The Testament of Our Lord

I. 18

But because in the midst of the assembly of the people [there are], more and more, many carnal desires, and the labourers are feeble® and few, only My perfect labourers shall know the multitude of My words, all also which at times® I spake to you in private before I should suffer, and which ye know; ye both have them and understand them. For My mysteries are given to those who are Mine, with whom I shall rejoice and be glad with My Father. When they shall be loosed from [this] life they shall come to Me. But these remaining words, determining and appointing them, speak ye in the Churches.

But from the day that My faithful ones also have the desire to know, that they may do the things of My Father, what[soever is] in this My testament, I will be with them, and will be praised among them, and I will make My habitation with them, by power informing them of the will of My Father.

See that ye give not My holy things to the dogs, and cast not pearls before swine,’ as I have often commanded you. 10Qr: shall be like. There is a reminiscence of St. Luke xx. 36 (?).

2 B.: the glorious angels of My Father.

3 Or: arbiter.

4 Jer, xxxiii, 22 (order altered and words applied to an altogether different object).

5 Or: small. ® Or: many times. 7 St. Matt. vii. 6. Give not My holy things! to defiled and wicked men who do not bear My cross, and are not subject [to Me]; and My commandments shall be for derision among them. And it? shall be to him that is embittered # and doeth them not, but giveth My words without profit, for the destruction of their souls. But it* shall be spoken and given to those who are firm and fixed, and do not fall away, who keep> My commandments and this tradition, [to the end] that they, keeping these [things], may abide holy and upright and strong in Me, fleeing from the downfall of iniquity and the death of sin; the Holy Ghost [also] bestowing upon them His grace, that they may believe uprightly,® that they may in the Spirit spiritually know the things of the Spirit,’ and in hope® endure labour, and in joy serve My Gospel,’ and bear the reproach of My cross, not doubting but [rather] glorying®; for verily I say unto you, that such as these [men] and such as these [women] shall, after death, dwell ° in the third order of My Father who hath sent Me.

([CHarreR 191]

T tell you therefore how the sanctuary? ought to be; then I will make known the holy rule of the priests of the Church.

Let the church then be thus: let it have three entrances as a type of the Trinity.

Let the diaconicum * be on the right of the right hand entrance, that the eucharists,'* or offerings which are offered, may be seen. Let there be a fore-court, with a portico % going round, to the diaconicum.

Then within the fore-court let there be a place [to serve] for a baptistery, its length twenty-one cubits as a general ? type of the prophets, and its width twelve cubits as a type of those who have been determined to preach the Gospel,’ with one entrance and three exits.

Let the Church have a house of the catechumens, which shall be also the house of the exorcists. Let it not be detached from the Church, but so that those who enter and are in it may hear the lections* and spiritual hymns of praise and psalms.>

Let there be a throne by the altar ®; on the right and on the left [let there be] the places of the presbyters, so that on the right may sit those who are more exalted and honoured, and those who labour in the word’; but those who are of middle age® on the left hand. But that place where the throne is, let it® be raised three steps, for there the altar ought to be.

Let that house have two porches, on the right and on the left, for men and for women.

Let all the places be lighted, both for a type, and also for reading.

Let the altar have a veil of pure linen, for it is without spot.

Also the baptistery likewise, let it be under a veil.

Let a place be built as for commemoration, so that the priest and chief deacon sitting with the readers may write the names of those who offer the oblations, or of those for whom they have offered [them], so that when the holy things are offered by the bishop, the reader or chief deacon may name them by way of commemoration, which the priests’ and people offer for them with supplication. For there is thistype also in heaven.? Let the place of the. presbyters be within the veil, beside that place of commemoration. Let the house of the offering and the treasury be quite ” beside the diaconicum. But let the place of the lection 3 be a little outside the altar. Let the house of the bishop be beside that place which is called the fore-court. Also that of those widows who are called “those that sit in front.” Also let that of the presbyters and deacons be behind the baptistery.* _Let the deaconesses abide beside the door of the Lord’s house. Let the Church have a house for entertaining near by, where the chief deacon shall entertain strangers.