Chapter 7

1For anyone who casts out an innocent person is worse than a murderer and does not perceive the mercy of God, for he does not remember the love of his neighbor. Whoever acts in this way shall not find salvation, for he has slipped away and fallen into grievous sin. He has neither admonished nor converted those who have committed many sins, but has scattered the flock of God and has also fought against Him. For God is righteous, and righteous is His judgment by which He judges everyone, both the righteous and sinners. He is merciful to those who turn to Him in righteousness, mercy, and meekness, as David, the beloved of God, says. The bishop, then, ought to judge uprightly, follow after God, do His will, and judge righteously those who turn to Him. Do you not remember David, when he sinned and Nathan said to him, “Why have you done this?” David said, “I have sinned, and I repent.” When he confessed his iniquity, he was saved from death. Nathan said to him, “Be of good cheer and do not doubt; you shall not die.” Jonah the prophet also, because he was unwilling to preach to the people of Nineveh, was plunged into the sea, and a whale swallowed him. But afterward he came out of the whale’s belly and was saved from death. Hezekiah also became proud, and judgment came upon him. Then Hezekiah humbled himself, abandoned his pride, and wept before God, and God had mercy on him.

2Hear, bishops, the benefit found in this matter, for it is written in the Fourth Book of Kings: “Manasseh his son reigned in his place. Manasseh was twelve years old when he began to reign, and he reigned fifty-five years in Jerusalem. His mother’s name was Hephzibah, and he did evil in the sight of the Lord.”

3Moreover, it is written in the Second Book of Chronicles: “He did evil in the sight of the Lord, more than all the uncleanness of the nations whom the Lord had rooted out before the children of Israel. He turned back and built on the high place the altar that Hezekiah his father had destroyed. He set up pillars for the Baalim, made groves, worshiped all the host of heaven, and served them. He built an altar in the house of the Lord, concerning which the Lord had said, ‘Let my name be in Jerusalem forever.’ He built altars for all the stars of heaven in the two courts of the house of the Lord. He made his own sons pass through the fire in the land of Benomnimén, used signs, [made himself like an ass], practiced magic, and appointed diviners and soothsayers. He did much evil in the sight of the Lord and sinned against Him. He set the carved and cast images he had made in the house of the Lord, concerning which the Lord had said to David and his son Solomon, ‘In this house and in Jerusalem, which I have chosen out of all the tribes of Israel, I will set my name forever. I will never again move Israel’s foot from the land that I gave to their fathers, provided that they observe everything I have commanded them in all my law, my ordinances, and my judgments given by the hand of Moses.’ Manasseh caused Judah and the inhabitants of Jerusalem to sin by doing more evil than all the nations whom the Lord had removed before the children of Israel. The Lord spoke against Manasseh and his people, but they did not listen to Him. The Lord sent against them the commanders of the army of the king of Assyria. They took Manasseh in bonds, bound him with chains, and brought him to Babylon. When he was in distress, he sought the face of the Lord his God and humbled himself greatly before the God of his fathers.”

4Manasseh, the son of King Hezekiah, prayed and said: “O Lord, Ruler of the whole world, God of our fathers Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, and of all their righteous offspring, You made heaven and earth with everything in them. You rebuked the sea with the word of Your commandment. You shut up the depths and sealed them in terrible majesty by Your glorious name. Before the face of Your might everything trembles and shakes, for the greatness of Your glory is without end. Terrible is the plague of Your wrath against sinners. The mercy of Your commandment has neither number nor measure, for You alone are the Lord Most High, merciful, slow to anger, abundant in compassion, and gentle toward the sins of the children of men. And now, O my Lord, God of the righteous—for You have not appointed repentance for a righteous man, nor for Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob, who did not sin against You—turn now toward the repentance of me, a sinner. I have sinned beyond the number of the sand of the sea, and my sins are many. I am not worthy to look up and see the height of heaven because of the multitude of my iniquities. I have labored in iron chains so that I might gain relief from my sins, yet even through this I have found no relief. For I have provoked You to anger and done evil in Your sight, observing vanities and multiplying things that brought me no benefit. And now I bend the knees of my heart and entreat Your mercy. I have sinned, O Lord, I have sinned, and I confess my sin. I make supplication and entreat You: have compassion on me, O Lord; have compassion on me, and do not hand me over to my sin. Do not store up evil against me forever, and do not take vengeance upon me in the depths of the earth. For You, O Lord, are the God of those who repent, and Your goodness shall be revealed in me, since, although I was unworthy, You saved me through the abundance of Your compassion. I will glorify You at all times and on all the days of my life, for all the host of heaven glorifies You, and Yours is the glory forever. Amen.”

5When the Lord saw that Manasseh had repented of the evil deeds he had committed in his ignorance, the Lord pardoned him, heard his prayer, and accepted the voice of his petition. Immediately a flame of fire encircled him, and the bonds of his iron chains were loosed. Then the Lord saved Manasseh from all his distress “and brought him back to Jerusalem and to his kingdom. Manasseh knew that the Lord was his God.” He served the Lord with all his heart and all his soul throughout the remaining days of his life, and he was counted among the righteous. Then he cast out of the house of the Lord the strange gods made by human hands. He raised (the wall) high and appointed commanders of the army at every place along the walls of Judah. He completely destroyed and removed from the city all the altars he had built on the mountain of the house of the Lord and in Jerusalem. He erected the altar of the Lord, sacrificed upon the altar, and offered praise. Manasseh commanded Judah to serve the Lord, the God of Israel. Manasseh slept with his fathers in peace, and his son Amon reigned in his place. Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done, and provoked the Lord his God to anger.

6See, then, our children: you have heard how Manasseh served idols, sacrificed to them, and in his lawlessness killed many people. The Lord God afflicted him for a time, but when he repented, God forgave his sins and restored him to his kingdom. For God receives the repentance of those who turn to Him and restores them to their former honor. There is no sin greater than idolatry, since it is rebellion against God, yet people are saved from it through true repentance. But whoever transgresses and commits sin and says in his heart, “What will God do to me?” is a rebel against God. He does not first examine himself, but walks in his own way, follows the desire of his soul, and says, “This is good.” Whoever acts in this way and does not repent shall not receive forgiveness.

7This is what Amon, the son of Manasseh, did. For Holy Scripture says: “Amon conceived rebellion in his heart and did evil in the sight of the Lord, as his father Manasseh had done. He multiplied proud words and said, ‘My father sinned greatly in his youth, and when he was old he turned and repented. I also will do the same. I will walk in my own way and follow the desire of my soul, and when I am old, I will turn away from it and repent before the Lord.’ Then Amon did evil in the sight of the Lord and committed exceedingly great evil, as those before him had done. Then the Lord chastised him and destroyed him from the good land. His servants laid hands on him and killed him in his house. The people of the land killed those who had laid hands on King Amon. He reigned for two years.” Understand, then, you people, and do not consider doing evil as Amon did, lest you be destroyed.

8In the same way, the bishop ought to feed and convert the people, admonish them, heal them of their sickness, and receive their repentance as far as he is able. But if he lacks mercy and does not receive the repentance of sinners who turn to him, he is despised and dishonored and shall be condemned before the Lord his God. If he receives the repentance of those who turn to him, he shall find compassion and mercy from the Lord God, who sent His only-begotten Son into the world. He was pleased to be born of a woman and was made man for our sake. He endured suffering on the cross, was wounded, and died. He is God the Word, the Angel of His great and terrible counsel. He took our sicknesses and bore our sufferings, and by His wounds our wounds have been healed. In the same way, let us also patiently endure suffering and distress and receive the repentance of those who have sinned.

9See the Lord’s mercy toward Matthew, who was a tax collector. When he turned to Him, He made him an evangelist. See His mercy toward Peter, who denied Him three times through fear. When Peter repented and wept bitterly, He received his repentance and made him the shepherd of His sheep. See His mercy toward our brother Paul, though he had formerly been a persecutor and had blasphemed against the Holy Spirit. When he turned to Him, He made him an apostle. To the woman who was a sinner and who gave alms to many, He said, “Your sin has been forgiven.” He also saved the other woman, the adulteress whom the priests set before Him to test Him, and said to her, “Go your way; from now on, sin no more.”

10It is right for you bishops to place your trust and hope in God, our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, the Savior of your souls. Draw near to Him in meekness and mercy, as peacemakers without strife or anger. Convert the sinful and raise up the fallen, and do not return evil for evil. Moreover, do not be abusive, passionate, blasphemous, boastful, or partial. Do not drink much wine or become drunk. Do not be singers, dancers, thieves, murderers, or takers of bribes. Do not seek honor and riches from strange gods, but keep far away from them, for you have been called to this work so that you may serve God.

11This, then, should be the bishop’s way of life. His clothing and food should be moderate and pure, and only as much as is sufficient for him, so that he does not transgress in any other way or matter. For the one who serves is worthy of his food, namely, the tithes and firstfruits that people bring to the church, as our Lord commanded. The bishop may provide what is needed for the poor, the needy, the widows, the orphans, the destitute, the strangers, and those who have nothing. But if the bishop does not care for them, God will require an account from him on their behalf, for the bishop has authority to allocate to each person what is fitting. You also who hold authority in the church may take from its store if you are in need. But if you are not impoverished, it is not right for you to take from it. If you act in this way, you shall be saved before God.

12But if the bishops take only for themselves, are insatiable in eating, store things up for themselves, and give nothing to the destitute, God will require an account from them, and they shall be clothed with shame and dishonor. Therefore it is said, “You have drunk the milk, clothed yourselves with the wool, and killed the bulls. You have not raised up what had fallen or helped what was lost.” And again: “Will you live alone upon the earth?” Therefore He commanded you in the law, saying, “Love your neighbor as yourselves.” Moreover, it is said, “You shall not muzzle the mouth of the ox while it treads out your grain.” Do not seek to take anything except what accords with your service and labor, as is right.

13For the threshing floor is the Holy Church of God. You also may eat there, like the Levites who served in the tabernacle of the testimony, which is a type of the Holy Church. It is fitting, then, for the priests to eat the offerings with their wives, sons, and daughters, from the offering that has been a vow which they have vowed, and over all. So you also should save the people, just as Christ saved you. Do not think that the burden borne by presbyters and bishops is light. As they have borne a heavy burden, so they shall receive the firstfruits and give some of them to the destitute. For One will call you to account with whom no one can dispute or contend. It is right, then, that those who serve the Holy Church should have their needs supplied and should receive the offerings as priests, Levites, and ministers.

14For it is written in the Book of Numbers concerning the priests: “The Lord said to Aaron, ‘Behold, I have given you charge of the firstfruits that they offer to me, from everything sanctified by the children of Israel. I have given it to you—[even all the firstfruits of grain throughout their land and everything they offer to the Lord; I have given it all to you]—until your old age, and after you to your children, as an ordinance forever. This shall be yours from what is sanctified for the holy place: from the sacrifices, from every offering, from all their sacrifices, from their trespass offerings, and from all their sin offerings. Whatever they bring to me from all their holy things shall belong to you and your children. Eat it in the most holy place. Let every male eat it, you and your sons, for it is holy to you. This also shall be yours: their first gifts and everything offered by the children of Israel. I have given it to you and to your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever. Everyone in your household who is clean may eat it.

15“‘All the firstfruits of oil, all the firstfruits of wine and wheat, their firstfruits, and everything they offer to the Lord, I have given to you. All the firstfruits of grain throughout their land and everything they offer to the Lord, I have given entirely to you. Let whoever is clean in your household eat it. Everything dedicated among the children of Israel is yours. Everything among all flesh that opens its mother’s womb, everything they bring to the Lord, from human beings to animals, is yours. Those redeemed with a ransom—the firstborn of human beings and the firstborn of unclean animals—you shall redeem. For the ransom of each one that is a month old, the price shall be fifty shekels according to the [text missing]. The firstborn of cows, the firstborn of sheep, and the firstborn of goats you shall not redeem, for they are holy. You shall pour out their blood at the altar and offer their fat as a sacrifice to the Lord for a sweet fragrance. Their flesh shall belong to you; like the breast that they offer and the right shoulder, it shall be yours. Every holy offering, everything the children of Israel separate for the Lord, I have given to your sons and daughters with you as an ordinance forever. It is a perpetual decree before the Lord for you and for your offspring after you.’”