INTRODUCTION TO THE LETTERS OF CLEMENT
Clement
was a disciple of Peter, and Paul mentions him as a faithful fellow worker in
his letter to the Philippians, and he became bishop of the church at Rome.
As to an answer,
depart from these so called brain-surgeons, for Columbus indeed found worlds,
that is, a whole continent beyond the sea.
Or what else do these sons of sedition imagine?
And while there is yet another meaning, this is not for them to know.
And regarding
that bird called Phoenix, to which many have objected; I have not entered that
in this record, even though it may not be incorrect for a speech in wisdom,
and wisdom only. If then anyone
wishes to be contentious, I suggest to look in the mirror, and to show
me a person who does not fancy himself some absurd
fantasy, like grown men still believing that babies come delivered by the
Stork.
And will
one say that you are not one of these? Will
you dare call me a liar? You will
indeed think that this is not so.
You even dare to tell me that you never held any such ignorance as
factual. But now you are not
telling the truth. And how is it
that I know that you are not so speaking truth?
Do you not conceive to have gained great knowledge in this last age? And have you not, as you call it, discovered electricity? And how do you fancy this electricity? Is it not that you believe it to be a flow of electrons? Indeed you do. Well on how much more preposterous can you get to believe such a backwards thing, a vile lie and deception? For most assuredly those who coined that ill knowledge were without knowledge. But you who believed them are no less ignorant. This definition then of electricity is just as preposterous as the stork to bring babies.
And so you see how you in fact did believe in fantasies, and that I was correct in saying that you lied in denying my claim? I of course know that you did not intentionally spoke untruth to me, nevertheless it was an untruth, and had you intentionally lied to me, it would have been far worse. If then you are able to acknowledge your error there is hope for you.
TO
INDEX Recalling the Godliness.
1.
The
church of God at Rome to the church of God which is at Corinthian called and
sanctified by the will of God through Jesus Christ our Lord, grace and peace
from Almighty God by Jesus Christ be multiplied to you.
2.
The
sudden and unexpected dangers and calamities, which have befallen us, have made
us slow in our consideration of the things in which you inquired of us.
3. And also
by reason of the wicked and detestable sedition so unbecoming to the elect of
God which a few hot-headed and self-willed men have fermented to such a degree
of madness that your honorable and renowned name - so worthy of all men to be
beloved - is thereby greatly blasphemed.
4.
For who -
that has ever been among you - has not experienced the firmness of your faith
and its truthfulness in all good works, or not admired the temper and moderation
of your belief in Christ? For the
magnificence of your hospitality is published abroad and you are thought happy
in your perfect and certain knowledge of the gospel.
5. For you
did all things without respect of persons walking according to the law of God
being subject to those who had the rule over you, and giving the honor that was
fitting to the aged among you,
6. You
commanded the young to think those things that were modest and grave, the women
you exhorted to do all things with a pure and blameless conscience loving their
husbands as was fitting.
7. And
keeping themselves within the bounds of due obedience they offered their homes
with gravity and discretion.
8. You were
all humble minded, not boasting of anything, desiring to be subject rather than
to govern, to give rather than to receive - being content with the portion God
had dispensed to you.
9. And
carefully listening to His word - you were enlarged in your bowls having His
suffering always before you.
10. Thus a
firm and blessed and profitable peace was given you, and an insatiable desire of
doing good, and a plentiful infusion of the Holy Spirit was on all of you.
11. And being
full of good designs, and with great readiness of mind, and with religious
confidence you stretched forth your hands to Almighty God asking Him to be
merciful to you if in anything you had unwittingly sinned against Him.
12. You
contended night and day for the whole brotherhood that with compassion and a
good conscience the number of the elect might be saved.
13. You were
sincere and without offense towards each other, not mindful of injuries, all
sedition and schism was an abomination to you, you bewailed everyone his
neighbors sins, esteeming their defects your own.
14.
You were
kind to one another without grudging, ready to every good work, and being
adorned with an altogether virtues conversation, you did all things in the fear
of God whose commandments were written on the tables of your heart.
Envy - the cause of sedition.
1.
All
honor and room was given you, and so was fulfilled what was written: "My
beloved ate and drank, he was enlarged waxing fat, and he kicked".
2. From here
came emulation, envy, strife, sedition, persecution, disorder, war, and
captivity.
3. So it was that they who were of no renown lifted themselves up against the honorable, those of no reputation against those who were in respect, the foolish against the wise, the young man against the aged.
4. Wherefore
righteousness and peace departed from you, for everyone had forsaken the fear of
the Lord, and grew blind in His faith not walking by the commandments, nor
living as it is fitting in Christ.
5. But
everyone followed his own wicked lusts taking-up unjust and wicked envy by which
death originally entered into the world.
6. For thus
it is written; "And in the process of time it came to pass that Cain
brought of the fruit of the ground and offered to the Lord, and Abel also
brought of the firstlings of his flock and of the fat thereof.
7. And the
Lord had respect to Abel and his offering, but to Cain and his offering He did
not have respect, and Cain was very sorrowful and his countenance fell.
8.
And the
Lord said to Cain; why are you sorrowful, and why has your countenance fallen?
If you do not offer correctly, not making right division, have you then
not sinned?
9. And Cain
said to 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 and slew him."
10.
So you
see brothers how envy and emulation wrought the death of a brother.
It was also for this that our father Jacob fled from the face of his
brother Esau.
11. And it was this that caused Joseph to be persecuted to come into bondage. Envy forced Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh when he heard his own countryman ask him; "Who made you a judge and ruler over us, will you kill me as you did the Egyptian yesterday?"
12.
Through
envy it was that Aaron and Miriam were shut out of the camp from the rest of the
congregation for seven days.
13. Emulation
sent Dathan and Abiram early into their graves - because they raised-up sedition
against Moses the servant of God.
14.
And for
the same reason was David not only hated of strangers, but also was persecuted
by Saul the king of Israel.
15.
But not
to insist on ancient examples - let us come to those combatants that have been
more near to us, and take the brave examples of our own age.
16.
Through
zeal and envy the most faithful and righteous pillars of the church have been
persecuted to the most grievous deaths.
17.
And let
us set before us 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 to him.
18. And for
the same cause did Paul in like manner receive the reward of his patience, seven
times he was in bonds, he was whipped, stoned, and preached both in the east and
in the west leaving a glorious report of his faith behind him.
19. And so
having taught the whole world righteousness, for which reason he traveled to the
utmost bounds of the west, he at last suffered martyrdom by the command of the
governors.
20.
And
departing out of the world he went to his holy place having become a most
eminent pattern of patience to all ages.
21.
To these
holy apostles were joined a very great number of others who because of envy
having undergone many pains and torments - in like manner left a glorious
example for us.
22. And not
only men, but also women have been persecuted, having suffered very grievous and
cruel punishment they finished the course of their faith with firmness, and
though weak in body - yet received a glorious reward.
23. This has
estranged the minds of women from their husbands, and changed which our father
Adam once said; "This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh.
24.
In a
word, Envy and strife have overturned whole cities and rooted out great nations
from the earth.
Calling to repentance.
1. These
things my beloved we write to you not merely for your instruction but also for
our own remembrance, for we are all on the same list, and the same combat is
prepared for us all.
2. Wherefore
let us lay aside all vain and empty cares, and let us come to the glorious and
honorable rule of our holy calling, let us consider what is good and acceptable
and well pleasing in the sight of Him who made us.
3. 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 the entire world.
4.
Let us
look into all the ages that have gone before us, and learn that the Lord gave
place to repentance to everyone, to all as would turn to Him.
5.
Noah
preached repentance, and as many as listened to him were saved, Jonah announced
destruction against the Ninevites, they however repented of their sins appeasing
God by their prayers and were saved - even though they were strangers to the
covenant of God.
6.
Furthermore,
we find how all the ministers of the grace of God spoke by the Holy Spirit of
repentance, and even the Lord of all Himself declared with an oath concerning
it.
7. "As
I live, said the Lord, I desire not the death of sinners but that he should
repent." And adding this good
sentence saying, "Turn from your iniquity O house of Israel".
8. Say to
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 you turn to Me
with all your heart, and call Me Father, I will listen to you as to a holy
people."
9.
And in
another place He speaks on this wise; "Wash yourself clean, put away the
evil of your doing from before My eyes, cease to do evil, learn to do well, seek
judgment, relieve the oppressed, judge the fatherless, plead for the widow.
10.
Come now
and let us reason, said the Lord, though your sins be as scarlet yet they shall
be white as snow, though they be red as crimson they shall be as wool.
11. If you be
willing and obedient you shall eat the good of the land, for the mouth of the
Lord has spoken it."
12. These
things God established by His almighty will desiring that all His beloved should
come to repentance.
1.
Let
us therefore obey His excellent and glorious will and implore His mercy and
goodness, let us fall down on our faces before Him and cast ourselves on His
mercy laying aside all vanity and contention and envy which leads to death.
2. Let us
look up to those who have most perfectly ministered to His excellent glory, let
us take Enoch for our example, who being found righteous in obedience was
translated and knew not death.
3.
Noah
being proved to be faithful by his ministry preached repentance 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 for he obeyed
the commands of God, in obedience he went out of his own country and from his
kindred, his father's house.
5.
That so
in forsaking a small country and a weak affinity, and a little house, he might
inherit the promises of God.
6. For thus
God said to him; "Get yourself out of this country and from your kindred
and your father's house to a land that I will show you, and I will make you a
great nation, and will bless you, and make your name great.
7. And you
shall be blessed, and I will bless them that bless you, and curse them that
curse you, and in you shall all generations of the earth be blessed.
8.
And again
when he separated himself from Lot God said to him; "Lift up your eyes and
look from where you are - north-wards, south-wards, east-wards, and west-wards,
for all the land that you see I will give to you and your seed forever.
9. And I
will make your seed as the dust of the earth, so that if a man can number the
dust of the earth, then shall your seed also be numbered.
10. And again
He said; "And God brought forth Abraham and said to him; Look towards
heaven and count the stars if you are able to number them, for so shall your
seed be."
11. And
Abraham believed God, and it was counted him for righteousness, through faith
and hospitality he had a son given to him in his old age.
12.
And
through obedience he offered him in sacrifice to God on one of the mountains,
which God showed him.
1. By
hospitality and Godliness Lot was saved out of Sodom when fire and brimstone
destroyed all the high country.
2.
The Lord
thereby manifested that He would not forsake them that trusted in Him, but bring
punishment and correction to the disobedient.
3. For
his wife who went out with him - being of a different mind, not in the same
obedience, was for that same reason set forth for an example being turned into a
pillar of salt to this day?
4.
This
was so that all men might 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 Rahab the whore was saved, for when Joshua sent spies to search
out Jericho and the king knew of it, he sent men to take them to be put to
death.
6. Rahab
therefore, being hospitable, received them, and hid them under the stalks of
flax on top of her house, and the messengers coming to her asked saying;
7. Men came
to you to spy out the land, so bring them forth, for thus has the king
commanded." But she answered;
the two men you seek came to me but are now departed."
Thus not revealing them.
8. Then she
said to the spies "I know that the Lord your God has given you the city
into your hands, for the fear of you is fallen on all that live here, when
therefore you shall have taken it, save me and my fathers house."
9. And they
answered her "It shall be as you have spoken to us, therefore when you see
that we are near - gather all your family on the rooftop and they shall be
saved, but all that are found outside of your house shall be destroyed".
10.
And they
gave her also a sign - that she should hang a scarlet cloth, with which to show
that - by the blood of our Lord there would be redemption to all that believe
and hope in God.
11. So you
see my beloved that there was not only faith, but prophecy also in this woman.
1.
Let
us therefore humble ourselves my brothers, laying aside all pride and boasting
and foolishness and anger, and let us do as is written;
2.
For thus
said 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
glories glory in the Lord, to seek Him and to do justice and judgment".
3. And above
all remember the words of the Lord as He spoke concerning equity and
long-suffering; "Be merciful and you shall obtain mercy, forgive and you
shall be forgiven, as you do so shall it be done to you, as you give - so shall
it be given to you.
4. And as
you judge, so shall you be judged, and as you are kind to others - so shall God
be kind to you, and with what measure you measure, you shall be measured
to."
5.
By this
command and by these rules let us establish ourselves that we may always walk
obedient to His holy words being humbly-minded, for so spoke the holy
scriptures; "On whom shall I look? On
him who is of a poor and contrite spirit, and that trembles at My word."
6.
It is
therefore just and righteous my brothers that we should become obedient to God
rather than follow such whom in pride and sedition have made themselves
ringleaders of detestable emulation.
7.
For it is
not an ordinary harm that we shall be doing ourselves but rather a very great
danger if we give ourselves rashly to the wills of men who promote strife and
sedition, to turn aside what is fitting.
8.
But let
us be kind to one another according to the compassion and sweetness of Him that
made us, for it is written;
9. "The
merciful shall inherit the earth, and on them that are outside of it shall come
evil, for transgressors shall perish from the earth."
10. And again
He said; "I have seen the wicked in great power and spreading himself like
the cedar of Lebanus, but it passed, and behold he was no more, I sought his
place, but it could not be found."
11.
Keep
innocence, and do what is right, for there shall be a remnant to the man of
peace, let us therefore hold fast to those who lawfully follow peace, and not to
those who only pretend to desire.
12.
For in a
certain place He said "This people honor Me with the lips, but their heart
is far from Me." And again
"They bless Me with the mouth, but curse in their hearts."
13. And again
"They loved Him with their mouth, but with their tongue they lied to Him,
for their heart was not right with Him, neither were they faithful in His
covenant."
14.
Let all
deceitful lips become dumb and the tongue that speaks proudly, which say with
their tongue; "We will prevail, our lips are our own, who is Lord over us?
15.
"For
the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy I will arise, said the
Lord, and I will set him in safety, I will deal faithfully with him.
1.
For
Christ is theirs - who is humble, who do not exalt themselves over his flock. The scepter of the majesty of God our Lord Jesus Christ came
not in a show of pride and arrogance though He could have done so, but with
humility as the Holy Spirit previously spoke of Him.
2. For thus
said the Lord "Who has believed our report, and to whom is the arm of the
Lord revealed? For he shall grow-up
before Him like a tender plant, and as a root out of dry ground.
3.
He had no
form or comeliness, and when we should see Him there would be no beauty that we
should desire Him, He was despised and rejected of men, a man of sorrows and
acquainted with grief.
4. And we
hid as were it our faces from Him, He was despised and we esteemed Him not,
surely He has borne our grief’s, and carried our sorrows, yet we esteemed Him
stricken, smitten of God and afflicted.
5.
But He
was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities, the
chastisement of our peace was on Him, and with His stripes we were healed.
6. All we
like sheep have gone astray, we have turned everyone to his own way, and the
Lord has laid on him the iniquities of us all.
7.
He was
oppressed and afflicted, yet He opened not His mouth, He was brought as a lamb
to the slaughter, and as a sheep before her shearer's is dumb, so He opened not
His mouth.
8. He was
taken from prison and from judgment, and who shall declare His generation?
For He was cut-off out of the land of the living, for the transgressions
of My people was He stricken.
9. And He
made His grave with the wicked, and with the rich in His death, He had done no
violence, neither was deceit in His mouth.
10.
Yet it
pleased the Lord to bruise Him, He put to Him the grief, and; when Thou shall
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 in His hand.
11.
He shall
see the travail of His soul, and shall be satisfied by His knowledge shall My
righteous servant justify many, for He shall bear their iniquities.
12.
Therefore
I will divide Him a portion with the great, and He shall divide the spoil with
the strong, for He poured out His soul to death, and was counted with
transgressors, and bore the sins of many, and made intercession for the
transgressors."
13.
And again
He said; "I am a worm, and not man, a reproach of men, and despised of the
people. All that see me laugh me to
scorn, they stick out their lips and shake their head saying; He trusted in the
Lord that He would deliver Him, let Him deliver Him - seeing He delighted in
Him.
14. You see my beloved what the pattern is that has been given us, for if the Lord thus humbled Himself, what should we do who are brought by Him under the yoke of His grace.
15.
Let us be
followers of those who went about in sheepskins and in skins of goats preaching
the coming of Christ, such were Elijah and Elisha, and Ezekiel the prophets, and
let us add to these such others who received like testimony.
16.
Abraham
has been greatly witnessed of, having been called the "friend of God",
and yet he steadfastly beheld the glory of God with all humility; "I am
dust and ashes."
17. Again of
Job it is thus written, that he was just and without blame, one who served God
truly and abstained from all evil yet he accusing himself said; "No man is
free from pollution, not even if he lived but a single day."
18.
Moses was
called faithful in all God's house, and by his conduct the Lord punished Israel
with stripes and plagues, and even this man so greatly honored spoke not greatly
of himself.
19. But when
the oracle of God was delivered to him out of the bush he said; "Who am I
that Thou does sent me? I am of a
slender voice, and of a slow speech. And
again he said; I am as the smoke of a pot."
20. And what
shall we say of David so highly spoken of in the scriptures to whom God said;
"I have found a man after My own heart, David the son of Jesse, with My
Holy Oil I have anointed him".
21. Yet he
himself said to God "Have mercy on me O God according to Thy loving
kindness, according to the multitude of Thy tender mercies blot out my
transgressions.
22.
Wash me
thoroughly from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin, for I acknowledge my
transgressions, and my sin is ever before me, against Thee, only have I sinned,
that Thou may be justified when Thou speak, and be clear when Thou judges.
23. Behold, I
was shaped in iniquity, in sin did my mother conceive me, behold, Thou desire
truth in the inward parts, and in the hidden parts Thou shalt make me to know
wisdom.
24. Purse me
with hyssop and I shall be clean, wash me and I shall be wither than snow, make
me to hear joy and gladness that the bones which Thou has broken may rejoice.
25.
Hide Thy
face from my sins and blot out my iniquities, create in me a clean heart O God,
and renew a right spirit within me.
26.
Cast me
not away from Thy presence, and take not Thy Holy Spirit from me, restore to me
the joy of salvation, and uphold me with Thy free Spirit.
27. Then
shall I teach transgressors Thy ways, and sinners shall be converted to Thee,
deliver me from bloodguilt O God, Thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall
sing aloud of Thy righteousness.
28. Open my
lips O Lord and my mouth shall show forth Thy praise, for Thou does not require
sacrifice, or I would have given it, nor does Thou delight in burnt offerings.
29.
But the
sacrifices of God - are a broken spirit, a broken and contrite heart O God these
Thou wilt not despise."
1. The
humility and Godly fear of these great and excellent men recorded in the
scriptures through obedience made thus not only us - but also the generations
before us better, even as many as received His holy oracles with fear and truth.
2. Having
therefore so many and such great and glorious examples, let us return 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 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 move by His appointment and are subject to Him in peace, day and night
accomplish the courses that He has allotted them, not disturbing one another.
6. The sun
and the 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 thereof.
7. The
fruitful earth yields its food plentiful in due season to both men and beast,
and to all animals that are upon it according to His will not despising nor
altering anything of what was ordered by Him.
8. So also
the unfathomable and in-searchable floods of the deep are kept by His command,
and the waves of the vast sea being brought together by His order in their
several collections pass not the bounds that He has set for them.
9. But as He
appointed it - so it remains, for He said; "to thereto you shall come, and
your floods shall be broken within you".
10. The
ocean, impassable to mankind, and the worlds that are beyond it, are governed by
the same commands of their great Master.
11.
Spring
and summer, autumn and winter give place to each other peaceably, and the
several quarters of the winds fulfill their works in their seasons without
offending one another.
12.
The
ever-flowing fountain made both for pleasure and health never fails to reach out
their breasts to support the life of men; even the smallest creatures live
together in peace and harmony with each other.
13. All these
the great Creator and Lord of all commanded to observe peace and harmony, being
good to all, but especially to us who flee to His mercy through our Lord Jesus
Christ, to whom be glory and majesty forever and ever,
Amen.
1.
Take heed my beloved that His many blessings be not us for condemnation, let
us 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 a man, let us
therefore consider how near He is to us, and how none of our thoughts or
seasoning’s which we frame within ourselves are hid from Him.
3.
It is
therefore just that we should not forsake our rank by doing contrary to His
will, let us choose to offend a few foolish and inconsiderate men who lift
themselves up and glory in their own pride rather than in God.
4.
Let us
reverence our Lord Jesus Christ whose blood was given for us, let us honor those
who are set over us, let us respect the aged that are among and let us instruct
the younger men in the discipline and fear of the Lord.
5.
Let us
direct our wives to do what is good, let them show forth a good habit of purity
in all their conversation with a sincere affection of meekness.
6.
Let the government of their tongues be manifested by their silence,
let their charity be without respect of persons alike towards all such as
lawfully fear God,
let your children be raised in the instruction of Christ.
7.
And let
them especially learn how much power humility has with God, how much a pure and
holy love 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.
8. For He is
the searcher of the thoughts and counsels of the heart, whose breath is in us,
and when it pleases Him - He can take it from us.
1. All
these things thus must be confirmed by the faith which is in Christ, for so He
Himself speaks to us by His Holy Spirit;
2. "Come
all you children and listen to Me and I will teach you the fear of the Lord,
what man is there that desires life, that loves to see good days?
3. Keep your tongue from evil and your lips that they speak no guile,
depart from evil and do good, seek peace and ensue it.
4. The eyes
of the Lord are on the righteous, and His ears open to their prayers, but the
face of the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of
them from the earth.
5.
The
righteous cried - and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his
troubles, many are the troubles of the wicked, but they that trust in the Lord -
mercy shall compass them about."
6. Our all
merciful and beneficent Father has bowels of compassion towards them that fear
Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His grace on all such as come to Him with a
simple mind.
7.
Let us
therefore not waver nor have any doubts in our heart of His excellent and
glorious gifts, let it be far from us what is written; "Miserable are the
double-minded, and them that are doubtful in heart.
8. Who say;
We have heard these things, our fathers have told them to us, but behold we are
grown old and none of them has happened to us."
9. O you
fools, consider the tree. Take the
vine for 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 follow
the ripe fruit. So you see how in a
space of time the fruit of the tree comes to maturity.
10. Of a
truth, yet a little while and His will shall suddenly be accomplished, the Holy
Spirit Himself bore witness that He shall come quickly and not tarry, but that
the Lord shall suddenly come to His temple.
11.
Let us
consider my beloved how the Lord continually shows us that there shall be a
future resurrection of which He has made our Lord Jesus Christ the first-fruit
raising Him from the dead.
12.
Let us
contemplate my beloved the resurrection that is continually placed before us.
Day and night manifests a resurrection to us, the night lies down, and
the day arises, and again the day departs and the night comes on.
13.
Let us
behold the fruits of the earth, everyone sees how the fruit is sown, the sower
goes forth and casts it on the earth, and the seed once fallen on the earth dry
and naked in time dissolves
14. And from
the dissolution it is raised again by the great providence of the Lord, and of
one seed many arise and bring forth fruit.
1. He
says at a certain place; "Thou shall raise me up and I shall confess to
Thee". And again "I laid
myself down and slept, and awakened because Thou art with me".
2.
And again
Job says; "Thou shall raise up this flesh of mine that has suffered all
these things."
3.
Having
therefore this hope - let us hold fast to Him who is faithful in His promises
and righteous in all His judgments, who commanded us that we should not speak
lies, how much the more will He therefore Himself not lie?
4. For
nothing is impossible with God, but to lie is impossible for Him, let His faith
then be stirred-up again in us, and let us consider that all things are nigh to
Him.
5.
By the
word of His power He made all things and by the same word He is able to destroy
them, who shall say to Him; what art Thou doing?
Or who shall resist the power of His strength?
6. He will
do all things when and as it pleases Him, and nothing shall pass of all that has
been determined by Him, all things are open before Him, nor can anything be hid
from His counsel.
7.
The
heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament shows His handiwork, day to
night speaks, and night to night shows knowledge, there is no speech nor
language where their voice is not heard.
8.
Seeing
then all these things are seen and heard by God - let us fear Him, and lay aside
our wicked works which proceeds from ill desires, that through His mercy we may
be delivered from the condemnation to come.
9. For where
can anyone of us flee from His mighty hand? Or what world shall receive any of those who run from Him?
10.
For thus
says the scripture in a certain place; "Where shall I flee from the Spirit,
or where shall I hide myself from Thy presence?
11.
If I
ascend up into heaven, Thou art there, and if I shall go to the utmost part of
the earth, there is Thy right hand, and if I shall make my bed in the deep, Thy
Spirit is there.
12.
Where
then shall anyone go, or where shall he run from Him that comprehends all
things?" Let us therefore come
to Him with holiness of heart lifting-up chaste and undefiled hands to Him,
loving our gracious and merciful Father who made us to partake of His election.
13.
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, and His people Jacob became the
portion of the Lord, Israel the lot of His inheritance."
14.
And so in
another place He said, "Behold, the Lord takes to Himself a nation out of
the midst of nations, as man takes the first-fruits of his flower, and the Most
High shall come out of that nation."
1. We
being a part of the Holy One therefore let us do all those things that pertain
to holiness, fleeing all evil speaking against one another, and all filthy and
impure embraces.
2. Together
with drunkenness, youthful lusts, detestable adultery, and pride, for God said
"He resists the proud - but gives grace to the humble."
3.
Let us
therefore hold fast to those to whom God has given His grace, and put on unity,
being temperate, free from all whispering and detraction.
4.
For He
said "Shall he be righteous that speaks and hears many things, or whose
tongue is well made? But rather he
shall be blessed - that born of a woman is but a few days old."
Do not therefore use much speech.
5.
Let our
praises be of God, not of ourselves, for God hates those that commend
themselves, let the witness of our good actions be of others as it was given to
the holy men that went before us.
6. Rashness,
arrogance, and confidence, belong to them that are accursed of God, but equity,
humility, and mildness, to such as are blessed of Him.
7. Let us
then lay hold of His blessing and consider what the ways are by which we may
attain to it.
8. Let us
look on those things that have happened from the beginning, for "why"
was out father Abraham blessed? Was it not because through faith he wrought righteousness and
truth?
9. And Isaac
being persuaded of what he knew was to come, cheerfully gave himself up for
sacrifice. And Jacob with humility
departed out of his own country fleeing from his brother, and went to Laban and
served him, and so the scepter of the twelve tribes of Israel was given to him.
10. And as to
what the greatness of this gift was - will appear plainly if we shall take pains
to consider all the parts distinctly.
11.
For from
him came the priests and Levites, all of which ministered at the altar of God,
from him came our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh.
12. From him
came the kings and the princes and rulers in Judah, nor were the rest of his
tribes in any small glory, God having promised that your seed shall be as the
stars of heaven.
13. They
therefore were all greatly glorified, not for their own sake, nor for their
works, or for the righteousness that they themselves wrought, but through His
will.
14. And
we also being called by the same will in Christ Jesus - are not in ourselves,
nor by our own wisdom or knowledge or piety, or the works we have done in the purity
of our hearts.
15. But by
that faith by which the Almighty God justified all men from the beginning to
whom be glory forever and ever, amen.
1.
What
shall we therefore do my brothers? 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 let
us rather 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 affixed the heavens, and by His in-comprehensive wisdom He
adorned them, He divided the earth from the water in which it was encompassed, and
affixed it as a secure tower on the foundations of His own will.
4.
By His
appointment He commanded all the living creatures that are on it to exist, and
so likewise the sea and all the creatures in it having first created them - He
enclosed them therein by His power.
5. And above
all, He with His holy and pure hands formed man - the most excellent of them,
and as to his understanding truly the greatest of all other creatures, (He gave
them) the character of His own image.
6. For so
God says "Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness."
So God created man, male and female He created them.
7. And
having thus finished all these things He commended all that He had made, and
blessed them saying; "Increase and multiply."
8. We see
how all-righteous men have been adorned with good works, and so also the Lord
Himself having adorned Himself with His works, He rejoiced.
9. Having
such examples therefore, let us without delay fulfill His will, and with all our
strength work the works of righteousness.
1. The
good workman with his confidence receives the bread of his labor, but the
sluggish and lazy cannot look him in the face that puts him to work, must
therefore be ready and forward in well doing, for from Rim are all things.
2. And thus
He foretells us; "Behold, the Lord comes and His reward is with Him to
render to everyone according to his work".
3.
He thus
warns us beforehand with all His heart to this end that we should not be
slothful nor negligent in well doing.
4.
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 they stand ready to
minister to His will.
5.
Like the
scripture says; "Thousands of thousands stood before Him, and ten thousand
times ten thousands ministered to Him, and they cried saying; Holy, holy, holy
is the Lord Sabaoth, the whole earth is full of His glory."
6.
We
therefore, let us gather conscientiously in unity with one another as with one
mouth, praying earnestly to Him that He will make us partakers of His great and
glorious promises.
7.
For He
says "The eye has not seen, nor the ear heard, neither has it entered into
the hearts of men the things, which God has prepared for them that wait for
Him."
1. How
blessed and wonderful my beloved are the gifts of God, immortal life, brightness
in righteousness, truth in full assurance, faith in confidence, temperance in
holiness.
2. And all
these God has subjected to our understanding, what therefore shall these things
be which He has prepared for them that wait for Him?
3. The
Creator and Father of spirits, the Lord Most holy, He only knows both the
greatness and the beauty of these.
4. Let us
therefore strife with all earnestness that we may be found in the number of
those that wait for Him, that accordingly we may receive the reward which He has
promised.
5. But
"how" my beloved shall we do this?
We must fix our minds in faith towards God and seek those things that are
pleasing and acceptable to Him.
6. We must
act comfortably to His holy will, and follow the way of truth.
Casting all unrighteousness and iniquity from us, together with all
covetness, strife, evil manners, deceit, whispering, detractions, and all hatred
of God, pride, boasting, vainglory, and ambition.
7.
For they
that do these things are odious to God, and not only they that do them, but also
such as approve of those that do them, for thus spoke the scriptures;
8. "But
to the wicked God said what have you to do to declare My
statutes, or that you should take My covenant in your mouth seeing you hate
instruction and cast My words behind you?
9. When you
saw a thief you consented with him, and so became as partaker adultery, you gave
your mouth to evil, your tongue framed deceit, you sit and speak against your
brother, you slander your own mother's son.
10. These
things you have done, and I kept silence, you thought that I was one altogether
like you yourself was, but I will reprove you, and set them in order before your
eyes."
11. Consider
this therefore you who forget God, lest I tear you in pieces and there be none
to deliver, whosoever offers praise glorifies Me, and to him that disposes his
way aright will I show the salvation of God.
12. This is
the way my beloved in which we find our Savior, Jesus the High Priest of all our
offerings, the Defender and Helper of our weakness, by Him we look up to the
highest heavens and behold as in a mirror His spotless and most excellent image.
13.
By Him
are the eyes of our hearts opened by Him our foolish and darkened understanding
rejoices to behold His wonderful light.
14. By Him
would God have us taste the knowledge of immortality, who being the brightness
of His glory - has a name so much more excellent than that of the angels which
He obtained by inheritance.
15. For so it
is written "Who makes His angels winds, and His ministers a flame of fire.
But to His Son thus said the Lord; :Thou art My Son, today I have begotten
Thee.
16. Ask of Me
and I will give you the heathen for Thy inheritance, and the utmost parts of the
earth for Thy possession."
17. And again
He said to Him "Sit yourself on My right hand till I make your enemies your
footstool". But
"who" are His enemies? They
are the wicked and such who suppose their own will to the will of God.
18. Let us
therefore march on men and brothers with all earnestness in His laws; let us
consider those who fight under our earthly governors, how orderly and readily
and with what exact obedience they perform the things that are commanded them.
19. Not all
are generals, or colonels, nor captains or lesser officers, but everyone in his
respective rank does what is commanded him by the king and them in authority
over him.
20. They who
are great cannot subsist without those that are little, nor the little without
the great, there must thus be a mixture in all things, then there will be use
and profit also.
21. Let us
for example take our body, the head without the feet is nothing, nor the feet
without the head, and even the smallest members of our body are necessary and
useful to the whole body.
22. But all
conspire together and are subject to one common use, namely the preservation of
the whole body.
23. Let
therefore our whole body be saved in Christ Jesus and let everyone be subject to
his neighbor according to the order in which he is placed by the gift of God.
24. Let not
the strong man despise the weak, and let the weak see to it that he reverence
the strong, let the rich man distribute to the need of the poor, let the poor
bless God that He has given to him by whom his want may be satisfied.
25. Let the
wise man show forth his wisdom, not in words, but in good works, let him that is
humble not bear witness to himself, but let him leave it to another to bear
witness of him.
26.
Let him
that is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it, knowing that it is of another
that he received the gift of continence.
27. Let us
therefore consider my brothers of what we are made, and of who and of what kind
of men we came into the world as were it out of a grave and from outer darkness.
28. He that
made us and formed us brought us into His own world presenting us with His
benefits even before we were born.
29. And
having thus received all these things from Him - we ought to give thanks to Him
in everything, Him to whom be glory forever and ever Amen.
1.
Foolish
and unwise men who have neither prudence nor learning may mock and deride us,
desiring to set themselves up in their own conceit.
2.
But what
can a mortal man do? What strength
is there in him since he is made of dust, for it is written; "There was no
shape before My eyes, I heard the sound of a voice.
3.
Shall a
man be pure before the Lord? Shall
he be blameless in his works, behold He does not put trust in His servants, and
His angels He charges with folly.
4.
Even the
heavens are not clean in His sight, how much less they therefore that dwell in
houses of clay, of which we ourselves were made.
5.
He smote
them as a moth, and from morning till evening they could not endure, for they
were not able to help themselves, thus they perished, He breathed on them and
they died, because they had no wisdom.
6. Call now
and see if there be any that will answer you, and to which of the angels will
you look? For wrath kills the
foolish man, and envy slays him that is in error.
7. I have
seen the foolish taking root, but lo, his habitation was immediately consumed,
their children were far from safety, they perished at the gates of those who
were lesser than themselves, and there was no one to help them.
8. For that
which was prepared for them the righteous ate, and they shall not be delivered
from evil."
9.
Seeing
then that these things are manifested to us, it behooves us to take care that
looking into the divine knowledge we are doing all things in order whatsoever
the Lord has commanded us to do.
10. And in
particular that we perform our offerings and services to God at their appointed
seasons, for these he has commanded to be done not rashly and disorderly, but at
certain determined times and hours.
11. Therefore
He ordained by His supreme will and authority, both where and by what persons
they are to be performed so that all things might be done orderly and pleasing,
and be acceptable to Him.
12.
They
therefore who make their offerings at the appointed seasons - are happy and
accepted because they obey the command of
the Lord, and thus are free from sin
13.
And the
same care must be had of the persons that minister to Him.
For the chief Priest has his proper services, and to the priests 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.
14.
Let every
one of you therefore bless God in his proper station with a good conscience and
with all gravity, not exceeding the rule of his service that is appointed him.
15.
The daily
sacrifices are not offered everywhere, nor the peace offerings nor the
sacrifices appointed for sins and transgressions, but only in Jerusalem, nor in
just any place there but only at the altar before the temple.
16. And that
which is offered be diligently examined by the High Priest and the other
ministers we mentioned, they therefore who do anything which is not agreeable to
His will - are punished with death.
17.
Consider
my dear brothers how by the better knowledge that God has promised us, we are no
longer exposed to so much greater dangers.
1.
The
apostles preached to us from the Lord Jesus Christ, and Jesus from God, Christ
therefore was sent by God and the apostles by Christ, so both were orderly sent
according to the will of God.
2. And
having received their command, and being thoroughly assured of the resurrection
of our Lord Jesus Christ, and convinced by the word of God with the fullness of
the Holy Spirit, they went abroad publishing that the kingdom of God was at
hand.
3.
And thus
preaching through countries and cities they appointed the first fruits of their
conversion to the bishops and the ministers over such as should afterwards
believe having first proved them by the Spirit.
4.
Nor was
this any new thing since long before it was written concerning bishops and
deacons, for thus says the scriptures; "I will appoint their overseers in
righteousness, and their ministers in faith."
5.
And no
wonder that they, to whom such work was committed, established such officers -
when even Moses, His faithful servant in all His house, set all these things
down in the holy scriptures as was commanded him.
6. For also
all the rest of the prophets followed him, they with a single consent giving
witness to those things, which were appointed by him.
7.
For he
perceiving an emulation to arise among the tribes concerning the priesthood,
that they would strife about it, which of them should be adorned that glorious
name, he commanded their captains to bring twelve rods each tribe being written
on their rod.
8. And he
took them and bound them together and sealed them with the seals of the twelve
princes of the tribes, and laid them in the tabernacle of witness on the table
of God.
9. And when
he had thus shut the door, he sealed up the keys thereof in like as he had done
the rods, and said to them. "Men
and brothers, whatever tribe shall have its rod blossom that tribe is chosen of
God to perform the duties of a priest to minister before Him in holy
things."
10.
And the
morning having come he called Israel together all 600.000 men and showed the
princes their seals, and opened the tabernacle of witness and brought forth the
rods.
11.
And the
rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed but also to have fruit on it,
and what now my beloved do you think that Moses did not know before-hand what
would happen?
12.
Yes
verily he did, but to the end that there might be neither division nor tumult in
Israel, he did it in this manner that the name of the true and only God might be
glorified, for to Him be all glory and honor forever, amen.
13.
So
likewise our apostles knew by our Lord Jesus Christ that contentions arise
concerning the ministry.
14.
And
therefore having a perfect foreknowledge of this, they appointed such persons as
we mentioned, and then gave directions how.
So that when they died that other approved men should succeed in their
ministry.
15.
Wherefore
we cannot think that those may justly be thrown out of their ministry who were
appointed by them, or afterwards chosen by eminent men with the consent of the
whole church.
16. And who
with all lowliness and innocence have ministered to the flock of Christ in peace
and without self-interest, and who for a long time were commended by all.
17. For it
would be no small sin in us if we disposed those of their ministry holily and
without blame fulfilled the duties of it.
18. Blessed
are those priests who having finished their course have obtained a fruitful and
perfect dissolution, for they have no fear, lest one should turn out of the
place, which was appointed for him.
19.
But we
see how you have put out some who lived reputably among you from the ministry,
which they had adorned by their innocence.
Clement reproves the unjust
1.
You
therefore are contentious my brothers, and zealous for things that do not
pertain to salvation.
2.
Look into
the holy scriptures which are the true words of the Holy Spirit, you 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 themselves
good, they were persecuted yes, but that was by the wicked and unjust.
4.
They were
cast in prison yes, but that was by those that were unholy, they were stoned,
but it was by transgressors.
5. They were
killed, but by accursed men and such as had taken up unjust envy against them,
all these things they underwent gloriously.
6.
For what
shall we say my brothers, was Daniel cast into the lion's den by men fearing
God? Annanias, Azarias, and Michael
were they cast into the fiery furnace by men professing the excellent and
glorious worship of the Most High? God
forbid No!
7.
What kind
of persons then were those that did these things?
They were men, full of all wickedness, who were incensed to such a great
degree as to bring suffering to those who with a holy and blameless purpose of
mind worshipped God.
8.
They knew
not that the Most High is the protector and defender of all such whom with a
pure conscience serve His holy name, to whom be glory forever.
9.
They then
who with a full persuasion endured these things are made partakers of glory and
honor, and are exalted and lifted up by God in their memorial throughout all
ages, Amen.
10.
Wherefore
it will behoove us also 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."
11.
And again
in another place He said; "With the pure Thou shalt be pure, but with the
perverse man Thou shalt be perverse".
12.
Let us
therefore join ourselves to the innocent and righteous for such are the elect of
God.
13.
Why is
there strife, anger, and division, schism, and wars among us?
Have we not all one God and one Christ?
Is not one Spirit of grace poured out on us all?
Have we not all one calling in Christ?
14.
Why then
do we rent and tear the members of Christ, and raise sedition's against our own
body, and are come to such a height of madness to forget that we are members of
one another?
15.
Remember
the words of our Lord Jesus how He said. "Woe
to that man by whom offenses come, it were better for him that he had never been
born than to have offended one of My elect.
It were better for him that a millstone be tied around his neck and he be
cast into the sea than that he should offend one of these little ones."
16.
Your
schism has perverted many, and has discouraged many, it has caused indifference
in many and grief in us all, and still your sedition continues.
17.
Take the
letter of Paul the apostle in your hand, for what was it that he wrote when he
first preached the gospel among you?
18. Verily he
by the Spirit admonished you concerning himself and Peter and Apollo, that even
then you had already begun to fall into parties and factions among yourselves.
19.
You
nevertheless did partially lessen your partiality since you placed your
affections upon apostles, men of eminent reputation in the church, and on
another who greatly tried was approved by them.
20.
Consider
then, we pray you, who they are that have led you astray, and have diminished
the reputation of that brotherly love that was so eminent among you.
21.
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 sedition against its priests.
22. And this
report is not only come to us, but to those also that differ from us, inasmuch
that the name of the Lord is blasphemed through your folly, and you yourselves
are brought in danger by it.
23. Let us
therefore with all haste put an end to this sedition, and fall before the Lord,
and ask Him with tears that He will be favorably reconciled to us and restore us
again to a seemly and holy course of brotherly love.
24. For this
is the gate of righteousness opening to life as it is written.
"Open to Me the gates of righteousness, and I will enter by them and
will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, and the righteous shall enter
into it."
25.
And
although many gates are opened, yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in
Christ in which they that enter are blessed, and they that direct their way in
holiness and righteousness doing all things without disorder.
26.
Let a man
be faithful, let him be powerful in speaking knowledge, let him be wise in
making an exact judgment of words, let him be pure in all his actions.
27. And
however much higher he may seem above others for doing these things, even so
much the more let him be humbly-minded, and seek what is profitable to all men,
and not his own advantage.
1.
He
that has the love that is in Christ let him keep the commandment of Christ, for
who is able to express the obligations of the love of God?
What man is sufficient to declare the excellence of its beauty, or be fit
thereto?
2.
The
height to which love leads is inexpressible, love unites us to God, love covers
the multitude of sins, love endures all things and is long suffering in all
things.
3.
There is
nothing base or sordid in love, love lifts not itself over others, admits no
division, is not seditious, but does all things in peace and unity.
4.
In love
were all the elect of God made perfect, without it nothing is pleasing or
acceptable in the sight of God.
5.
Through
love did the Lord join us to Himself, for the love that He had towards us - He
gave His own blood for us by the will of God, His flesh for our flesh, His soul
for our souls.
6.
You see
my beloved how great and wonderful love is, and how no expression sufficient to
declare its perfection. But who is
fit to be found in it? These only
are - those, which God grants to be so made.
7.
Let us
therefore pray to Him and entreat Him that we may be worthy of it, that so we
may live in love being blameless without human inclination, without respect of
persons.
8.
All the
ages of the world from Adam to this day have passed away, but they who were made
perfect in love have by the grace of God obtained a place among the righteous,
and shall be manifested in the judgment of the kingdom of Christ.
9. For it is
written; "Enter into your chambers for a little while till My anger and My
indignation shall pass away, and I will remember the good day, and will raise
you up out of your graves.
10.
Happy
then shall we be my beloved, if we shall have fulfilled the commandment of God
in the unity of love, that so through love our sins may be forgiven us.
11. For so it
is written. "Blessed are they
whose iniquities are forgiven, whose sins are covered, blessed is the man to
whom the Lord imputes no sin, in whose mouth there is no guile".
12. This
blessing now is fulfilled in those that are chosen of God through Jesus Christ
our Lord to whom be glory forever and ever, Amen.
1. Let
us therefore as many as have transgressed by any of the suggestions of the
adversary beg God forgiveness.
2.
And as
for those who have been the heads of the sedition and factions among you, let
them look to the common end of our hope.
3. For as
many as are endued with fear and love would rather that "they" fall
into trials - than their neighbor, and chose themselves to be condemned rather
that the good and just love delivered to us should suffer.
4.
For it
befits a man to confess wherein he has transgressed.
And not to his heart as of those who were hardened who raised up sedition
against Moses the servant of God, whose punishment was manifested to all men.
For they went down alive into the grave, death swallowing them up.
5. Pharaoh
and his host and all the rulers of Egypt with their chariots and horsemen were
for no other cause drowned in the bottom of the red sea, for they hardened their
heart after so many signs done in the land of Egypt by Moses.
6.
God is
not in want of anything, nor does He demand anything of us but that we should
confess our sins to Him, for so spoke the Holy David;
7. "I
will confess to the Lord, and it shall please Him better than a young bullock
that has horns and hoofs, let the poor see it and be glad."
8.
And again
he said; "Offer to God the sacrifice of praise, and pay your vows to the
Most High, and call on Me in the day of trouble, and I will deliver you, and you
shall glorify Me, the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit."
9.
You my
beloved know full well the scriptures, having thoroughly searched in the oracles
of God, call them therefore to remembrance, for when Moses went up into the
mountain and tarried there forty days and nights fasting and humbling, God said
to him;
10.
"Arise
Moses, and go down quickly for the people whom you brought out of the land of
Egypt have committed wickedness, they have soon transgressed the way that I
commanded them, and have made themselves graven images."
11.
And the
Lord said to him. "I have
spoken to you several times saying; I have seen this people, and behold it is a
stiff-necked people, let me therefore destroy them and put their name out from
under heaven, and I will make you a great and wonderful nation that shall be
much larger than this."
12.
But Moses
said. "Not so Lord, forgive
now this people their sin, or if Thou wilt not, blot me out also of the book of
the living".
13.
O
admirable love, O in-comprehensive perfection, the servant speaks freely to the
Lord, he entreats Him either to forgive the people, or to destroy him together
with them.
14.
Who is
there among you that is generous? Who
is compassionate? Who has love?
Let him say, if this sedition, this contention and schism be on my
account, that he is ready to depart, to go away wheresoever you please, and
whatever you shall command me, only let the flock of Christ be in peace with the
elders that are set over them.
15. He that
shall do this shall obtain to himself great honor with the Lord, for there is no
place but that will receive him, for the earth is the Lord's and the fullness
thereof.
16. These
things are well to God, and those that have done them will always be ready to do
so, and even the Gentiles have given us examples of this kind.
17.
For we
read how many kings and princes in times of pestilence, being warned by their
oracles gave themselves up to death, that by their blood they might deliver
their country from destruction.
18.
Others
have forsaken their cities so they might put an end to the sedition of them, and
we know how many among ourselves gave themselves to bonds that thereby they
might free others from them.
19.
Again
others have sold themselves into bonds that they might feed their brothers with
the price of themselves.
20.
And so
also many women being strengthened by the grace of God have done many glorious
and manly things on such occasions.
21.
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 exposing herself to danger for the love she bore to her
country and her people that were besieged, and the Lord delivered Holofernes
into the hands of a woman.
22. Nor did
Esther, being perfect in faith expose herself to any less hazard for the
deliverance of the twelve tribes of Israel in danger of being destroyed.
For by fasting and humbling herself she entreated the Great Maker of all
things, the God of spirits so that beholding the humility of her soul He
delivered the people for whose sake she was in peril.
1. Let
us then also pray for such as are fallen into sin, that being endued with
humility and moderation they may submit - not to us, but to the will 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, the reproof and the
correction we exercise towards one another is good and exceedingly profitable,
for it unites us more closely to the will of God.
4.
For so
says the Holy Scriptures; "The Lord corrected me, He did not deliver to
death, for those whom He loves He chastens, He scourges every man whom He
receives.
5. The
righteous says "He shall instruct me in mercy, and reprove me, and let not
the oil of sinners make my head fat."
And again he says; "Happy is the man whom God corrects."
Do not therefore despise the chastening the Almighty.
6.
For He
wounds but binds up again, He shall deliver you in six troubles, yea in seven no
evil shall touch you, in famine He shall redeem you from death, and in war from
the power of the sword.
7.
You shall
be hid from the scourge of the tongue, nor shall you be afraid of destruction
when it comes, you shall laugh at the wicked and sinners, nor shall you be
afraid of the beast of the earth, the wild beasts shall be at peace with you.
8. Then
shall you know that your house shall be in peace, and the habitation of your
tabernacle shall not err, you shall also know that your seed shall be great, and
your offspring as the grass of the earth.
9.
You shall
come to your grave as the ripe corn that is taken in due time like as the corn
comes in its season.
10.
You see
my beloved how there shall be a defense to those that are corrected of the Lord,
for being a good instructor - He is willing to admonish us by His holy
discipline.
11.
You
therefore who laid the first foundation of the sedition submit yourselves to
your priests, and be instructed to repentance bending the knees your hearts.
12.
Learn to
be subject, lay aside all proud and arrogant boasting of your tongues, for it is
better for you to be found little in the sheepfold of Christ, than to appear
better than others and be cast out of His fold.
13.
For thus
spoke the excellent and all virtues wisdom; "Behold I will pour out the
word of My Spirit on you, I will make known My speech to you.
14.
Indeed I
called, but you would not hear, I stretched out My words, but you regarded them
not, you set all My counsels at nothing and would none of My reproof.
So then I will also laugh at your calamity, and mock when your fear
comes, when your fear comes as desolation, and your destruction as a whirlwind,
when distress and anguish comes on you.
15. Then you
will call on Me, but I will not hear you, the wicked shall seek Me, but shall
not find Me, because they hated knowledge and did not seek the fear of the Lord.
16. They
would not listen to 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."
1.
God
now, the Inspector of all things, the Father of spirits and Lord of all flesh,
who choose our Lord Jesus Christ, and us by Him to be His special people, grant to every soul of men that calls on His glorious and
holy name;
2. Faith,
fear, peace, long suffering, patience, temperance, holiness, and sobriety to all
in our High Priest and Protector Jesus Christ to whom be glory and Majesty and
power and honor now and forever.
3.
Send us
back the messengers Claudius, Ephebus, Valeritos, and Fortunatus, which we have
sent to you with all speed in peace with joy. That they may so much the quicker acquaint us with your peace
and unity which is so much prayed for by us, that we may rejoice in your good
order.
4. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all that are anywhere called by God through Him, to whom be honor and glory, majesty, might, and eternal dominion by Christ Jesus from everlasting to everlasting. Amen.
Chapter 1
1. We
my brothers ought to think of Jesus Christ as God, as the Judge of the living
and the dead, nor should we think any less of our Redeemer.
2.
For if we
think small of Him we shall only receive small things from Him, and if we do so,
we sin in not considering from where we were called, and by whom and to what
end, and how Jesus attested to suffer for our sakes.
3.
What then
shall we render in return to Him, or what fruit shall be worthy of what He has
given us?
4. For how
great indeed are these advantages which we owe to Him in relation to our
holiness, He has illuminated us, and as a Father He called us His children, He
saved us who were lost and undone.
5. What
praise shall we give to Him? Or
what reward may serve as an answer to the things which we have received?
6.
We were
defective in our understanding, worshipping stones and wood gold silver and
brass, the works of the hands of men; our whole life was nothing but death.
7.
And thus
being surrounded with darkness, and having a deep mist before our eyes we looked
up and by His will we laid aside that cloud which surrounded us.
8.
For He
had compassion on us, and being moved in His heart seeing us in error and
destruction, and that we had no hope of salvation except by Him, He saved us.
9.
For He
called us who were not, for it pleased Him to from nothing, give being.
1. Rejoice you barren who has not born, break forth and sing you who has no travail, for the barren shall have many more children than those that had a husband."
2.
With this
He spoke to us, for our church was barren before any children were given to it,
and when He said; "Sing you that has no travail," He implied that
after the manner of women in travail we should not cease to bring our prayers to
God abundantly.
3.
And
"That the barren shall have many more children than she who has a
husband", was added because our people which seemed to have been forsaken
by God, but believed in Him, are become more than they who seemed to have God.
4.
And
another scripture says; "I came not to call righteous, but sinners,"
the meaning of which is, that those who were lost must be saved.
5.
For that
is indeed truly great and wonderful, to confirm not the things which are
standing, but those that are falling, for so did it seem good to Christ, to save
what was lost, and when He came into the world He saved many, calling us who
were lost.
6. Seeing then He showed such great mercy towards us, who were alive, we therefore no longer meddle with sacrifices to dead gods, nor worship them, for we have been brought to the knowledge of the Father of truth.
7. And by
what shall we show that we indeed know Him, if not by affirming that His
knowledge is in us, for even He Himself said; "Whosoever shall confess Me
before men, him will I confess before My Father."
8. This
therefore is our reward, if we confess Him by whom we are saved, but now wherein
must we confess Him?
9.
This is
in doing those things which He said, and not disobeying His commandments, and by
worshipping Him not only with our lips, but with all our heart, and with all our
mind.
10.
For He
said in Isaiah "This people honor Me with their lips, but their heart is
far from Me."
11. Let us
then not only call Him Lord, for such will not save us, for He said: "Not
everyone who says Lord, Lord shall be saved, but he that does righteousness
12.
Therefore
my brothers let us confess Him by our works, by loving one another, in not
committing adultery, nor speaking evil against one another, nor envy one
another, but by being temperate, merciful and good.
13.
Let us
have a mutual sense of one another's sufferings, and not be desires of money,
but let us by our good works confess God, and not by what is contrary.
14.
And let
us not fear men, but rather God, for if we do such wicked things, the Lord has
said;
15.
Though you should be joined to Me in My very bosom,
and keep
not My commandments, I will cast you off, and say to you, depart from
Me
you workers of iniquity.
1. For this reason therefore my dear brothers, leave your wandering in this world willingly, if even for your conscience sake, and do the will of Him that has called us, and not fear to depart from this world.
2. For the
Lord said; "You shall be as sheep in the midst of wolves."
And Peter answering said; "What if the wolves shall tears the sheep
in pieces?" Jesus then said to
Peter;
3.
"Let
not the sheep fear the wolves that kill them." You also thus fear not those who kill you, after which they
can do no more to you, but fear Him who after you are dead has power to cast
both body and soul into hells fire.
4.
For
consider my brothers that the wandering of this flesh in this present world is
but little and of short duration, while the promise of Christ is great and
wonderful.
5.
What then
must we do to attain to it? We must
order our conversation holily and righteously, and look on all things of this
world as none of ours, and not desire them.
6.
For if we
desire them we fall from the way of righteousness, for thus said 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.
7.
For what
wil1 it profit one if he gains the whole wor1d, but lose his own soul?
This world, and the world to come, are two enemies; this one is of
corruption, but the other renounces corruption.
8.
We cannot
be friends of both, but most choose between one or the other, and we consider it
better to hate the present things as little and short lived and corruptible, and
to love those which are to come which are truly good and incorruptible.
9. For if we
do the will of Christ we shall find rest, but if not, nothing shall deliver us
from eternal punishment, for thus said the scripture in Ezekiel "If Noah
Job, and Daniel should rise up, they shall not deliver their children from
captivity."
10. If thus
such righteous men are not able by their righteousness to deliver their
children, how can we hope to enter the kingdom of God except by keeping our
baptism holy and undefiled?
11.
Or who
shall be our advocate - lest we are found to have done what is holy and just?
Let us therefore my brothers contend with all earnestness knowing that
our combat is at hand.
12. Not all
are crowned, but only they that labor much and strive gloriously, let us
therefore contend in such way that we may all be crowned.
13.
Let us
run the straight road, the incorruptible race, and pass in great numbers into
it, striving to receive the crown, but, and if we cannot all be crowned, let us
come as near to it as we are able.
14. And
consider that he who contends in a corruptible combat - if he does not do what
is fair, he is punished and cast from the list.
What then do you think they shall suffer who do anything that is not
fitting in the combat of immortality?
15.
For thus
spoke the prophet concerning those who kept not their seal; "Their worm
shall not die, and their fire shall not be put out, and they shall be for a
spectacle to all flesh".
16.
Let us
therefore repent while we are yet on the earth.
For we are as clay in the hand of the Artificer.
For as the potter makes a vessel that turns amiss in his hands, he makes
it anew, but if it has gone as far as the oven, he can no more remedy it.
17. We
therefore while we are in this world should repent with our whole heart for
whatever evil we have done while we have yet time to repentance that we may be
saved by the Lord.
18.
For after
we depart from this world we shall no longer be able to confess our sins, nor
repent, let us therefore do the will of the Father and keep our flesh pure
observing the commandments of the Lord.
19. Lay hold
of eternal life, for the Lord said in the gospel "If you keep not that
which is little, who will give you what is great?"
For I say to you that he who is faithful in what is least, is also
faithful in much.
20. This
therefore is what He said keep your bodies pure and your seal without spot that
you may receive eternal life.
1. And let no one among you say that this very flesh is not judged, nor raised up, for consider in what you were when you were saved, and what you were when you looked up if not this flesh in which you are.
2.
We must
therefore keep our flesh as the temple of God, for as you were called in the
flesh, so you will come to judgment in the flesh.
3. Our one
Lord Jesus Christ who saved us, being first a Spirit - was made flesh, and so
called us, even so we shall in this flesh receive the reward.
4.
Let us
therefore love one another that we may attain to the kingdom of God, for while
we have time to be healed let us deliver ourselves up to God our Physician
giving our reward to Him.
5. And what
reward shall we give? It is
repentance out of a pure heart, for He knows all things beforehand, and searches
our very hearts.
6. Let us
therefore give praise to Him, and not only with our mouths but also with all our
souls that He may receive us as children, for so the Lord said; they are My
brothers who do the will of My Father.
7. Wherefore
my dear brothers let us do the will of the Father who has called us - that we
may live, let us pursue virtue and forsake wickedness which leads to sin.
8. And let
us flee all ungodliness so that evil overtakes us not, for if we shall do our
best to live well - peace shall follow us.
9. And yet
how hard is it to find a man who does this, for almost all are led by human
fears choosing rather the present enjoyments than the future promise.
10. For they
know not how great a torment the present enjoyment brings with it, nor what
delight the future promises.
11. And if
they themselves only did this - it might be more readily endured, but they go
out and infect innocent souls with their evil doctrines, not knowing that
themselves as well as those that hear them shall receive a double condemnation.
12. Let us
therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous, but if we
serve Him not, because we believe not the promise of God, we shall be miserable.
13. For thus
said the prophet; "Miserable are the double-minded, who have doubts in
their heart saying; these things were spoken and heard in the days of our
fathers, but we have seen none of them though we expected them day by day."
14. O you fools, compare yourselves to a tree, take the vine fore example, it
sheds its leaves, then it buds, then come the sour grapes, then the ripe fruit, even so My
people have born its disorders and afflictions but shall hereafter receive good
things.
15. Therefore
my brothers 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 work.
16.
If thus
we shall do what is just in the sight of God, we shall enter into His kingdom
and receive His promises which neither the eye has seen, nor ear has heard, nor
have entered into the hearts of men.
17. Let us
thus every hour expect the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, because we
know not the day of God's appearing.
1. For
the Lord Himself being asked by a certain person as to when His kingdom would
come answered "When two shall be one, and that which is outside as that
which is within, and the male with the female neither male nor female".
2. Two then
are one - when we speak the truth to each other, and that which is without as
that which is within, He means this;
3. He calls
the soul as that which is within, and the body as that which is without, as
therefore your body appears - so let your soul be seen by its good works.
4. And the
male with the female, neither male nor female, means; He calls our anger the
male, our lust the female.
5. When
therefore a man is come to such a passing that he is subject to neither, but
having dispelled the mist arising from them, and being full of shame, he by
repentance shall have united both his soul and the spirit in the obedience of
reason.
6. Then it
will be as Paul said; there is in us neither male nor female.
End.
