Chapter 49

1If a fornicatress,> or brothel keeper,® or a drunkard, or a maker of idols,’ or a painter, or one engaged in shows,§ or a charioteer,? or a wrestler,’ or one who goeth to the contest," or a combatant [in the games], or one who teacheth wrestling,” or a public huntsman," or a priest of idols, or a keeper of them, be [among those that come], let him not be received. If any such desire to become faithful, let him cease ® from these [things]; and being in deed faithful, and being baptized,’ let him be received and let him partake. And if he do not cease,> let him be rejected. If any one be a teacher of boys in worldly wisdom, it is well if he cease.5 But if he have no other craft” by which to live, let him be excused.18 translated, ‘‘ one (masc.) delighting in fornication.” It occurs again in the Pshitta of Prov. xxix. 8, where the LXX has 8s qoipalver répvas. > =A.C.: r&v érl oxnvijs tes dvhp 7} yur}. » vloxos transliterated. transliterated), labour faithful, etc. (Lagarde, woys). For ‘‘ being baptized” B. reads ‘‘doing” (error of one letter). If any one be a soldier or in authority, let him be taught not to oppress or to kill or to rob, or to be angry or to rage and afflict any one. But let those rations? suffice him which are given to him. But if they wish to be baptized in the Lord, let them cease? from military service® or from the [post of] authority, and if not let them not be received. Let a catechumen or a believer of the people, if he desire to be a soldier, either cease from his intention,‘ or if not let him be rejected. For he hath despised God by his thought, and leaving the things of the Spirit, he hath perfected himself in the flesh, and hath treated the faith with contempt. If a fornicatress or a dissolute man or a drunkard do not ® [these things], and desire, believing, to become catechumens,’ they may [be admitted]. And if they make progress, let them be baptized ; but if not let them be rejected. If a concubine of a man®& be a servant, and desire to be faithful, if she educate those who are born [of her] and she separate from her master, or be joined’?® to him alone in marriage, let her hear; and being baptized let her partake in the Offering, but if not let her be rejected. He who doeth things which may not be spoken of,” or a diviner or a magician ® or a necromancer, these are defiled and do not come to judgment. Let a charmer,’ or an astrologer, or an interpreter of dreams, or a sorcerer, or one who gathereth together the people, or a star-gazer, or a diviner by idols, either cease,? and when he ceaseth let him be exorcised and baptized ; or if not let him be rejected. If a man® have a concubine, let him divorce her and marry in the law and hear the word of instruction.1” Pshitta.