Chapter 9

1Even-as the Son is the good pleasure of the Father, manner is the deacon the messenger! and prophet of the bishop. : Wherefore it ceit. of the Gospel. ; The phrase generally means is not right that he should “patriarchs,” but that is scarcely suitable here. *7 P omits: the prophet and Moses was called. do anything without the counsel of the bishop. And if he give in secret to one that is destitute without the knowledge of the bishop, he causeth reproach, and imputeth (unto him) neglect and sloth as touching the poor, and needy,” and afflicted. And he that speaketh evil against the bishop, or doeth wrong, hath sinned against God, not understanding that which is said, “Thou shalt not speak evil against the ruler of thy people.’’® For this law was not ordained concerning stones and trees which the Gentiles 4 worship, but reads ae ue to priests® and wise men. [or to [ii., _32-] Understand then, O deacon, if thou seest a destitute man, and he be ashamed to beg, speak concerning him? to the bishop, and reveal not his poverty to another, nor speak of it, lest he be ashamed and murmur. But if thou revealest his secrets, thou shalt bring sorrow on thy brother, and for his sake the Lord will be wroth with thee.8 ‘And He® said unto them, Wherefore were ye not afraid to speak evil against my servant Moses? And the anger of the wrath of the Lord came (upon them). And Moses said unto those that murmured against him, And we, what are we? and this your murmuring—it is not against me that ye murmur, (but) against the Creator.” 12 And if there be anyone that saith to a layman, Thou fool he shall be condemned, for he hath blasphemed against the name of Christ. And if this be so, much more then shall those (be condemned) that blaspheme against the bishop. For when he stretcheth forth his hands the Holy. Spirit cometh down'8; and by him ye are taught the spiritual commandment, and know God, and have believed in Christ, by whom ye are saved by the oil of gladness and the holy chrism, and are made the sons of light. For when the bishop layeth his hand upon you in holy baptism, the Lord sendeth His holy Word upon you, saying, ‘““Ye arc my sons, and | to-day have begotten you.’’ 16 {ii., 33-] Understand, then, O man, that by the prayer of the bishop thou art called a son of God. Now also know that!” which was granted unto thee; and love him that hath loved thee, and called thee 18 to this glory and honour. Revere the bishop! who is under God a father unto thee. For ye have heard the word which saith concerning those who begat you according to the flesh, “Honour thy father and thy mother, and for this thou shalt find good"; and, “he that speaketh an evil word against his father or his mother, let him die the death.” ® And if this be so, how then is it that ye do not magnify and honour those who have begotten you again with water and the Holy Spirit, and have fed you with spiritual milk, and nurtured you with the word of admonition, and strengthened you by the eucharist, and made you meet to receive the holy Body and the precious Blood of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ? These are they who have loosed you from the bond of sin, and made you partakers of the holy eucharist,2! and of the love of God, that ye may be partakers of the inheritance and joint-heirs with His Son. Fear them, then, and honour them in every thing, for they have been granted life from God, that they may give judgment against them that have sinned, and save them from the fire of Gehenna, and pardon them that turn from their sins. (ii., 34-] These then you ought to fear as chiefs and rulers; and obey them as kings, and receive them into your houses. Even as Samuel the prophet com- ’Ps2 7, used in the last sentence. manded the people concerning the king in the first Book of Kings, and Moses also commanded concerning the priests, we in like manner command you concerning the bishops, that ye give them their due, even as is appointed. Tor of old Moses and Elijah™ and Samuel commanded the people to hunour kings and _ priests, who do service in matters of this world; and if this be so, much more is it meet that you should give their due and their maintenance to bishops and priests who watch and do service on your behalf, and are your guides unto the Kingdom of heaven. And if of old kings raised armies to fight and war, that they might guard and save men’s bodies, how much more are they (worthy of honour) who have reccived from God the office of the priesthood, who preserve soul and body from condemnation. [For the soul is of more account than the body, and the priestly office is of more account than the kingly, for this is the office which bindeth those that deserve condemnation, and looseth those that seek for healing.* Wherefore it is right that ye should honour and #4 love the bishop as a father, and fear him as a king, and trust in him as (in) God. Bring unto him your gifts, both the fruits of your ground, and the labour of your hands, and your first-fruits, and your presents, and your vows *; even the first-fruits of your wheat and wine and oil and wool. And for this shall he pronounce a blessing upon you, that your oblation may be acceptable and well-pleasing as incense, even a sweet savour before the Lord your God; and that the Lord may bless the work of your hands, and multiply the good fruits of your land. For the blessing of the Lord is 2? upon the heads of the righteous who shew mercy. Behold now, know ye that the Lord hath freed us from the curse of the Law, and brought us pardon (a similar word in Eth.) >" P the Lord pronounceth a back to life, when we were scattered abroad and lost as sheep without a shepherd, and as the beasts that cannot speak. He hath turned us from our sins, and cleansed us from our iniquities, and commanded us to bring our sacrifices to the priests, and to give alms to the poor who have nothing. For our Lord saith in the Gospel, “Unless ye abound more than the Scribes and Pharisees in doing righteousness ye cannot enter into the Kingdom of heaven.” * (This will ye do) if ye take care to give to the priests and the widows and the orphans; even as it is written, saying, ‘He hath dispersed abroad and hath given to the poor, and his righteousness remaineth for ever,” °° for ‘by righteousness and uprightness and mercy sin is pardoned.” 8! For a pure and blessed soul pleaseth God. Do, then, righteousness thus as the Lord hath commanded; give to the priests as it befitteth, the first-fruits of thy winepress and thy threshing-floor, for they have authority to give to all the destitute, and power over every matter of the Church. Strive not, then, against the bishops in anything that they do, saying, When did he do it? or, To whom hath he given? or, When did he spend it? or, Whither did he send it? (Nor discuss) whether he hath done good or evil, or acted justly or unjustly, for the Lord God will require it of them, who hath given them the office of the priesthood, and granted unto them the greater degree. But do thou set the fear of God before thine eyes, and remember at all times the word that saith, “Love the One % Lord, thy God with all thy heart and with all thy strength,” * and follow not the way which leadeth unto (false) gods, nor anything like thereto that have no life in them, nor the doctrine of devils, and other creatures (? ) 5 which Christ has not commanded. But seek thou to read the Scriptures which are the law of the Lord thy God,® and cease not to read His ® Scriptures at all times. And remove from thee all evil that opposeth itself, which is not commanded jn the law, (even) mocking and anger. But honour thy father and thy mother who begat thee according to the flesh, and love thy neighbour as thyself, and shew mercy ® to the poor, and keep far from false swearing wherein is no profit. But keep not far from the Church of Christ; resort thither early at all times, and worship humbly ® with the lowly, who sleep not night or day, giving ‘! thanks to God for # the life that He hath bestowed upon them. Live by (thy) labour, the work of thy hands, and offer unto the Lord of what thou hast according to thy power; and be a friend of the poor, and gain the Kingdom of heaven, where is no moth nor rust, neither doth the thief find it. And if thou desirest to save thyself, strive not in judgment with the bishop, nor with a layman, thy brother, nor with thy fellow wrongfully. And if thou strivest in judgment with him ® wrongfully, thou hast drawn on thyself transgression and sin, none constraining thee. Tor judgment hath been given to the priests, and not to the layman. For the Lord saith (to them) “Judge in righteousness and uprightness ’’; 44 and, “Be of understanding and judge the great ones of the people, each one of them.’’ 45 But to you * it is not petmitted to judge any man. For it is said to those that have not the office of the priesthood, “Judge not, for your judgment shall not be acceptable.” 47 But let the bishop judge in uprightness, even as it is written, saying, “Judge the poor and the orphan, do justice to the oppressed and the needy, and save the desolate and destitute.” 8 And moreover it is said, “Wherefore judge ye not amongst you® in uprightness, ’’ 5