And in David and in all the Prophets and also in the Gospel, our Saviour
entreats on account of our sins, He who was without sins. Therefore
as ye have the example of the Christ, thus also be ye an example to the
people that are under your hands, that as He hath taken our sins (S. so
do ye also take the sins of the people). Do not imagine that the burden
of the Bishopric is a light and easy one. Therefore as ye have received
the burden of all men, thus also the fruits which ye draw from all the
people, are yours for all things that are necessary to you. Provide well f- 3° b
for those that are in want, like people who give account to an inquisitor
who does not err and cannot be got over. As ye serve in the office of
the bishopric, thus it is meet that from the office of the bishopric
ye provide for yourselves ; like priests and Levites and deacons who
serve before God ; as it is written in the Book of Numbers, that
God spake to Aaron and said, " Thou, and thy sons, and thy father's Numbers
house shall bear the sins of the holy things ; and thou and thy sons
shall bear the sins of the priesthood ; and thy brethren the sons of thy 2
father, the tribe of Levi, bring with thee ; let them be placed beside thee
and let them serve thee. Thou and thy sons with thee shall serve before
this Tabernacle of witness, except that the sons of Levi shall not approach 3
the vessels of the sanctuary nor the altar, that they and ye die not ;
but they shall be added unto thee, and they shall keep the watches of 4
the Tabernacle of witness for all the service of the Tabernacle, and a
stranger shall not come nigh unto thee. Ye shall keep these charges 5
of the holy things, and the charges of the altar; and there shall be no
wrath upon the children of Israel. And behold, I have taken your 6
brethren the sons of Levi from among the children of Israel, they are
given as a gift to the Lord, to do the service of the Tabernacle of witness.
Thou, and thy sons with thee, keep your priesthood for all the service 7
of the altar, and of that within the Veil ; do your service, as something
that is given to your Priesthood ; the stranger that cometh nigh shall
die the death. And the Lord spake unto Moses and unto Aaron, and s
said, Behold, I have given you the charges and the firstfruits of all
that is hallowed to me by the children of Israel, to thee I have given
them for service, and to thy sons after thee, a law for ever. This shall 9
be thine of all the holy things that are hallowed from their fruits and f. 31 a
from their offerings, and from all their sacrifices, from all their errors
and from all their sins, all that they offer to Me of all the holy things,
let it be for thee and for thy sons ; eat it in the Holy place ; every male 10
shall eat it, thou and thy sons, it shall be holy to thee. These shall be 11