_And after these things he goeth round with him, singing according to
rule,_
As many as have been baptized into Christ....
_And the dismissal is made._
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PREFACE AND INSTRUCTION CONCERNING HOW IT BEHOVETH A SPIRITUAL PERSON TO
BEHAVE HIMSELF, AND TO INSTRUCT WITHOUT CONTRADICTION THEM THAT BETAKE
THEMSELVES TO HIM.
It is the duty of him that is the recipient of human thoughts to be a
pattern of all good things, and to be continent, humble, and virtuous,
praying himself every hour unto God, that he may give him the word of
wisdom to correct them that betake themselves to him. First of all it
is his duty himself to fast wednesday and friday throughout the year,
as the divine canons direct, since from these he hath to direct himself
and others what to do. But if he himself be ignorant, incontinent, and
pleasure-loving, how can he teach virtue unto others? and who would be
so unwise as to hearken unto him concerning that which he hath to say,
seeing him a disorderly person and a drunkard, and teaching others not
to be intemperate, or to follow any virtue whatever, while he himself
is unable to do this? For eyes are more believing than ears, saith the
divine scripture. Therefore, take heed unto thyself, O thou that art a
spiritual person; for if one sheep be lost through thy negligence, it
shall be required at thy hands. For cursed, saith the scripture, is he
that doeth the work of the Lord negligently. And the great Basil saith,
Give heed, that thou fear not a man in his fall, that thou give not the
Son of God into unworthy hands, that thou be not ashamed of him because
of them that are glorious on the earth, and that thou communicate not
even him that weareth a diadem. For the divine canons do not permit the
unworthy to be communicated, since they are regarded as heathen. If
they will not repent, woe unto them, and to them that communicate them.
Give heed, he saith, thou seest I will not permit such things. These
and the like precepts keeping, and before all things, preserving the
ecclesiastical dogmas immoveably, thou shalt save thyself, and them that
hearken unto thee. If any without proper licence from the local Bishop
dare to be the recipient of thoughts and to confess, such shall rightly
receive punishment as a transgressor of the divine canons; for he doth
not only ruin himself, but as many as are confessed by him, they are not
confessed, and as many as are bound or loosed, they are not corrected,
according to the sixth canon of the synod of Carthage, and according to
the forty-third of the same synod.
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_Chapter VII._