DIDASCALIA. 6 1 do not walk well in the way of the Lord, having heard the two individuals, investigate carefully, like people who decree judgment concerning eternal life, or for a harsh and bitter death ; and if some one be reproved and go out of the Church, he is cast out from life and from everlasting glory... he is rejected by men, and found guilty before God. (S. + There- Ap. con. n. xiviii. fore judge according to the gravity of that conviction with much clemency), and incline a little, that ye may save, without respect of persons, (S. + rather than cause to perish, when ye have condemned those who are judged). But if there be a man who is innocent, and is condemned by judges from respect of persons, it will not hurt him before God (S. + the judgment of unjust judges) but will rather advantage him the more on account of the short time that he hath been unjustly judged by men. (S. Afterwards in the day of judgment, because he was unjustly condemned, he will be the judge of the unjust judges, for ye have been mediators of unjust judgments.) Therefore thus shall ye receive retribution from God, and ye shall be cast out of the Catholic Church of God, and that shall be accomplished against you that by the judgment that ye have judged ye shall be judged. Therefore when Ap. Con. ye sit to judge, let the two individuals come and stand together ; we do not call them brethren until there be peace betwixt them ; and investigate carefully with diligence between them about those things concerning which they have a lawsuit and contention with one another. Learn first about him. who accuses if there be any accusation against him, or if he have brought actions also against others, and again [if] the accusation proceed from some former enmity, or from contention or envy, and what his conduct is, and if he be humble and without anger; if he love widows, and the poor, and strangers, and doth not love filthy lucre ; if he be quiet and philanthropic, a lover of all men ; if he be merciful, and stretch out his hand to give ; not a glutton and not greedy ; not avaricious and not a drunkard ; for a perverse heart that deviseth evil P10^ vi- things disturbeth cities (S. + at all times), even if he have not done the f. 43 a evil things that are in the world (S. + adultery, and fornication, and other such things). If then he who accuses be free from all these things, (S. + from of old it is known and manifest that he is a believer and his accusation Ap. Con. truthful ; but if it be known that he is perverse and quarrelsome, and that his n< 1< deeds are unrighteous, it is evident that he hath brought false witness against your brother. When, therefore, it is found and known that he is unjust; reprove him and put him out for a time ; until he repent and be converted and weep ; lest again he blaspheme against any other person among the brethren who conducts himself well ; or lest another who is like him, sitting in your assembly and seeing