56 DIDASCALIA. attach them to you, and take care of their [interests], and talk ye with them and console them, keep hold of them, and cause them to be nP xii"1 converted ; and afterwards when every one of them has repented, and has shewn the fruits of repentance, thereafter receive him in prayer as [ye do] to the heathen. As therefore thou baptizest a heathen, and thereafter receivest him, so on that man also lay the hand, every one praying for him ; thereafter bring him in and let him partake with the Church. Let that laying on of the hand be to him instead of baptism ; for if by the laying on of the hand and by baptism they receive the communication f-39» of the Holy Ghost... therefore as a sympathetic physician sharing in suffering, heal all those who have sinned, and distribute with all wisdom, offer healing for the help of their lives ; and be not ready to cut off the members of the Church, but make use of the Word of remedies, also of admonitions of preparation l and of the plasters of supplica- tion ; for if an ulcer goes deep, and diminishes his flesh, by means of curative medicines nourish it, and reduce it. If there be in it foulness, by a sharp medicine, that is to say by the word of reproof, purify it ; and if more flesh should spring up, by a harsh medicine, that is to say, by the communication of judgment shave it off and reduce it. If there be in it gangrene, burn it with a cautery, that is to say, with the incision of a long fast, cut off the putridness of the ulcer. If the ulcer grow and get the better of the cauteries, decide about that which is corrupt, then after much consultation with other physicians cut off that member which is corrupt that it destroy not all the body. Be not ready to amputate speedily, and do not rush in a hurry and run to the saw of many teeth, but first use scalpels, and cut the ulcer, that the cause of the evil which is hidden inside it may be seen openly and be known, that the whole body may be kept from being affected. But if thou see a person who does not wish to repent, but has completely cut off hope of himself, then with grief and sorrow cut him off and cast him out of the Church, f- 39 b For if thou findest that that accusation of calumny is false, and ye n.'xiii. pastors with the Deacons have received the falsehood as truth, because of the accepting of persons, or because of offerings which ye have received ; and ye change judgments, because ye wish to do the will of the Evil one, and him who is accused, being guiltless of this accusation, ye put out and cast him from the Church, ye will give an account in the day of Dent. i. 17 the Lord ; for it is written, " Thou shalt not respect persons in judgment," EX. xxiii. 8 and again the Scripture hath said, that a " bribe blindeth the eyes of seers, 1 S. emollients