; and remember always the word that saith. Love the Lord thy God with all thy heart and with all thy mind and with all thy strength, and follow not the way which leadeth unto other gods, nor any thing like unto them, who have not life; neither follow the ■doctrine of devils, nor any other devices, which Christ hath not commanded. But do thou seek unto the reading of the Scriptures, which are the Law of God; and cease not from the reading of the Scriptures at every opportunity. And put away from thee all evil which opposeth itself, which is not commanded in the Law, mocking, and anger. But honour thy father and thy mother who begat thee according to the flesh, and love thy neighbour as thyself, and be a guide to the poor; and keep far from a false oath, which is without profit. But keep not thou far from the Church of Christ; go early unto it at all times; and worship humbly at all times with the watchful, who sleep not day nor night, who give thanks unto the Lord for life, and for all that he has bestowed upon them. Live, then, by labour, and the work of thine hands; and offer unto the Lord of that which thou hast, according to thine ability; and be a friend of the poor, and obtain possession of the kingdom of Heaven, where there is neither moth nor rust, and where the thief doth not find. And if thou wilt save thyself, strive not in judgment with the Bishop, nor with him who is of the people, thy brother, nor with thy companion, wrongfully: but if thou strive with them wrongfully, thou hast drawn thyself into injustice and sin, seeing that no man hath appointed thee to this office, for judgment was given to the Priests, and not to him who is of the people. For the Lord saith. Judge in righteousness and justice; be of understanding, and give judgment unto every man with discernment. But ye, O people, it is not permitted unto you to judge any man. For he saith to them who have not the ordination of the priesthood. Judge not, for your judgment shall not be accepted. But let the Bishop judge in righteousness; as it is written, saying. Judge the poor and the fatherless, and do right to him that is wronged, and to the poor; and save the desolate and needy. And moreover he saith. Why do ye not judge between yourselves in justice and righteousness?