1. There are two ways, one of life and one of death; and there is
much difference between the tow ways. Now the way of life is this: First,
love God that lmade you; Secondly, your neighbor as yourself; And all things
whatsoever you would that should not happen to you, neither do to another.
The teaching of these words is this: Bless them that curse you, and pray
for your enemies, and fast for them that persecute you. For what thank have
you if you love them that love you? Do not even the gentiles the same? But
love them that hate you, and you shall not have an enemy. Abstain from fleshly
and bodily lusts. If any man five you a blow on the right cheed, turn to
him the other also, and you shall be perfect. If any impress you one mile,
go with him two. If any take away your cloak, five him your coat also. If
any take from you that is yours, ask it not back; for if indeed any man receives,
having need, he shall be blameless, but he that had not need shall give account,
wherefore he received and for what; and being in durance he shall be examined
touching the things that he did, and he shall not come forth thence till
he ahve paid the uttermost farthing. But further concerning this it has been
said, Let your alms sweat into your hands, till you know to whom to
give.
2. And the second commandment of the teaching is: Do not murder, do not
commit adulter, do not corrupt youths, do not commit fornication, do not
steal, do not play the sorcerer, do not use witchcraft, do not slay a child
by abortion, neither put to death one that is born. Do not covet the things
that are your neighbor's, do not forswear yourself, do not bear false witness,
do not speak evil, do not bear malice. Do not be of two minds, neither double
tongued; for to be double tongued is a snare of death. Your speech shall
not be false: not vain, but fulfilled by deed. Do not be grasping, neither
rapacious, nor a hypocrite, nor malignant, or overbearing. Dop not take evil
counsel against your neighbor. do not hate any man; but some you shall rebuke,
and for some you shall pray, and some you shall love more than your
life.
3. My child, flee from all evil, and from all that is like to it. be not
prone to anger, for anger leads to murder; neither a zealot, nor contentious,
nor passionate; for from all these things murders are begotten. My child,
be not a luster, for lust leads to fornication; neiter of lewd speech, nor
of high looks, for from all these adulteries are begotten. My child, be not
given to augury, since it leads to idolatry; nor an enchanter, nor an astrologer,
nor a user of purifications; neither be willing to look theron; for from
all these idolatry is begotten. My child, be not a liar, since falsehood
leads to theft; neither a lover of money, nor vainflorious; for from all
these thefts are begotten. My child, be not a murmurer, since it leads to
blasphemy; neither self-willed, nor evil-minded; for from all these blasphemies
are begotten. but be meek; for the meek shall inherit the earth. Be
long-suffering, and merciful, and harmless, and peaceable, and good, standing
in awe always of the words which you have heard. Do not exalt yourself, neither
suffer your soul to be presumptuous. Your soul shall not be joined with the
lofty, but with the just and lowly shall you converse. The dispensations
that befall you accept as good, knowing that without God nothing comes ot
pass.
4. My child, him that proclaims unto you the word of God remember night
and day, and you shall honor him as the Lord; for whence the Lordship is
proclaimed, there the Lord is. And seek out day by day the faces of the saints,
that you may rest on their words. Do not incline to division, but set at
peace them that strive. Judge righteously. do not have respect of persons
in rebuking for transgressions. Do not be of doubtful mind, whether athing
shall be or not. be not one that stretches out his hands to receive, but
draws them in when he should give. If you have in yours hands you shall five
for ransom of your sins. do not hesitate to five, neither grudge when you
give; for you shall know who is the good recompenser of the reward. Do not
turn aside from him that needs, but share all things with your brother, and
do not say that they are your own; for if you are fellow-sharers in that
which is imperishable, how much more in the things that are perishable. Do
not take away your hand from your son or from your daughter, but from youth
up teach them the fear of God. Do not give commandment to your bondman or
maidservant, that hope on the same God, in your bitterness, lest they fear
not him that is God over you both; for he comes, not to call with respect
of persons, but to them whom the Spirit has prepared. And you, servants,
be subject to your masters as to an image of God, in shamefacedness and fear.
Hate all hypocrisy, and all that is not pleasing to the Lord. Do not forsake
the commandments of the Lord; but keep what you have received, neither adding
nor taking away. In the congregation confess your transgressions; and do
not come to your prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of
life.
5. But the way of death is this. First of all it evil and full curse.
Murders, adulteries, lusts, fornications, thefts, idolatries, sorceries,
witchcrafts, ravenings, false witnessings, hypocrisies, doubleness of heart,
guile, arrogance, malice, self-will, greed, impure speech, jealousy, presumption,
haughtiness, braggery. Persecutors of the good, hating truth, loving falsehood,
not knowing the reward of righteousness, not cleaving to that which is evil,
far from whom are meekness and patience, loving vain things, following after
reward, not pitying the poor man, not travailing for him that is distressed,
not knowing him that made them, slayers of children, destroyers of God's
workmanship, turning aide from him that is in need, distressing him that
is afflicted, advocates of the rich, lawless judges of the poor, altogether
sinful. May you be delivered, children, from all these.
6. Take heed lest any make you to err from this way of teaching, seeing
he teaches you to according to God. For if indeed you are able to bear the
whole yoke of the Lord, you shall be perfect. But if you are not able, do
what you can. And concerning food, bear what you are able; but beware exceedingly
of that which is sacrificed to idols; for it is a service of dead
gods.
7. And as touching baptism, thus baptize: When you have first recited
all these things, baptize unto the name of the Father, and of the son, and
of the Holy Spirit, in living water. But if you have not living water, baptize
into other water; and if you cannot in cold, then in warm And if you have
not either, four forth water three times upon the head, unto the name of
Father and Son and Holy Spirit. and before the baptism let the baptizer and
him that is to be baptized and such others as are able first fast; but bid
him that is to be baptized fast on or two day before.
8. But let not your fasts be with the hypocrites; for they fast on the
second day of the week and on the fifth; but fast the fourth day and the
preparation. Neither pray as the hypocrites; but as the Lord commanded in
his gospel, thus pray: Our Father, which is in heaven, hallowed be your name;
your kingdom come; your will be done, in earth as it is in heaven; give us
this day our daily bread; and forgive us our debt, as we forgive our debtors;
and lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil. For yours is the
power and the glory for ever. Three times in the day thus pray.
9. And as touching the feast of thanksgiving, thus five thanks: First,
concerning the cup, We thank you, O our Father, for the holy vine of David
your child, which you have made known to us by your child Jesus. Yours be
the glory for ever. And concerning the broken bread, We thank you, O our
Father, for the life and knowledge which you have made known to us by your
child Jesus. Yours be the glory for ever. as this broken bread was once scattered
in grains upon the mountains, and being gathered together became one; so
let your church be gathered together from from the ends of the earth unto
your kingdom. For yours is the glory and the power through Jesus Christ for
ever. and let none eat or drink of your feast of thanksgiving, but such as
have been baptized in the name of the Lord; for concerning this the Lord
has said, Give not that which is holy to the dogs.
10. And after being filled, thus give thanks: We thank you, holy father,
for your holy name which you have made to dwell in our hearts, and for the
knowledge and faith and immortality which you have made known to us by your
child Jesus. Yours be the glory for ever. You, O Almighty Sovereign, did
create all things for your name's sake, and gave men food and drink to enjoy,
that they might give thanks to you for that you are mighty. Yours is the
glory for ever. Remember, O Lord, your church to deliver her from all evil
and to perfect her in your love; and gather her together from the four winds,
her that is sanctified unto your kingdom which you did prepare for her. For
yours is the power and the glory for ever. Let grace come, and this world
pass away. Hosanna to the God of David. If any is holy let him come; if any
is not, let him repent. Maranatha. Amen. but suffer the prophets to give
thanks as pleases them.
11. Whosoever therefore shall come and teach you all these things aforesaid,
receive him. but if he that teaches, being himself perverted, teach other
doctrine to the annulling thereof, hearken not to him; but if to the increase
of righteousness and knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord. And
as touching the apostles and prophets, according to the command of the gospel,
so do. Let ever apostle that comes to you be received as the Lord. And he
shall remain one day, and if there be need the second also; but if he remain
three days, he is a false prophet. And when the apostle departs let him take
naught, save provision of bread till he be lodged. But if he ask for money,
he is a false prophet. and do not tempt neither judge of any prophet speaking
in the Spirit; for every sin shall be forgiven, but this sin shall not be
forgiven. Yet not everyone that speaks in the Spirit is a prophet, but only
if he have the manners of the Lord. By their manners therefore shall the
false prophet and the prophet be known. and no prophet ordering a table in
the spirit shall eat of it; or if he do, he is a false prophet. and every
prophet teaching the truth, if he does not what he teaches, is a false prophet.
and every approved true prophet, doing whatsoever it be for an earthly sign
of a mystery of the church, but not teaching to do what things he himself
does, shall not be judged of you, seeing his judgment is with God; for even
so likewise did the prophets of old time. and if one say in the spirit, Give
me monies, or whatsoever else, do not hearken to him; but if he bid you give,
in behalf of others that lack, let none judge him.
12. And whosoever comes in the name of the Lord, let him be received;
and then when you have proved him you shall know him, for you shall have
understanding of right and left. If so be he that comes is a wayfarer, help
him as much as you are able; but he shall not tarry with you, save two or
three days if there be necessity. But if he wills to settle with you, being
a craftsman, let him word and eat. And if he has not a craft, according to
your understanding provide that, being not idle, he shall live with you as
a Christian. and if he wills not so to do, he is one that makes gain of Christ.
Beware of such.
13. and every true prophet that wills to settle among you is worthy of
his food. so likewise a true teacher is also worthy, like the workman, of
his food. Every first-fruit therefore of the produce of press and floor,
of oxen and sheep, take and give to the prophets; for they are your chief
priests. And if you have not a prophet, five to the poor. If you make a baking
of bread, take the first-fruits and give according to the commandment. So
likewise when you open a jar of wine or oil, take the first-fruits and give
to the prophets. and of silver and raiment and of every possession, take
the first-fruits, as shall seem good to you, and give according to the
commandment.
14. And on each Lord's day of the Lord be gathered together and break
bread and give thanks; after confessing your transgressions, that our sacrifice
may be pure. and let none that has a difference with his fellow come together
with you until they be reconciled, that our sacrifice be not defiled. For
this is that which was spoken by the Lord, In every place and time offer
me a pure sacrifice; For I am a great King, says the Lord, and my name wonderful
among the gentiles.
15. Elect therefore unto yourselves bishops and deacons worthy of the
Lord; men meek and not loving money, and truthful and approved; for unto
you do they too minister the ministry of the prophets and teachers. Despise
them not therefore; for they are they that are set in honor among you with
the prophets and teachers. and reprove one another, not in wrath but in peace,
as you have it in the gospel. And with any that errs against his brother
let none speak, nor let him hear a word from your, until he repent. and your
prayers and alms and all that you do, so do as you have it in the gospel
f our Lord.
16. Watch for your life. Let your lamps be not quenched, nor the girdle of your loins loosed, but be ready; for you know not the hour wherein our Lord comes. Be oftentimes gathered together, seeding the things pertaining to your souls; for the whole time of your faith shall not profit you, if at the last season you be not perfected. for in the last days false prophets and corrupters shall be multiplied, and the sheep shall be turned to wolves, and love shall be turned to hate. for when iniquity increases, they shall hate and persecute and deliver up one another. and then shall the deceiver of the world appear, as son of God; and he shall do sings and wonders, and the earth shall be delivered into his hands; and he shall do unlawful things, which have never been from everlasting. Then shall mankind come into the furnace of trial, and many shall be offended and perish; but they that endure in their faith shall be saved by the very curse. and then shall appear the signs of the truth: the first the sign of a cross spread out in heaven; next the sign of the voice of a trumpet; and the third a resurrection of the dead; yet not of all, but as it is said, The Lord shall come and all his saints with him. then shall the world see the Lord coming upon the clouds of heaven.