{"author":null,"backreferences":[{"context_html":"<p class=\"c005\">He said to me, “Be simple and guileless, and you will be\r\nas the children who know not the wickedness that ruins the\r\nlife of men. First, then, speak evil of no one, nor listen with\r\npleasure to any one who speaks evil of another. But if you\r\nlisten, you will partake of the sin of him who speaks evil, if\r\nyou believe the slander which you hear;<a id=\"r1627\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f1627\"><sup>[1627]</sup></a> for believing it, you\r\nwill also have something to say against your brother. Thus,\r\nthen, will you be guilty of the sin of him who slanders. For\r\n<span class=\"pageno\" id=\"Page_350\">350</span>slander is evil<a id=\"r1628\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f1628\"><sup>[1628]</sup></a> and an unsteady demon. It never abides in\r\npeace, but always remains in discord. Keep yourself from\r\nit, and you will always be at peace with all. Put on a holiness\r\nin which there is no wicked cause of offence, but all deeds\r\nthat are equable and joyful. Practise goodness; and from the\r\nrewards of your labours, which God gives you, give to all the\r\nneedy in simplicity, not hesitating as to whom you are to\r\ngive or not to give. Give to all, for God wishes His gifts\r\nto be shared amongst all. They who receive, will render\r\nan account to God why and for what they have received.\r\nFor the afflicted who receive will not be condemned,<a id=\"r1629\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f1629\"><sup>[1629]</sup></a> but\r\nthey who receive on false pretences will suffer punishment.\r\nHe, then, who gives is guiltless. For as he received from\r\nthe Lord, so has he accomplished his service in simplicity,\r\nnot hesitating as to whom he should give and to whom he\r\nshould not give. This service, then, if accomplished in simplicity,\r\nis glorious with God. He, therefore, who thus\r\nministers in simplicity, will live to God.<a id=\"r1630\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f1630\"><sup>[1630]</sup></a> Keep therefore\r\nthese commandments, as I have given them to you, that your\r\nrepentance and the repentance of your house may be found\r\nin simplicity,<a id=\"r1631\"></a><a class=\"c009 pginternal\" href=\"#f1631\"><sup>[1631]</sup></a> and your heart may be pure and stainless.”</p>","headings":["The Writings of the Apostolic Fathers","THE PASTOR OF HERMAS.","BOOK SECOND.—COMMANDMENTS.","COMMANDMENT SECOND. On avoiding evil-speaking, and on giving alms in simplicity."],"marker_anchor":null,"paragraph_id":"pg77576-paragraph-690"}],"canonical_references":[],"date_end":null,"date_start":null,"deduplication_fingerprint":"f0bffc97db3314ea6b81f7fd5c633443c362170b7231787ddbd9c0bc9b71c1a2","edition_title":"The writings of the Apostolic Fathers","edition_translators":["Alexander Roberts","James Donaldson","Frederick Crombie"],"edition_year":1870,"explicit_reference_candidates":[],"headings":[],"id":"pg77576-f1631","license_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/policy/license.html","public_import_allowed":false,"record_kind":"original-editor-translator-note","review_required":["work and recension attribution","original-work chronology","Bible reference numbering and citation kind","English edition rights and attribution"],"review_status":"needs_review","rights_evidence":"Project Gutenberg metadata: Public domain in the USA. Historical 1870 English edition; electronic transcription subject to Project Gutenberg reuse terms.","source_anchor":"f1631","source_ebook":77576,"source_html":"<div class=\"footnote\" id=\"f1631\">\n<p class=\"c006\"><span class=\"label\"><a class=\"pginternal\" href=\"#r1631\">1631</a>. </span>The Vat. adds: and a blessing may fall on your house.</p>\n</div>","source_sha256":"5cef11d737d7f5d65aa99f44ca2d8e967d725f3bed872960330e88c0905597a9","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/cache/epub/77576/pg77576-images.html#f1631","text_sha256":"f01b29410807d977c1c9fcf2ee5a50e0ef30026d5aafded5edc6a62cee75c0dd","verified":false,"work_id":null}