manifest to God, but even our thoughts.”
61
“As many as are persuaded and believe that what we teach and say is true, and
undertake to be able to live accordingly, are instructed to pray and to entreat God
with fasting, for the remission of their sins that are past, we praying and fasting
with them. Then they are led by us to a place where there is water; and there they
are reborn in the same kind of rebirth in which we ourselves were reborn: in the
name of God, the Lord and Father of all and of our Savior, Jesus Christ, and of the
Holy Spirit, they receive the washing with water. For Christ said, ‘unless you be
reborn, you shall not enter into the Kingdom of Heaven...’ The reason for doing
this, we have learned from the Apostles…in order that we may not remain the
children of necessity…and may obtain in the water the remission of sins formerly
committed.”
66
“And this food is called among us the Eucharist, of which no one is allowed to
partake but the man who has been washed in the washing bath that is for the
remission of sins, and unto regeneration, and who is so living as Christ has
enjoined. For not as common bread nor common drink do we receive these; but
since Jesus Christ our Savior was made incarnate by the word of God and had
both flesh and blood for our salvation, so too, as we have been taught, the food
which has been made into the Eucharist by the Eucharistic prayer set down by
Him, and by the change of which our blood and flesh is nourished is both the flesh
and the blood of that incarnated Jesus...The Apostles, in the Memoirs which they
produced, which are called Gospels, have thus passed on that which was enjoined
upon them: that Jesus took bread and, having given thanks, said, ‘Do this in
remembrance of Me; this is My Body.’ And in like manner, taking the cup, and
having given thanks, He said, ‘This is My Blood.’ And He imparted this to them
only.”
67
“And on the day called Sunday, all who live in the cities or in the country gather
together to one place and the memoirs of the apostles or the writings of the
prophets are read, as long as time permits; then, when the reader has ceased, the
president verbally instructs, and exhorts to the imitation of these good things. Then
we all rise together and pray, and, as we before said, when our prayer is ended
bread and wine are brought, and the president in like manner offers prayers and
thanksgivings, according to his ability, and the people assent, saying, Amen; and
there is a distribution to each and a participation of that over which thanks have
been given and to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.”
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