Original - The Coptic Orthodox Church

2 9
They shall not ill-treat their beasts-of-burden nor cry out
upon them with hard words which go forth from their mouths;
but the fear of God shall be in their hearts in all that
they do. And it is shameful if a heathen (? Muslim) 59 or a
Jew
hear that the church hath two measures /.
( 22). u None of the priests may
concern himself with
the matter of the land-tax. Nor may they use familiarity in
the houses of the rich, but rather give themselves unto the
service of the altar.
( 23)- v If a church possess
not sufficient for the suste
nance of them that serve the altar, then the bishop shall
give them whereof they have need, that they may give
themselves wholly unto the altar. But if the bishop give
nought, *then shall one of the priests go unto a rich man Rf- 105*
by
reason of the needs of his house. And his sin falleth
upon the bishop.
( 24). w But no man shall suffer that any of the priests
should do him service or minister unto him; for (then) is
sin upon him; because upon him are the hand and the name.
It is no right ordinance that a priest should serve a layman.
But if he would that a blessing should rest upon him, like
Micah, of whom it is told in the (book of) Judges, G0 which
received the Levite, saying, Now I know that the Lord
will do unto me good, seeing a Levite is become my priest;
or be it a deacon, let him go unto him, to enquire his
need, in the measure of his poverty, and let him give unto
him; yet not as unto one whom he humbleth, but rather
t M. that there be two measures in the church.
u R. Contents: That priests may not be husbandmen. (The author of this
heading probably read ^XxXXj may
the rich ,
i. e. may not become hired-labourers).
not demean themselves in the houses of
v R. Contents: Of a poor church.
w R. Contents: Concerning reverence and respect for the priests.
59 V. note on n, also 26. o Jud. XVII. 13.