A Prayer for the New Fruits.
XLV. But let him pray thus after the foregoing prayer, and say: O God Almighty, the Father of Thy Christ, Thy only begotten Son, give me a body undefiled, a heart pure, a mind watchful, an unerring knowledge, the influence of the Holy Ghost for the obtaining and assured enjoying of the truth, through Thy Christ, by whom [3534] glory be to Thee, in the Holy Spirit, for ever. Amen. We have thought it reasonable to make these constitutions concerning the catechumens.
[3527] 2 Cor. vii. 1.
[3528] Rom. vi. 5.
[3529] Matt. xxviii. 19.
[3530] [Compare Justin Martyr, vol. i. [283]p. 183, this series.]
[3531] One V. ms. has "Son" instead of "God." Cotelerius remarks that this change was made in the interests of orthodoxy; for the expression "only begotten God" had become common with the Arians. [Comp. John i. 18., where the most weighty ancient authorities read monogenes theos instead of ho monogenes uios; see Revised Version, margins in loco.--R.]
[3532] [Compare vol. ii. [284]p. 535 and vol. iii. [285]p. 31.]
[3533] 2 Chron. v. 13.
[3534] One V. ms. reads, "with whom glory be to Thee, along with the Holy Spirit."
Sec. IV.--Enumeration Ordained by Apostles.
Who Were They that the Holy Apostles Sent and Ordained?
XLVI. Now concerning those bishops which have been ordained in our lifetime, we let you know that they are these:--James the bishop of Jerusalem, the brother of our Lord; [3535] upon whose death the second was Simeon the son of Cleopas; after whom the third was Judas the son of James. Of Cæsarea of Palestine, the first was Zacchæus, who was once a publican; after whom was Cornelius, and the third Theophilus. Of Antioch, Euodius, ordained by me Peter; and Ignatius by Paul. Of Alexandria, Annianus was the first, ordained by Mark the evangelist; the second Avilius by Luke, who was also an evangelist. Of the church of Rome, Linus the son of Claudia was the first, ordained by Paul; [3536] and Clemens, after Linus' death, the second, ordained by me Peter. [3537] Of Ephesus, Timotheus, ordained by Paul; and John, by me John. Of Smyrna, Aristo the first; after whom Stratæas the son of Lois; [3538] and the third Aristo. Of Pergamus, Gaius. Of Philadelphia, Demetrius, by me. Of Cenchrea, Lucius, by Paul. Of Crete, Titus. Of Athens, Dionysius. Of Tripoli in Phoenicia, Marathones. Of Laodicea in Phrygia, Archippus. [3539] Of Colossæ, Philemon. [3540] Of Borea in Macedonia, Onesimus, once the servant of Philemon. [3541] Of the churches of Galatia, Crescens. [3542] Of the parishes of Asia, Aquila and Nicetas. Of the church of Æginæ, Crispus. These are the bishops who are entrusted by us with the parishes in the Lord; whose doctrine keep ye always in mind, and observe our words. And may the Lord be with you now, and to endless ages, as Himself said to us when He was about to be taken up to His own God and Father. For says He, "Lo, I am with you all the days, until the end of the world. Amen." [3543]
[3535] [An incidental proof of the early origin of this compilation is furnished by the clear distinction it makes between James the son of Alphæus and James the brother of our Lord. The theory of Jerome, which identifies them, was later.--R.]
[3536] 2 Tim. iv. 21.
[3537] [Noteworthy, and to be recalled hereafter. See vol. iii. [286]p. 258.]
[3538] 2 Tim. i. 5.
[3539] [Comp. Col. iv. 16, 17., whence this is probably derived.--R.]
[3540] Philem. 1.
[3541] [Philem. 10.--R.]
[3542] [Comp. 2 Tim. iv. 10.--R.]
[3543] Matt. xxviii. 20.
Sec. V.--Daily Prayers.
A Morning Prayer.
XLVII. "Glory be to God in the highest, and upon earth peace, good-will among men." [3544] We praise Thee, we sing hymns to Thee, we bless Thee; we glorify Thee, we worship Thee by Thy great High Priest; Thee who art the true God, who art the One Unbegotten, the only inaccessible Being. For Thy great glory, O Lord and heavenly King, O God the Father Almighty, O Lord God, [3545] the Father of Christ the immaculate Lamb, who taketh away the sin of the world, receive our prayer, Thou that sittest upon the cherubim. For Thou only art holy, Thou only art the Lord Jesus, the Christ of the God of all created nature, and our King, by whom glory, honour, and worship be to Thee.
An Evening Prayer.
XLVIII. "Ye children, praise the Lord: praise the name of the Lord." [3546] We praise Thee, we sing hymns to Thee, we bless Thee for Thy great glory, O Lord our King, the Father of Christ the immaculate Lamb, who taketh away the sin of the world. Praise becomes Thee, hymns become Thee, glory becomes Thee, the God and Father, [3547] through the Son, in the most holy Spirit, for ever and ever. Amen. "Now, O Lord, lettest Thou Thy servant depart in peace, according to Thy word; for mine eyes have seen Thy salvation, which Thou hast prepared before the face of all people, a light for the revelation to the Gentiles, and the glory of Thy people Israel." [3548]
A Prayer at Dinner.
XLIX. Thou art blessed, O Lord, who nourishest me from my youth, who givest food to all flesh. Fill our hearts with joy and gladness, that having always what is sufficient for us, we may abound to every good work, in Christ Jesus our Lord, through whom [3549] glory, honour, and power be to Thee for ever. Amen.
General notice
Comparing the Teaching with chapters xxv. and xxvi. of these Constitutions, it seems to me that the nature of the eucharistic (thanksgiving) prayers becomes apparent. They presuppose the formulas to be found in the eighth book of the Constitutions, [3550] and are such instructions as were imparted only to catechumens; the part peculiar to presbyters being withheld, of course, as esoteric mysteries, until further knowledge was canonically appropriate. See Elucidation IV. vol. vi. [287]p. 236; and in this volume, Elucidation I. [288]p. 382. The Bryennios ms. is cleared from nearly all difficulties by Dr. Riddle's lucid notes, when compared with corresponding passages in the Constitutions, or illustrated by such as are supplementary.
[3544] Luke ii. 14.
[3545] One V. ms. gives a more orthodox form to this prayer: "O Lord, only begotten Son, and Holy Spirit, Lord God, the Lamb of God, the Son of the Father, who takest away the sins of the world, receive our prayer. Thou who sittest at the right hand of the Father, have mercy upon us, for Thou only art holy; Thou only art Christ, Jesus Christ, to the glory of God the Father. Amen."
[3546] Ps. cxiii. 1.
[3547] One V. ms. omits "the God and;" then reads, "to Father, Son, and Holy Ghost."
[3548] Luke ii. 29., etc.
[3549] One V. ms. reads, "with whom."
[3550] Beginning [289]p. 479, infra.
constitutions of the holy apostles.