THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE
Clement was a disciple of Peter, and afterwards Bishop
of Rome. Clemens Alexandrinus calls him an apostle. Jerome says he was an
apostolic man, and Rafinus that he was almost an apostle. Eusebius calls this
the wonderful Epistle of St. Clement, and says that it was publicly read in the
assemblies of the primitive church. It is included in one of the ancient collections
of the Canon Scripture. Its genuineness has been much questioned, particularly
by Photius, patriarch of Constantinople in the
ninth century, who objects that Clement speaks of worlds beyond the ocean: that
he has not written worthily of the divinity of Christ; and that to prove the
possibility of a future resurrection, he introduces the fabulous story of the
phoenix's revival from its own ashes. To the latter objection, Archbishop Wake
replies that the generality of the ancient Fathers have made use of the same
instance in proof of the same point; and asks, if St. Clement really believed
that there was such a bird, and that it did revive out of the cinders of the
body after burning, where was the, great harm either in giving credit to such a
wonder, or, believing it, to make rich a use as he here does of it?—The present
is the Archbishop's translation from the ancient Greek copy of the Epistle, which
is at the end of the celebrated Alexandrine MS. of the Septuagint and New
Testament, presented by Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria British Museum
CHAPTER I.
Clement commends them for their excellent
order and piety in Christ, before their schism broke out.
THE Church of God Rome ,
to the Church of God which is at Corinth
2 Brethren, the sudden and unexpected
dangers and calamities that have fallen upon us, have, we fear, made us the
more slow in our consideration of those things which you inquired of us:
3 As also of that wicked and detestable
sedition, so unbecoming the elect of God, which a few headstrong and
self-willed men have fomented to such a degree of madness, that your venerable
and renowned name, so worthy of all men to be beloved, is greatly blasphemed
thereby.
4 For who that has ever been among
you has not experienced the firmness of your faith, and its fruitfulness in all
good works; and admired the temper and moderation of your religion in Christ;
and published abroad the magnificence of your hospitality; and thought you
happy in your perfect and certain knowledge of the Gospel?
5 For ye did all things without respect
of persons, and walked according to the laws of God; being subject to those who
had the rule over you, and giving the honour that was fitting to the aged among
you.
6 Ye commanded the young men to
think those things that were modest and grave.
7 The women ye exhorted to do all
things with an unblameable, and seemly, and pure conscience; loving their own
husbands, as was fitting: and that keeping themselves within the bounds of a
due obedience, they should order their houses gravely, with all discretion.
8 Ye were all of you humble- minded,
not boasting of anything desiring rather to be subject than to govern; to give
than to receive; being a content with the portion God hath dispensed to you:
9 And hearkening diligently to his
word, ye were enlarged in your bowels, having his sufferings always before your
eyes.
10 Thus a firm, and blessed, and
profitable peace was given unto you: and an unsatiable desire of doing good; and
a plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost was upon all of you.
11 And being full of good designs,
ye did with, great readiness of mind, and with a religious confidence stretch forth
your hands to God Almighty; beseeching him to be merciful unto you, if in
anything ye had unwillingly sinned against him.
12 Ye contended day and night for
the whole brotherhood; that with compassion and a good conscience, the number
of his elect might be saved.
13 Ye were sincere, and without offence
towards each other; not mindful of injuries; all sedition and schism was an
abomination unto you.
14 Ye bewailed every one his neighbours'
sins, esteeming their defects your own.
15 Ye were kind one to another without
grudging; being ready to every good work. And being adorned with a conversation
altogether virtuous and religious, ye did all things in the fear of God; whose
I commandments were written upon the tables of your heart.
CHAPTER II.
How their divisions began.
ALL honour and
enlargement was given unto you; and so was fulfilled that which is written, my
beloved did eat and drink, he was enlarged and waxed fat, and he kicked.
2 From hence came emulation, and
envy, and strife, and sedition; persecution and disorder, war and captivity.
3 So they who were of no renown, lifted
up themselves against the honourable; those of no reputation against those who
were in respect; the foolish against the wise; the young men against the aged.
4 Therefore righteousness and peace
are departed from you, because every one hath forsaken the fear of God; and is
grown blind in his faith; nor walketh by the rule of God's commandments nor liveth
as is fitting in Christ:
5 But every one follows his own
wicked lusts: having taken up an unjust and wicked envy, by which death first
entered into the world.
CHAPTER III.
Envy and emulation the original of
all strife and disorder. Examples of the mischiefs they have occasioned.
FOR thus it is
written, And in process of time it came to pass, that Cain brought of the fruit
of the ground an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the
firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof:
2 And the Lord had respect unto Abel,
and to his offering. But unto Cain and unto his offering he had not respect.
And Cain was very sorrowful, and his countenance fell.
3 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why
art thou sorrowful? And why is thy countenance fallen? If thou shalt offer
aright, but not divide aright, hast thou not sinned? Hold thy peace: unto thee
shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.
4 And Cain said unto Abel his brother,
Let us go down into the field. And it came to pass, as they were in the field,
that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.
5 Ye see, brethren, how envy and
emulation wrought the death of a brother. For this, our father Jacob fled from
the face of his brother Esau.
6 It was this that caused Joseph to
be persecuted even unto death, and to come into bondage. Envy forced
"Moses to flee from the face of Pharoah king of Egypt
7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam were
shut out of the camp, from the rest of the congregation seven days.
8 Emulation's sent Dathan and Abiram
quick into the grave because they raised up a sedition against Moses the
servant of God.
9 For this, David was not only hated
of strangers, but was persecuted even by Saul the king of Israel
10 But not to insist upon ancient examples,
let us come to those worthies that have been nearest to us; and take the brave examples
of our own age.
11 Through zeal and envy, the most
faithful and righteous pillars of the church have been persecuted even to the
most grevious deaths.
12 Let us set before our eyes, the
holy Apostles; Peter by unjust envy underwent not one or two, but many
sufferings; till at last being martyred, he went to the place of glory that was
due unto him.
13 For the same cause did Paul in
like manner receive the reward of his patience. Seven times he was in bonds; he
was whipped, was stoned; he preached both in the East and in the West; leaving
behind him the glorious report of his faith:
14 And so having taught the whole
world righteousness, and for that end travelled even to the utmost bounds of
the West; he at last suffered martyrdom by the command of the governors,
15 And departed out of the world,
and went unto his holy place; having become a most eminent pattern of patience unto
all ages.
16 To these Holy Apostles were
joined a very great number of others, who having through envy undergone in like
manner many pains and torments, have left a glorious example to us.
17 For this, not only men but women
have been persecuted; and having suffered very grievous and cruel punishments,
have finished the course of their faith with firmness; and though weak in body,
yet received a glorious reward.
18 This has alienated the minds even
of women from their husbands; and changed what was once said by our father
Adam; This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.
19 In a word, envy and strife, have
overturned whole cities, and rooted out great nations from off the earth.
CHAPTER IV.
4 He exhorts them to live by holy
rules, and repent of their divisions, and they shall be forgiven.
THESE things,
beloved, we write unto you, not only for your instruction, but also for our own
remembrance.
2 For we are all in the same lists,
and the same combat is prepared for us all.
3 Wherefore let us lay aside all vain
and empty cares; and let us come up to the glorious and venerable rule of our
holy calling.
4 Let us consider what is good, and
acceptable and well-pleasing in the sight of him that made us.
5 Let us look steadfastly to the blood
of Christ, and see how precious his blood is in the sight of God: which being
shed for our salvation, has obtained the grace of repentance for all the world.
6 Let us search into all the ages
that have gone before us; and learn that our Lord has in every one of them
still given place for repentance to all such as would turn to him.
7 Noah preached repentance; and as
many as hearkened to him were saved. Jonah denounced destruction against the
Ninevites.
8 Howbeit they repenting of their
sins, appeased God by their prayers: and were saved, though they were strangers
to the covenant of God.
9 Hence we find how all the ministers
of the grace of God have spoken by the Holy Spirit of repentance. And even the
Lord of all, has himself declared with an oath concerning it;
10 As I live, saith the Lord, I desire
not the death of a sinner, but that he should repent. Adding farther this good
sentence, saying Turn from your iniquity, O house of Israel
11 Say unto the children of my
people, though your sins should reach from earth to heaven; and though they
shall be redder than scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth yet if ye shall turn
to me with all your heart, and shall call me father, I will hearken to you, as to
a holy people.
12 And in another place he saith on
this wise: wash ye, make you clean; put away the evil of your doings from
before mine eyes; cease to do evil, learn to do well; seek judgment, relieve
the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
13 Come now and let us reason together,
saith the Lord: though your sins be as scarlet, they shall be as white as snow;
though they be as red as crimson, they shall be as wool.
14 If ye be willing and obedient ye
shall eat the good of the land but, if ye refuse and rebel, ye shall be devoured
with the sword; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken it.
15 These things has God established
by his Almighty will, desiring that all his beloved should come to repentance.
CHAPTER V.
1 He sets before them the examples
of holy men, whose piety is recorded in the Scripture.
WHEREFORE let us
obey his excellent and glorious will; and imploring his mercy and goodness, let
us fall down upon our faces before him, and cast ourselves upon his mercy;
laying aside all vanity, and contention, and envy which leads unto death.
2 Let us look up to those who have
the most perfectly ministered to his excellent glory. Let us take Enoch for our
example; who being found righteous in obedience, was translated, and his death
was not known.
3 Noah being proved to be faithful,
did by his ministry, preach regeneration to the world; and the Lord saved by
him all the living creatures, that went with one accord into the ark.
4 Abraham, who was called God's
friend, was in like manner found faithful; inasmuch as he obeyed the commands
of God.
5 By obedience he went out of his
own country, and from his own kindred, and from his father's house; that so
forsaking a small country, and a weak affinity, and a little house, he might
inherit the promises of God.
6 For thus God said unto him; "get
thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father's house,
unto a land that I will show thee."
7 "And, I will make thee a
great nation, and will bless thee, and make thy name great, and thou shalt be
blessed. And I will bless them that bless thee, and curse them that curse thee;
and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed,"
8 And again when he separated himself
from Lot , God said unto him; I Lift up now
thine eves, and look from the place where thou art northward, and southward,
and eastward, and westward, for all the land which thou seest, to thee will I
give it, and to thy seed for ever.
9 And I will make thy seed as the
dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then
shall thy seed also be numbered.
10 And again he saith: and God
brought forth Abraham, and said unto him; look now toward heaven, and tell the
stars, if thou be able to number them: so shall thy seed be.
11 And Abraham believed God, and it
was counted to him for righteousness.
12 Through faith and hospitality he
had a son given him in his old age; and through obedience he offered him up in
sacrifice to God, upon one of the mountains which God showed into him.
CHAPTER VI.
1 Redemption for such as have been
eminent for their faith, kindness, and charity to their neighbours.
BY hospitality
and goodliness was Lot saved out of Sodom
2 The Lord thereby making it manifest,
that he will not forsake those that trust in him; but will bring the
disobedient to punishment and correction.
3 For his wife who went out with
him, being of a different mind, and not continuing in the same obedience, was
for that reason set forth for an example, being turned into a pillar of salt unto
this day.
4 That so all men may know, that
those who are double minded, and distrustful of the power of God, are prepared
for condemnation, and to be a sign to all succeeding ages.
5 By faith and hospitality was Rahab
the harlot saved. For when the spies were sent by Joshua the son of Nun to
search out Jericho , and the king of Jericho
6 Rahab therefore, being hospitable,
received them, and hid them under the stalks of flax, on the top of her house.
7 And when the messengers that were
sent by the king came unto her, and asked her, saying, There came men unto thee
to spy out the land, bring them forth, for so hath the king commanded: She answered,
The two men whom ye seek came unto me, but presently they departed, and are
gone: Not discovering them unto them.
8 Then she said to the spies, I
know that the Lord your God has given this city into your hands; for the fear
of you is fallen upon all that dwell therein. When, therefore, ye shall have
taken it, ye shall save me and my father's house.
9 And they answered her, saying, It
shall be as thou hast spoken unto us, Therefore, when thou shalt know that we
are near, thou shalt gather all thy family together, upon the house-top and
they shall be saved: but all that shall be found without thy house shall be destroyed.
10 And they gave her moreover a
sign, that she should hang out of her house a scarlet rope, showing thereby,
that by the blood of our Lord, there should be redemption to all that believe
and hope in God. Ye see, beloved, how there was not only faith, but prophesy
too in this woman.
CHAPTER VII.
1 What rules are given for leading
a holy life.
LET us,
therefore, humble ourselves, brethren, laying aside all pride, and boasting,
and foolishness, and anger: And let us do as it is written.
2 For thus saith the Holy Spirit; Let
not the wise man glory in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor
the rich man in his riches; but let him that glorieth, glory in the Lord, to
seek him, and to do judgment and justice.
3 Above all, remembering the words
of the Lord Jesus, which he spake concerning equity and long suffering, saying,
4 Be ye merciful, and ye shall obtain
mercy; forgive, and ye shall be forgiven; as ye do, so shall it be done unto
you; as ye give, so shall it be given unto you; as ye judge, so shall ye be judged;
as ye are kind to others, so shall God be kind to you; with what measure ye
mete, with the same shall it be measured to you again.
5 By this command, and by these
rules, let us establish ourselves, that so we may always walk obediently to his
holy words; being humble minded:
6 For so says the Holy Scripture; upon
whom shall I look, even upon him that is poor and of a contrite spirit, and
that trembles at my word.
7 It is, therefore, just and righteous,
men and brethren, that we should become obedient unto God, rather than follow
such as through pride and sedition, have made themselves the ring-leaders of a
detestable emulation.
8 For it is not an ordinary harm that
we shall do ourselves, but rather a very great danger that we shall run, if we
shall rashly give up ourselves to the wills of men, who promote strife and
seditions, to turn us aside from that which is fitting.
9 But let us be kind to one another,
according to the compassion and sweetness of him that made us.
10 For it is written, The merciful shall
inherit the earth; and they that are without evil shall be left upon it: but
the transgressors shall perish from off the face of it.
11 And again be saith, I have seen
the wicked in great power and spreading himself like the cedar of Libanus. I
passed by, and lo! he was not; I sought his place, but it could not be found.
12 Keep innocently, and do the thing
that is right, for there shall be a remnant to the peaceable man.
13 Let us, therefore, hold fast to
those who religiously follow peace; and not to such as only pretend to desire.
14 For he saith in a certain place,
This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.
15 And again, They bless with their
mouths, but curse in their hearts.
16 And again he saith, They loved
him with their mouths, and with their tongues they lied to him. For their heart
was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.
17 Let all deceitful lips become dumb,
and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Who have said, with our tongue will
we prevail; our lips are our own, who is Lord over us?
18 For the oppression of the poor,
for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise saith the Lord; I will set him
in safety, I will deal confidently with him.
CHAPTER VIII.
He advises then, to be humble,
and, follow the examples of Jesus, and of holy men in all ages.
FOR Christ is
theirs who are humble, and not who exalt themselves over his flock. The sceptre
of the majesty of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, came not in the show of pride and
arrogance, though he could have done so; but with humility as the Holy Ghost
had before spoken concerning him.
2 For thus he saith, Lord, who hath
believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed; For he shall
grow up before him as a tender plant, and as a root out of a dry ground;
3 He hath no form or comeliness, and
when we shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him.
4 He is despised and rejected of men;
a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief.
5 And we hid, as it were, our faces
from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not.
6 Surely he hath borne our griefs,
and carried our sorrows yet we did esteem him stricken, smitten of God, and
afflicted.
7 But he was wounded for our transgressions;
he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him;
and with his stripes we are healed.
8 All we like sheep have gone astray;
we have turned every one to his own way; and the Lord hath laid on him the
iniquity of us all.
9 He was oppressed, and he was afflicted,
yet he opened not his mouth: he is brought as a lamb to the slaughter; and as a
sheep before her shearers is dumb, so he openeth not his mouth.
10 He was taken from prison and from
judgment; and who shall declare this generation? For he was cut off out of the
land of the living: for the transgression of my people was he stricken.
11 And he made his grave with the
wicked, and with the rich in his death; because he had done no violence,
neither was any deceit in his mouth.
12 Yet it pleased the Lord to bruise
him; he hath put him to grief: when thou shalt make his soul an offering for
sin, he shall see his seed, he shall prolong his days, and the pleasure of the
Lord shall prosper m his hand.
13 He shall see of the travail of
his soul, and shall be satisfied: by his knowledge shall my righteous servant
justify many; for he shall bear their iniquities.
14 Therefore will I divide him a
portion with the great, and he shall divide the spoil with the strong; because
he hath poured out his soul unto death; and he was numbered with the
transgressors, and he bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors.
15 And again he himself saith, I am
a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that
see me laugh me to scorn; they shoot out their lips, they shake their heads,
saying; He trusted in the Lord that he would deliver him, let him deliver him
seeing he delighted in him.
16 Ye see, beloved, what the pattern
is that has been given to us. For if the Lord thus humbled himself, what should
we do who are brought by him under the yoke of his grace?
17 Let us be followers of those who
went about in goat-skins, and sheep-skins; preaching the coming of Christ.
18 Such were Elias, and Eliaxus, and
Ezekiel, the prophets, And let us add to these, such others as have received
the like testimony.
19 Abraham has been greatly witnessed
of; having been called the friend of God. And yet he steadfastly beholding the
glory of God, says with all humility, I am dust and ashes.
20 Again of Job, it is thus written,
That he was just, and without blame, true; one that served God, and abstained
from all evil. Yet he accusing himself, said, No man is free from pollution,
no, not though he should live but one day.
21 Moses was called faithful in all
God's House; and by his conduct the Lord punished Israel
22 And even this man, though thus
greatly honoured, spake not greatly of himself; but when the oracle of God was
delivered to him out of the bush, he said, Who am I, that thou dost send me? I am
of a slender voice, and a slow tongue.
23 And again he saith, I am as the
smoke of the pot.
24 And what shall we say of David,
so highly testified of in the Holy Scriptures? To whom God said, I have found a
man after my own heart, David the son of Jesse, with my holy oil have I anointed
him.
25 But yet he himself saith unto God,
Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy loving kindness; according unto the
multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgressions.
26 Wash me thoroughly from mine
iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge my transgressions, and
my sin is ever before me.
27 Against Thee only have I sinned,
and done this evil in thy sight; that thou mightest be justified when thou
speakest; and be clear when thou judgest.
28 Behold I was shapen in iniquity,
and in sin did my mother conceive me.
29 Behold, thou desirest truth in
the inward parts; and in the hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom.
30 Purge me with hyssop, and I shall
be clean: wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow.
31 Make me to hear joy and gladness,
that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice.
32 Hide thy face from my sins, and
blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart O God; and renew a
right spirit within me.
34 Cast me not away from thy presence,
and take not thy holy spirit from me.
35 Restore unto me the joy of thy
salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit.
36 Then will I teach transgressors thy
ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee.
37 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,
O God, thou God of my salvation; and my tongue shall sing aloud of thy righteousness.
38 O Lord open thou my lips, and my
mouth shall. show forth thy praise.
39 For thou desirest not sacrifice, else
would I give it; thou delightest not in burnt-offerings.
40 The sacrifices of God are a broken
spirit; a broken and a contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise.
CHAPTER IX.
He again persuades them to compose
their divisions.
THUS has the humility
and godly fear of these great and excellent men recorded in the Scriptures,
through obedience, made not only us, but also the generations before us better;
even as many as have received his holy oracles with fear and truth.
2 Having therefore so many, and
such great and glorious examples, let us return to that peace which was the
mark that from the beginning was set before us;
3 Let us look up to the Father and
Creator of the whole world; and let us hold fast to his glorious and exceeding
gifts and benefits of peace.
4 Let us consider and behold with
the eyes of our understanding his long suffering will; and think how gentle and
patient he is towards his whole creation.
5 The heavens moving by his appointment,
are subject to him in peace.
6 Day and night accomplish the courses
that he has allotted unto them, not disturbing one another.
7 The sun and moon, and all the several
companies and constellations of the stars, run the courses that he has
appointed to them in concord, without departing in the least from them.
8 The fruitful earth yields its food
plentifully in due season both to man and beast, and to all animals that are
upon it, according to his will; not disputing, nor altering any thing of what
was ordered by him.
9 So also the unfathomable and unsearchable
floods of the deep, are kept in by his command;
10 And the conflux of the vast sea,
being brought together by his order into its several collections, passes not
the bounds that he has set to it;
11 But as he appointed it, so it remains.
For he said, Hitherto shalt then come, and thy floods shall be broken within
thee.
12 The ocean impassable to mankind,
and the worlds that are beyond it are governed by the same commands of their
great master.
13 Spring and summer, autumn and
winter, give place peaceably to each other.
14 The several quarters of the winds
fulfil their work in their seasons, without offending one another.
15 The ever-flowing fountains, made
both for pleasure and health, never fail to reach out their breasts to support
the life of men.
16 Even the smallest creatures live
together in peace and concord with each other.
17 All these has the Great Creator and
Lord of all, commanded to observe peace and concord; being good to all.
18 But especially to us who flee to
his mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ; to whom be glory and majesty for ever
and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER X.
He exhorts them to obedience, from
the consideration of the goodness of God, and of his presence in every place.
TAKE heed,
beloved, that his many blessings be not to our condemnation; except we shall walk
worthy of him, doing with one consent what is good and pleasing in his sight.
2 The spirit of the Lord is a candle,
searching out the inward parts of the belly.
3 Let us therefore consider how near
he is to us; and how that none of our thoughts, or reasonings which we frame
within ourselves, are hid from him,
4 It is therefore just that we should
not forsake our rank, by doing contrary to his will.
5 Let us choose to offend a few foolish
and inconsiderate men, lifted up and glorying in their own pride, rather than
God.
6 Let us reverence our Lord Jesus
Christ whose blood was given for us.
7 Let us honour those who are set
over us; let us respect the aged that are amongst us; and let us instruct the
younger men, in the discipline and fear of the LORD.
8 Our wives let us direct, to do that
which is good.
9 Let them show forth a lovely habit
of purity, in all their conversation; with a sincere affection of meekness.
10 Let the government of their tongues
be made manifest by their silence.
11 Let their charity be without respect
of persons, alike towards all such as religiously fear God.
12 Let your children be bred up in
the instruction of Christ:
13 And especially let them learn how
great a power humility has with God; how much a pure and holy charity avails
with him; how excellent and great his fear is; and how it will save all such as
turn to him with holiness in a pure mind.
14 For he is the searcher of the thoughts
and counsels of the heart; whose breath is in us, and when he pleases he can
take it from us.
CHAPTER XI.
Of faith: and particularly what we
are to believe as to the Resurrection.
BUT all these
things must be confirmed by the faith which is in Christ; for so He himself bespeaks
us by the Holy Ghost;
2 Comeye children and hearken unto
me, and I will teach you the fear of the Lord. What man is there that desireth
life, and loveth to see good days?
3 Keep thy tongue from evil, and
thy lips that they speak no guile.
4 Depart from evil and do good; seek
peace and pursue it.
5 The eyes of the Lord are upon the
righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers.
6 But the face of the Lord is against
them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth.
7 The righteous cried, and the Lord
heard him, and delivered him out of all his troubles.
8 Many are the troubles of the wicked;
but they that trust in the Lord mercy shall encompass them about.
9 Our all-merciful and beneficent Father
hath bowels of compassion towards them that fear him: and kindly and lovingly bestows
his graces upon all such as come to him with a simple mind.
10 Wherefore let us not waver, neither
let us have any doubt in our hearts, of his excellent and glorious gifts.
11 Let that be far from us which is
written, Miserable are the double-minded, and those who are doubtful in their
hearts;
12 Who say these things have we
heard, and our fathers have told us these things. But behold we are grown old,
and none of them has happened unto us.
13 O ye fools consider the trees: take
the vine for an example. First it sheds its leaves; then it buds; after that it
spreads its leaves; then it flowers; then come the sour grapes; and after them follows
the ripe fruit. See how in a little time the fruit of the trees comes to
maturity.
14 Of a truth yet a little while and
his will shall suddenly be accomplished.
15 The Holy Scripture itself bearing
witness, that He shall quickly come and not tardy, and that the Lord shall
suddenly come to his temple, even the
3 holy ones whom ye look for.
16 Let us consider, beloved, how the
Lord does continually show us, that there shall be a future resurrection; of
which he has made our Lord Jesus Christ the first fruits, raising him from the
dead.
17 Let us contemplate, beloved, the
resurrection that is continually made before our eyes.
18 Day and night manifest a resurrection
to us. The night lies down, and the day arises: again the day departs and the
night comes on.
19 Let us behold the fruits of the
earth. Every one sees how the seed is sown. The sower goes forth, and casts it
upon the earth; and the seed which when it was sown fell upon the earth dry and
naked, in time dissolves.
20 And from the dissolution, the
great power of the providence of the Lord rises it again; and of one seed many
arise, and bring forth fruit.
CHAPTER XII.
The Resurrection further proved.
LET us consider
that wonderful type of the resurrection which is seen in the Eastern countries:
that is to say, in Arabia .
2 There is a certain bird called a Phoenix
3 But its flesh putrifying, breeds a
certain worm, which being nourished with the juice of the dead bird brings
forth feathers; and when it is grown to a perfect state, it takes up the nest
in which the bones of its parent lie, and carries it from Arabia into Egypt Heliopolis
4 And flying in open day in the sight
of all men, lays it upon the altar of the sun, and so returns from whence it
came.
5 The priests then search into the
records of the time: and find that it returned precisely at the end of five
hundred years.
6 And shall we then think it to be
any very great and strange thing for the Lord of all to raise up those that
religiously serve him in the assurance of a good faith, when even by a bird he
shows us the greatness of his power to fulfil his promise?
7 For he says in a certain place, Thou
shalt raise me up and I shall confess unto thee.
8 And again, I laid me down and
slept, and awaked, because thou art with me.
9 And again, Job says, Thou shalt
raise up this flesh of mine, that has suffered all these things.
10 Having therefore this hope, let
us hold fast to him who is faithful in all his promises, and righteous in all
his judgments; who has commanded us not to lie, how much more will he not himself
lie?
11 For nothing is impossible with
God but to lie.
12 Let his faith then be stirred up
again in us; and let us consider that all things are nigh unto him.
13 By the word of his power he made
all things: and by the same word he is able, (whenever he will,) to destroy
them.
14 Who shall say unto him, what dost
thou? or who shall resist the power of his strength?
15 When, and as he pleased, he will
do all things; and nothing shall pass away of all that has been determined by
him.
16 All things are open before him;
nor can anything be hid from his counsel.
17 The heavens declare the glory of
God, and the firmament showeth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech,
and night unto night showeth knowledge. There is no speech nor language where
their voice is not heard.
CHAPTER XIII.
It is impossible to escape the
vengeance of God, if we continue in sin.
SEEING then all
things are seen and heard by God, let us fear him, and let us lay aside our wicked
works which proceed from ill desires; that through his mercy we may be delivered
from the condemnation to come.
2 For whither can any of us flee from
his mighty hand? Or what world shall receive any of those who run away from
him?
3 For thus saith the Scripture in a
certain place. Whither shall I flee from thy spirit, or where shall I hide
myself from thy presence?
4 If I ascend up into heaven, thou
art there; if I shall go to the uttermost parts of the earth, there is thy
right hand: if I shall make my bed in the deep, thy Spirit is there.
5 Whither then shall any one go; or
whither shall he run from him that comprehends all things?
6 Let us therefore come to him with
holiness of heart, lifting up chaste and undefiled hands unto him; loving our
gracious and merciful Father, who has made us to partake of his election.
7 For so it is written, When the
Most High divided the nations; when he separated the sons of Adam, he set the
bounds of the nations, according to the number of his angels; his people Jacob became
the portion of the Lord, and Israel
8 And in another place he saith, Behold
the Lord taketh unto himself a nation, out of the midst of the nations, as a
man taketh the first- fruits of his flour; and the Most Holy shall come out of
that nation.
CHAPTER XIV.
How we must live that we may
please God.
WHEREFORE we
being apart of the Holy One: let us do all those things that pertain unto holiness:
2 Fleeing all evil-speaking against
one another; all filthy and impure embraces, together with all drunkenness,
youthful lusts, abominable concupiscences, detestable adultery, and execrable
pride.
3 For God saith, he resisteth the
proud, but giveth grace to the humble.
4 Let us therefore hold fast to those
to whom God has given his grace.
5 And let us put on concord, being
humble, temperate; free from all whispering and detraction; and justified by
our actions, not our words.
6 For he saith, Doth he that speaketh
and heareth many things, and is of a ready tongue, suppose that he is
righteous? Blessed is he that is born of a woman, that liveth but a few days:
use not therefore much speech.
7 Let our praise be of God, not of
ourselves; for God hateth those that commend themselves.
8 Let the witness of our good actions
be given to us by others, as it was given to the holy men that went before us.
9 Rashness, and arrogance, and confidence,
belong to them who are accursed of God: but equity, and humility, and mildness,
to such as are blessed by him.
10 Let us then lay hold of his blessing,
and let as consider what are the ways by which we may attain unto it.
11 Let us look back upon those things
that have happened from the beginning.
12 For what was our Father Abraham
blessed? Was it not because that through faith he wrought righteousness and
truth?
13 Isaac being fully persuaded of
what he knew was to come, cheerfully yielded himself up for a sacrifice. Jacob
with humility departed out of his own country, fleeing from his brother, and
went unto Laban and served him; and so the sceptre of the twelve tribes of Israel
14 Now what the greatness of this
gift was, will plainly appear, if we shall take the pains distinctly to
consider all the parts of it.
15 For, from him came the priests
and Levites; who all ministered at the altar of God.
16 From him came our Lord Jesus
Christ, according to the flesh.
17 From him came the kings, and
princes, and rulers in Judah
18 Nor were the rest of his tribes
in any little glory: God having promised that their seed shall be as the stars
of heaven.
19 They were all therefore greatly
glorified, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the
righteousness that they themselves wrought, but through his will.
20 And we also being called by the
same will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, neither by our own
wisdom, or knowledge, or piety, or the works which we have done in the holiness
of our hearts.
21 But by that faith, by which God Almighty
has justified all men from the beginning; to whom be glory for ever and ever,
Amen.
CHAPTER XV.
We are justified by faith; yet
this must not lessen our care to live a virtuous life, nor our pleasure in it.
WHAT shall we do
therefore, brethren? Shall we be slothful in well-doing, and lay aside our charity?
God forbid that any such thing should be done by us.
2 But rather let us hasten with all
earnestness and readiness of mind, to perfect every good work. For even the
Creator and Lord of all things himself rejoices in his own works.
3 By his Almighty power he fixed
the heavens, and by his incomprehensible wisdom he adorned them.
4 He also divided the earth from
the water, with which it is encompassed: and fixed it as a secure tower, upon
the foundation of his own will.
5 He also by his appointment, commanded
all the living creatures that are upon it, to exist.
6 So likewise the sea, and all the
creatures that are in it; having first created them, he enclosed them therein
by his power.
7 And above all, he with his holy
and pure hands, formed man, the most excellent; and, as to his understanding,
truly the greatest of all other creatures; the character of his own image.
8 For thus God says; Let us make
man in our image, after our own likeness; so God created man, male and female
created he them.
9 And having thus finished all these
things, he commended all that he had made, and blessed them, and said, increase
and multiply.
10 We see how all righteous men have
been adorned with good works Wherefore even the Lord himself, having adorned himself
with his works, rejoiced.
11 Having therefore such an example,
let us without delay, fulfil his will; and with all our strength, work the work
of righteousness.
CHAPTER XVI.
A virtuous life enforced from the
examples of the holy angels, and from the exceeding greatness of that reward
which God has prepared for us.
THE good workman
with confidence receives the bread of his labour; but the sluggish and lazy cannot
look him in the face that set him on work.
2 We must therefore be ready and
forward in well-doing: for from him are all things.
3 And thus he foretels us, behold
the Lord cometh, and his reward is with him, even before his face, to render to
everyone according to his work.
4 He warns us therefore beforehand,
with all his heart to this end, that we should not be slothful and negligent in
well-doing.
5 Let our boasting, therefore, and
our confidence be in God let us submit ourselves to his will, Let us consider
the whole multitude of his angels, how ready they stand to minister unto his
will.
6 As saith the Scripture, thousands
of thousands stood before him and ten thousand times ten thousand ministered unto
him. And they cried, saying, Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts; The whole
earth is full of his glory.
7 Wherefore let us also, being conscientiously
gathered together in concord with one another; as it were with one mouth, cry, earnestly
unto him, that he would make us partakers of his great and glorious promises.
8 For he saith, a Eye hath not seen,
nor ear heard, neither have entered into the heart of man, the things which God
has prepared for them that wait for him,
CHAPTER XVII.
1 We must attain the gifts of God
by faith and obedience, which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the duties
of our several stations, without envy or contention. 24 The necessity of
different orders among men. 33 We have none of us anything but what we received
of God: whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey.
HOW blessed and
wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God.
2 Life in immortality! brightness in
righteousness! truth in full assurance! faith in confidence! temperance in
holiness!
3 And all this has God subjected to
our understandings:
4 What therefore shall those things
be which he has prepared for them that wait for him?
5 The Creator and Father of spirits,
the Most Holy; he only knows both the greatness and beauty of them,
6 Let us therefore strive with all
earnestness, that we may be found in the number of those that wait for him,
that so we may receive the reward which he has promised.
7 But how, beloved, shall we do this?
We must fix our minds by faith towards God, and seek those things that are
pleasing and acceptable unto him.
8 We must act conformably to his
holy will; and follow the way of truth, casting off from us all unrighteousness
and iniquity, together with all covetousness, strife, evil manners, deceit, whispering,
detractions; all hatred of God, pride and boasting; vain-glory and ambition;
9 For they that do these things are
odious to God; and not only they that do them, but also all such as approve of
those that do them.
10 For thus saith the Scripture, But
unto the wicked, God said, What hast thou to do to declare my statute, or that
thou shouldst take my covenant in thy mouth? Seeing that thou hatest
instruction, and castest my words behind thee.
11 When thou sawest a thief, then
thou consentedst with him; thou hast been partaker with adulterers, Thou givest
thy mouth to evil, and thy tongue frameth deceit. Thou sittest and speakest against
thy brother; thou slanderest thine own mother's son.
12 These things hast thou done and I
kept silence; thou thoughtest that I was altogether such a one as thyself: but
I will reprove thee, and set them in order before thine eyes.
13 Now consider this ye that forget
God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to deliver.
14 Whose offereth praise, gloryfieth
me; And to him that disposeth his way aright, will I show the salvation of God.
15 This is the way, beloved, in which
we may find our Saviour, even Jesus Christ, the high-priest of all our
offerings, the defender and helper of our weakness.
16 By him we look up to the highest
heavens; and behold, as in a glass, his spotless and most excellent visage.
17 By him are the eyes of our hearts
opened; by him our foolish and darkened understanding rejoiceth to behold his
wonderful light.
18 By him would God have us to taste
the knowledge of immortality: who being the brightness of his glory, is by so
much greater than the angels, as be has by inheritance obtained a more excellent
name than they.
19 For so it is written, who maketh
his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of fire:
20 But to his son, thus saith the Lord,
Thou art my Son, to-day have I begotten thee.
21 Ask of me and I will give thee
the heathen for thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the earth for thy
possession.
22 And again he saith unto him, Sit
thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies thy foot-stool.
23 But who are his enemies? even the
wicked, and such who oppose their own wills to the will of God.
24 Let us therefore march-on, men
and brethren, with all earnestness in his holy laws.
25 Let us consider those who fight
under our, earthly governors How orderly, how readily, and with what exact obedience
they perform those things that are commanded them.
26 All are not generals, nor colonels,
nor captains, nor inferior officers:
27 But everyone in his respective rank
does what is commanded him by the king, and those who have the authority over
him.
28 They who are great, cannot subsist
without those that are little; nor the little without the great;
29 But there must be a mixture in
all things, and then there will be use and profit too.
30 Let us, for example, take our
body: the head without the feet is nothing, neither the feet without the head.
31 And even the smallest members of
our body are yet both necessary and useful to the whole body.
32 But all conspire together, and
are subject to one common use, namely, the preservation of the whole body.
33 Let therefore our whole body by
saved in Christ Jesus; and let everyone be subject to his neighbour, according
to the order in which he is placed by the gift of God.
34 Let not the strong man despise the
weak; and let the weak see that he reverence the strong.
35 Let the rich man distribute to
the necessity of the poor; and let the poor bless God, that he has given one
unto him, by whom his want may be supplied.
36 Let the wise man show forth his
wisdom, not in words, but in good works.
37 Let him that is humble, not bear
witness to himself, but let him leave it to another to bear witness of him.
38 Let him that is pure in the flesh,
not grow proud of it, knowing that it was from another that he received the
gift of continence.
39 Let us consider therefore, brethren,
whereof we are made; who, and what kind of men we came into the world, as it
were out of a sepulchre, and from outer darkness.
40 He hath made us, and formed us,
brought us into his own world; having presented us with his benefits, even
before we were born.
41 Wherefore, having received all
these things from him, we ought in everything to give thanks unto him, to whom
be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAPTER XVIII.
Clement therefore exhorts them to
do everything orderly in the Church, as the only way to please God.
FOOLISH and
unwise men, who have neither prudence, nor learning, may mock and deride us;
being willing to setup themselves in their own conceits.
2 But what can a mortal man do? Or
what strength is there in him that is made out of the dust?
3 For it is written, there was no shape
before mine eyes; only I heard a sound and a voice.
4 For what? Shall man be pure before
the Lord? Shall he be blameless in his works?
5 Behold, he trusteth not in his servants;
and his angels he chargeth with folly.
6 Yes, the heaven is not clean in
his sight, how much less they that dwell in houses of clay; of which also we ourselves
were made?
7 He smote them as a moth: and from
morning even unto the evening they endure not. Because they were not able to
help themselves, they perished; he breathed upon them and they died, because
they had no wisdom.
8 Call now if there be any that will
answer thee; and to which of the angels wilt thou look?
9 For wrath killeth the foolish man,
and envy slayeth him that is in error.
10 I have seen the foolish taking root,
but lo, their habitation was presently consumed.
11 Their children were far from safety,
they perished at the gates of those who were lesser than themselves: and there
was no man to help them.
12 For what was prepared for them,
the righteous did eat; and they shall not be delivered from evil.
13 Seeing then these things are manifest
unto us, it will behove us to take care that looking into the depths of the
divine knowledge, we do all things in order, whatsoever our Lord has commanded us
to do.
14 And particularly that we perform
our offerings and service to God, at their appointed seasons for these he has
commanded to be done, not rashly and disorderly, but at certain determinate
times and hours.
15 And therefore he has ordained by
his supreme will and authority, both where, and by what persons, they are to be
performed; that so all things being piously done unto all well-pleasing, they may
be acceptable unto him.
16 They therefore who make their
offerings at the appointed seasons, are happy and accepted; because through
obeying the commandments of the Lord, they are free from sin.
17 And the same care must be had of
the persons that minister unto him.
18 For the chief-priest has his proper
services; and to the priest their proper place is appointed; and to the Levites
appertain their proper ministries; and the layman is confined within the bounds
of what is commanded to laymen.
19 Let every one of you therefore, brethren,
bless God in his proper station, with a good conscience, and with all gravity,
not exceeding the rule of his service that is appointed to him.
20 The daily sacrifices are not offered
everywhere; nor the peace- offerings, nor the sacrifices appointed for sins and
transgressions; but only at Jerusalem
21 They therefore who do any thing
which is not agreeable to his will, are punished with death.
22 Consider, brethren, that by how
much the better knowledge God has vouchsafed unto us, by so much the greater
danger are we exposed to.
CHAPTER XIX.
The orders of Ministers in
Christ's Church established by the Apostles, according to Christ's command, 7 after
the example of Moses. 16 Therefore they who have been duly placed in the ministry
according to their order, cannot without great sin be put out of it.
THE Apostles
have preached to us from the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus Christ from God.
2 Christ therefore was sent by God,
the Apostles by Christ; so both were orderly sent, according to the will of
God.
3 For having received their command,
and being thoroughly assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ, and
convinced by the word of God, with the fulness of the Holy Spirit, they went
abroad, publishing, That the kingdom
of God
4 And thus preaching through countries
and cities, they appointed the first fruits of their conversion to be bishops
and ministers over such as should afterwards believe, having first proved them
by the Spirit.
5 Nor was this any new thing; seeing
that long before it was written concerning bishops and deacons.
6 For thus saith the Scripture, in
a certain place; I will appoint their overseers in righteousness, and their
ministers in faith.
7 And what wonder if they, to whom
such a work was committed by God in Christ, established such officers as we
before mentioned; when even that blessed and faithful servant in all his house,
Moses, set down in the Holy Scriptures all things that were commanded him.
8 Whom also all the rest of the prophets
followed, bearing witness with one consent to those things that were appointed
by him.
9 For he, perceiving an emulation to
arise among the tribes concerning the priesthood, and that there was a strife
about it, which of them should be adorned with that glorious name; commanded
their twelve captains to bring to him twelve rods; every tribe being written
upon its rod, according to its name,
10 And he took them and bound them
together, and sealed them with the seals of the twelve princes of the tribes:
and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness, upon the table of God.
11 And when he had shut the door of
the tabernacle, he sealed up the keys of it, in like manner as he had done the
rods; and said unto them, Men and brethren, whichsoever tribe shall have its rod
blossom, that tribe has God chosen to perform the office of a priest, and to
minister unto him in holy things.
12 And when the morning was come, he
called together all Israel
13 And the rod of Aaron was found
not only to have blossomed, but also to have fruit upon it.
14 What think you, beloved? Did not
Moses before know what should happen?
15 Yes verily: but to the end there
might be no division, nor tumult in Israel
16 So likewise our Apostles knew by
our Lord Jesus Christ, that there should contentions arise, upon account of the
ministry.
17 And therefore having a perfect fore-knowledge
of this, they appointed persons, as we have before said, and then a gave direction,
how, when they should die, other chosen and approved men should succeed in
their ministry.
18 Wherefore we cannot think that
those may justly be thrown out of their ministry, who were either appointed by
them, or afterwards chosen by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole church;
and who have with all lowliness and innocency ministered to the flock of
Church, in peace, and without self-interest, and were for a long time commended
by all.
19 For it would be no small sin in
us, should we cast off those from their ministry, who holily and without blame
fulfil the duties of it.
20 Blessed are those priests, who
having finished their course before these times, have obtained a fruitful and
perfect dissolution for they have no fear, lest any one should turn them out of
the place which is now appointed for them.
21 But we see how you have put out
some, who lived reputably among you, from the ministry, which by their
innocence they had adorned.
CHAPTER XX.
He exerts them to peace from examples
out of the Holy Scriptures, 20 particularly from St. Paul
YE are
contentious, brethren, and zealous for things that pertain not unto salvation.
2 Look into the Holy Scriptures, which
are the true words of the Holy Ghost. Ye know that there is nothing unjust or
counterfeit written in them.
3 There you shall not find that righteous
men were ever cast off by such as were good themselves.
4 They were persecuted, but it was
by the wicked and unjust.
5 They were cast into prison, but
they were cast in by those that were unholy.
6 They were stoned, but it was by
transgressors.
7 They were killed, but by accursed
men, and such as had taken up an unjust envy against them.
8 And all these things they underwent
gloriously.
9 For what shall we say, brethren?
Was Daniel cast into the den of lions, by men fearing God? Shadrach, Meshach,
and Abednego, were they cast into the fiery furnace by men, professing the
excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? God forbid.
10 What kind of persons then were
they that did these things? They were men abominable, full of all wickedness;
who were incensed; to so great a degree, as to bring those into sufferings, who
with a holy and unblameable purpose of mind worshipped God: not knowing that
the Most High is the protector and defender of all such as with a pure conscience
serve his holy name: to whom be glory for ever and ever, Amen.
11 But they who with a full persuasion
have endured these things, are made partakers of glory and honour: and are
exalted and lifted up by God for a memorial throughout all ages, Amen.
12 Wherefore it will behove us also,
brethren, to follow such examples as these; for it is written, Hold fast to
such as are holy; for they that do so shall be sanctified.
13 And again in another place he
saith, With the pure, thou shalt be pure (and with the elect thou shalt be
elect,) but with, the perverse man thou shalt be perverse.
14 Let us therefore join ourselves to
the innocent and righteous; for such are the elect of God.
15 Wherefore are there strifes, and
anger, and divisions, and schisms, and wars, among us?
16 Have we not all one God, and one
Christ? Is not one spirit of grace poured out upon us all? Have we not one
calling in Christ.
17 Why then do we rent and tear in
pieces the members of Christ; and raise seditious against our own body? And are
come to such a height of madness, as to forget that we were members one of
another?
18 Remember the words of our Lord
Jesus, (how he said, Woe to that man by whom offences come). It, were better
for him that he had never been born, than that he should have offended one of
my elect. It were better for him, that a mill-stone should be tied about his
neck, and he should be cast into the sea, than that he should offend one of my little
ones.
19 Your schism has perverted many,
has discouraged many: it has caused diffidence in many, and grief in us all.
And yet your sedition continues still.
20 Take the Epistle of the blessed
Paul the Apostle into your hands; What was It that he wrote to you at his first
preaching the Gospel among you?
21 Verily he did by the spirit admonish
you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because that even then ye had
begun to fall into parties and factions among yourselves.
22 Nevertheless your partiality then
led you into a much less sin forasmuch as ye placed your affections upon
Apostles, men of eminent reputation in the church; and upon another, who was
greatly tried and approved of by them.
23 But consider, we pray you, who
are they that have now led you astray; and lessened the reputation of that
brotherly love that was so eminent among you;
24 It is a shame, my beloved, yea, a
very great shame, and unworthy of your Christian profession, to hear that the most
firm and ancient church of the Corinthians should, by one or two persons, be
led into a sedition against its priests.
25 And this report is come not only
to us, but to those also that differ from us.
26 Insomuch that the name of the
Lord is blasphemed through your folly; and even ye yourselves are brought into
danger by it.
27 Let us therefore with all haste
put an end to this sedition; and let us fall down before the Lord, and beseech
him with tears that he would be favourably reconciled to us, and restore us again
to a seemly and holy course of brotherly love.
28 For this is the gate of righteousness,
opening unto life: As it is written, I Open unto me the gates of righteousness;
I will go into them and will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the
righteous shall enter into it.
29 Although therefore many gates are
opened, yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ at which blessed
are they that enter in, and direct their way in holiness and righteousness;
doing all things without disorder.
30 Let a man be faithful, let him be
powerful in the utterance of knowledge; let him be wise in making an exact judgment
of words; let him be pure in all his actions.
31 But still by how much the more he
seems to be above others, by reason of these things, by so much the more will
it behove him to be humble-minded; and to seek what is profitable to all men,
and not his own advantage.
CHAPTER XXI.
1 The value which God, puts upon
love and unity: the effects of a true charity, 8 which is the gift of God, and
must be obtained by prayer.
HE that has the
love that is in Christ, let him keep the commandments of Christ.
2 For who is able to express the obligation
of the love of God? What man is sufficient to declare, and is fitting, the
excellency of its beauty?
3 The height to which charity leads,
is inexpressible.
4 Charity unites us to God; charity
covers the multitude of sins: charity endures all things; is long-suffering in
all things.
5 There is nothing base and sordid
in charity: charity lifts not itself up above others; admits of no divisions;
is not seditious; but does all things in peace and concord.
6 By charity were all the elect of God
made perfect: Without it nothing is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of
God.
7 Through charity did the Lord join
us into himself; whilst for the love that he bore towards us, our Lord Jesus
Christ gave his own blood for us, by the will of God; his flesh for our flesh;
his soul for our souls.
8 Ye see, beloved, how great and
wonderful a thing charity is; and how that no expressions are sufficient to
declare its perfection.
9 But who is fit to be found in it?
Even such only as God shall vouchsafe to make so.
10 Let us therefore pray to him, and
beseech him, that we may be worthy of it; that so we may live in charity; being
unblamable, without human propensities, without respect of persons.
11 All the ages of the world, from
Adam, even unto this day, are passed away; but they who have been made perfect
in love, have by the grace of God obtained a place among the righteous; and shall
be made manifest in the judgment of the kingdom of Christ
12 For it is written, Enter into thy
chambers for a little space, till my anger and indignation shall pass away: And
I will remember the good day, and, will raise you up out of your graves.
13 Happy then shall we be, beloved,
if we shall have fulfilled the commandments of God, in the unity of love; that
so, through love, our sins may be forgiven us.
14 For so it is written, Blessed are
they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered. Blessed is the
man to whom the Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose mouth there is no guile.
15 Now this blessing is fulfilled in
those who are chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord, to whom be glory for
ever and ever, Amen.
CHAPTER XXII.
1 He exhorts such as have been concerned
in these divisions to repent, and return to their unity, confessing their sin
to God, 7 which he enforces from the example of Moses, 10 and of many among the
heathen, 23 and of Judith and Esther among the Jews.
LET us
therefore, as many as have transgressed by any of the suggestions of the adversary,
beg God's forgiveness.
2 And as for those who have been
the heads of the sedition and faction among you, let them look to the common
end of our hope.
3 For as many as are endued with
fear and charity, would rather they themselves should fall into trials than
their neighbours: And choose to be themselves condemned, rather than that the
good and just charity delivered to us, should suffer.
4 For it is seemly for a man to confess
wherein he has transgressed.
5 And not to harden his heart, as
the hearts of those were hardened, who raised up sedition against Moses the
servant of God whose punishment was manifest unto all men, for they went down alive
into the grave; death swallowed them up.
6 Pharaoh and his host, and all the
rulers of Egypt Red Sea , and perished; but
because they hardened their foolish hearts, after so many signs done in the land of Egypt
7 Beloved, God is not indigent of
anything; nor does he demand anything of us, but that we should confess our
sins unto him.
8 For so says the Holy David, I
will confess unto the Lord, and it shall please him better than a young bullock
that hath horns and hoof. Let the poor see it and be glad.
9 And again he saith, Offer unto
God the sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows unto the Most Highest. And call
upon me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify
me. The sacrifice of God is a broken spirit.
10 Ye know, beloved, ye know full
well, the Holy Scriptures; and have thoroughly searched into the oracles of
God: call them therefore to your remembrance.
11 For when Moses went up into the
mount, and tarried there forty days and forty nights in fasting and
humiliation; God said unto him, Arise, Moses, and get thee down quickly from
hence, for thy people whom thou broughtest out of the land of Egypt
12 And the Lord said unto him, I
have spoken unto thee several times, saying, I have seen this people, and
behold it is a stiff- necked people: let me therefore destroy them, and put out
their name from under heaven. And I will make unto thee a great and a wonderful
nation, that shall be much larger than this.
13 But Moses said, Not so, Lord:
Forgive now this people their sin; or if thou wilt not, blot me also out of the
book of the living. O admirable charity! O insuperable perfection! The servant speaks
freely to his Lord: He beseeches him either to forgive the people, or to
destroy him together with them.
14 Who is there among you that is
generous? Who that is compassionate? Who that has any charity? Let him say, if this
sedition, this contention, and these schisms, be upon my account, I am ready to
depart; to go away whithersoever you please; and do whatsoever ye shall command
me: Only let the flock of Christ be in peace, with the elders that are set over
it.
15 He that shall do this, shall get
to himself a very great honour in the Lord; and there is no place but what will
be ready to receive him: For the earth is the Lord's, and the fulness thereof.
16 These things, they who have their
conversation towards God not to be repented of, both have done, and will always
be ready to do.
17 Nay and even the Gentiles themselves
have given us examples of this kind.
18 For we read, How many kings and
princes, in times of pestilence, being warned by their oracles, have given up
themselves unto death; that by their own blood, they might deliver their country
from destruction.
19 Others have forsaken their cities,
so that they might put an end to the seditions of them.
20 We know how many among ourselves,
have given up themselves unto bonds, that thereby they might free others from
them.
21 Others have sold themselves into
bondage, that they might feed their brethren with the price of themselves.
22 And even many women, being
strengthened by the grace of God, have done many glorious and manly things on
such occasions.
23 The blessed Judith, when her city
was besieged, desired the elders, that they would suffer her to go into the
camp of their enemies; and she went out exposing herself to danger, for the
love she bare to her country and her people that were besieged: and the Lord
delivered Holofernes into the hands of a woman.
24 Nor did Esther, being perfect in
faith, expose herself to any less hazard, for the delivery of the twelve tribes
of Israel
CHAPTER XXIII.
The benefit of mutual advice and
correction. He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them.
WHEREFORE let us
also pray for such as are fallen into sin. That being endued with humility and
moderation, they may submit not unto us, but to the wish of God.
2 For by this means they shall obtain
a fruitful and perfect remembrance, with mercy, both in our prayers to God, and
in our mention of them before his saints.
3 Let us receive correction, at which
no man ought to repine.
4 Beloved, the reproof and the correction
which we exercise towards one another, is good, and exceeding profitable: for
it unites us the more closely to the will of God.
5 For, so says the Holy Scripture, The
Lord corrected me, but he did not deliver me over unto death. For whom the Lord
loveth he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth.
6 The righteous, saith he, shall instruct
me in mercy and reprove me; but let not oil of sinners make fat my head.
7 And again he saith, Happy is the
man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the
Almighty.
8 For he maketh gore and bindeth up;
he woundeth and his hands make whole.
9 He shall deliver thee in six troubles;
yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine he shall redeem thee
from death; and in war from the power of the sword.
10 Thou shalt be hid from the scourge
of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction when it cometh.
11 Thou shalt laugh at the wicked
and sinners; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. The wild
beast shall be at peace with thee.
12 Then shalt thou know that thy
house shall be in peace; and the habitation of thy tabernacle shall not err.
Then shalt know also that thy seed shall be great and thy offspring as the
grass of the earth.
13 Thou shalt come to thy grave as
the ripe corn, that is taken in due time: like as a shock of corn cometh in, in
its season.
14 Ye see, beloved, how there shall
be a defence to those that are corrected of the Lord. For being a good instructor,
he is willing to admonish us by his holy, diaipline.
15 Do ye therefore who laid the first
foundation of this sedition, submit yourselves unto your priests; and be
instructed unto repentance, bending the knees of your hearts.
16 Learn to be subject, laying aside
all proud and arrogant boasting of your tongues.
17 For it is better for you to be found
little, and approved, in the sheepfold of Christ, than to seem to yourselves
better than others, and be cast out of his fold.
18 For thus speaks the excellent and
all-virtuous wisdom, Behold I will pour out the word of my spirit upon you, I
will make known my speech unto you.
19 Because I called and ye would not
hear, I stretched out my hand and ye regarded not.
20 But ye have set at nought all my
counsel, and would none of my reproof. I will also laugh at your calamity, and
mock when your fear cometh.
21 When your fear cometh as desolation,
and your destruction as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish cometh upon you.
22 Then shall ye call upon me but I
will not hear you: the wicked shall seek me but they shall not find me. For
that they hated knowledge, and did not seek the fear of the Lord.
23 They would not hearken unto my
counsel: they despised all my reproof. Therefore shall they eat of the fruit of
their own ways; and be filled with their own wickedness.
CHAPTER XXIV
1 Recommends them to God. Desires
speedily to hear that this Epistle has had a good effect upon them. 4 Conclusion.
NOW God, the
inspector of all things, the Father of Spirits, and the Lord of all flesh, who hath
chosen our Lord Jesus Christ, and us by him, to be his peculiar people;
2 Grant to every soul of man that
calleth upon his glorious and holy name, faith, fear, peace, long-suffering,
patience, temperance, holiness and sobriety, unto all well-pleasing in his
sight; through our High-Priest and Protector Jesus Christ, by whom be glory and
majesty, and power, and honour unto him now and for ever more, Amen.
3 The messengers whom we have sent
unto you, Claudius, Ephebus, and Valerios Bito, with Fortunatus, send back to
us again with all speed, in peace and with joy, that they may the sooner acquaint
us with your peace and concord, so much prayed for and desired by us: and that
we may rejoice in your good order.
4 The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ
be with you, and with all that are any where called by God through him: To whom
be honour and glory, and might and injesty, and eternal dominion, by Christ Jesus,
from everlasting to everlasting, Amen.
THE SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE
Archbishop Wake is the translator
of this Second Epistle, which he says was not of so great reputation among the
primitive Fathers as the first. He defends it notwithstanding; and in answer to
those who objected to Clement's First Epistle, that it did not duly honour the
Trinity; the Archbishop refers to this as containing proof of the writer's fulness
of belief on that point.
CHAPTER I.
That we ought to value our salvation; and to
show that we do by a sincere obedience.
BRETHREN, we
ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of God: as of the judge of the living, and
the dead; nor should we think any less of our salvation.
2 For if we think meanly of him, we
shall hope only to receive some small things from him.
3 And if we do so, we shall sin;
not considering from whence we have been called, and by whom, and to what
place; and how much Jesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer for our sakes.
4 What recompense then shall we render
unto him? Or what fruit that may be worthy of what he has given to us?
5 For indeed how great are those
advantages which we owe to him in relation to our holiness? He has illuminated
us; as a father, he has called us his children; he has saved us who were lost
and undone.
6 What praise shall we give to him?
Or what reward that may be answerable to those things which we have received.
7 We were defective in our understandings;
worshipping stones, and wood; gold, and silver, and brass, the work of men's
hands; and our whole life was nothing else but death.
8 Wherefore being encompassed with
darkness, and having such a mist before our eyes, we have looked up, and
through his will have laid aside the cloud wherewith we were surrounded.
9 For he had compassion upon us,
and being moved in his bowels towards us, he saved us; having beheld in us much
error, and destruction; and seeing that we had no hope of salvation, but only through
him.
10 For he called us, who were not;
and was pleased from nothing to give us being.
CHAPTER II.
1 That God had before prophesied
by Isaiah, that the Gentiles should be saved; 8 And that this ought to engage,
such especially to live well; without which they will still miscarry.
REJOICE, thou
barren, that bearest not, break forth and cry thou that travailest not; for she
that is desolate hath many more children than she that hath a husband.
2 In that saying, Rejoice thou barren
that bearest not, he spake of us: for our church was barren before children
were given unto it.
3 And again; when he said, Cry thou
that travailest not: he implied thus much: That after the manner of a woman in
travail, we should not cease to put up our prayers unto God abundantly.
4 And for what follows, because she
that is desolate hath more children than she that hath a husband; it was
therefore added, because our people which seemed to have been forsaken by God,
now believing in him, are become more than they who seemed to have God.
5 And another Scripture saith, a I
came not to call the righteous but sinners (to repentance). The meaning of
which is this; that those who were lost must be saved:
6 For that is, indeed, truly great and
wonderful, not to confirm those things that are yet standing, but those which
are falling,
7 Even so did it seem good to Christ
to save what was lost; and when he came into the world, he saved many, and
called us who were already lost.
8 Seeing then he has showed so
great mercy towards us; and chiefly for that we who are alive, do now no longer
sacrifice to dead Gods, nor pay any worship to them, but have by him been brought
to the knowledge of the Father of truth.
9 Whereby shall we show that we do
indeed know him, and by not denying him by whom we have come to the knowledge
of him.
10 For even he himself saith, Whosoever
shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father. This therefore
is our reward, if we shall confess him by whom we have been saved.
11 But, wherein must we confess him?—Namely,
in doing those things which he saith, and not disobeying his commandments by worshipping
him not with our lips only, but with all our heart, and with all our mind. For he
saith in Isaiah; This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is
far from me.
12 Let us then not only call him
Lord; for that will not save us. For he saith: Not everyone that saith unto me
Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he that doth righteousness.
13 Wherefore, brethren, let us confess
him by our works; by loving one another; in not committing adultery, not
speaking evil against each other, not envying one another; but by being
temperate, merciful, good.
14 Let us also have a mutual sense
of one another's sufferings; and not be covetous of money; but let us, by our
good works, confess God, and not by those that are otherwise.
15 Also let us not fear men: but rather
God. Wherefore, if we should do such wicked things, the Lord hath said; Though
ye should be joined unto me, even in my very bosom, and not keep my commandments,
I would cast you off, and say unto you; Depart from me; I know not whence you
are, ye workers of iniquity.
CHAPTER III.
1 That, whilst we secure the other
world, we need not fear what can befall its in this. 5 That, if we follow the
interests of this present world, we cannot escape the punishment of the other. 10
Which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness, 14 and that presently: because
in this world is the only time for repentance.
THEREFORE
brethren, leaving willingly for conscience sake our sojourning in this world, let
us do the will of him who has called us, and not fear to depart out of this
world.
2 For the Lord saith, Ye shall be
as sheep in the midst of wolves. Peter answered and said, What if the wolves
shall tear in pieces the sheep? Jesus said unto Peter, Let not the sheep fear
the wolves after death: And ye also fear not those that kill you, and after
that have no more than they can do unto you; but fear him who after you are
dead, has power to cast both soul and body into hell-fire.
3 For consider, brethren, that the
sojourning of this flesh in the present world, is but little, and of a short
continuance, but the promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of
the kingdom that is to come, and of eternal life.
4 What then must we do that we may
attain unto it?—We must order our conversation, holy and righteously, and look
upon all the things of this world as none of ours, and not desire them. For, if
we desire to possess them we fall from the way of righteousness.
5 For thus saith the Lord, No servant
can serve two masters. If therefore we shall desire to serve God and Mammon, it
will be without profit to us. For what will it profit, if one gain the vole
world, and lose his own soul?
6 Now this world and that to come
are two enemies. This speaketh of adultery and corruption, of covetousness and
deceit; but that renounces these things.
7 We cannot, therefore, be the friends
of both; but we must resolve by forsaking the one, to enjoy the other. And we
think it is better to hate the present things, as little, short-lived, and
corruptible; and to love those which are to come, which are truly good and incorruptible.
8 For, if we do the will of Christ,
we shall find rest: but if not, nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment
if we shall disobey his commands. For even thus saith the Scripture in the
prophet Ezekiel, If Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they shall not
deliver their children in captivity.
9 Wherefore, if such righteous men
are not able by their righteousness to deliver their children; how can we hope
to enter into the kingdom
of God
10 Let us, therefore, my brethren, contend
with all earnestness, knowing that our combat is at hand; and that many go long
voyages to encounter for a corruptible reward.
11 And yet all are not crowned, but
they only that labour much, and strive gloriously. Let us, therefore, so
contend, that we may all be crowned. Let us run in the straight road, the race
that is incorruptible: and let us in great numbers pass unto it, and strive that
we may receive the crown. But if we cannot all be crowned, let us come as near
to it as we are able.
12 Moreover, we must consider, that
he who contends in a corruptible combat; if he be found doing anything that is
not fair, is taken away and scourged, and cast out of the lists. What think ye
then that he shall suffer, who does anything that is not fitting in the combat
of immortality?
13 Thus speaks the prophet concerning
those who keep not their seal; Their worm shall not die, and their, fire shall
not be quenched; and they shall be for a spectacle unto all flesh.
14 Let us therefore repent, whilst we
are yet upon the earth: for we are as clay in the hand of the artificer. For
the potter if he make a vessel, and it be turned amiss in his hands, or broken,
again forms it anew; but if he has gone so far as to throw it into the furnace
of fire, he can no more bring any remedy to it.
15 So we, whilst we are in this world
should repent with our whole heart for whatsoever evil we have done in the
flesh; while we have yet the time of repentance, that we may be saved by the
Lord.
16 For after we shall have departed
out of this world, we shall no longer be able either to confess our sins or
repent in the other.
17 Wherefore, brethren, let us, doing
the will of the Father, and keeping our flesh pure, and observing the
commandments of the Lord, lay hold on eternal life: for the Lord saith in the Gospel,
If ye have not kept that which was little, who will give you that which is
great?— For I say unto you, he that is faithful in that which is least, is
faithful also in much.
18 This, therefore, is what he saith;
keep your bodies pure, and your seal without spot, that ye may receive eternal
life.
CHAPTER IV.
We shall rise, and be judged, in
our bodies; therefore we must live well in them; 6 that we ought, for our own
interest, to live well; though few seem to mind what, really is for their advantage;
10 and we should not deceive ourselves: seeing God will certainly judge us, and
render to all of us according to our works.
AND let not any
one among you say, that this very flesh is not judged, neither raised up. Consider,
in what were you saved in what did you look up, if not whilst you were in the
flesh?
2 We must, therefore, keep our flesh
as the temple of God
3 Let us, therefore, love one another,
that we may attain unto the kingdom
of God
4 And what reward shall we give?—Repentance
out of a pure heart. For he knows all things beforehand, and searches out our very
hearts.
5 Let us, therefore, give praise unto
him: not only with our mouths, but with all our souls; that he may receive us
as children. For so the Lord hath said; They are my brethren, who do the will of
my father.
6 Wherefore, my brethren, let us do
the will of the Father, who hath called us, that we may live. Let us pursue
virtue, and forsake wickedness, which leadeth us into sins; and let us flee all
ungodliness, that evils overtake us not.
7 For, if we shall do our diligence
to live well, peace shall follow us. And yet how hard is it to find a man that
does this? For almost all are led by human fears, choosing rather the present enjoyments,
than the future promise.
8 For they know not how great a
torment the present enjoyments bring with them; nor what delights the future
promise.
9 And if they themselves only did
this, it might the more easily be endured; but now they go on to infect
innocent souls with their evil doctrines; not knowing that both themselves, and
those that hear them, shall receive a double condemnation.
10 Let us, therefore, serve God with
a pure heart, and we shall be righteous: but if we shall not serve him, because
we do not believe the promise of God, we shall be miserable.
11 For thus saith the prophet; Miserable
are the double-minded, who doubt in their heart, and say, these things we have
heard, even. in the time of our fathers, but we have seen none of them, though we
have expected them from day to day.
12 O ye fools! compare yourselves to
a tree; take the vine for an example. First it sheds its leaves, then it buds,
then come the sour grapes, then the ripe fruit; even so my people has borne its
disorders and afflictions, but shall hereafter receive good things.
13 Wherefore my brethren, let us not
doubt in our minds, but let us expect with hope, that we may receive our
reward; for he is faithful, who has promised that he will render to everyone a reward
according to his works.
14 If, therefore, we shall do what
is just in the sight of God we shall enter into his kingdom, and shall receive
the promises; Which neither eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor have entered into the
heart of man.
15 Wherefore let us every hour expect
the kingdom of God
CHAPTER V.
A FRAGMENT. Man's immortal nature
a type of the Lord's kingdom.
For the Lord himself,
being asked by a certain person, When his kingdom should come? answered, When
two shall be one, and that which is without as that which is within; and the male
with the female, neither male nor female.
2 Now two are one, when we speak
the truth to each other, and there is (without hypocrisy) one seal in two
bodies:
3 And that which is without as that
which, is within;—He means this; he calls the soul that which is within, and
the body that which is without. As therefore thy body appears, so let thy soul
be seen by its good works.
4 And the male with, the female, neither
Male nor female;—He means this; he calls our anger the male, our concupiscence
the female.
5 When therefore a man is come to
such a pass that he is subject neither to the one nor the other of these (both
of which, through the prevalence of custom, and an evil education, cloud and
darken the reason,)
6 But rather, having dispelled the
mist arising from them, and being full of shame, shall by repentance have
united both his soul and spirit in the obedience of reason; then, as Paul says,
there is in us neither male nor female.
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