DIDASCALIA. 47
inheritance, offer up from them also an heave offering to the Lord, even
a tenth part of the tithes. The heave offering shall be reckoned to you 27
as the wheat of the threshing-floor, and as the offering of the wine-press.
Thus ye also shall offer a heave offering unto the Lord of all your tithes 28
which ye receive from all the children of Israel, and ye shall give of
them a heave offering to the Lord, to Aaron the priest, of all your gifts 29
ye shall offer a heave offering to the Lord, of the firstfruits which He hath
sanctified. And say unto them, When ye offer the firstfruits of them, so
it shall be reckoned unto the Levites as the produce of the threshing-floor,
and as the produce of the wine-press ; they shall eat it in every place, 31
ye and your households, because that is your reward for your service
in the Tabernacle of witness, and ye shall have no sin because of it, f. 32 a 32
when ye have offered the firstfruits of it ; ye shall not pollute the offerings
of the children of Israel, that ye die not."
CHAPTER IX.
Exhortation to the people that they bring heave offerings of prayers and
confessions to God, and that they honour the Bishop as \they honour] God, and
reverence him, and that they do nothing apart from his permission, nor even
give alms to those that are in need without him ; but make everything known
to him by means of the Deacon, and he will administer whatever is given, and
that every one of the orders of the Church take its place and be honoured as
befits it ; condemnation and commination on those who speak zvickedly to
priests or despise them ; that they think of them as of their kings, that they
take them gifts from their labour for the supply of the need of the poor
and tJie orphans and the widoivs, making no reckoning with them, as to whether
they give or do not give.
Hear, therefore, these things, ye also, ye laymen, the Church chosen
of God, because that even the first people was called the Church. Ye
then, Holy and perfect Catholic Church, royal priesthood, holy assembly,
people of inheritance, great Church, Bride adorned for the Lord God. As
therefore was said before, hear also now, Bring heave offerings and tithes
and firstfruits to the Christ, the true High Priest, also to His servants
bring tithes of salvation, Him the beginning of whose name is the letter 10.
Hear, thou Catholic Church, which art of God, who hast been delivered from
10 plagues, and hast received 10 commandments, and hast learnt the law
and hast held the faith, and hast believed in a yod the beginning of a
name, and art confirmed by the perfection of His glory ; instead of the
sacrifices of that time, offer now prayers and supplications and thanks-