DIDASCALIA. 3 to buy it to himself for nothing ? Wherefore because of this, murders and deaths and condemnations come upon them from God. But to those men who are obedient to God there is one simple and valid law, and I say that thou shalt not make questions to Christians, this, that whatever thou hatest should happen to thyself from another, thou shalt not do to another. Thou dost not wish that any one should look at thy wife in an evil manner, for her corruption ? do not thou also look at the wife of thy neighbour with an evil mind. Thou dost not wish that any one should take from thee thy garment ? do not thou also take the garment of others. Thou dost not wish to be cursed or beaten ? also do not thou do either Ap. Con. I. of these things to others ; but if any one curseth thee, thou shalt surely ii. bless him, for it is written in the book of Jthe Psalms1, " He that blesseth JJJJJf'J'Jv shall be blessed, and he that curseth shall be cursed," and again also f. sb in the Gospel it is written, " Bless those that curse you. and do not evil Matt- v- 44 sic to those that do evil to you ; do good to those that hate you " ; be long- suffering and patient, for the Scripture saith, " Do not say, I will repay Proverbs xx. 22 sic to mine enemy evil as he has done to me, but be long-suffering, and the Lord will be a helper to thee, and will bring retribution on him that hath done thee evil." Again He saith in the Gospel, " Love them that hate Matt. v. 44 you, pray for them that curse you, and no one shall be an enemy to you." Let us look therefore, O beloved, and understand these commandments, and keep them, so that we may be the children of light. CHAPTER II. Teaches every man that he should please his wife alone, and should not adorn himself and be a stumbling-block to women ; that he should not love idleness ; that he should study the Scriptures of life, and keep away from the scriptures of paganism and from the bonds which are in Deuteronomy ; and that in the baths he wash not with women, and let him not give his soul to the wickedness of harlots. Let us be patient with one another, O servants and sons of God ! Let not a man despise his wife, nor behave contemptuously and haughtily towards her, but let him be compassionate, and let his hand be liberal in giving. Let him please his wife alone, and soothe her with honour; let him study to be loved by her alone, and not by any other. Do not adorn Ap. con. I. iii. thyself so as to be seen by a strange woman and that she should desire thee. If thou, for instance, art constrained by her, and sinnest with her, 1 S. C. Numbers.