Chapter 6

1[ii., 15-] See then, my 1 beloved brethren, the greatness of the mercy of the Lord our? God, (who is) good and righteous and a lover of men, merciful and oioteleuton. saith the Lord God. Turn and compassionate to He delighteth not in those that judge h deceitfulness of heart, without mercy; but (willeth) that one should convert and receive those ‘ c ver that have ‘sinned into the true religion, that they may be able to come to repentance. And if bishops do not teach, and act thus, God will require at their hands the sin of even as Isaiah* saith, “ Admonish my people, saith God: ye priests also speak unto the heart of Jerusalem.”* The bishop ought to examine ¢ the People, and if there be any that have sinned, let him turn them to repentance, that they may gain for themselves'a good reward. And if they teach not, and turn not the people to true godliness, they shall receive condemnation. Now let us receive with joy and love the repentance of those that turn to God; and against those that have sinned let us give judgment with compassion and mercy, as is fitting, towards the penitent.’ But if thou seest a man who committeth sin, and falleth into error, lift him up again from his fall; but if thou makest his way of life pleasant unto him, behold, then thou hast slain thy brother. But it is right that thou shouldest lift up again from his fall him that hath fallen, that he perish not; and that others, when they see him, may learn, and understand, and receive the word of admonition. It is not right for the bishop to be negligent as touching the sin of the people, nor, again, to disregard the desire of those who seek for repentance, lest by his slackness the flock of the Lord 8 perish. For concerning them God spake by the mouth of Jeremiah the prophet, saying, “ Many shepherds have destroyed my vineyard, and defiled my portion, and have made my portion, which I love, a desert and a waste; and it hath become a desolation anda ruin: for my sake all the land hath perished and is destroyed.” * mand the deacons to expel him and put him forth, sid to admonish him and teach him,’® that others, sa they see, may fear. And when he turneth, se to repentance,'! Ict them ask, and entreat for him with God, and? with the bishop, that he may teach him. For the Saviour prayed for sinners to His Father, even as it is written in the Gospel, “Vather forgive them, for they do what they know not.” '* And then let at examine him that hath sinned, whether he Seal: his evil way, and when he confesseth his sins, an turneth to repentance, let them '* suffer him to we the Church, and bid him to fast according to the greatness of the sin he hath committeth, two weeks, or three weeks, or five weeks, or seven. It is right sad thou shouldst teach the sinner, and instruct him, an admonish him, without anger or Paeoor,, What he may humble himself, and pray to God, and find 7 compassion and mercy when he standeth before Him." ee 4 said, “If thou, O Lord, shouldest mark sin, oO ord, who should stand before thee? For forgiveness is sheets thee,” ?® and mercy is in thy hand. Thus, then, do, - make a difference. For God said unto Cain, “T - hast sinned : be silent then,” 7° and lift not up thy han - But it is right for the sinner to grieve and et ie despise himself. Let us understand the word Hane ae spake to Moses concerning Miriam, “If her fat . - spit in her face, should she not have been as ps seven days? Let her remove outside the eve : seven days and then let her enter in. ee Li removed outside the camp for seven days, and a al journeyed not until Miriam was purified. And oe they ?! journeyed.” 7? Let us do,” then, thus un o : as who desire repentance for their sins. Let us appoin 4” P and repenteth. '" P God. them a fixed time of years, accordin their sin, wherein they shall feaente ep eric repent, let us receive them, even as fathers sh a ae their children. a eae ii., 17.) But if bishops, and others i i ane on them any defilement or stain, dae of them the people are?! put to shame; and (if) the judge not uprightly for the orphan, and the oor, and the widow, but show favour in judgment that the may get gifts** and bribes, such shall be reckoned A with the hypocrites, Even as it is written in the Gospel saying, “Why beholdest thou the mote that is in thy neighbour’s eye, and seest not the beam that is in thine own eye? ’’?* Let bishops and Priests then give heed that there be not found with them deeds of this sort,- lest others be offended, when they see these evil doings. For the wicked seek occasions to destroy others and to scatter the Lord’s?® flock. For a little leaven leaveneth much meal. In like manner sin followeth after those that commit it, thus destroyeth *° very many. As when a thief is found in a treasure-house and bringeth an evil name on his kinsfolk by the evil of his doings; and as when the stinking flesh of a corpse 1s cast into ointment, the odour of 2 the fragrance thereof is tainted; and as when a king is evil and cruel dispenseth not justice, so, too, are his Princes; and as when a_ scabby sheep feedeth with (other) sheep, they all become scabby, if it be not separated from them; and as, when a mad dog biteth all whom it meeteth, except it be killed, all *? those whom it biteth become mad together with it; in like manner if any man be a scorner, and a mocker, and contentious and a transgressor of the commandments which are in the law, let him be put forth from the Church, lest he corrupt the house of the Lord, and make (it) a den of are. 2° P omits: Lord's. Hi P the poor and the orphan. ?° P and destroyeth. Lit. interest. *' P omits: the odour of. robbers. It is not right that we should keep silent concerning sinners and wicked men, but we should admonish them, that they may forsake ** their doings, and put from them wicked deeds and ** habits. On the other hand, Ict us bid them fast and pray and give alms, that they may learn the fear of God. For He®>® said unto the children of Israel, ‘Fear me, and keep my commandments.” 8 The bishop ought to show anxious care concerning the sin of the people, and consider the life of each one of them, that he may be unto them a guide and a saviour *” unto works of righteousness, that they may be prepared for God, and be saved ** from the condemnation which shall fall on sinners at the day of judgment. But let such as are slothful hear what is said, “‘ Wherefore have ye kept silent concerning transgressors and gathered their fruits? ” ** ‘It is right that the bishop should feed the people in peace; those that have not sinned let him not suffer to fall: and those also that have sinned let him turn to repentance. Hear, O bishops, what the elLord saith unto you, ‘Despise not one of these little ones.” 4° But they ought to forgive and pardon him that hath sinned. And when a sinner confesseth his sin, and cricth to the Lord from the depth of his heart, humbling himself with tears and sighs, the Holy Spirit will come and say unto him, The Lord pardon‘! thee all thy sin. Know, then, O bishop, how much honour and glory God hath bestowed upon thee, and hath given thee authority to loose and to bind.42. Take heed to thyself, and guard the flock of Christ. Walk in the way of righteousness, whilst thou livest in this world, for thou shalt give account in the day of judgment. “For to whom much hath been committed, of him shall much be required.” *? For there is no man that liveth even one day without sin, except One, who for our sakes became man, God the Word. And for this reason hath been written the memorial ** of the ‘righteous who gave good heed unto themselves. For it is said, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me, and I give unto them eternal life.” “* And He answered the people and said unto them,** “Behold, I judge between rams and _ sheep. Know, then, that ye have fed in a good pasture; and the rest of the pasture ye have trodden with your feet 47 - . . my sheep have eaten.”‘** And again, “Now shall ye know that I am the Lord, and ye are my sheep, the sheep of my pasture: ye are my shcep and ** I am the Lord your God, saith the Lord.” *° Hear, ye bishops, and hear, ye people, what God saith, ‘‘ Behold I judge between rams and hegoats.” 6! Moreover He saith, “I will give judgment against the shepherds of the sheep who have destroyed my flock by their slothfulness.’’ 52 And again He saith, “T will judge between bishop and bishop, between peopleg and peoples, between ruler aed rulers.” And my sheep are rational creatures, and are not without reason; and therefore let not the people say, We are sheep and not shepherds, what is this to us? As the sheep that followeth the good shepherd of the sheep, that he may save it from the ravening wolf** that destroyeth (is preserved); in like manner the sheep ™ that followeth the foolish and wicked shepherd of the sheep, the wolf will devour before his face. Wherefore it is right that we should keep far from evil and deceitful ** shepherds and. 5 P he. who spare not, nor save the flocks, but follow the good shepherds who spare and save ** their flocks. For the people love a good shepherd, and fear him as a father, and a lord, and as a priest, and as God’s high-priest, for he admonisheth them, and guideth them unto true godliness. For he that obeyeth him, has obeyed Christ, and heard His voice, but he that rejecteth him and heareth not his voice, hath rejected and transgressed against Christ,*’ as ** he that obeyeth Christ, hath obeyed God.** Moreover it is said, ‘He that heareth you, hath heard me, and he that rejecteth you, hath rejected me, and he that rejecteth me, hath rejected him that sent me.” ®° In like manner it is right for the bishop to love the people as his children, for they are his sons; and to nurture them *! with admonition as a bird which broodeth over her eggs, and nurtureth her young ones until they fly. In like manner let him teach the people the word of God, and feed them with spiritual doctrine, and give what they need to all who desire to receive of him; and let him not *? be burdensome to them, but admonish them with words of wisdom, and put them in fear, lest they turn again unto sin. Rather let him bid them walk in the way of righteousness, and keep the faith; and let him feed the people in peace. Moreover let him raise the fallen, and strengthen the weak, and gather together the scattered, and heal the wounded in heart,*? and console the faint-hearted, and strengthen the lame with * the word of admonition; and let him lighten the heavy burden of thcir sin, that they may get them a good hope. And as for them, let them learn the law of the Church, and turn to repentance. And if there be any man who is cast out through not understanding the 5¢ P omits: the flock, but fol- ** Lk ro, 16. ‘low the good shepherds who " P adds: with love and. words of the Scriptures, despise him not, nor suffer him to fall into sin, but help him, and heal him from the wound of sin, and turn him to thee, and restore him to the Christian flock.*® But whoso refuseth to turn again, he shall go forth from thy * flock, and be made food for the birds of the heaven and *7 the beasts of the field; and his portion shall be with them that say, Let us eat and drink: to-morrow we die; and that think not on their latter end. And if there be any man whom the bishop hath seen doing thus, he ought to say unto him, I will bear thy sin, and die in thy stead, even as Christ died for the sin of the world. Then let him toil and suffer with him, until he turn again unto repentance. Kor “the good shepherd giveth up his life for the sheep; but the hireling who is not the shepherd, whose own the sheep are not, seeth the wolf coming, and fleeth and leaveth his sheep, and the wolf catcheth them and scatteretly them. Because he is a hireling, he careth not for the sheep.” ** It is right that we should know that God is merciful, and desireth not the death of a sinner, but his conversion and return to repentance. And if there be anyone that sinneth through aindecstarie ing not the commandments which God hath ordaine for repentance, but walketh in the deceit of his or and remembereth not his sin, and his evil which he hat done, remembering ** not the words of the ner Scriptures which have proclaimed mercy to him, ts a one shall perish and be without hope. But ee ou out a good shepherd, and a meek and patient teacher and monitor, and one that Is merciful and a peice maker, who goeth about and. feedeth his sheep sceketh that which is lost, like the Lord our iar For our Father who is in heaven sent His belove Son our Saviour the Good Shepherd, our Teacher Jesus Christ, who left the ninety and nine in the Na a and went to seek one shcep that was lost. And when He found it He bore on His shoulder,’! and brought it to the flock with joy, because He had found that which was lost. Hear this, O bishop, guide them that have gone astray, and gather together them that have been scattered, and seek them that are lost, for thou hast authority to turn (to repentance), that thou mayest bind and loose. For our Saviour”? said to the man with the palsy, “I have forgiven thee thy sin; thy faith hath saved thee; go in peace.” ’*° For the peace which we have received is the Church of Christ, whereinto thou shouldst bring them that have repented of their sins, and are cleansed,’* and have done righteousness and goodness, and found the hope of life. The bishop ought to heal the sick7® who are diseased through deeds of sin; to visit them and to console them and to heal their wounds, for “not the whole, but the sick are they that need the physician. For the Son of man came to seek and to help that which was lost.” 7* Since, then, thou art a physician in the Church of the Lord, impart healing to each one as it befitteth, and feed them with spiritual food, that they may be strong in the Holy Church. And feed the flock of Christ in humility and in love, and mild severity"? without anger, not exalting thyself in thy position of authofity, for thou art the shepherd of the sheep of Christ’s flock; and thou shalt gather the lambs in thy bosom. Be, then,’® merciful and just, without guile, or revenge, or jealousy, or slandering, or calumny, or hatred, or partiality, or evil speaking, or haughtiness, or boasting. Despise not them ’® that are under thee, nor hide from them the commandments of God, nor turn thyself away from their repentance, nor bring pretexts against them, nor drive them away from the Church.*° Be of understanding, then, in judgment, and receive not the witness of one man against any, but only the witness ™ A unintelligibly reads: and for yourselves. of three good and faithful men,*'! to whom others bear witness that they are good and faithful, who cherish not hatred, nor revenge, nor jealousy. lor there are some ®? that speak falsely, that have two tongues, or three, who rejoice in evil-doing, haters of the brethren, who seek to scatter the flock of Christ. But if thou hearest their voice, and believest those that do thus, behold thou hast scattered thy flock without judgment, and given them over to evil and ravening wolves,®* that is (to) evil men. Or rather, they are not men, but evil ** beasts who are in the likeness of men, ungodly and unbelieving and apostates, who know not God. Such are liers in wait in the way, and like a wolf that seizeth and ** devoureth, they seize them that depart from the law of the Church; and when they see one that is lost, it seemeth a great thing for themselves.** For their father, the devil, is a murderer. And those that go astray °’ from the Church, and depart from the law, devils shall be their shepherds, and shall afflict them with torment and distress and sorrow of heart. And they shall follow the way of transgressors, and shall lose their reward,*® and shall depart farther and farther from God. And as for the bishop, if he judge not uprightly, his portion shall be with them.’ Thou oughtest not, then, to thrust away the sinner, nor to despise him that turneth; neither be thou lacking in mercy, that thou mayest heal the wound of sin, nor have thou fellowship with the man of blood. For concerning them the Scripture saith, ‘Their feet are swift to shed blood; shame and affliction are in their way, and they know not the way of peace; and there is no fear of God before their eyes.”** The way of peace is our Saviour Jesus Christ, who hath taught us, saying, “Forgive, that he may forgive you; and give, men shall give unto you;”?* that is to say, Forgive men their trespasses, that your heavenly Father may forgive you your trespasses. Moreover He hath taught us in the Prayer, saying,*! “Forgive us our trespasses and our iniquity as we also forgive him that hath trespassed against us.” *? But if ye cannot forgive the trespasses of him that hath trespassed against you,** how shall ye find forgiveness for your trespasses ? And if there be anyone that hath been thrust forth being innocent, and then returning hath asked for pardon, and (the bishop) receive him not, he is a murderer of his brother, and a shedder of blood like Cain, who shed the blood of Abel his brother; and his blood cried unto God. And if any bishop thrust forth (a man) being innocent, he is, like Cain, a murderer.