60 Chapter III.—Honour your youthful bishop. Now it becomes you also not to treat your bishop too familiarly on account of his youth,163 but to yield him all reverence, having respect to164 the power of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not judging rashly, from the manifest youthful appearance165 [of their bishop], but as being themselves prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all. It is therefore fitting that you should, after no hypocritical fashion, obey [your bishop], in honour of Him who has willed us [so to do], since he that does not so deceives not [by such conduct] the bishop that is visible, but seeks to mock Him that is invisible. And all such conduct has ref- erence not to man,166 but to God, who knows all secrets. Now it becomes you also not to despise the age of your bishop, but to yield him all rev- erence, according to the will of God the Father, as I have known even holy presbyters do, not having regard to the manifest youth [of their bishop], but to his knowledge in God; inasmuch as “not the ancient are [necessarily] wise, nor do the aged understand prudence; but there is a spirit in men.”167 For Daniel the wise, at twelve years of age, became possessed of the divine Spirit, and convicted the elders, who in vain carried their grey hairs, of being false accusers, and of lusting after the beauty of another man’s wife.168 Samuel also, when he was but a little child, reproved Eli, who was ninety years old, for giving honour to his sons rather than to God.169 In like manner, Jeremiah also received this message from God, “Say not, I am a child.”170 Solomon too, and Josiah, [exemplified the same thing.] The former, being made king at twelve years of age, gave that terrible and difficult judgment in the case of the two women concerning their children.171 The latter, coming to the throne when eight years old172 cast down the altars and temples [of the idols], and burned down the groves, for they were dedicated to demons, and not to God. And he slew the false priests, as the corrupters and deceivers of men, and not the worshippers of the Deity. Wherefore youth is not to be despised when it is devoted to God. But he is to be despised who is of a wicked mind, although he be old, and full of wicked days.173 Timothy the Christ-bearer was 163 Literally, “to use the age of your bishop.” 164 Literally, “according to.” 165 Literally, “youthful condition.” 166 Literally, “to flesh.” 167 Job xxxii. 8, 9. 168 Susanna (Apoc.). 169 1 Sam. iii. 1. 170 Jer. i. 7. 171 1 Kings iii. 16. 172 2 Kings xxii., xxiii.. 173 Susanna 52 (Apoc.). Chapter III.—Honour your youthful bishop. 167 Chapter III.—Honour your youthful bishop.