himself before God, saying, "I have not in covetousness taken anything belonging to one of these men, nor have I done evil to one of them."[1] In this way, too, Samuel, who judged the people so many years, and bore rule over Israel without any pride, in the end cleared himself, saying, "I have walked before you from my childhood even unto this day: answer me in the sight of God, and before His anointed (Christi ejus); whose ox or whose ass of yours have I taken, or over whom have I tyrannized, or whom have I oppressed? or if I have received from the hand of any a bribe or [so much as] a shoe, speak out against me, and I will restore it to you."[2] And when the people had said to him, "Thou hast not tyrannized, neither hast thou oppressed us, neither hast thou taken ought of any man's hand," he called the Lord to witness, saying, "The Lord is witness, and His Anointed is witness this day, that ye have not found ought in my hand. And they said to him, He is witness." In this strain also the Apostle Paul, inasmuch as he had a good conscience, said to the Corinthians: "For we are not as many, who corrupt the Word of God: but as of sincerity, but as of God, in the sight of God speak we in Christ;"[3] "We have injured no man, corrupted no man, circumvented no man."[4]
5. Such presbyters does the church nourish, of whom also the prophet says: "I will give thy rulers in peace, and thy bishops in righteousness."[5] Of whom also did the Lord declare, " Who then shall be a faithful steward (actor), good and wise, whom the Lord sets over His household, to give them their meat in due season? Blessed is that servant whom his Lord, when He cometh, shall find so doing."[6] Paul then, teaching us where one may find such, says, "God hath placed in the church, first, apostles; secondly, prophets; thirdly, teachers."[7] Where, therefore, the gifts of the Lord have been placed, there it behoves us to learn the truth, [namely,] from those who possess that succession of the church which is from the apostles, and among whom
