The Ethiopic Didascalia

Section 9

VIII. That it is the duty of the Bishop to try and inquire into every matter ifi Be ye therefore pure, as the Fathers of old, good and wise and faithful; and put away from you the evil law and the corrupt custom. But choose for yourselves the way of life. It is the duty of the Bishop to walk in this right way, and to depart from every evil work, and to do good; and to heal also the poor who have need of repentance, and to cast out them that refuse to turn. For there are that make pretences, and use lying devices, and bring accusations through envy and malice; as did the two Elders against Susanna in Babylon, and as the Egyptian woman did against Joseph. But thou, O man of God, do not as these do; but be good and merciful, and receive them that repent. Favour not the sinner, neither slay the just. For he that receiveth not the penitent, nor restoreth the sinners, he is a Father of wrath, and bringeth not peace. And where wrath is, there the Lord dwelleth not; but wrath is the companion of Satan, who walketh about among false brethren, who hath no peace, and stirreth up contention in the Church'. Understand therefore, and follow not the way of fools, who rejoice in evil; neither hear ye their voice in that which is evil, but keep yourselves from them; for they have no fear of God before their eyes, but only revenge and envy. For evil men accuse the good, in whom there is no fault; and bring upon them an evil report, and bring them down into great affliction and tribulation. But thou, O Bishop, understand, and inquire of those who come to thee to tell their cause; and judge between them with wisdom, discerning how and what the matter is. And if a man be found to have transgressed, reprove him, as the Lord hath commanded; take him with thee alone, and exhort him to turn to repentance. And if he refuse, take with thee one or two, and tell him of his negligence and folly, and teach him in meekness and wisdom; and say unto him. Wisdom dwelleth in the heart of the good, and maketh her rest in the bosom of the instructors. And if he hear the word of you three, he hath saved himself, and gained his soul. But if he refuse to hear, tell it to the Church; and if he refuse to hear the Church, let him be unto thee as a Gentile, a heathen and a publican. Receive him not, neither bring him into the Church; nor number him with the Christian people. But as for those who repent of their sins, and turn to our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the Living God, He will receive their repentance. Behold, I, Matthew, one of the Twelve, declare unto you the doctrine of this Didascalia, who was before a publican, but when I repented and believed with a right faith, I became an Apostle, and a preacher of the word of the Holy Gospel; for by faith shall a man be saved. And thus Zacchasus also, who was before a publican, when he returned and prayed unto the Lord, he received his repentance, and despised him not. And so with those soldiers and pubhcans who entered into the Church, and heard the word of repentance from John the Baptist, after their baptism he saith unto them. Do no more than that which is commanded you. Be not heavy upon your brethren, nor upon the heathen that turn to the Lord, lest they rebel against the faith. Thus we command you: Them that return unto the Lord bring into the Church, that they may hear the voice of the Scriptures, and bring forth fruits meet for repentance; that they despise not instruction. But stand ye not together with them in prayer; but let them put them forth, after the reading of the Scriptures of the Law, the Prophets, and the Gospel. And then let them stand at all times prepared to worship in the Church, that others seeing them may fear, and receive instruction and learn godliness. O Bishop, help the sinners, and strengthen them by the word of the Lord; and despise them not, neither refuse to eat with sinners and publicans. For when the Pharisees said to His disciples. Wherefore doth your master eat with sinners and publicans? he answered and said unto them. The sick need the physician, and not they that are whole: I came not to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance. And for this cause it is right that thou shouldst visit them and comfort them, and eat with them in love; and shouldst be careful for their salvation, and help them, and say unto them. Be strong, and clap your hands, and dance with your feet. It behoveth you, therefore, to comfort them that are sorrowful in heart, and bear patiently with them that are angry, that they turn not again unto folly: for the angry man is ever a fool. But if any man turn, and shew the fruit of repentance, straightway receive him; as it was with the prodigal son, who spent all his father's substance in riotous living. And he consumed all his substance. And there came a great famine in that land, and he began to be in want; and he went and joined himself to one of the men of that country. And he sent him to his farm-yard to feed swine; and he desired to fill himself with the husks which the swine did eat; and no man gave unto him. And he thought in his heart, and said. How many servants of my father have bread enough and to spare, and I die of hunger in this place! I will arise and go unto my Father, and will say unto him. Father, 1 have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy son: make me as one of thy servants. And he arose, and went to his Father. And his Father saw him afar oif, and had compassion upon him, and ran, and fell on his neck, and kissed him. And his son said unto him, I have sinned against heaven and before thee, and am not worthy to be called thy son. And his Father said unto his servants. Bring out quickly the best garments, and put them on him; and put a ring on his hand, and shoes on his feet; and bring out the fatted calf, and kill, and let us eat and make merry: for this my son was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found. Do thus, O Bishop, when the new Converts are baptized, and receive them, and lay thy hands upon them and over them, for they are purified by repentance; and, after that thou hast prayed over them, baptize them, and bring them into the good flock. For when the Bishop layeth his hand upon them, they receive the Holy Spirit from our Lord Jesus Christ. And if there be one of the believing brethren that asketh thee, and saith unto thee. Wherefore hast thou slain the sinner? shouldst not thou rejoice with him, and say unto him. For this thy brother was dead and is alive again, was lost and is found? For the Lord is merciful, and pardoneth the sin of him that hath transgressed, when he repenteth and doeth that which is right. Hear what David did, when he sinned concerning the wife of Uriah. After he had confessed his transgression, he repented, and said. Turn thy face from my sin, O Lord, and blot out all my transgressions! Create in me a clean heart, O Lord, and renew a right spirit within me! Cast me not out from before thy face, and take not away thy Holy Spirit from me! Restore unto me thy joy and thy salvation, and strengthen me with thy powerful spirit! And thou too, O Bishop, heal them as a wise physician, and as a faithful friend who anxiously seeketh the salvation of his neighbour: so also do thou help them, and save them, and heal from the wounds of sin those who turn unto the Lord, that they may be saved from condemnation. And if their disorder be great, give them the remedy which blotteth out iniquity; and anoint them with the ointment of Life, that destroy eth the poison of the disease, that is, prayer and fasting: and bind up the deformity of those whose hmbs are broken, by entreaty and supplication. And if, though thou hast done all this, thou be not yet able to heal them, be not against them as a saw which cutteth asunder, and as a hatchet which breaketh in pieces, but as a wise physician, who cutteth gently with the lancet and driveth out the uncleanness of the disorder which is concealed within, and so shall all the body be made whole. But if thou see a deceitful and talkative man, who refuseth to return unto repentance, but liveth in folly and error, cut him off from the Church. For He hath said. Put away evil from amongst you. It is right that thou shouldst reprove him, but account him not as thine enemy, for he is one of thy members. And respect not persons in judgment, neither favour the For ye, O Shepherds of the sheep, and Deacons, must not hear the word of falsehood and accusation against a man that is innocent, in whom is no transgression, to put him out of the Church, devising that ye may receive gifts, and respecting persons: for those who do thus are companions of the Devil. Know, then, that ye shall be recompensed for this before the judgment-seat of God; for it is written, saying, Thou shalt not slay the righteous with the wicked, neither shalt thou receive a bribe to destroy life: for a bribe blindeth the eyes of the wise, and perverteth the word of justice. Neither honour thou the transgressor for the sake of a gift, nor change right for wrong; but keep thyself, and do not any such thing. Judge not unrighteously, neither be partaker with the workers of iniquity; for it is said by the Prophet Esaias, Woe unto them that call good evil, and evil good, who call light darkness and darkness light, who call sweet bitter and bitter sweet! Woe unto them who are wise to do evil, and say. We are wise! And if ye pervert judgment by iniquity, know that ye shall bring upon yourselves condemnation. For our Lord saith. As ye have judged, so shall ye be judged; and with the measure by which ye measure, shall it be measured unto you. But if ye understand and inquire into the word of judgment, ye will discern the evil, and the false, and the calumniators, who slay their neighbours by unjust accusations. These are they that bring in contention, and observe words of vanity, and make a snare for themselves by the words of their lips: those that do thus, drive ye far from the Church, that they pollute not the Church of God. But if they turn and repent and leave their wickedness, and do that which is right, let them be received, to enter into the Church; for they have received the body of Christ. But if a man be born having a superfluity in his members, will he not cut off the superfluous member, lest it be a reproach upon him? And in like manner, ye, the shepherds of the sheep, drive out of the Church of the Lord the apostates and heretics; for it is a reproach, if those live among you who believe not in our Lord Jesus Christ. Cut them off for ever from the Church: for ye are truly members of Christ, and sons of the Church, But if there be found among you a superfluous member, who deviseth evil, and walketh up and down among you, and bringeth in murder and slander and blasphemy, he, who doeth thus, hath perfected all the devices of Satan, and blasphemed against the Church. Those who do thus, drive ye out; and let them be cast forth from the Church, and be recompensed according to their works, and be cut off" for ever from the people of the Lord. And when ye do thus, behold, the Church of God is beautified; for the evil member is gone out of her which dwelt in her and disturbed her. These are the destroyers, the haters of that which is good, the lovers of wealth and vain-glory, who are wise to do evil, and scatter the sheep of the flock of Christ. It behoveth Bishops to judge the people in righteousness; for the Lord saith. If ye walk in a crooked way, I also will walk with you in a crooked way. Moreover he saith in a certain place. With the just thou wilt be just, and with the pure man thou wilt be pure; and with the excellent thou wilt be excellent, and with the froward thou wilt be froward. Walk then in the way of purity, that thou mayest find glory and favour with the Lord. Be of one mind, and love one another. And ye also, O Bishops, feed the people dihgently with one mind, in unity, that ye may praise the Lord in one faith. Be then one body and one spirit, and one faith, as the Lord hath given you grace. It is right that the Deacon should tell the Bishop every thing that hath been done; as Christ also did not any thing, but by the Father: for there is one will of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. And when the Deacon hath received ordination from the Bishop, let him be as an ear and an eye and a mouth to the Bishop, and tell the Bishop the matters of the people, as is fitting; even as Jethro told Moses the Prophet, and he received his word. This is an honour which becoraeth a Christian people. Let not him who is of the people judge, neither the Rulers, but those only who are ordained over the Church. For Satan bringeth a snare upon the servants of the Lord from the unbelievers, and teacheth them reproaches and blasphemies. Is there not a man of understanding among us, who can judge between us with justice? Suffer not then the heathen to know your hidden secrets; neither receive the testimony against you of those who behave not, but keep that which hath been given to you. For He saith. Give unto Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and unto God the things that are God's. But if thou hast a debt to pay, delay not to give it, saying, I will pay it to my brother who is a believer, but to him who beheveth not, I will not pay it: but do as did our Lord, when he paid tribute. And ye, O servants of the Lord, keep the commandments of Christ; and if ye see among the brethren a contention or dispute, bring word concerning them to those who are ordained. If they be men of evil habits, and makers of strife, and haters of that which is good, and walk not in the right way, them that are such reprove, and put them to shame. But if they repent, receive them. And if ye do thus, ye have made peace between brethren, and have saved them from sin. It behoveth you also to overlook and forgive the trespasses of your neighbour; as the Lord commanded Peter, when he said unto him. If my neighbour sin against me, how often shall 1 forgive him? seven times? And Jesus said unto him, I say not unto thee seven times, but even seventy times seven. Thus then the Lord willeth that his disciples should do, and that they should never suffer revenge to dwell in their hearts, nor anger, nor evil desires; but that they should make peace between brethren, that they may live in one mind: for he saith. Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the sons of God. Moreover, it is not fitting on the Sabbath to make debates, but rather peace: let judgment therefore be given on other days. And it is right, O ye Bishops, that the Priests and Deacons should sit with you in judgment: and judge ye not with partiality, and accepting of persons; but judge in righteousness and truth, as the servants of the Lord. And if there be any one who hath a controversy with his neighbour, let them come both of them together, and stand in the court; as it is written in the Law, Judge ye between them in righteousness and truth. And take heed, and quickly reconcile them, and make peace between them, before the judgment of death proceed from the Bishop upon him that hath transgressed. For with you, in the court of judgment, sitteth Christ, the Son of God. And if any man say. Such an one hath blasphemed the name of the Lord, and walketh not in the right way, be not hasty to give judgment against the one, without his neighbour's appearing also. And when they are come together, judge between them. For the judgment that cometh forth from you leadeth on the one hand unto life; and on the other, it leadeth unto condemnation. For our Lord saith. Follow righteousness and truth. And he whose sin becomes known, and who is justly brought up to judgment, shall be driven far from everlasting life, and shall not see the glory of the Lord, but shall be made ashamed before the Saints. But if ye judge with iniquity, ye shall find condemnation, and shall be recompensed before the Lord according to your deeds; as the Lord recompensed unto the two Elders who spake falsely against Susanna. Take heed, then, of speaking falsely; for he that speaketh falsely shall have great condemnation. Be not as the men who transgressed the Law, who spake falsely against Naboth in Samaria; and as the Council of the Jews, who spake falsely against our Lord in Jerusalem; and as those who spake falsely against Stephen, the first martyr. They that bear witness then must be meek men, in whom is no anger, pure, good, loving the Lord, humble, faithful, worshippers of the Lord, men without evil. Those who are of this sort are worthy to bear witness, being pure, without evil or stain; and inquire thou diligently into their testimony. But as for those who live not thus, receive not their testimony. And if many false witnesses agree in one counsel, yet hear not their voice; for he saith. Let me not be joined unto their bloody assembly. And, moreover, it is commanded in the Law, Receive not a false accusation, neither sit with him who doeth unjustly, lest thou become an unjust witness; and. Join not thyself with a multitude to do iniquity. And when a man cometh before you in judgment, inquire into his manner of life, and what are his disposition and habits; and if ye find witnesses concerning him, that there is no depravedness in him, but that he followeth after righteousness, that he loveth the Lord, receiveth strangers, loveth the poor, is a lover of the brethren, one that loveth not gain, no extortioner, no drunkard, nor idle, a merciful man, who openeth not his hand for oppression; him whose doings are thus, judge ye in righteousness and truth. But him that speaketh falsely against his neighbour reprove, for he is the murderer of his brother; that others seeing it, may fear, and not follow his way. And if there be any man whose transgression is made known in the judgment, reprove him, and put him to shame. As we have said before, if any man bring a charge against another, give not judgment for the one without their being both together in the court. But if ye judge for the one wrongfully, without the other's standing up in the court of judgment, ye are become speakers of that which is false; as the Priests who spake falsely against Susanna in Babylon, and brought her down into the court of controversy, unto the judgment of death. And ye in Like manner, if ye judge not in justice and righteousness, shall find condemnation, and the punishment of the wrath of the Lord shall come upon you. But if ye judge in righteousness and justice, ye shall find a good recompence, and Life everlasting. Take heed, then, beloved brethren; do that which is good at all times, that ye may find glory before the Lord, with the Holy Fathers, Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, in the kingdom of heaven, in life everlasting; for that is right before the Lord. Judge in righteousness and peace, without anger. For he that maketh his neighbour angry without a cause, shall have his portion in hell. For he saith. Before the sun go down, cool your wrath, and give not place to the Devil. And again David saith. Be angry and sin not; have love among one another. Remove evil from your hearts, and let peace be among you; and hear what our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ said and taught in the Holy Gospel: When thou bringest thy gift to the altar, and there rememberest that thy brother hath aught against thee, leave there thy offering before the altar, and go, first be reconciled with thy brother, and then return and offer thy gift. The offering of the Lord is a meek heart and humble spirit, prayer, and thanksgiving; but if thou hast made thy neighbour angry and grieved his heart, the Lord will not receive thy offering and prayer. It is right, O beloved brethren, that ye should offer prayer and supplication at all times, and tell all your petitions to the Lord, that he may remove from you indignation and anger. Praise the Lord at all times, always, in every season; and make mention of His name, which is Most High, that he may take away from you hatred and anger and revenge, that ye may be able to pray with a pure heart, without iniquity; for the Lord hath commanded us to love our enemies, and much more then our friends. And again he saith. Hate no man, but reprove some, and instruct; neither hate thy brother with thy whole heart, nor hear an accusation against him, lest thou be offended concerning him. Oppress not the stranger that dwelleth with thee; for thou also wast a stranger in the land of Egypt: neither hate the Edomite, for he is thy brother. And David also saith. If I have repaid them that have requited me evil, let my enemies cause me to fall down naked.