t12papocrypha
Testament of Issachar 4
Issachar instructs his children in the spiritual discipline of simplicity — a singleness of heart that refuses covetousness, lust, envy, and ambition for long life, resting instead in the will of God. The simple man is described not as one who lacks perception but as one whose inner sight is uncorrupted: he sees all things without the distorting lens of error, and therefore the spirits of deception find no foothold in him. The teaching runs parallel to the beatitude pattern — the pure in heart see God precisely because they have refused to admit the corrupting images that fracture the soul.
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And now hearken to me, my children, and walk in simplicity of heart, for I have seen in it all that is well-pleasing to the Lord. The simple coveteth not gold, defraudeth not his neighbour, longeth not after manifold dainties, delighteth not in varied apparel, doth not picture to himself to live a long life, but only waiteth for the will of God, and the spirits of error have no power against him. For he cannot allow within his mind a thought of female beauty, that he should not pollute his mind in corruption. No envy can enter into his thoughts, no jealousy melteth away his soul, nor doth he brood over gain with insatiate desire; for he walketh in uprightness of life, and beholdeth all things in simplicity, not admitting in his eyes malice from the error of the world, lest he should see the perversion of any of the commandments of the Lord.
