Choose, Life or Death
The Way Of Life
There are two ways, one of life and one of death! and there is a great difference between the two ways.
- First,
you shall love God who made you.
- And
second, love your neighbour as yourself, and do not do to
another what you would not want done to you.
The meaning of these sayings is this:
- Bless
those who curse you, and pray for your enemies, and fast for those who
persecute you. For what reward is there for loving those who love you? Do
not the heathens do the same? But you should love those who hate you, and
then you shall have no enemies.
Abstain from fleshly and bodily lusts:
- If
someone strikes your right cheek, turn the other also, and be perfect. If
someone forces you to go one mile, go two. If someone takes your cloak,
give also your coat. If someone takes from you what is yours, don’t ask
for it back. You really cannot.
Give to everyone who asks you, and don’t ask for it back.
- The
Father wants his blessings shared. Happy is the giver who lives according
to this rule, for that one is guiltless. But the receiver must beware; for
if one receives who has need, he is guiltless, but if one receives not
having need, he shall stand trial, answering why he received and for what use.
If he is found guilty he shall not escape until he pays back the last
penny. However, concerning this, there is a saying: “Let your alms sweat
in your hands until you know to whom to give them.”
The
second commandment of the teaching is this:
- Do not
commit murder;
- do not
commit adultery;
- do not
corrupt boys;
- do not
have illicit sex;
- do not
steal;
- do not
practice magic;
- do not
practice witchcraft;
- you
shall not murder a child, whether it be born or unborn.
- Do not
covet the things of your neighbor.
- Do not
swear or bear false witness.
- Do not
speak evil of others; do not bear grudges.
- You
should not be double-minded or double-tongued, for a double-tongue is a
deadly snare.
- Your
speech should not be false nor empty, but fulfilled by action.
- Do not
be covetous, or greedy, or hypocritical, or malicious, or arrogant.
- Do not
have designs against your neighbour.
- Hate
no one; correct some, pray for others, and some you should love more than
your own life.
- My
child, flee evil of all kinds, and everything like it. Don’t be prone to
anger, for anger leads to murder. Don’t be jealous or quarrelsome or
hot-tempered, for all these things lead to murder.
- My
child, don’t be lustful, for lust leads to illicit sex. Don’t be a filthy
talker or allow your eyes a free reign, for these lead to adultery.
- My
child, don’t observe omens, since it leads to idolatry. Don’t be an
enchanter, or an astrologer, or a purifier, or be willing to see or hear
about these things, for these all lead to idolatry.
- My
child, don’t be a liar, since a lie leads to theft. Don’t love money or
seek glory, for these things lead to thievery.
- My
child, don’t grumble, since it leads to blasphemy, and don’t be
self-willed or evil-minded, for all these things lead to blasphemy.
- On the
contrary, be gentle, since the gentle will inherit the earth.
- Be
long-suffering and pitiful and guileless and gentle and good, and with
trembling, treasure the words you have received.
- Don’t
exalt yourself or open your heart to overconfidence. Don’t be on intimate
terms with mighty people, but with just and lowly ones.
- Accept
whatever happens to you as a blessing, knowing that nothing comes to pass
apart from God.
- My
child, remember day and night him who speaks the word of God to you, and
honor him as the Lord. For wherever his lordship is spoken of, there he
is.
- Seek
each day the faces of the saints, in order that you may be refreshed by
their words.
- Do not
initiate divisions, but rather bring peace to those who contend against
one another.
- Judge
righteously, and do not take social status into account when reproving for
transgressions. Do not waver in your decisions.
- Do not
be one who opens his hands to receive, or closes them when it is time to
give. If you have anything, by your hands you should give ransom for your
sins. Do not hesitate to give, and do not complain about it. You will know
in time who is the good Rewarder.
- Do not
turn away from one who is in want; rather, share all things with your
brother, and do not say that they are your own. For if you are sharers in
what is imperishable, how much more in things which perish!
- Do not
remove your hand from your son or daughter; teach them the fear of God
from their youth.
- Do not
give orders to your servants when you are angry, for they hope in the same
God, and they may lose the fear of God, who is over both of you. God is
surely not coming to call on us according to our outward appearance or
station in life, but to them whom the Spirit has prepared.
- And
you, servants, be subject to your masters as to God’s image, in modesty
and fear.
- You
should hate all hypocrisy and everything which is not pleasing to the
Lord.
- Do not
in any way neglect the commandments of the Lord, but keep what you have
received, neither adding nor taking away anything.
- In
your gatherings, confess your transgressions, and do not come for prayer
with a guilty conscience. This is the way of life!
The way
of death
The way of death, on the other hand, is this:
- It is
evil and accursed—murders, adulteries, lust, illicit sex, thefts,
idolatries, magical arts, sorceries, robberies, false testimonies,
hypocrisy, double-heartedness, deceit, haughtiness, depravity, self-will,
greediness, filthy talking, jealousy, over-confidence, loftiness,
boastfulness those who do not fear God.
- The
way of death is the way of those who persecute the good, hate the truth,
love lies, and do not understand the reward for righteousness. They do not
cleave to good or righteous judgment; they do not watch for what is good,
but for what is evil. They are strangers to meekness and patience, loving
vanities, pursuing revenge, without pity for the needy and oppressed. They
do not know their Creator; they are murderers of children, destroyers of
God’s image.
- They
turn away from those who are in need, making matters worse for those who
are distressed. They are advocates for the rich, unjust judges of the
poor.
- In a
word, the way of death is full of those who are steeped in sin. Be
delivered, children, from all of this!
See
that no one leads you astray
- See
that no one leads you astray from the way of this teaching, since all
other teachings train you without God.
- For if
you are able to bear the entire yoke of the Lord, you will be perfect; but
if you are not able, then at least do what you can.
- Concerning
food, do what you are able to do and be on guard against meat offered to
idols, for that is to worship dead gods.
Concerning
baptism
Concerning baptism, you should baptize this way:
- After
first explaining all things, baptize in the name of the Father, and of the
Son, and of the Holy Spirit, in flowing water.
- But
if you have no running water, baptize in other water; and if you cannot do
so in cold water, then in warm.
- If
you have very little, pour water three times on the head in the name of
Father and Son and Holy Spirit.
- Before
the baptism, both the baptizer and the candidate for baptism, plus any
others who can, should fast. The candidate should fast for one or two days
beforehand.
Your
Fasts and Prayers
- Your
fasts should not be with the hypocrites, for they fast on Mondays and
Thursdays. You should fast on Wednesdays and Fridays.
- And do
not pray like the hypocrites, but rather as the Lord commanded in the
gospel
Our Father in heaven, holy be your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. Give us enough bread day-by-day. And forgive us our debts, as we also have forgiven our debtors. And do not bring us to the time of trial, but rescue us from the evil one.
- Pray
this three times each day.
Concerning
the Eucharist
Concerning the Eucharist, give thanks this way.
- First,
concerning the cup:
thank you, our Father, for the
holy vine of David your servant, which you made known to us through Jesus your
servant. To you be the glory forever.
2. Next,
concerning the broken bread:
We thank you, our Father, for the life and knowledge
which you made known to us through Jesus your servant. To you be the glory
forever. Even as this broken bread was scattered over the hills, and was
gathered together and became one, so let your church be gathered together from
the ends of the earth into your kingdom. To you is the glory and the power
through Jesus Christ forever.
Allow no one to eat or drink of your Eucharist, unless
they have been baptized in the name of the Lord. For concerning this, the Lord
has said, “Do not give what is holy to dogs.”
After
the Eucharist when you are filled, give thanks this way:
We thank you, holy Father, for your holy name which you
enshrined in our hearts, and for the knowledge and faith and immortality that
you made known to us through Jesus your servant. To you be the glory forever.
You, Master Almighty, have created all things for your name’s sake. You gave
food and drink to all people for enjoyment, that they might give thanks to you;
but to us you freely give spiritual food and drink and life eternal through
Jesus, your servant. Before all things we thank you because you are mighty. To
you be the glory forever. Remember, Lord, your church. Deliver it from all evil
and make it perfect in your love, and gather it from the four winds sanctified
for your kingdom which you have prepared for it. For Yours is the power and the
glory forever. Let grace come, and let this world pass away! Hosanna to the Son
of David! If anyone is holy, let him come; if anyone is not holy, let him
repent. Maranatha!
Amen.
Amen.
·
But permit the prophets to make thanksgiving as
much as they desire.
Welcome
the Teacher
- Welcome
the teacher when he comes to instruct you in all that has been said.
- But
if he turns and trains you in another tradition to the destruction of this
teaching, do not listen. If he teaches so as to increase righteousness and
the knowledge of the Lord, receive him as the Lord.
- Act
according to the precepts of the gospel concerning all apostles and
prophets:
- Let
every apostle who comes to you be received as the Lord.
- But
he must not remain more than one day, or two, if there’s a need. If he
stays three days, he is a false prophet.
- And
when the apostle goes away, let him take nothing but bread to last him
until his next night of lodging. If he asks for money, he is a false
prophet.
- In
addition, if any prophet speaks in the Spirit, you shall not try or judge
him; for every sin will be forgiven, but this sin cannot be forgiven.
- But
not everyone who speaks in the Spirit is a prophet; only he is a prophet
who has the ways of the Lord about him.
By
their ways will the false prophet and the prophet be known:
- Any
prophet who orders a meal in the Spirit does not eat it; if he does, he is
indeed a false prophet.
- And
any prophet who teaches the truth, but does not do what he teaches, is a
false prophet.
- When
a prophet, proved true, works for the mystery of the church in the world
but does not teach others to do what he himself does, he will not be
judged among you, for his judgment is already before God. The ancient
prophets acted in this way, also.
- But
whoever says in the Spirit, “Give me money,” or something else like this,
you must not listen to him. But if he tells you to give for the sake of
others who are in need, let no one judge him.
Welcome
Anyone Coming in the Name of the Lord:
- Welcome
anyone coming in the name of the Lord. Receive everyone who comes in the
name of the Lord, but then, test them and use your discretion.
- If he
who comes is a transient, assist him as far as you are able; but he should
not remain with you more than two or three days, if need be. If he wants
to stay with you, and is a craftsman, let him work for his living. But if
he has no trade, use your judgement in providing for him; for a Christian
should not live idle in your midst. If he is dissatisfied with this sort
of an arrangement, he is a Christ-peddler. Watch that you keep away from
such people.
Every
Genuine Prophet
- Every
genuine prophet who wants to live among you is worthy of support. So also,
every true teacher is, like a workman, entitled to his support.
- Every
first fruit, therefore, of the products of vintage and harvest, of cattle
and of sheep, should be given as first fruits to the prophets, for they
are your high priests.
- But
if you have no prophet, give it all to the poor.
- If
you bake bread, take the first loaf and give it according to the
commandment.
- If
you open a new jar of wine or of oil, take the first fruit and give it to
the prophets.
- If
you acquire money or cloth or any other possession, set aside a portion
first, as it may seem good to you, and give according to the commandment.
On
the Lords day
- On the
Lord’s day, gather yourselves together and break bread, give thanks, but
first confess your sins so that your sacrifice may be pure.
- However,
let no one who is at odds with his brother come together with you, until
he has reconciled, so that your sacrifice may not be profaned.
- For
this is what the Lord has said: “For from the rising of the sun to its
setting my name is great among the nations, and in every place incense is
offered to my name, and a pure offering; for my name is great among the
nations, says the Lord of hosts. For I am a great King, says the Lord of
hosts, and my name is reverenced among the nations.”
- Appoint
bishops for yourselves, as well as deacons, worthy of the Lord, of meek
disposition, unattached to money, truthful and proven; for they also
render to you the service of prophets and teachers.
- Do
not despise them, after all, for they are your honoured ones, together
with the prophets and teachers.
- And
reprove one another, not in anger, but in peace, as you have it in the
gospel. But to anyone who acts amiss against another, let no one speak to
him, nor let him hear anything from you until he repents. But your prayers
and alms and all your deeds so do, as you have it in the gospel of our
Lord.
Watch
Over Your Life
- Watch
over your life, that your lamps are never quenched, and that your loins
are never unloosed. Be ready, for you do not know on what day your Lord is
coming. Come together often, seeking the things that are good for your
souls. A life of faith will not profit you if you are not made perfect at
the end of time.
- For
in the last days’ false prophets and corrupters will be plenty, and the
sheep will be turned into wolves, and love will be turned into hate.
- When
lawlessness increases, they will hate and persecute and betray one
another, and then the world deceiver will appear claiming to be the Son of
God, and he will do signs and wonders, and the earth will be delivered
into his hands, and he will do iniquitous things that have not been seen
since the beginning of the world.
- Then
humankind will enter into the fire of trial, and many will be made to
stumble and many will perish; but those who endure in their faith will be
saved from under the curse itself.
And
then the signs of the truth will appear:
-
the first sign, an opening of the heavens;
-
the second sign, the sounding of the trumpet;
-
and the third sign, the resurrection of the dead—not of every
one, but as it is said: “Then the Lord my God will come, and all the
holy ones with him.”
Finally, “Then the
sign of the Son of Man will appear in heaven, and then all the tribes of the
earth will mourn, and they will see ‘the Son of Man coming on the clouds of
heaven’ with power and great glory.”
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