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For a bishop must be blameless, the husband of one wife, sober, prudent, orderly, hospitable, apt to teach, not given to wine, no striker, but modest, not quarrelsome, not covetous, ruling his own house well, having his children in subjection with all chastity — for if a man knows not how to rule his own house, how shall he have care for the church of God? — not a novice, lest, lifted up in pride, he fall into the judgment of the devil. Moreover he must also have a good testimony from those who are without, that he fall not into reproach and the snare of the devil.
Deacons likewise must be chaste and modest, not double-tongued, not given to much wine, not greedy of filthy lucre, not covetous, holding the mystery of the faith in a pure conscience. And let these also first be proved, and so let them minister, having no crime laid against them. Likewise there: Let the deacons be the husbands of one wife, who rule their children well and their own households. For those who have ministered well acquire for themselves a good standing, and much confidence in the faith which is in Christ Jesus. Likewise Peter the apostle in his first epistle:
I who am a witness of the sufferings of Jesus Christ, and likewise a partaker of the glory that shall be revealed, exhort the elders who are among you, that you shepherd the flock of the Lord, taking the oversight of it not for gain, nor for lording it over the brethren, but willingly, from the heart, gladly. And be without blame, that you may be a pattern to the sheep in good works, in all conduct that is according to God: that when the chief Shepherd shall appear, you may render an account concerning the sheep, and receive that unfading and blossoming crown of glory. Likewise you younger ones, be subject to the elders. And all of you put on quietness and humility of mind: for God resists the proud, but to the humble he gives grace.
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God, that he may exalt you in the time of his visitation: casting all your care upon him, for he himself has care over all. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Who then is the faithful and prudent servant, whom his lord has set over his household, to give them their food in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his lord, when he comes, shall find so doing. Amen I say to you, that he will set him over all that he possesses. But if that wicked servant shall say:
My lord delays his coming, and shall begin to beat his fellow-servants, and to eat and drink with the drunken, the lord of that servant will come in a day when he does not look for him, and in an hour when he is not aware, and will cut him asunder, and appoint him his portion with the unbelievers: there shall be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Likewise Paul the apostle to the Colossians: Say to Archippus: Take heed to the ministry which you have received, that you fulfil it. Likewise in Leviticus: You shall not go out from the door of the tabernacle of the testimony for seven days, until the days of your consecration be fulfilled. Likewise there: At the door of the tabernacle of the testimony you shall sit seven days, day and night. Keep the observances of the Lord, that you die not. XLVIII. ON THE SANCTIFICATION OF THE PEOPLE. In Exodus:
And Moses came down from the mountain to the people, and spoke to them, and sanctified them: and they washed their garments. And he said to them: Be ready in three days, and do not approach a woman. Likewise in Deuteronomy: Behold, I have shown you judgments and ordinances of righteousness, as the Lord commanded me, so to do in the land into which you are entering to possess it. Keep them therefore and do them, for this is your wisdom and understanding before all the nations, whoever shall hear all these ordinances, and they shall say: Behold a wise and understanding people, what a great nation is this. For what nation is so great, whose God draws near to it, as the Lord our God is in all things wherein we call upon him?
And what other nation is so great, that has righteousness and just judgments according to all this law which I set before you this day? Take heed to yourself and keep your soul, lest you forget all the words which your eyes have seen, and lest they depart from your heart all the days of your life. And you shall instruct your children and your children's children. Likewise in the second book of Chronicles, Jehoiada the priest: And he set porters over the gates of the house of the Lord, and no unclean person in anything should enter in. Likewise Peter the apostle in his first epistle: And you too, be holy in all your conduct, for it is written: Be holy, for I also am holy. XLIX. ON AVOIDING STRIFE. In Proverbs:
Strife stirs up hatred, but friendship shelters all who do not contend. Likewise there: The silent man stills contradictions, and settles them among the powerful. Likewise there: Do not rush quickly into a brawl, lest afterward you repent of it. When your friend has reviled you, withdraw back. Do not contend when your friend upbraids you. Grace and friendship set free — keep them for yourself, that you be not in reproaches, but guard your ways by preserving them well. Likewise there: A hot-spirited man digs up strife, but an angry man heaps up sins. Likewise the apostle to the Corinthians, first epistle: For while there is envy and strife among you, are you not carnal, and walking according to man? Likewise to the Philippians:
If therefore there is any consolation in Christ, if any comfort of love, if any fellowship of the Spirit, if any tender mercies: fulfil my joy, that you all say the same thing, having the same love, of one accord, of one mind, doing nothing through strife nor through vainglory, but in humility of mind esteeming one another better than yourselves, each looking not to his own things, but to the things of others. L. ON HERETICS AND FALSE PROPHETS TO BE AVOIDED, OR ON CONTENTIONS ABOUT THE LAW. In Jeremiah: And the Lord said to me: The prophets prophesy falsely in my name: I did not send them, nor command them, nor speak to them: for they prophesy to you false visions and divinations and the presumptions of their own heart. Likewise there:
Do not listen to the words of the prophets, for they are vain, and they speak the visions of their own heart, and not from the mouth of the Lord. They say to those who reject the word of the Lord: Peace shall be to you. Likewise in the prophet Isaiah: This people honours me with their lips, but their heart is far from me: for in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines that are the commandments of men. Likewise in Ezekiel: And I will stretch out my hand against the prophets who see lies and speak vain things: they shall not be in the council of my people, nor shall they be written in the writing of the house of Israel, nor shall they enter into the land of Israel. Because they have seduced my people, saying: Peace, peace, and there was no peace. Likewise there:
Woe to those who sew cushions under every elbow, and make veils over the head of every stature, to entrap souls. And they defiled me among my people, and seduced souls to slay them, which ought not to die, and to save alive souls which ought not to live, while you speak to a people that listens to vain words. Because you have overturned the heart of the righteous, and strengthened the hands of the wicked, that he should by no means turn from his evil way and live. Likewise Paul the apostle to the Romans: I beseech you, brethren, mark diligently those who cause tumults and offences contrary to the doctrine which you have learned, whether by saying or by doing. Turn away from them.
For such persons do not serve our Lord Christ, but their own belly, and by smooth words and blessings they seduce the hearts of the innocent. But your obedience is come abroad to all. I rejoice therefore over you, and I would have you wise unto that which is good, and simple unto evil. And the God of peace will crush the enemy under your feet quickly. Likewise to the Corinthians, second epistle: But what I do, and will do, is to cut off the occasion of those who desire an occasion, that in the thing wherein they glory they may be found even as we. For such are false apostles, workers of iniquity, deceitful, transforming themselves into apostles of Christ.
But it is no wonder, since Satan himself transforms himself into an angel of light; it is no great thing therefore if his ministers also transform themselves as ministers of righteousness, whose end shall be according to their works. Likewise to the Philippians: Beware of dogs, beware of evil workers, beware of the mutilation. For we are the circumcision, who serve God in the spirit and glory in Christ, and put no confidence in the flesh. Likewise there: For many walk, of whom I have often told you, and now tell you even weeping, that they are enemies of the cross of Christ: whose end is destruction, whose god is their belly, and whose glory is in their shame, who mind earthly things: but our citizenship is in heaven. Likewise to the Colossians:
Let no one therefore judge you in food or in drink, or in respect of a feast day, or of the new moons, or of new moons, or of fasts, or of a sabbath, which is a shadow of things to come, but the body is of Christ. Let no one seduce you, willingly, in humility of sense and superstition of angels, walking in the things which he has seen, puffing himself up without cause, inflated by the sense of his own flesh, and not holding the Head, from which the whole body, joined and knit together through joints and bands, grows with the increase of God. If then you are dead with Christ from the elements of this world, why, as though living in this world, do you decree: Touch not, taste not, handle not!
These are all things which perish by the very use of them, according to the precepts and commandments of men; which things indeed have a show of wisdom in self-imposed religion and humility of heart, and in not sparing the body, in no honour toward the satisfying of the flesh. Likewise to Timothy, first epistle: But the end of the commandment is charity out of a pure heart, and a good conscience, and faith unfeigned; from which some, straying, have turned aside to vain babbling, wishing to be teachers of the law, understanding neither what they say nor whereof they affirm. These things teach and exhort.
If anyone teaches otherwise and does not consent to the sound words of our Lord Jesus Christ, and to the doctrine which is according to godliness, he is puffed up, knowing nothing, but sick about questions and battles of words, from which arise envies, strifes, blasphemies, evil suspicions, wranglings of men of corrupt mind and destitute of the truth, supposing that the worship of God is a means of gain. Depart from such. Likewise to the same above, second epistle: But shun profane novelties of words, for they will advance greatly toward impiety, and their word spreads like a canker.
Likewise there: O Timothy, keep the commandment, avoiding profane novelties of words and the oppositions of knowledge falsely so called, which some professing have erred concerning the faith. Likewise to Timothy, second epistle: But know this, that in the last times perilous times shall come: men shall be lovers of themselves, covetous, proud, disdainful, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, ungrateful, wicked, without faith, without affection, keeping a covenant so as to disparage it, incontinent, unmerciful, without kindness, traitors, insolent, puffed up, lovers of pleasures more than of God, having a form of godliness but denying the power thereof. And these avoid.
Of these are they who creep into houses and lead captive silly women laden with sins, who are led away by various lusts, ever learning and never coming to the knowledge of the truth. For as Jannes and Mambres resisted Moses, so do these also resist the truth: men corrupt in mind, reprobate concerning the faith. But they shall proceed no further: for their folly shall be manifest to all, as theirs also was. Likewise there: As I begged you to remain at Ephesus when I went into Macedonia, that you might charge some not to teach otherwise, nor to give heed to Jewish fables and endless genealogies, which furnish questions rather than the edification of God, which is in faith. Likewise to Titus:
But avoid foolish questions and genealogies and contentions and strivings about the law: for they are unprofitable and vain. A heretical man, after one admonition, avoid, knowing that such a one is perverse, and sins, being condemned by his own judgment. Likewise to the Laodiceans: And let not the vain talk of certain persons deceive you, insinuating things to turn you away from the truth of the gospel which is preached by me. Likewise the apostle John: Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits whether they are of God, for many false prophets have gone out into this world. Likewise John the apostle, second epistle: If anyone comes to you and does not bring this doctrine, do not receive him into your house, and do not say 'Hail' to him.
For he who says to him 'Hail' shares in his malicious works. Behold, I have foretold you, that you be not condemned in the day of the Lord. Likewise in the Gospel according to Matthew: Beware of false prophets, who come to you in sheep's clothing, but inwardly are ravening wolves: by their fruits you shall know them. Likewise to the Ephesians: But prove what is well-pleasing to God: and do not share in the unfruitful works of darkness, but rather even reprove them: for the things that are done by them in secret, it is shameful even to speak of. LI. ON CONTINENCE OF THE MOUTH. In Psalm 139: A man full of tongue shall not be established upon the earth. Likewise in Proverbs: In much talking you shall not escape sin: but sparing your lips you shall be wise. Likewise there:
He who uses many words hurts his own soul. Likewise there: Making yourself dumb, you will seem to be wise. Likewise there: He who answers a matter before he hears it, it is folly and reproach to him. Likewise there: Death and life are in the hands of the tongue: but he who is continent shall eat the fruits thereof. Likewise there: He who keeps his mouth and his tongue keeps his soul from distresses. Likewise there: A man's own lips are a strong snare to him, and he is caught by the word of his own mouth. Likewise there: He who fixes his eye is an abomination to the Lord, and the untaught are incontinent of tongue. Likewise there: If you see a man swift in words, know that a fool has more hope than he. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus:
Do not be hasty in your tongue, and slack and remiss in your works. Likewise there: Be not called a whisperer, and be not caught by your tongue: for confusion and repentance are upon the thief, but upon the whisperer are hatred and enmity and reproach. Likewise there: Do not repeat a harsh and wicked word. Likewise there: There is one silent who is found wise, and there is one silent who has no sense of speech: and there is one silent who knows the time of the fitting season. Likewise there: A wise man will be silent until his time: but the wanton and imprudent will not observe the time. He who uses many words hurts his own soul, and he who unjustly assumes power to himself is likewise advanced in evils. Likewise there: He who is a whisperer in all things and needlessly, shall be hated.
Likewise there: The silent and sensible man shall be honoured with honour. Likewise there: In the midst of the sensible, keep the word of the season: but in the midst of those who deliberate, be assiduous. Likewise there: An angry man kindles strife, and a sinful man will trouble friends, and cast slander into the midst of those who have peace. According to a man's strength is his anger, and according to his substance he will exalt strife. A hasty contest kindles fire, and a hasty quarrel sheds blood, and a witnessing tongue brings death: if you blow upon it, it will burn like a spark; if you spit upon it, it will be quenched; and both proceed from the mouth. A whisperer and a double-tongued man is accursed: for he will trouble many who have peace. Likewise there:
A third person's tongue has stirred up many and scattered them from nation to nation: it has destroyed the cities of the rich and dug down the houses of the great: it has cut down the powers of peoples and dissolved strong nations. He who regards it shall have no rest, nor shall he dwell in quiet. Likewise there: The strokes of a whip make bruises, but the stroke of the tongue crushes the bones. Many have fallen by the edge of the sword, but not so many as those who have perished by the tongue. Happy is he who has been delivered from a wicked tongue, who has not passed through its wrath, and has not been bound with its chains! For its yoke is a yoke of iron, and its death is a most wretched death, and hell is more profitable than it. Likewise there:
Melt down your gold and your silver, and for your words make a balance, and right bridles for your mouth: and take heed, lest perhaps you slip with the tongue and fall in the sight of enemies who lie in wait for you, and your fall be incurable. Likewise there: Who will set a guard over my mouth, and a sure seal upon my lips, that I fall not by them, and my tongue destroy me not? O God, Father and Ruler of my life, do not let me fall by them: let not my ignorances increase, that I be caught in the sight of adversaries, and my enemy rejoice. Likewise there: Do not accustom your mouth to undisciplined speech, for in it there is a word of sin. Likewise in Ecclesiastes:
Do not be hasty with your mouth, and let not your heart make haste to utter a word before the face of God: for God is in heaven and you upon earth: therefore let your words be few. Likewise there: Do not give your mouth to make your flesh sin: and do not say before the face of God that it is ignorance, lest the Lord be angry at your words, and destroy the works of your hands. Likewise in Job: And therefore hide yourself from a most wicked tongue, and you shall not fear the evils that come upon you. Mock the unjust and curb the mouth of the wicked. Likewise there: And if we are exalted in much speaking, before the Lord we shall not be acquitted. Likewise in Psalm 13: With their tongues they dealt deceitfully, the poison of asps is under their lips: whose mouth is full of cursing and bitterness.
Likewise in Psalm 33: Who is the man that desires life, and loves to see good days? Keep your tongue from evil, and your lips that they speak no guile: turn away from evil and do good: seek peace and pursue it. Likewise in Psalm 38: I said: I will keep my ways, that I offend not with my tongue. I have set a guard upon my mouth, while the sinner stands against me. Likewise in Psalm 140: Set a guard, O Lord, upon my mouth, and a door round about my lips. Do not incline my heart to evil words, to make excuses in sins, with men who work iniquity: and I will not join with their chosen ones. Likewise the apostle to the Ephesians:
Let no evil word proceed out of your mouth, but if any is good for the edification of the faith, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, in whom you were sealed unto the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and indignation and clamour and reviling be put away from you, with all malice. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Do not strive with a talkative man, and heap not wood upon his fire. Likewise the apostle James: Let every man indeed be swift to hear and slow to speak. Likewise there: If anyone thinks himself to be religious, not bridling his tongue, but deceiving his own heart, this man's religion is vain. Likewise there: Do not be many talkers, my brethren, knowing that you will receive the greater judgment.
For in many things we all offend. If anyone offends not in word, he is a perfect man, able to bridle the whole body and direct it. Why then are bridles put into horses' mouths, except that they may be persuaded by us, and we turn about their whole body? Behold also the ships, which are so immense, are driven by fierce winds and turned about by a very small rudder, wherever the impulse of the one steering shall will. So too the tongue is a small part of the members, but it speaks great things. And as a little fire kindles a great forest, so also the tongue is a fire: and the world of iniquity is set among our members through the tongue, which defiles the whole body, and inflames the wheel of our nativity, and is inflamed from our nativity.
For every nature of beasts and of birds and of serpents and of sea-creatures is tamed and subjected to human nature: but the tongue of men no one can tame nor restrain from evil, for it is full of deadly poison. LII. THAT DRUNKENNESS IS TO BE FLED. In Proverbs: He who is merry in the tarryings over wine will leave behind reproach. Likewise there: Wine is a wanton thing and drunkenness an injurious one. Every fool is entangled with these. Likewise there: Do not be given to wine, nor stretch yourself out to buy meat: for every drunkard and fornicator shall beg, and shall be clothed in torn rags, and every sluggard. Likewise there: To whom is woe? To whom tumults? To whom judgments? To whom brawls and quarrels? To whom needless bruises?
Whose eyes are bloodshot? Are they not those who linger over wine? Are they not those who search out where banquets are held? Do not therefore be drunk with wine, but speak with righteous men and converse in your walks. For if you set your eyes upon flasks and cups, at the last you shall walk barer than a hair. Likewise there: The powerful are prone to anger: let them not drink wine, lest, when they have drunk, they forget wisdom and cannot rightly judge the weak. Likewise there: Thorns grow up in the hands of the drunkard. Likewise: As a thorn springs up in the hand of the drunken, so is a parable in the mouth of fools. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: A drunken workman shall not grow rich, and he who despises small things shall little by little fall.
Wine and women make wise men fall away, and convict men of sense. And he who joins himself to fornicators shall be wicked: rottenness and worms shall inherit him. Likewise there: A drunken and gadding woman is a great wrath, and her contumely and shame shall not be covered. Likewise there: And if you have sat in the midst of many, do not reach out to drink before them. Let a little wine suffice for a well-disciplined man, and in sleeping you shall not labour from it and shall feel no pain. Watchfulness and choler and gripings are for the intemperate man: healthful sleep is for the frugal man; he shall sleep till morning, and his soul shall delight itself with him. Likewise there: Do not provoke those who love wine: for wine has destroyed many.
Fire tries hard iron, so wine convicts the hearts of the proud. Wine is life to men if drunk in fair measure, not in drunkenness: if you drink it moderately, so that you are sober: for death defrauds life. Wine was created for gladness, not for drunkenness from the beginning. Wine moderately drunk is the exultation of the soul and heart. Wine drunk in excess brings on provocation and wrath, and the passion of drunkenness causes many ruins. Likewise in Ecclesiastes: It is better to go into the house of mourning than to go into the house of drinking. Likewise in the prophet Joel: Be sober, you who are drunk from your wine: weep and howl, all you who drink wine to drunkenness, for gladness and joy are taken away from your mouth. Likewise the apostle to the Romans:
As in the day, let us walk honestly, not in revellings, not in drunkenness, not in couplings and immodesties, not in strife and rivalry: but put on the Lord Jesus Christ. Likewise to the Corinthians, first epistle: Neither the covetous, nor drunkards, nor revilers, shall possess the kingdom of God. Likewise to the Ephesians: Do not be drunk with wine, wherein is riot, but be filled with the Holy Spirit. LIII. THAT THE MALICE OF A WOMAN IS TO BE AVOIDED. In the Proverbs of Solomon: Do not give heed to a deceitful woman: for honey distils from the lips of a harlot woman, who for a time makes your throat smooth: but in the end you shall find her more bitter than gall, and sharper than a two-edged sword. For her footsteps do not accord with life:
For she does not follow the ways of life; her ways are deceitful and not well considered. Keep your way far from her: do not draw near to the doors of her house, lest you give your life to others, and your substance to those who are without mercy. Likewise there: Do not be excessive toward a strange woman, nor be joined in the embraces of her who is not yours. Likewise there: My son, let not the desire of beauty overcome you, nor be caught by your eyes, nor be seized by her eyelids. For how much is the price of a harlot? A single loaf: but a woman captures the precious souls of men. Likewise there: Can a man bind fire in his bosom, and not burn his garments? Or will he walk upon coals of fire, and not burn his feet?
So he who goes in to his neighbour's wife shall not be unpunished, nor anyone who touches her. Likewise there: A foolish and bold woman becomes destitute of prudence, one who knows not shame. Likewise there: As the moth to the garment and the worm to the wood, so shall a malicious woman ruin a man. Likewise in Ecclesiasticus: Do not gaze upon a wanton woman, lest perhaps you fall into her snares. Do not be assiduous with a dancing girl, nor listen to her, lest perhaps you perish in her wiles. Likewise there: Do not give your soul to harlots, lest you destroy yourself and your inheritance. Do not be seen in the streets of the city, nor wander in its open places. Turn away your face from a decked-out woman, and do not gaze upon another's beauty.
Every woman who earns by prostitution is trodden underfoot like dung in the road. Many, admiring the beauty of a strange woman, have become reprobate: for converse with her burns like fire. Do not recline at the elbow beside another man's wife, and do not dispute with her over wine, lest perhaps your heart incline toward her, and you slip by your blood into perdition. Likewise there: Do not give a woman power over your soul, lest she enter into your strength and you be confounded. Likewise there: Brief are all evils beside the malice of a woman: let the lot of a sinner fall upon her. Likewise there: As a sandy ascent to the feet of an old man, so is a talkative woman to a quiet man. Do not give heed to a woman's beauty, and do not covet a woman's form.