Didascalia Apostolorum 17

1[iv. 1] Now if anyone of the children of Christians be an orphan, whether boy or (p. 73) girl, it is well that, if there be one of the brethren who has no children, he should adopt the child in the place of children. And whoever has a son, let him adopt a girl; and when her time is come, let him give her to him to wife, that his work may be completed in the ministry of God. But if there be any who are unwilling to do thus because they would please men, and by reason of their riches are ashamed of orphan members:? they who are such shall arrive at ?this very pass, and therein? shall spend what they have spared; and that which the saints have not eaten, the Assyrians shall eat [ref. ?]:? and their land strangers shall devour before their eyes [Isa 1.7]. [iv. 2] Do you therefore, O bishops, take pains over their upbringing, so that nothing may be wanting to them. And when a virgin's time is come, give her in marriage to one of the brethren. But when a boy is being brought up, let him learn a craft; and when he is become a man, let him receive the wage that is worthy of his craft, and let him fashion for himself the implements required for his craft, and not henceforth be a burden upon the love of the brethren, which was shown him without guile and without partiality. [] [iv. 3] And truly blessed is every one that is able to help himself, and shall not straiten the place of the orphan and the widow and the stranger. For woe from God to them that have, and receive in falsehood, {or are able to help themselves and (yet) receive;} for everyone of those who receive shall give an account to the Lord God in the day of judgement, how he received [cf. Did 1.5; Herm Mand 2.5-6 (27.5-6)]. If a man has received on account of a fatherless childhood, or on account of indigence in old age, or on account of infirmity and sickness, or on account of the rearing of children, he shall even be praised:? for he is esteemed as the altar of God, therefore shall he be honoured of God. For he did not receive idly; because he was praying diligently (and) unremittingly at all times for those who give; for his prayer, ?which is his strength?, he offered as his payment. Those then who are such shall be declared blessed by God in the life everlasting. [iv. 4] But those who have, and receive under pretence, or else are slothful, and instead of working and helping others rather themselves receive, shall be held to account for that which they receive [cf. Did 1.5; Herm Mand 2.5 (27.5)], because they have straitened the place of the faithful poor. For everyone who has some possession, and neither gives to others nor (p. 74) uses it himself, lays up for himself a perishable treasure on earth [Mt 6.19]; and he has inherited the place of the snake lying upon the treasure, and will come in danger of being reckoned with him. For whoever has, and receives in falsehood, puts his faith not in God but in the Mammon of iniquity [Lk 16.9]; and for the gain of avarice he holds the word in [] hypocrisy, and he is fulfilled in unbelief. Now such a one will come in danger of being reckoned with the unbelievers. But he who gives simply to every man, does well in giving, and he is innocent. He also who receives on account of distress, and uses sparingly those things which he has received, has received well; and he shall be praised by God in the life and rest everlasting [cf. Did 1.5; Herm Mand 2.4-6 (27.4-6)].