1Chapter 5 — The praise of unity.
2For if I in this brief space of time, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop — I mean not of a mere human, but of a spiritual nature—how much more do I reckon you happy who are so joined to him as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and as Jesus Christ is to the Father, that so all things may agree in unity! Let no man deceive himself: if any one be not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of God.
3For if the prayer of one or two possesses such power, how much more that of the bishop and the whole Church! He, therefore, that does not assemble with the Church, has even by this manifested his pride, and condemned himself.
4For it is written, "God resisteth the proud".
5Let us be careful, then, not to set ourselves in opposition to the bishop, in order that we may be subject to God.
6For if I, in this brief space of time, have enjoyed such fellowship with your bishop — I mean not of a mere human, but of a spiritual nature—how much more do I reckon you happy, who so depend on him as the Church does on the Lord Jesus, and the Lord does on God and His Father, that so all things may agree in unity! Let no man deceive himself: if any one be not within the altar, he is deprived of the bread of God.
7For if the prayer of one or two possesses such power that Christ stands in the midst of them, how much more will the prayer of the bishop and of the whole Church, ascending up in harmony to God, prevail for the granting of all their petitions in Christ! He, therefore, that separates himself from such, and does not meet in the society where sacrifices are offered, and with "the Church of the first-born whose names are written in heaven," is a wolf in sheep's clothing, while he presents a mild outward appearance.
8Do ye, beloved, be careful to be subject to the bishop, and the presbyters and the deacons.
9For he that is subject to these is obedient to Christ, who has appointed them; but he that is disobedient to these is disobedient to Christ Jesus.
10And "he that obeyeth not the Son shall not see life, but the wrath of God abideth on him".
11For he that yields not obedience to his superiors is self-confident, quarrelsome, and proud.
12But "God," says the Scripture "resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to the humble;" and, "The proud have greatly transgressed".
13The Lord also says to the priests, "He that heareth you, heareth Me; and he that heareth Me, heareth the Father that sent Me.
14He that despiseth you, despiseth Me; and he that despiseth Me, despiseth Him that sent Me".