1Section XVI. That it is not lawful that ye should do evil against your Neighbours.
2In like manner ye also, as ye have done unto others, so shall ye be recompensed. For he saith. He hath digged a pit, and hollowed it out, and he shall fall into the pit that he hath made; and his labour shall return upon his own head, and his wickedness shall come down upon his own pate. For he that diggeth a pit for his neighbour shall fall into it himself. What he hateth for himself, let him not do against his neighbour. And for this cause, do thou also, O Bishop, teach and exhort them that despise the widows; and be patient with the angry, and visit the sick, and rejoice over the chosen ones, who bless and curse not; and command them not that which is evil, but that they do good, and make peace. And whether it be a Bishop, or Priest, or Deacon, or whosoever it be of them that are ordained, let there not come forth from the mouth of such an one cursing instead of blessing. It is fit that the Bishop should teach and reprove and command the people, and that there go not out of his mouth the voice of cursing, but that he be careful for them, both over the Priests, and the Deacons who minister, and the virgins and widows, and the people. And for this cause, O Bishop, try and examine the Deacons, who minister with thee; and help them in doing good, that they may be prepared to minister unto the people. And let a chosen and pure woman also, without spot, be appointed a Deaconess, to minister unto the women. For it is not lawful for a Deacon to minister to the women, lest there arise a reproach among them that believe not. Wherefore let there be a Deaconess to minister unto the women; and let her anoint them with oil, and put on their garments after baptism. But thou, O Bishop, anoint on the forehead them that are baptized, both men and women, with holy oil, according to the institution of the holy baptism. And after this, ye, O Bishops and Priests, pray for them that are put under you, and baptize them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Ghost. And then let the Deacon take the men, and the Deaconess the women, that the seal which they receive, and which no man can break, may be holy and pure. And after that they are baptized, let the Bishop anoint them with oil of balsam; for they are baptized into the death of Christ. The oil of balsam is the confirmation of faith. For when a man cometh up out of the water,
3[A break in the text. Platt prints a row of asterisks here, and his note on the Ethiopic page reads: “A Leaf is here lost from the MS.”]
4among each other, and hath taught us that we should love our neighbour. And if our Lord and Saviour humbled himself for our sakes, and did all these things, how is it then that ye are puffed up, and are slow to do good among the poor and afflicted? Serve each other then with perfect love, without murmuring and accepting of persons. Only do not this for the outward appearance, but for the sake of the Lord, that ye may receive the reward of your labour from him in the Last Day. It is right that the Deacons should seek to accomplish the desires of the poor, even before they ask them. And moreover let them minister unto the Bishop, and be one soul with him, and make him their father, and teacher, and reprover.
5And behold, we command that a Bishop be ordained by three Bishops; or at the least, by two. But from one Bishop he cannot receive ordination: for by the testimony of two or three witnesses shall every word be established. And the Priests and Deacons, and other persons ordained in the Church, shall be ordained by one Bishop. And unto the Priests and Deacons it is not given that they should ordain one who is of the people; but let the Priest teach and baptize and bless the people, and burn incense and offer oblations: and the Deacon must do nothing without the authority of the Bishop, and he is for the Priest also, to minister unto him; and let him perform it with a good ministry.