{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_6512/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_6512","id":"gutenberg_6512","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6512","summary":null,"tags":["Apocryphal books (New Testament)","Category: History - Religious","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"This eBook was produced by David Widger \nAdditional proofing was done by Curtis A. Weyant\n\n\n\n\n\n THE\n SUPPRESSED\n GOSPELS AND EPISTLES\n OF THE ORIGINAL\n NEW TESTAMENT\n OF\n JESUS THE CHRIST\n\n AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES.\n NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO\n HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES,\n AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING\n THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES,\n BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS\n FORBIDDEN BY THE\n BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL,\n IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE\n AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT\n EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS\n\n TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL\n REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY,\n\n BY\n ARCHBISHOP WAKE\n AND OTHER\n LEARNED DIVINES\n\n\n\n\n\n THE FIRST EPISTLE OF\n CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n Clement commends them for their excellent order\n and piety in Christ, before their schism broke out.\n\nTHE Church of God which is\nat Rome, to the Church of God\nwhich is at Corinth, elect,\nsanctified by the will of God,\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord:\ngrace and peace from the Almighty\nGod, by Jesus Christ, be multiplied\nunto you.\n\n2 Brethren, the sudden and\nunexpected dangers and calamities\nthat have fallen upon us, have, we\nfear, made us the more slow in our\nconsideration of those things which\nyou inquired of us:\n\n3 As also of that wicked and\ndetestable sedition, so unbecoming\nthe elect of God, which a few\nheadstrong and self-willed men\nhave fomented to such a degree of\nmadness, that your venerable and\nrenowned name, so worthy of all\nmen to be beloved, is greatly\nblasphemed thereby.\n\n4 For who that has ever been\namong you has not experienced\nthe firmness of your faith, and\nits fruitfulness in all good works;\nand admired the temper and\nmoderation of your religion in\nChrist; and published abroad the\nmagnificence of your hospitality;\nand thought you happy in your\nperfect and certain knowledge of\nthe Gospel?\n\n5 For ye did all things without\nrespect of persons, and walked\naccording to the laws of God;\nbeing subject to those who had\nthe rule over you, and giving the\nhonour that was fitting to the aged\namong you.\n\n6 Ye commanded the young men\nto think those things that were\nmodest and grave.\n\n7 The women ye exhorted to do\nall things with an unblameable,\nand seemly, and pure conscience;\nloving their own husbands, as was\nfitting: and that keeping themselves\nwithin the bounds of a due obedience,\nthey should order their houses\ngravely, with all discretion.\n\n8 Ye were all of you humble-\nminded, not boasting of anything\ndesiring rather to be subject than\nto govern; to give than to receive;\nbeing a content with the portion\nGod hath dispensed to you:\n\n9 And hearkening diligently to\nhis word, ye were enlarged in\nyour bowels, having his sufferings\nalways before your eyes.\n\n10 Thus a firm, and blessed,\nand profitable peace was given\nunto you: and an unsatiable desire\nof doing good; and a plentiful\neffusion of the Holy Ghost was\nupon all of you.\n\n11 And being full of good\ndesigns, ye did with, great\nreadiness of mind, and with\na religious confidence stretch\nforth your hands to God Almighty;\nbeseeching him to be merciful\nunto you, if in anything ye had\nunwillingly sinned against him.\n\n12 Ye contended day and night\nfor the whole brotherhood; that\nwith compassion and a good\nconscience, the number of his\nelect might be saved.\n\n13 Ye were sincere, and without\noffence towards each other; not\nmindful of injuries; all sedition\nand schism was an abomination\nunto you.\n\n14 Ye bewailed every one his\nneighbours' sins, esteeming their\ndefects your own.\n\n15 Ye were kind one to another\nwithout grudging; being ready to\nevery good work. And being\nadorned with a conversation\naltogether virtuous and religious,\nye did all things in the fear of\nGod; whose I commandments were\nwritten upon the tables of your\nheart.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n How their divisions began.\n\nALL honour and enlargement\nwas given unto you; and so\nwas fulfilled that which is written,\nmy beloved did eat and drink, he\nwas enlarged and waxed fat, and\nhe kicked.\n\n2 From hence came emulation,\nand envy, and strife, and sedition;\npersecution and disorder, war and\ncaptivity.\n\n3 So they who were of no renown,\nlifted up themselves against\nthe honourable; those of no\nreputation against those who were\nin respect; the foolish against the\nwise; the young men against the\naged.\n\n4 Therefore righteousness and\npeace are departed from you,\nbecause every one hath forsaken\nthe fear of God; and is grown blind\nin his faith; nor walketh by the\nrule of God's commandments nor\nliveth as is fitting in Christ:\n\n5 But every one follows his\nown wicked lusts: having taken\nup an unjust and wicked envy, by\nwhich death first entered into the\nworld.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n Envy and emulation the original of all\n strife and disorder. Examples of the\n mischiefs they have occasioned.\n\nFOR thus it is written,\nAnd in process of time it came to\npass, that Cain brought of the fruit\nof the ground an offering unto the\nLord. And Abel, he also brought\nof the firstlings of his flock,\nand of the fat thereof:\n\n2 And the Lord had respect unto\nAbel, and to his offering. But\nunto Cain and unto his offering he\nhad not respect. And Cain was\nvery sorrowful, and his countenance\nfell.\n\n3 And the Lord said unto Cain,\nWhy art thou sorrowful? And\nwhy is thy countenance fallen?\nIf thou shalt offer aright, but not\ndivide aright, hast thou not sinned?\nHold thy peace: unto thee shall\nbe his desire, and thou shalt rule\nover him.\n\n4 And Cain said unto Abel his\nbrother, Let us go down into the\nfield. And it came to pass, as\nthey were in the field, that Cain\nrose up against Abel his brother,\nand slew him.\n\n5 Ye see, brethren, how envy\nand emulation wrought the death\nof a brother. For this, our father\nJacob fled from the face of his\nbrother Esau.\n\n6 It was this that caused Joseph\nto be persecuted even unto death,\nand to come into bondage. Envy\nforced \"Moses to flee from the\nface of Pharoah king of Egypt,\nwhen he heard, his own countryman\nask him, \"Who made thee a Judge,\nand a ruler over us? Wilt thou\nkill me as thou didst the\nEgyptian yesterday?\n\n7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam\nwere shut out of the camp, from\nthe rest of the congregation\nseven days.\n\n8 Emulation's sent Dathan and\nAbiram quick into the grave because\nthey raised up a sedition against\nMoses the servant of God.\n\n9 For this, David was not\nonly hated of strangers, but was\npersecuted even by Saul the king\nof Israel.\n\n10 But not to insist upon ancient\nexamples, let us come to those\nworthies that have been nearest\nto us; and take the brave\nexamples of our own age.\n\n11 Through zeal and envy, the\nmost faithful and righteous pillars\nof the church have been persecuted\neven to the most grevious deaths.\n\n12 Let us set before our eyes,\nthe holy Apostles; Peter by unjust\nenvy underwent not one or two,\nbut many sufferings; till at last\nbeing martyred, he went to the\nplace of glory that was due unto\nhim.\n\n13 For the same cause did\nPaul in like manner receive the\nreward of his patience. Seven\ntimes he was in bonds; he was\nwhipped, was stoned; he preached\nboth in the East and in the West;\nleaving behind him the glorious\nreport of his faith:\n\n14 And so having taught the\nwhole world righteousness, and\nfor that end travelled even to\nthe utmost bounds of the West;\nhe at last suffered martyrdom\nby the command of the governors,\n\n15 And departed out of the\nworld, and went unto his holy\nplace; having become a most\neminent pattern of patience\nunto all ages.\n\n16 To these Holy Apostles\nwere joined a very great number\nof others, who having through\nenvy undergone in like manner\nmany pains and torments, have\nleft a glorious example to us.\n\n17 For this, not only men but\nwomen have been persecuted;\nand having suffered very grievous\nand cruel punishments, have\nfinished the course of their faith\nwith firmness; and though weak\nin body, yet received a glorious\nreward.\n\n18 This has alienated the\nminds even of women from their\nhusbands; and changed what was\nonce said by our father Adam;\nThis is now bone of my bones,\nand flesh of my flesh.\n\n19 In a word, envy and strife,\nhave overturned whole cities, and\nrooted out great nations from off\nthe earth.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n 4 He exhorts them to live by holy rules, and repent\n of their divisions, and they shall be forgiven.\n\nTHESE things, beloved, we\nwrite unto you, not only for\nyour instruction, but also for our\nown remembrance.\n\n2 For we are all in the same\nlists, and the same combat is\nprepared for us all.\n\n3 Wherefore let us lay aside all\nvain and empty cares; and let us\ncome up to the glorious and\nvenerable rule of our holy calling.\n\n4 Let us consider what is good,\nand acceptable and well-pleasing\nin the sight of him that made us.\n\n5 Let us look steadfastly to the\nblood of Christ, and see how\nprecious his blood is in the sight\nof God: which being shed for our\nsalvation, has obtained the grace\nof repentance for all the world.\n\n6 Let us search into all the\nages that have gone before us;\nand learn that our Lord has in\nevery one of them still given place\nfor repentance to all such as would\nturn to him.\n\n7 Noah preached repentance;\nand as many as hearkened to him\nwere saved. Jonah denounced\ndestruction against the Ninevites.\n\n8 Howbeit they repenting of\ntheir sins, appeased God by their\nprayers: and were saved, though\nthey were strangers to the covenant\nof God.\n\n9 Hence we find how all the\nministers of the grace of God\nhave spoken by the Holy Spirit of\nrepentance. And even the Lord of\nall, has himself declared with an\noath concerning it;\n\n10 As I live, saith the Lord,\nI desire not the death of a sinner,\nbut that he should repent. Adding\nfarther this good sentence, saying\nTurn from your iniquity, O house\nof Israel.\n\n11 Say unto the children of\nmy people, though your sins should\nreach from earth to heaven; and\nthough they shall be redder than\nscarlet, and blacker than sackcloth\nyet if ye shall turn to me with all\nyour heart, and shall call me\nfather, I will hearken to you, as\nto a holy people.\n\n12 And in another place he saith\non this wise: wash ye, make you\nclean; put away the evil of your\ndoings from before mine eyes;\ncease to do evil, learn to do well;\nseek judgment, relieve the\noppressed, judge the fatherless,\nplead for the widow.\n\n13 Come now and let us reason\ntogether, saith the Lord: though\nyour sins be as scarlet, they shall\nbe as white as snow; though they\nbe as red as crimson, they shall\nbe as wool.\n\n14 If ye be willing and obedient\nye shall eat the good of the land\nbut, if ye refuse and rebel, ye\nshall be devoured with the sword;\nfor the mouth of the Lord hath\nspoken it.\n\n15 These things has God\nestablished by his Almighty will,\ndesiring that all his beloved\nshould come to repentance.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\n 1 He sets before them the examples of holy men,\n whose piety is recorded in the Scripture.\n\nWHEREFORE let us obey his\nexcellent and glorious will;\nand imploring his mercy and\ngoodness, let us fall down upon\nour faces before him, and cast\nourselves upon his mercy; laying\naside all vanity, and contention,\nand envy which leads unto death.\n\n2 Let us look up to those who\nhave the most perfectly ministered\nto his excellent glory. Let us\ntake Enoch for our example;\nwho being found righteous in\nobedience, was translated, and\nhis death was not known.\n\n3 Noah being proved to be\nfaithful, did by his ministry,\npreach regeneration to the world;\nand the Lord saved by him all the\nliving creatures, that went with\none accord into the ark.\n\n4 Abraham, who was called\nGod's friend, was in like manner\nfound faithful; inasmuch as he\nobeyed the commands of God.\n\n5 By obedience he went out of\nhis own country, and from his\nown kindred, and from his father's\nhouse; that so forsaking a small\ncountry, and a weak affinity, and\na little house, he might inherit\nthe promises of God.\n\n6 For thus God said unto him;\n\"get thee out of thy country, and\nfrom thy kindred, and from thy\nfather's house, unto a land that\nI will show thee.\"\n\n7 \"And, I will make thee a great\nnation, and will bless thee, and\nmake thy name great, and thou\nshalt be blessed. And I will\nbless them that bless thee, and\ncurse them that curse thee; and\nin thee shall all families of the\nearth be blessed,\"\n\n8 And again when he separated\nhimself from Lot, God said unto\nhim; I Lift up now thine eyes, and\nlook from the place where thou\nart northward, and southward, and\neastward, and westward, for all\nthe land which thou seest, to thee\nwill I give it, and to thy seed for\never.\n\n9 And I will make thy seed as\nthe dust of the earth, so that if a\nman can number the dust of the\nearth, then shall thy seed also be\nnumbered.\n\n10 And again he saith: and\nGod brought forth Abraham, and\nsaid unto him; look now toward\nheaven, and tell the stars, if thou\nbe able to number them: so shall\nthy seed be.\n\n11 And Abraham believed God,\nand it was counted to him for\nrighteousness.\n\n12 Through faith and hospitality\nhe had a son given him in his\nold age; and through obedience\nhe offered him up in sacrifice to\nGod, upon one of the mountains\nwhich God showed into him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VI.\n\n 1 Redemption for such as have been eminent for their\n faith, kindness, and charity to their neighbours.\n\nBY hospitality and goodliness\nwas Lot saved out of Sodom,\nwhen all the country round about\nwas destroyed by fire and brimstone.\n\n2 The Lord thereby making it\nmanifest, that he will not forsake\nthose that trust in him; but will\nbring the disobedient to punishment\nand correction.\n\n3 For his wife who went out\nwith him, being of a different\nmind, and not continuing in the\nsame obedience, was for that reason\nset forth for an example, being\nturned into a pillar of salt\nunto this day.\n\n4 That so all men may know,\nthat those who are double minded,\nand distrustful of the power of\nGod, are prepared for condemnation,\nand to be a sign to all succeeding\nages.\n\n5 By faith and hospitality was\nRahab the harlot saved. For when\nthe spies were sent by Joshua the\nson of Nun to search out Jericho,\nand the king of Jericho knew that\nthey were come to spy out his\ncountry, he sent men to take them,\nso that they might be put to\ndeath.\n\n6 Rahab therefore, being hospitable,\nreceived them, and hid them under\nthe stalks of flax, on the top of\nher house.\n\n7 And when the messengers that\nwere sent by the king came unto\nher, and asked her, saying,\nThere came men unto thee to spy\nout the land, bring them forth, for\nso hath the king commanded: She\nanswered, The two men whom ye\nseek came unto me, but presently\nthey departed, and are gone: Not\ndiscovering them unto them.\n\n8 Then she said to the spies,\nI know that the Lord your God has\ngiven this city into your hands;\nfor the fear of you is fallen upon\nall that dwell therein. When,\ntherefore, ye shall have taken it,\nye shall save me and my father's\nhouse.\n\n9 And they answered her, saying,\nIt shall be as thou hast spoken\nunto us, Therefore, when thou\nshalt know that we are near, thou\nshalt gather all thy family together,\nupon the house-top and they shall\nbe saved: but all that shall be\nfound without thy house shall\nbe destroyed.\n\n10 And they gave her moreover\na sign, that she should hang\nout of her house a scarlet rope,\nshowing thereby, that by the\nblood of our Lord, there should be\nredemption to all that believe and\nhope in God. Ye see, beloved,\nhow there was not only faith, but\nprophesy too in this woman.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VII.\n\n 1 What rules are given for leading a holy life.\n\nLET us, therefore, humble ourselves,\nbrethren, laying aside all pride,\nand boasting, and foolishness,\nand anger: And let us do as it\nis written.\n\n2 For thus saith the Holy Spirit;\nLet not the wise man glory in his\nwisdom, nor the strong man in\nhis strength, nor the rich man\nin his riches; but let him that\nglorieth, glory in the Lord, to seek\nhim, and to do judgment and justice.\n\n3 Above all, remembering the\nwords of the Lord Jesus, which he\nspake concerning equity and long\nsuffering, saying,\n\n4 Be ye merciful, and ye shall\nobtain mercy; forgive, and ye\nshall be forgiven; as ye do, so\nshall it be done unto you; as ye\ngive, so shall it be given unto\nyou; as ye judge, so shall ye be\njudged; as ye are kind to others,\nso shall God be kind to you; with\nwhat measure ye mete, with the\nsame shall it be measured to you\nagain.\n\n5 By this command, and by\nthese rules, let us establish\nourselves, that so we may always\nwalk obediently to his holy words;\nbeing humble minded:\n\n6 For so says the Holy Scripture;\nupon whom shall I look, even upon\nhim that is poor and of a contrite\nspirit, and that trembles at my word.\n\n7 It is, therefore, just and\nrighteous, men and brethren, that\nwe should become obedient unto God,\nrather than follow such as through\npride and sedition, have made\nthemselves the ring-leaders of\na detestable emulation.\n\n8 For it is not an ordinary harm\nthat we shall do ourselves, but\nrather a very great danger that we\nshall run, if we shall rashly give\nup ourselves to the wills of men,\nwho promote strife and seditions,\nto turn us aside from that which is\nfitting.\n\n9 But let us be kind to one\nanother, according to the compassion\nand sweetness of him that made us.\n\n10 For it is written, The merciful\nshall inherit the earth; and they\nthat are without evil shall be left\nupon it: but the transgressors shall\nperish from off the face of it.\n\n11 And again be saith, I have\nseen the wicked in great power\nand spreading himself like the\ncedar of Libanus. I passed by,\nand lo! he was not; I sought his\nplace, but it could not be found.\n\n12 Keep innocently, and do the\nthing that is right, for there shall\nbe a remnant to the peaceable\nman.\n\n13 Let us, therefore, hold fast\nto those who religiously follow\npeace; and not to such as only\npretend to desire.\n\n14 For he saith in a certain\nplace, This people honoureth me\nwith their lips, but their heart\nis far from me.\n\n15 And again, They bless with\ntheir mouths, but curse in their\nhearts.\n\n16 And again he saith, They\nloved him with their mouths, and\nwith their tongues they lied to\nhim. For their heart was not right\nwith him, neither were they\nfaithful in his covenant.\n\n17 Let all deceitful lips become\ndumb, and the tongue that speaketh\nproud things. Who have said, with\nour tongue will we prevail; our lips\nare our own, who is Lord over us?\n\n18 For the oppression of the\npoor, for the sighing of the needy,\nnow will I arise saith the Lord;\nI will set him in safety, I will\ndeal confidently with him.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER VIII.\n\n He advises then, to be humble, and, follow the\n examples of Jesus, and of holy men in all ages.\n\nFOR Christ is theirs who are\nhumble, and not who exalt\nthemselves over his flock. The\nsceptre of the majesty of God, our\nLord Jesus Christ, came not in\nthe show of pride and arrogance,\nthough he could have done so;\nbut with humility as the Holy\nGhost had before spoken\nconcerning him.\n\n2 For thus he saith, Lord, who\nhath believed our report, and to\nwhom is the arm of the Lord\nrevealed; For he shall grow up\nbefore him as a tender plant, and\nas a root out of a dry ground;\n\n3 He hath no form or comeliness,\nand when we shall see him, there\nis no beauty that we should desire\nhim.\n\n4 He is despised and rejected of\nmen; a man of sorrows and acquainted\nwith grief.\n\n5 And we hid, as it were, our\nfaces from him; he was despised,\nand we esteemed him not.\n\n6 Surely he hath borne our\ngriefs, and carried our sorrows\nyet we did esteem him stricken,\nsmitten of God, and afflicted.\n\n7 But he was wounded for our\ntransgressions; he was bruised for\nour iniquities; the chastisement\nof our peace was upon him; and\nwith his stripes we are healed.\n\n8 All we like sheep have gone\nastray; we have turned every one\nto his own way; and the Lord hath\nlaid on him the iniquity of us all.\n\n9 He was oppressed, and he was\nafflicted, yet he opened not his\nmouth: he is brought as a lamb to\nthe slaughter; and as a sheep\nbefore her shearers is dumb,\nso he openeth not his mouth.\n\n10 He was taken from prison\nand from judgment; and who shall\ndeclare this generation? For he\nwas cut off out of the land of the\nliving: for the transgression of my\npeople was he stricken.\n\n11 And he made his grave with\nthe wicked, and with the rich in\nhis death; because he had done no\nviolence, neither was any deceit\nin his mouth.\n\n12 Yet it pleased the Lord to\nbruise him; he hath put him to\ngrief: when thou shalt make his\nsoul an offering for sin, he shall\nsee his seed, he shall prolong his\ndays, and the pleasure of the Lord\nshall prosper m his hand.\n\n13 He shall see of the travail\nof his soul, and shall be satisfied:\nby his knowledge shall my righteous\nservant justify many; for he shall\nbear their iniquities.\n\n14 Therefore will I divide him\na portion with the great, and he\nshall divide the spoil with the\nstrong; because he hath poured\nout his soul unto death; and he\nwas numbered with the transgressors,\nand he bare the sin of many, and\nmade intercession for the\ntransgressors.\n\n15 And again he himself saith,\nI am a worm and no man, a reproach\nof men, and despised of the people.\nAll they that see me laugh me to\nscorn; they shoot out their lips,\nthey shake their heads, saying;\nHe trusted in the Lord that he\nwould deliver him, let him\ndeliver him seeing he delighted\nin him.\n\n16 Ye see, beloved, what the\npattern is that has been given to\nus. For if the Lord thus humbled\nhimself, what should we do who\nare brought by him under the\nyoke of his grace?\n\n17 Let us be followers of those\nwho went about in goat-skins, and\nsheep-skins; preaching the coming\nof Christ.\n\n18 Such were Elias, and Eliaxus,\nand Ezekiel, the prophets,\nAnd let us add to these, such\nothers as have received the like\ntestimony.\n\n19 Abraham has been greatly\nwitnessed of; having been called\nthe friend of God. And yet he\nsteadfastly beholding the glory of\nGod, says with all humility, I am\ndust and ashes.\n\n20 Again of Job, it is thus\nwritten, That he was just, and\nwithout blame, true; one that served\nGod, and abstained from all evil.\nYet he accusing himself, said, No\nman is free from pollution, no,\nnot though he should live but one\nday.\n\n21 Moses was called faithful in\nall God's House; and by his conduct\nthe Lord punished Israel by stripes\nand plagues.\n\n22 And even this man, though\nthus greatly honoured, spake not\ngreatly of himself; but when the\noracle of God was delivered to him\nout of the bush, he said, Who\nam I, that thou dost send me? I\nam of a slender voice, and a slow\ntongue.\n\n23 And again he saith, I am as\nthe smoke of the pot.\n\n24 And what shall we say of\nDavid, so highly testified of in the\nHoly Scriptures? To whom God said,\nI have found a man after my own\nheart, David the son of Jesse,\nwith my holy oil have I anointed\nhim.\n\n25 But yet he himself saith unto\nGod, Have mercy upon me, O God,\naccording to thy loving kindness;\naccording unto the multitude of\nthy tender mercies, blot out my\ntransgressions.\n\n26 Wash me thoroughly from\nmine iniquity, and cleanse me\nfrom my sin. For I acknowledge\nmy transgressions, and my sin is\never before me.\n\n27 Against Thee only have I\nsinned, and done this evil in\nthy sight; that thou mightest\nbe justified when thou speakest;\nand be clear when thou judgest.\n\n28 Behold I was shapen in\niniquity, and in sin did my mother\nconceive me.\n\n29 Behold, thou desirest truth\nin the inward parts; and in the\nhidden part thou shalt make me to\nknow wisdom.\n\n30 Purge me with hyssop, and\nI shall be clean: wash me, and I\nshall be whiter than snow.\n\n31 Make me to hear joy and\ngladness, that the bones which\nthou hast broken may rejoice.\n\n32 Hide thy face from my sins,\nand blot out all mine iniquities.\nCreate in me a clean heart O God;\nand renew a right spirit\nwithin me.\n\n34 Cast me not away from thy\npresence, and take not thy holy\nspirit from me.\n\n35 Restore unto me the joy of\nthy salvation, and uphold me with\nthy free spirit.\n\n36 Then will I teach transgressors\nthy ways, and sinners shall be\nconverted unto thee.\n\n37 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness,\nO God, thou God of my salvation;\nand my tongue shall sing aloud\nof thy righteousness.\n\n38 O Lord open thou my lips,\nand my mouth shall. show forth\nthy praise.\n\n39 For thou desirest not sacrifice,\nelse would I give it; thou\ndelightest not in burnt-offerings.\n\n40 The sacrifices of God are\na broken spirit; a broken and a\ncontrite heart, O God, thou wilt\nnot despise.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IX.\n\n He again persuades them to compose their divisions.\n\nTHUS has the humility and\ngodly fear of these great\nand excellent men recorded in\nthe Scriptures, through obedience,\nmade not only us, but also the\ngenerations before us better;\neven as many as have received his\nholy oracles with fear and truth.\n\n2 Having therefore so many,\nand such great and glorious\nexamples, let us return to that\npeace which was the mark that\nfrom the beginning was set before\nus;\n\n3 Let us look up to the Father\nand Creator of the whole world;\nand let us hold fast to his glorious\nand exceeding gifts and benefits\nof peace.\n\n4 Let us consider and behold\nwith the eyes of our understanding\nhis long suffering will; and think\nhow gentle and patient he is\ntowards his whole creation.\n\n5 The heavens moving by his\nappointment, are subject to him\nin peace.\n\n6 Day and night accomplish the\ncourses that he has allotted unto\nthem, not disturbing one another.\n\n7 The sun and moon, and all the\nseveral companies and constellations\nof the stars, run the courses that\nhe has appointed to them in concord,\nwithout departing in the least from\nthem.\n\n8 The fruitful earth yields its\nfood plentifully in due season both\nto man and beast, and to all animals\nthat are upon it, according to his\nwill; not disputing, nor altering\nany thing of what was ordered by him.\n\n9 So also the unfathomable and\nunsearchable floods of the deep,\nare kept in by his command;\n\n10 And the conflux of the vast\nsea, being brought together by his\norder into its several collections,\npasses not the bounds that he has\nset to it;\n\n11 But as he appointed it, so it\nremains. For he said, Hitherto\nshalt then come, and thy floods\nshall be broken within thee.\n\n12 The ocean impassable to\nmankind, and the worlds that are\nbeyond it are governed by the\nsame commands of their great\nmaster.\n\n13 Spring and summer, autumn\nand winter, give place peaceably\nto each other.\n\n14 The several quarters of the\nwinds fulfil their work in their\nseasons, without offending one\nanother.\n\n15 The ever-flowing fountains,\nmade both for pleasure and health,\nnever fail to reach out their breasts\nto support the life of men.\n\n16 Even the smallest creatures\nlive together in peace and concord\nwith each other.\n\n17 All these has the Great Creator\nand Lord of all, commanded to\nobserve peace and concord; being\ngood to all.\n\n18 But especially to us who flee\nto his mercy through our Lord\nJesus Christ; to whom be glory\nand majesty for ever and ever.\nAmen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER X.\n\n He exhorts them to obedience, from the consideration\n of the goodness of God, and of his presence in every place.\n\nTAKE heed, beloved, that his\nmany blessings be not to our\ncondemnation; except we shall\nwalk worthy of him, doing with\none consent what is good and\npleasing in his sight.\n\n2 The spirit of the Lord is a\ncandle, searching out the inward\nparts of the belly.\n\n3 Let us therefore consider how\nnear he is to us; and how that\nnone of our thoughts, or reasonings\nwhich we frame within ourselves,\nare hid from him,\n\n4 It is therefore just that we\nshould not forsake our rank, by\ndoing contrary to his will.\n\n5 Let us choose to offend a few\nfoolish and inconsiderate men,\nlifted up and glorying in their\nown pride, rather than God.\n\n6 Let us reverence our Lord\nJesus Christ whose blood was\ngiven for us.\n\n7 Let us honour those who are\nset over us; let us respect the\naged that are amongst us; and let\nus instruct the younger men, in\nthe discipline and fear of the\nLORD.\n\n8 Our wives let us direct, to do\nthat which is good.\n\n9 Let them show forth a lovely\nhabit of purity, in all their\nconversation; with a sincere\naffection of meekness.\n\n10 Let the government of their\ntongues be made manifest by their\nsilence.\n\n11 Let their charity be without\nrespect of persons, alike towards\nall such as religiously fear\nGod.\n\n12 Let your children be bred\nup in the instruction of Christ:\n\n13 And especially let them learn\nhow great a power humility has\nwith God; how much a pure and\nholy charity avails with him; how\nexcellent and great his fear is;\nand how it will save all such as\nturn to him with holiness in a pure\nmind.\n\n14 For he is the searcher of the\nthoughts and counsels of the heart;\nwhose breath is in us, and when\nhe pleases he can take it from\nus.\n\n\n\n\nCHAP. XI.\n\n Of faith: and particularly what we are\n to believe as to the Resurrection.\n\nBUT all these things must be\nconfirmed by the faith which\nis in Christ; for so He himself\nbespeaks us by the Holy Ghost;\n\n2 Comeye children and hearken\nunto me, and I will teach you the\nfear of the Lord. What man is\nthere that desireth life, and loveth\nto see good days?\n\n3 Keep thy tongue from evil,\nand thy lips that they speak no\nguile.\n\n4 Depart from evil and do good;\nseek peace and pursue it.\n\n5 The eyes of the Lord are upon\nthe righteous, and his ears are\nopen unto their prayers.\n\n6 But the face of the Lord is\nagainst them that do evil, to cut\noff the remembrance of them from\nthe earth.\n\n7 The righteous cried, and the\nLord heard him, and delivered\nhim out of all his troubles.\n\n8 Many are the troubles of the\nwicked; but they that trust in the\nLord mercy shall encompass them\nabout.\n\n9 Our all-merciful and beneficent\nFather hath bowels of compassion\ntowards them that fear him: and\nkindly and lovingly bestows his\ngraces upon all such as come to\nhim with a simple mind.\n\n10 Wherefore let us not waver,\nneither let us have any doubt in\nour hearts, of his excellent and\nglorious gifts.\n\n11 Let that be far from us\nwhich is written, Miserable are\nthe double-minded, and those who\nare doubtful in their hearts;\n\n12 Who say these things have\nwe heard, and our fathers have\ntold us these things. But behold\nwe are grown old, and none of\nthem has happened unto us.\n\n13 O ye fools consider the trees:\ntake the vine for an example.\nFirst it sheds its leaves; then it\nbuds; after that it spreads its\nleaves; then it flowers; then come\nthe sour grapes; and after them\nfollows the ripe fruit. See how in\na little time the fruit of the trees\ncomes to maturity.\n\n14 Of a truth yet a little while\nand his will shall suddenly be\naccomplished.\n\n15 The Holy Scripture itself\nbearing witness, that He shall\nquickly come and not tardy, and\nthat the Lord shall suddenly come\nto his temple, even the 3 holy ones\nwhom ye look for.\n\n16 Let us consider, beloved,\nhow the Lord does continually\nshow us, that there shall be a\nfuture resurrection; of which he\nhas made our Lord Jesus Christ\nthe first fruits, raising him from\nthe dead.\n\n17 Let us contemplate, beloved,\nthe resurrection that is continually\nmade before our eyes.\n\n18 Day and night manifest a\nresurrection to us. The night lies\ndown, and the day arises: again\nthe day departs and the night\ncomes on.\n\n19 Let us behold the fruits of\nthe earth. Every one sees how the\nseed is sown. The sower goes\nforth, and casts it upon the earth;\nand the seed which when it was\nsown fell upon the earth dry and\nnaked, in time dissolves.\n\n20 And from the dissolution,\nthe great power of the providence\nof the Lord rises it again; and of\none seed many arise, and bring\nforth fruit.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XII.\n\n The Resurrection further proved.\n\nLET us consider that wonderful\ntype of the resurrection which\nis seen in the Eastern countries:\nthat is to say, in Arabia.\n\n2 There is a certain bird called\na Phoenix; of this there is never\nbut one at a time: and that lives\nfive hundred years. And when\nthe time of its dissolution draws\nnear, that it must die, it makes\nitself a nest of frankincense, and\nmyrrh, and other spices into which\nwhen its time is fulfilled it enters\nand dies.\n\n3 But its flesh putrifying, breeds\na certain worm, which being nourished\nwith the juice of the dead bird\nbrings forth feathers; and when\nit is grown to a perfect state,\nit takes up the nest in which\nthe bones of its parent lie, and\ncarries it from Arabia into Egypt,\nto a city called Heliopolis:\n\n4 And flying in open day in the\nsight of all men, lays it upon the\naltar of the sun, and so returns\nfrom whence it came.\n\n5 The priests then search into\nthe records of the time: and find\nthat it returned precisely at the\nend of five hundred years.\n\n6 And shall we then think it to\nbe any very great and strange\nthing for the Lord of all to raise\nup those that religiously serve him\nin the assurance of a good faith,\nwhen even by a bird he shows us\nthe greatness of his power to fulfil\nhis promise?\n\n7 For he says in a certain place,\nThou shalt raise me up and I shall\nconfess unto thee.\n\n8 And again, I laid me down\nand slept, and awaked, because\nthou art with me.\n\n9 And again, Job says, Thou\nshalt raise up this flesh of mine,\nthat has suffered all these\nthings.\n\n10 Having therefore this hope,\nlet us hold fast to him who is\nfaithful in all his promises, and\nrighteous in all his judgments;\nwho has commanded us not to lie,\nhow much more will he not\nhimself lie?\n\n11 For nothing is impossible\nwith God but to lie.\n\n12 Let his faith then be stirred\nup again in us; and let us consider\nthat all things are nigh unto him.\n\n13 By the word of his power he\nmade all things: and by the same\nword he is able, (whenever he\nwill,) to destroy them.\n\n14 Who shall say unto him,\nwhat dost thou? or who shall\nresist the power of his strength?\n\n15 When, and as he pleased,\nhe will do all things; and nothing\nshall pass away of all that has been\ndetermined by him.\n\n16 All things are open before\nhim; nor can anything be hid\nfrom his counsel.\n\n17 The heavens declare the\nglory of God, and the firmament\nshoweth his handy work. Day\nunto day uttereth speech, and\nnight unto night showeth\nknowledge. There is no speech nor\nlanguage where their voice is not\nheard.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIII.\n\n It is impossible to escape the vengeance of God,\n if we continue in sin.\n\nSEEING then all things are seen\nand heard by God, let us fear\nhim, and let us lay aside our\nwicked works which proceed from\nill desires; that through his mercy\nwe may be delivered from the\ncondemnation to come.\n\n2 For whither can any of us flee\nfrom his mighty hand? Or what\nworld shall receive any of those\nwho run away from him?\n\n3 For thus saith the Scripture\nin a certain place. Whither shall\nI flee from thy spirit, or where\nshall I hide myself from thy\npresence?\n\n4 If I ascend up into heaven,\nthou art there; if I shall go to the\nuttermost parts of the earth, there\nis thy right hand: if I shall make\nmy bed in the deep, thy Spirit is\nthere.\n\n5 Whither then shall any one\ngo; or whither shall he run from\nhim that comprehends all things?\n\n6 Let us therefore come to him\nwith holiness of heart, lifting up\nchaste and undefiled hands unto\nhim; loving our gracious and\nmerciful Father, who has made us\nto partake of his election.\n\n7 For so it is written, When\nthe Most High divided the nations;\nwhen he separated the sons of\nAdam, he set the bounds of the\nnations, according to the number\nof his angels; his people Jacob\nbecame the portion of the Lord,\nand Israel the lot of his\ninheritance.\n\n8 And in another place he saith,\nBehold the Lord taketh unto himself\na nation, out of the midst of the\nnations, as a man taketh the first-\nfruits of his flour; and the Most\nHoly shall come out of that nation.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIV.\n\n How we must live that we may please God.\n\nWHEREFORE we being apart\nof the Holy One: let us do\nall those things that pertain unto\nholiness:\n\n2 Fleeing all evil-speaking\nagainst one another; all filthy\nand impure embraces, together with\nall drunkenness, youthful lusts,\nabominable concupiscences,\ndetestable adultery, and\nexecrable pride.\n\n3 For God saith, he resisteth\nthe proud, but giveth grace to the\nhumble.\n\n4 Let us therefore hold fast to\nthose to whom God has given his\ngrace.\n\n5 And let us put on concord,\nbeing humble, temperate; free\nfrom all whispering and detraction;\nand justified by our actions,\nnot our words.\n\n6 For he saith, Doth he that\nspeaketh and heareth many things,\nand is of a ready tongue, suppose\nthat he is righteous? Blessed is\nhe that is born of a woman, that\nliveth but a few days: use not\ntherefore much speech.\n\n7 Let our praise be of God, not\nof ourselves; for God hateth those\nthat commend themselves.\n\n8 Let the witness of our good\nactions be given to us by others,\nas it was given to the holy men\nthat went before us.\n\n9 Rashness, and arrogance, and\nconfidence, belong to them who\nare accursed of God: but equity,\nand humility, and mildness, to\nsuch as are blessed by him.\n\n10 Let us then lay hold of his\nblessing, and let as consider what\nare the ways by which we may\nattain unto it.\n\n11 Let us look back upon those\nthings that have happened from\nthe beginning.\n\n12 For what was our Father\nAbraham blessed? Was it not\nbecause that through faith he\nwrought righteousness and truth?\n\n13 Isaac being fully persuaded\nof what he knew was to come,\ncheerfully yielded himself up for\na sacrifice. Jacob with humility\ndeparted out of his own country,\nfleeing from his brother, and went\nunto Laban and served him; and\nso the sceptre of the twelve tribes\nof Israel was given unto him.\n\n14 Now what the greatness of\nthis gift was, will plainly appear,\nif we shall take the pains distinctly\nto consider all the parts of it.\n\n15 For, from him came the\npriests and Levites; who all\nministered at the altar of God.\n\n16 From him came our Lord\nJesus Christ, according to the\nflesh.\n\n17 From him came the kings,\nand princes, and rulers in Judah.\n\n18 Nor were the rest of his\ntribes in any little glory: God\nhaving promised that their seed\nshall be as the stars of heaven.\n\n19 They were all therefore\ngreatly glorified, not for their own\nsake, or for their own works, or\nfor the righteousness that they\nthemselves wrought, but through\nhis will.\n\n20 And we also being called by\nthe same will in Christ Jesus, are\nnot justified by ourselves, neither\nby our own wisdom, or knowledge,\nor piety, or the works which we\nhave done in the holiness of our\nhearts.\n\n21 But by that faith, by which\nGod Almighty has justified all\nmen from the beginning; to whom\nbe glory for ever and ever, Amen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XV.\n\n We are justified by faith; yet this must not\n lessen our care to live a virtuous life,\n nor our pleasure in it.\n\nWHAT shall we do therefore,\nbrethren? Shall we be slothful\nin well-doing, and lay aside\nour charity? God forbid that any\nsuch thing should be done by us.\n\n2 But rather let us hasten with\nall earnestness and readiness of\nmind, to perfect every good work.\nFor even the Creator and Lord of\nall things himself rejoices in his\nown works.\n\n3 By his Almighty power he\nfixed the heavens, and by his\nincomprehensible wisdom he\nadorned them.\n\n4 He also divided the earth\nfrom the water, with which it is\nencompassed: and fixed it as a\nsecure tower, upon the foundation\nof his own will.\n\n5 He also by his appointment,\ncommanded all the living creatures\nthat are upon it, to exist.\n\n6 So likewise the sea, and all\nthe creatures that are in it;\nhaving first created them, he\nenclosed them therein by his power.\n\n7 And above all, he with his\nholy and pure hands, formed man,\nthe most excellent; and, as to his\nunderstanding, truly the greatest\nof all other creatures; the character\nof his own image.\n\n8 For thus God says; Let us\nmake man in our image, after our\nown likeness; so God created man,\nmale and female created he them.\n\n9 And having thus finished all\nthese things, he commended all\nthat he had made, and blessed\nthem, and said, increase and\nmultiply.\n\n10 We see how all righteous men\nhave been adorned with good works\nWherefore even the Lord himself,\nhaving adorned himself with his\nworks, rejoiced.\n\n11 Having therefore such an\nexample, let us without delay,\nfulfil his will; and with all\nour strength, work the work of\nrighteousness.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVI.\n\n A virtuous life enforced from the examples\n of the holy angels, and from the exceeding\n greatness of that reward which God has prepared for us.\n\nTHE good workman with\nconfidence receives the bread of\nhis labour; but the sluggish and\nlazy cannot look him in the face\nthat set him on work.\n\n2 We must therefore be ready\nand forward in well-doing: for\nfrom him are all things.\n\n3 And thus he foretels us,\nbehold the Lord cometh, and his\nreward is with him, even before his\nface, to render to everyone according\nto his work.\n\n4 He warns us therefore beforehand,\nwith all his heart to this end,\nthat we should not be slothful and\nnegligent in well-doing.\n\n5 Let our boasting, therefore,\nand our confidence be in God\nlet us submit ourselves to his will,\nLet us consider the whole multitude\nof his angels, how ready they\nstand to minister unto his will.\n\n6 As saith the Scripture,\nthousands of thousands stood\nbefore him and ten thousand\ntimes ten thousand ministered\nunto him. And they cried, saying,\nHoly, holy, holy is the Lord of\nhosts; The whole earth is full\nof his glory.\n\n7 Wherefore let us also, being\nconscientiously gathered together\nin concord with one another; as\nit were with one mouth, cry,\nearnestly unto him, that he would\nmake us partakers of his great and\nglorious promises.\n\n8 For he saith, a Eye hath not\nseen, nor ear heard, neither have\nentered into the heart of man, the\nthings which God has prepared for\nthem that wait for him,\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVII.\n\n 1 We must attain the gifts of God by faith and obedience,\n which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the\n duties of our several stations, without envy or contention.\n 24 The necessity of different orders among men.\n 33 We have none of us anything but what we received of God:\n whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey.\n\nHOW blessed and wonderful,\nbeloved, are the gifts of God.\n\n2 Life in immortality! brightness\nin righteousness! truth in full\nassurance! faith in confidence!\ntemperance in holiness!\n\n3 And all this has God subjected\nto our understandings:\n\n4 What therefore shall those\nthings be which he has prepared\nfor them that wait for him?\n\n5 The Creator and Father of\nspirits, the Most Holy; he only\nknows both the greatness and\nbeauty of them,\n\n6 Let us therefore strive with\nall earnestness, that we may be\nfound in the number of those that\nwait for him, that so we may\nreceive the reward which he has\npromised.\n\n7 But how, beloved, shall we do\nthis? We must fix our minds by\nfaith towards God, and seek those\nthings that are pleasing and\nacceptable unto him.\n\n8 We must act conformably to\nhis holy will; and follow the way\nof truth, casting off from us all\nunrighteousness and iniquity,\ntogether with all covetousness,\nstrife, evil manners, deceit,\nwhispering, detractions; all\nhatred of God, pride and boasting;\nvain-glory and ambition;\n\n9 For they that do these things\nare odious to God; and not only\nthey that do them, but also all\nsuch as approve of those that do\nthem.\n\n10 For thus saith the Scripture,\nBut unto the wicked, God said,\nWhat hast thou to do to declare\nmy statute, or that thou shouldst\ntake my covenant in thy mouth?\nSeeing that thou hatest instruction,\nand castest my words behind thee.\n\n11 When thou sawest a thief,\nthen thou consentedst with him;\nthou hast been partaker with\nadulterers, Thou givest thy mouth\nto evil, and thy tongue frameth\ndeceit. Thou sittest and speakest\nagainst thy brother; thou slanderest\nthine own mother's son.\n\n12 These things hast thou done\nand I kept silence; thou thoughtest\nthat I was altogether such a one\nas thyself: but I will reprove thee,\nand set them in order before thine\neyes.\n\n13 Now consider this ye that\nforget God, lest I tear you in pieces,\nand there be none to deliver.\n\n14 Whose offereth praise,\ngloryfieth me; And to him that\ndisposeth his way aright, will\nI show the salvation of God.\n\n15 This is the way, beloved, in\nwhich we may find our Saviour,\neven Jesus Christ, the high-priest\nof all our offerings, the defender\nand helper of our weakness.\n\n16 By him we look up to the\nhighest heavens; and behold, as\nin a glass, his spotless and most\nexcellent visage.\n\n17 By him are the eyes of our\nhearts opened; by him our foolish\nand darkened understanding\nrejoiceth to behold his wonderful\nlight.\n\n18 By him would God have us\nto taste the knowledge of\nimmortality: who being the\nbrightness of his glory, is by\nso much greater than the angels,\nas be has by inheritance obtained\na more excellent name than they.\n\n19 For so it is written, who\nmaketh his angels spirits, and his\nministers a flame of fire:\n\n20 But to his son, thus saith the\nLord, Thou art my Son, to-day\nhave I begotten thee.\n\n21 Ask of me and I will give\nthee the heathen for thy inheritance,\nand the utmost parts of the earth\nfor thy possession.\n\n22 And again he saith unto him,\nSit thou on my right hand until\nI make thine enemies thy\nfoot-stool.\n\n23 But who are his enemies?\neven the wicked, and such who\noppose their own wills to the\nwill of God.\n\n24 Let us therefore march-on,\nmen and brethren, with all\nearnestness in his holy laws.\n\n25 Let us consider those who\nfight under our, earthly governors\nHow orderly, how readily, and\nwith what exact obedience they\nperform those things that are\ncommanded them.\n\n26 All are not generals, nor\ncolonels, nor captains, nor\ninferior officers:\n\n27 But everyone in his respective\nrank does what is commanded him by\nthe king, and those who have the\nauthority over him.\n\n28 They who are great, cannot\nsubsist without those that are little;\nnor the little without the great;\n\n29 But there must be a mixture\nin all things, and then there will\nbe use and profit too.\n\n30 Let us, for example, take\nour body: the head without the\nfeet is nothing, neither the feet\nwithout the head.\n\n31 And even the smallest members\nof our body are yet both necessary\nand useful to the whole body.\n\n32 But all conspire together,\nand are subject to one common\nuse, namely, the preservation of\nthe whole body.\n\n33 Let therefore our whole body\nby saved in Christ Jesus; and let\neveryone be subject to his neighbour,\naccording to the order in which\nhe is placed by the gift of God.\n\n34 Let not the strong man despise\nthe weak; and let the weak see that\nhe reverence the strong.\n\n35 Let the rich man distribute\nto the necessity of the poor; and\nlet the poor bless God, that he has\ngiven one unto him, by whom his\nwant may be supplied.\n\n36 Let the wise man show forth\nhis wisdom, not in words, but in\ngood works.\n\n37 Let him that is humble, not\nbear witness to himself, but let\nhim leave it to another to bear\nwitness of him.\n\n38 Let him that is pure in the\nflesh, not grow proud of it, knowing\nthat it was from another that he\nreceived the gift of continence.\n\n39 Let us consider therefore,\nbrethren, whereof we are made;\nwho, and what kind of men we\ncame into the world, as it were\nout of a sepulchre, and from outer\ndarkness.\n\n40 He hath made us, and formed\nus, brought us into his own world;\nhaving presented us with his\nbenefits, even before we were born.\n\n41 Wherefore, having received\nall these things from him, we\nought in everything to give thanks\nunto him, to whom be glory for\never and ever. Amen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XVIII.\n\n Clement therefore exhorts them to do everything\n orderly in the Church, as the only way to please God.\n\nFOOLISH and unwise men, who\nhave neither prudence, nor\nlearning, may mock and deride\nus; being willing to setup\nthemselves in their own conceits.\n\n2 But what can a mortal man\ndo? Or what strength is there in\nhim that is made out of the dust?\n\n3 For it is written, there was no\nshape before mine eyes; only I\nheard a sound and a voice.\n\n4 For what? Shall man be pure\nbefore the Lord? Shall he be\nblameless in his works?\n\n5 Behold, he trusteth not in\nhis servants; and his angels he\nchargeth with folly.\n\n6 Yes, the heaven is not clean\nin his sight, how much less they\nthat dwell in houses of clay; of\nwhich also we ourselves were\nmade?\n\n7 He smote them as a moth:\nand from morning even unto the\nevening they endure not. Because\nthey were not able to help\nthemselves, they perished;\nhe breathed upon them and they\ndied, because they had no wisdom.\n\n8 Call now if there be any that\nwill answer thee; and to which of\nthe angels wilt thou look?\n\n9 For wrath killeth the foolish\nman, and envy slayeth him that is\nin error.\n\n10 I have seen the foolish taking\nroot, but lo, their habitation was\npresently consumed.\n\n11 Their children were far from\nsafety, they perished at the gates\nof those who were lesser than\nthemselves: and there was no man\nto help them.\n\n12 For what was prepared for\nthem, the righteous did eat; and\nthey shall not be delivered from\nevil.\n\n13 Seeing then these things are\nmanifest unto us, it will behove\nus to take care that looking into\nthe depths of the divine knowledge,\nwe do all things in order,\nwhatsoever our Lord has commanded\nus to do.\n\n14 And particularly that we\nperform our offerings and service to\nGod, at their appointed seasons\nfor these he has commanded to be\ndone, not rashly and disorderly,\nbut at certain determinate times\nand hours.\n\n15 And therefore he has ordained\nby his supreme will and authority,\nboth where, and by what persons,\nthey are to be performed; that\nso all things being piously done\nunto all well-pleasing, they\nmay be acceptable unto him.\n\n16 They therefore who make\ntheir offerings at the appointed\nseasons, are happy and accepted;\nbecause through obeying the\ncommandments of the Lord,\nthey are free from sin.\n\n17 And the same care must be\nhad of the persons that minister\nunto him.\n\n18 For the chief-priest has his\nproper services; and to the priest\ntheir proper place is appointed;\nand to the Levites appertain their\nproper ministries; and the layman\nis confined within the bounds of\nwhat is commanded to laymen.\n\n19 Let every one of you therefore,\nbrethren, bless God in his proper\nstation, with a good conscience,\nand with all gravity, not exceeding\nthe rule of his service that is\nappointed to him.\n\n20 The daily sacrifices are not\noffered everywhere; nor the peace-\nofferings, nor the sacrifices\nappointed for sins and transgressions;\nbut only at Jerusalem: nor in any\nplace there, but only at the altar\nbefore the temple; that which is\noffered being first diligently\nexamined by the high-priest and\nthe other minister we before\nmentioned.\n\n21 They therefore who do any\nthing which is not agreeable to his\nwill, are punished with death.\n\n22 Consider, brethren, that by\nhow much the better knowledge\nGod has vouchsafed unto us, by so\nmuch the greater danger are we\nexposed to.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XIX.\n\n The orders of Ministers in Christ's Church established\n by the Apostles, according to Christ's command,\n 7 after the example of Moses.\n 16 Therefore they who have been duly placed in the\n ministry according to their order, cannot without\n great sin be put out of it.\n\nTHE Apostles have preached to\nus from the Lord Jesus Christ\nJesus Christ from God.\n\n2 Christ therefore was sent by\nGod, the Apostles by Christ; so\nboth were orderly sent, according\nto the will of God.\n\n3 For having received their\ncommand, and being thoroughly\nassured by the resurrection of our\nLord Jesus Christ, and convinced\nby the word of God, with the\nfulness of the Holy Spirit, they\nwent abroad, publishing, That the\nkingdom of God was at hand.\n\n4 And thus preaching through\ncountries and cities, they appointed\nthe first fruits of their conversion\nto be bishops and ministers over\nsuch as should afterwards believe,\nhaving first proved them by the\nSpirit.\n\n5 Nor was this any new thing;\nseeing that long before it was\nwritten concerning bishops and\ndeacons.\n\n6 For thus saith the Scripture,\nin a certain place; I will appoint\ntheir overseers in righteousness,\nand their ministers in faith.\n\n7 And what wonder if they, to\nwhom such a work was committed\nby God in Christ, established such\nofficers as we before mentioned;\nwhen even that blessed and faithful\nservant in all his house, Moses,\nset down in the Holy Scriptures\nall things that were commanded\nhim.\n\n8 Whom also all the rest of the\nprophets followed, bearing witness\nwith one consent to those things\nthat were appointed by him.\n\n9 For he, perceiving an emulation\nto arise among the tribes concerning\nthe priesthood, and that there was\na strife about it, which of them\nshould be adorned with that glorious\nname; commanded their twelve captains\nto bring to him twelve rods; every\ntribe being written upon its rod,\naccording to its name,\n\n10 And he took them and bound\nthem together, and sealed them\nwith the seals of the twelve princes\nof the tribes: and laid them up in\nthe tabernacle of witness, upon\nthe table of God.\n\n11 And when he had shut the\ndoor of the tabernacle, he sealed\nup the keys of it, in like manner\nas he had done the rods; and said\nunto them, Men and brethren,\nwhichsoever tribe shall have its\nrod blossom, that tribe has God\nchosen to perform the office of a\npriest, and to minister unto him\nin holy things.\n\n12 And when the morning was\ncome, he called together all Israel,\nsix hundred thousand men; and\nshowed to the princes their seals\nand opened the tabernacle of\nwitness; and brought forth the\nrods.\n\n13 And the rod of Aaron was\nfound not only to have blossomed,\nbut also to have fruit upon it.\n\n14 What think you, beloved?\nDid not Moses before know what\nshould happen?\n\n15 Yes verily: but to the end\nthere might be no division, nor\ntumult in Israel, he did in this\nmanner, that the name of the true\nand only God might be glorified;\nto whom be honour for ever and\never, Amen.\n\n16 So likewise our Apostles\nknew by our Lord Jesus Christ,\nthat there should contentions arise,\nupon account of the ministry.\n\n17 And therefore having a perfect\nfore-knowledge of this, they\nappointed persons, as we have\nbefore said, and then a gave\ndirection, how, when they should\ndie, other chosen and approved men\nshould succeed in their ministry.\n\n18 Wherefore we cannot think\nthat those may justly be thrown\nout of their ministry, who were\neither appointed by them, or\nafterwards chosen by other eminent\nmen, with the consent of the whole\nchurch; and who have with all\nlowliness and innocency ministered\nto the flock of Church, in peace,\nand without self-interest, and\nwere for a long time commended\nby all.\n\n19 For it would be no small sin\nin us, should we cast off those\nfrom their ministry, who holily\nand without blame fulfil the\nduties of it.\n\n20 Blessed are those priests,\nwho having finished their course\nbefore these times, have obtained\na fruitful and perfect dissolution\nfor they have no fear, lest any one\nshould turn them out of the place\nwhich is now appointed for them.\n\n21 But we see how you have\nput out some, who lived reputably\namong you, from the ministry,\nwhich by their innocence they had\nadorned.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XX.\n\n He exerts them to peace from examples out of\n the Holy Scriptures,\n 20 particularly from St. Paul's exhortation to them.\n\nYE are contentious, brethren,\nand zealous for things that\npertain not unto salvation.\n\n2 Look into the Holy Scriptures,\nwhich are the true words of the\nHoly Ghost. Ye know that there\nis nothing unjust or counterfeit\nwritten in them.\n\n3 There you shall not find that\nrighteous men were ever cast off\nby such as were good themselves.\n\n4 They were persecuted, but it\nwas by the wicked and unjust.\n\n5 They were cast into prison,\nbut they were cast in by those that\nwere unholy.\n\n6 They were stoned, but it was\nby transgressors.\n\n7 They were killed, but by accursed\nmen, and such as had taken up an\nunjust envy against them.\n\n8 And all these things they\nunderwent gloriously.\n\n9 For what shall we say,\nbrethren? Was Daniel cast into the\nden of lions, by men fearing\nGod? Shadrach, Meshach, and\nAbednego, were they cast into the\nfiery furnace by men, professing\nthe excellent and glorious worship\nof the Most High? God forbid.\n\n10 What kind of persons then\nwere they that did these things?\nThey were men abominable, full\nof all wickedness; who were\nincensed; to so great a degree,\nas to bring those into sufferings,\nwho with a holy and unblameable\npurpose of mind worshipped God:\nnot knowing that the Most High is\nthe protector and defender of all\nsuch as with a pure conscience\nserve his holy name: to whom be\nglory for ever and ever, Amen.\n\n11 But they who with a full\npersuasion have endured these\nthings, are made partakers of glory\nand honour: and are exalted and\nlifted up by God for a memorial\nthroughout all ages, Amen.\n\n12 Wherefore it will behove\nus also, brethren, to follow such\nexamples as these; for it is\nwritten, Hold fast to such as are\nholy; for they that do so shall be\nsanctified.\n\n13 And again in another place\nhe saith, With the pure, thou shalt\nbe pure (and with the elect thou\nshalt be elect,) but with, the\nperverse man thou shalt be perverse.\n\n14 Let us therefore join ourselves\nto the innocent and righteous; for\nsuch are the elect of God.\n\n15 Wherefore are there strifes,\nand anger, and divisions, and\nschisms, and wars, among us?\n\n16 Have we not all one God,\nand one Christ? Is not one spirit\nof grace poured out upon us all?\nHave we not one calling in Christ.\n\n17 Why then do we rent and\ntear in pieces the members of\nChrist; and raise seditious against\nour own body? And are come to such\na height of madness, as to forget\nthat we were members one of another?\n\n18 Remember the words of our\nLord Jesus, (how he said, Woe to\nthat man by whom offences come).\nIt, were better for him that he\nhad never been born, than that he\nshould have offended one of my\nelect. It were better for him,\nthat a mill-stone should be tied\nabout his neck, and he should be\ncast into the sea, than that he\nshould offend one of my\nlittle ones.\n\n19 Your schism has perverted\nmany, has discouraged many: it\nhas caused diffidence in many, and\ngrief in us all. And yet your\nsedition continues still.\n\n20 Take the Epistle of the\nblessed Paul the Apostle into your\nhands; What was It that he wrote\nto you at his first preaching the\nGospel among you?\n\n21 Verily he did by the spirit\nadmonish you concerning himself,\nand Cephas, and Apollos, because\nthat even then ye had begun to\nfall into parties and factions\namong yourselves.\n\n22 Nevertheless your partiality\nthen led you into a much less sin\nforasmuch as ye placed your\naffections upon Apostles, men\nof eminent reputation in the\nchurch; and upon another, who\nwas greatly tried and approved\nof by them.\n\n23 But consider, we pray you,\nwho are they that have now led\nyou astray; and lessened the\nreputation of that brotherly love\nthat was so eminent among you;\n\n24 It is a shame, my beloved,\nyea, a very great shame, and\nunworthy of your Christian\nprofession, to hear that the\nmost firm and ancient church\nof the Corinthians should,\nby one or two persons, be led\ninto a sedition against its\npriests.\n\n25 And this report is come not\nonly to us, but to those also that\ndiffer from us.\n\n26 Insomuch that the name of\nthe Lord is blasphemed through\nyour folly; and even ye yourselves\nare brought into danger by it.\n\n27 Let us therefore with all\nhaste put an end to this sedition;\nand let us fall down before the\nLord, and beseech him with tears\nthat he would be favourably\nreconciled to us, and restore us\nagain to a seemly and holy course\nof brotherly love.\n\n28 For this is the gate of\nrighteousness, opening unto life:\nAs it is written, I Open unto me\nthe gates of righteousness; I will\ngo into them and will praise the\nLord. This is the gate of the Lord,\nthe righteous shall enter into it.\n\n29 Although therefore many\ngates are opened, yet this gate of\nrighteousness is that gate in Christ\nat which blessed are they that\nenter in, and direct their way in\nholiness and righteousness; doing\nall things without disorder.\n\n30 Let a man be faithful, let\nhim be powerful in the utterance\nof knowledge; let him be wise in\nmaking an exact judgment of\nwords; let him be pure in all\nhis actions.\n\n31 But still by how much the\nmore he seems to be above others,\nby reason of these things, by so\nmuch the more will it behove him\nto be humble-minded; and to seek\nwhat is profitable to all men, and\nnot his own advantage.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXI.\n\n 1 The value which God, puts upon love and\n unity: the effects of a true charity,\n 8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer.\n\nHE that has the love that is in\nChrist, let him keep the\ncommandments of Christ.\n\n2 For who is able to express the\nobligation of the love of God?\nWhat man is sufficient to declare,\nand is fitting, the excellency of its\nbeauty?\n\n3 The height to which charity\nleads, is inexpressible.\n\n4 Charity unites us to God;\ncharity covers the multitude of\nsins: charity endures all things;\nis long-suffering in all things.\n\n5 There is nothing base and\nsordid in charity: charity lifts not\nitself up above others; admits of\nno divisions; is not seditious; but\ndoes all things in peace and concord.\n\n6 By charity were all the elect of\nGod made perfect: Without it nothing\nis pleasing and acceptable in the\nsight of God.\n\n7 Through charity did the Lord\njoin us into himself; whilst for\nthe love that he bore towards us,\nour Lord Jesus Christ gave his\nown blood for us, by the will of\nGod; his flesh for our flesh; his\nsoul for our souls.\n\n8 Ye see, beloved, how great\nand wonderful a thing charity is;\nand how that no expressions are\nsufficient to declare its perfection.\n\n9 But who is fit to be found in\nit? Even such only as God shall\nvouchsafe to make so.\n\n10 Let us therefore pray to him,\nand beseech him, that we may be\nworthy of it; that so we may live\nin charity; being unblamable,\nwithout human propensities,\nwithout respect of persons.\n\n11 All the ages of the world,\nfrom Adam, even unto this day,\nare passed away; but they who\nhave been made perfect in love,\nhave by the grace of God obtained\na place among the righteous; and\nshall be made manifest in the\njudgment of the kingdom of Christ.\n\n12 For it is written, Enter into\nthy chambers for a little space, till\nmy anger and indignation shall\npass away: And I will remember\nthe good day, and, will raise you\nup out of your graves.\n\n13 Happy then shall we be,\nbeloved, if we shall have fulfilled\nthe commandments of God, in the\nunity of love; that so, through\nlove, our sins may be forgiven us.\n\n14 For so it is written, Blessed\nare they whose iniquities are\nforgiven, and whose sins are covered.\nBlessed is the man to whom the\nLord imputeth no sin, and in whose\nmouth there is no guile.\n\n15 Now this blessing is fulfilled\nin those who are chosen by God\nthrough Jesus Christ our Lord, to\nwhom be glory for ever and ever,\nAmen.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXII.\n\n 1 He exhorts such as have been concerned in these divisions to\n repent, and return to their unity, confessing their sin to God,\n 7 which he enforces from the example of Moses,\n 10 and of many among the heathen,\n 23 and of Judith and Esther among the Jews.\n\nLET us therefore, as many as\nhave transgressed by any of\nthe suggestions of the adversary,\nbeg God's forgiveness.\n\n2 And as for those who have\nbeen the heads of the sedition and\nfaction among you, let them look\nto the common end of our hope.\n\n3 For as many as are endued\nwith fear and charity, would rather\nthey themselves should fall into\ntrials than their neighbours: And\nchoose to be themselves condemned,\nrather than that the good and just\ncharity delivered to us, should\nsuffer.\n\n4 For it is seemly for a man\nto confess wherein he has\ntransgressed.\n\n5 And not to harden his heart,\nas the hearts of those were\nhardened, who raised up sedition\nagainst Moses the servant of God\nwhose punishment was manifest\nunto all men, for they went down\nalive into the grave; death\nswallowed them up.\n\n6 Pharaoh and his host, and\nall the rulers of Egypt, their\nchariots also and their horsemen,\nwere for no other cause drowned\nin the bottom of the Red Sea,\nand perished; but because they\nhardened their foolish hearts,\nafter so many signs done in the\nland of Egypt, by Moses the\nservant of God.\n\n7 Beloved, God is not indigent\nof anything; nor does he demand\nanything of us, but that we\nshould confess our sins unto him.\n\n8 For so says the Holy David,\nI will confess unto the Lord, and\nit shall please him better than a\nyoung bullock that hath horns and\nhoof. Let the poor see it and be\nglad.\n\n9 And again he saith, Offer\nunto God the sacrifice of praise,\nand pay thy vows unto the Most\nHighest. And call upon me in the\nday of trouble, and I will deliver\nthee, and thou shalt glorify me.\nThe sacrifice of God is a broken\nspirit.\n\n10 Ye know, beloved, ye know\nfull well, the Holy Scriptures;\nand have thoroughly searched into\nthe oracles of God: call them\ntherefore to your remembrance.\n\n11 For when Moses went up into\nthe mount, and tarried there forty\ndays and forty nights in fasting\nand humiliation; God said unto\nhim, Arise, Moses, and get thee\ndown quickly from hence, for thy\npeople whom thou broughtest out\nof the land of Egypt, have\ncommitted wickedness: they have\nsoon transgressed the way that\nI commanded them, and have made\nto themselves graven images.\n\n12 And the Lord said unto him,\nI have spoken unto thee several\ntimes, saying, I have seen this\npeople, and behold it is a stiff-\nnecked people: let me therefore\ndestroy them, and put out their\nname from under heaven. And I\nwill make unto thee a great and a\nwonderful nation, that shall be\nmuch larger than this.\n\n13 But Moses said, Not so,\nLord: Forgive now this people\ntheir sin; or if thou wilt not,\nblot me also out of the book of\nthe living. O admirable charity!\nO insuperable perfection! The servant\nspeaks freely to his Lord: He beseeches\nhim either to forgive the people,\nor to destroy him together with them.\n\n14 Who is there among you\nthat is generous? Who that is\ncompassionate? Who that has\nany charity? Let him say, if this\nsedition, this contention, and these\nschisms, be upon my account,\nI am ready to depart; to go away\nwhithersoever you please; and do\nwhatsoever ye shall command me:\nOnly let the flock of Christ be in\npeace, with the elders that are set\nover it.\n\n15 He that shall do this, shall\nget to himself a very great honour\nin the Lord; and there is no place\nbut what will be ready to receive\nhim: For the earth is the Lord's,\nand the fulness thereof.\n\n16 These things, they who have\ntheir conversation towards God\nnot to be repented of, both have\ndone, and will always be ready to\ndo.\n\n17 Nay and even the Gentiles\nthemselves have given us examples\nof this kind.\n\n18 For we read, How many\nkings and princes, in times of\npestilence, being warned by their\noracles, have given up themselves\nunto death; that by their own\nblood, they might deliver their\ncountry from destruction.\n\n19 Others have forsaken their\ncities, so that they might put an\nend to the seditions of them.\n\n20 We know how many among\nourselves, have given up\nthemselves unto bonds, that\nthereby they might free others\nfrom them.\n\n21 Others have sold themselves\ninto bondage, that they might feed\ntheir brethren with the price of\nthemselves.\n\n22 And even many women,\nbeing strengthened by the grace\nof God, have done many glorious\nand manly things on such occasions.\n\n23 The blessed Judith, when\nher city was besieged, desired the\nelders, that they would suffer her\nto go into the camp of their enemies;\nand she went out exposing herself\nto danger, for the love she bare\nto her country and her people\nthat were besieged: and the\nLord delivered Holofernes into\nthe hands of a woman.\n\n24 Nor did Esther, being perfect\nin faith, expose herself to any\nless hazard, for the delivery of the\ntwelve tribes of Israel, in danger\nof being destroyed. For by fasting\nand humbling herself, she entreated\nthe Great Maker of all things, the\nGod of spirits; so that beholding\nthe humility of her soul, he\ndelivered the people, for whose\nsake she was in peril.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIII.\n\n The benefit of mutual advice and correction.\n He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them.\n\nWHEREFORE let us also pray\nfor such as are fallen into\nsin. That being endued with\nhumility and moderation, they\nmay submit not unto us, but to\nthe wish of God.\n\n2 For by this means they shall\nobtain a fruitful and perfect\nremembrance, with mercy, both in\nour prayers to God, and in our\nmention of them before his saints.\n\n3 Let us receive correction, at\nwhich no man ought to repine.\n\n4 Beloved, the reproof and the\ncorrection which we exercise\ntowards one another, is good, and\nexceeding profitable: for it unites\nus the more closely to the will of\nGod.\n\n5 For, so says the Holy Scripture,\nThe Lord corrected me, but he did\nnot deliver me over unto death. For\nwhom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,\nand scourgeth every son whom he\nreceiveth.\n\n6 The righteous, saith he, shall\ninstruct me in mercy and reprove\nme; but let not oil of sinners\nmake fat my head.\n\n7 And again he saith, Happy\nis the man whom God correcteth;\ntherefore despise not thou the\nchastening of the Almighty.\n\n8 For he maketh gore and bindeth\nup; he woundeth and his hands\nmake whole.\n\n9 He shall deliver thee in six\ntroubles; yea in seven there shall\nno evil touch thee. In famine he\nshall redeem thee from death; and\nin war from the power of the sword.\n\n10 Thou shalt be hid from the\nscourge of the tongue; neither\nshalt thou be afraid of destruction\nwhen it cometh.\n\n11 Thou shalt laugh at the\nwicked and sinners; neither shalt\nthou be afraid of the beasts of the\nearth. The wild beast shall be at\npeace with thee.\n\n12 Then shalt thou know that\nthy house shall be in peace; and\nthe habitation of thy tabernacle\nshall not err. Then shalt know\nalso that thy seed shall be great\nand thy offspring as the grass of\nthe earth.\n\n13 Thou shalt come to thy\ngrave as the ripe corn, that is\ntaken in due time: like as a shock\nof corn cometh in, in its season.\n\n14 Ye see, beloved, how there\nshall be a defence to those that are\ncorrected of the Lord. For being\na good instructor, he is willing to\nadmonish us by his holy, diaipline.\n\n15 Do ye therefore who laid the\nfirst foundation of this sedition,\nsubmit yourselves unto your\npriests; and be instructed unto\nrepentance, bending the knees of\nyour hearts.\n\n16 Learn to be subject, laying\naside all proud and arrogant\nboasting of your tongues.\n\n17 For it is better for you to be\nfound little, and approved, in the\nsheepfold of Christ, than to seem\nto yourselves better than others,\nand be cast out of his fold.\n\n18 For thus speaks the\nexcellent and all-virtuous wisdom,\nBehold I will pour out the word\nof my spirit upon you, I will make\nknown my speech unto you.\n\n19 Because I called and ye\nwould not hear, I stretched out\nmy hand and ye regarded not.\n\n20 But ye have set at nought all\nmy counsel, and would none of\nmy reproof. I will also laugh at\nyour calamity, and mock when\nyour fear cometh.\n\n21 When your fear cometh as\ndesolation, and your destruction\nas a whirlwind, when distress and\nanguish cometh upon you.\n\n22 Then shall ye call upon me\nbut I will not hear you: the\nwicked shall seek me but they\nshall not find me. For that they\nhated knowledge, and did not seek\nthe fear of the Lord.\n\n23 They would not hearken\nunto my counsel: they despised\nall my reproof. Therefore shall\nthey eat of the fruit of their own\nways; and be filled with their\nown wickedness.\n\n\n\n\nCHAPTER XXIV\n\n 1 Recommends them to God. Desires speedily to hear\n that this Epistle has had a good effect upon them.\n 4 Conclusion.\n\nNOW God, the inspector of all\nthings, the Father of Spirits,\nand the Lord of all flesh, who\nhath chosen our Lord Jesus Christ,\nand us by him, to be his peculiar\npeople;\n\n2 Grant to every soul of man\nthat calleth upon his glorious and\nholy name, faith, fear, peace,\nlong-suffering, patience, temperance,\nholiness and sobriety, unto all\nwell-pleasing in his sight;\nthrough our High-Priest and\nProtector Jesus Christ, by whom\nbe glory and majesty, and power,\nand honour unto him now and for\never more, Amen.\n\n3 The messengers whom we\nhave sent unto you, Claudius,\nEphebus, and Valerios Bito, with\nFortunatus, send back to us again\nwith all speed, in peace and with\njoy, that they may the sooner\nacquaint us with your peace and\nconcord, so much prayed for and\ndesired by us: and that we may\nrejoice in your good order.\n\n4 The grace of our Lord Jesus\nChrist be with you, and with all\nthat are any where called by God\nthrough him: To whom be honour\nand glory, and might and injesty,\nand eternal dominion, by Christ\nJesus, from everlasting to\neverlasting, Amen.\n\n\n\n REFERENCES TO CLEMENT'S FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.\n\n[Clement was a disciple of Peter, and afterwards Bishop of Rome. Clemens\nAlexandrinus calls him an apostle. Jerome says he was an apostolic man,\nand Rafinus that he was almost an apostle. Eusebius calls this the\nwonderful Epistle of St. Clement, and says that it was publicly read in\nthe assemblies of the primitive church. It is included in one of the\nancient collections of the Canon Scripture. Its genuineness has been\nmuch questioned, particularly by Photius, patriarch of Constantinople in\nthe ninth century, who objects that Clement speaks of worlds beyond the\nocean: that he has not written worthily of the divinity of Christ; and\nthat to prove the possibility of a future resurrection, he introduces the\nfabulous story of the phoenix's revival from its own ashes. To the latter\nobjection, Archbishop Wake replies that the generality of the ancient\nFathers have made use of the same instance in proof of the same point;\nand asks, if St. Clement really believed that there was such a bird, and\nthat it did revive out of the cinders of the body after burning, where\nwas the, great harm either in giving credit to such a wonder, or,\nbelieving it, to make rich a use as he here does of it?--The present is\nthe Archbishop's translation from the ancient Greek copy of the Epistle,\nwhich is at the end of the celebrated Alexandrine MS. of the Septuagint\nand New Testament, presented by Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, to King\nCharles the First, now in the British Museum. The Archbishop, in\nprefacing his translation, esteems it a great blessing that this\n\"Epistle\" was at last so happily found out, for the increase and\nconfirmation both of our faith and our charity.]\n\n\n\n THE SECOND EPISTLE OF\n CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS\n\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n That we ought to value our salvation;\n and to show that we do by a sincere obedience.\n\nBRETHREN, we ought so to\nthink of Jesus Christ as of\nGod: as of the judge of the living,\nand the dead; nor should we think\nany less of our salvation.\n\n2 For if we think meanly of\nhim, we shall hope only to receive\nsome small things from him.\n\n3 And if we do so, we shall\nsin; not considering from whence\nwe have been called, and by whom,\nand to what place; and how much\nJesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer\nfor our sakes.\n\n4 What recompense then shall\nwe render unto him? Or what\nfruit that may be worthy of what\nhe has given to us?\n\n5 For indeed how great are\nthose advantages which we owe to\nhim in relation to our holiness?\nHe has illuminated us; as a father,\nhe has called us his children;\nhe has saved us who were lost and\nundone.\n\n6 What praise shall we give to\nhim? Or what reward that may\nbe answerable to those things\nwhich we have received.\n\n7 We were defective in our\nunderstandings; worshipping stones,\nand wood; gold, and silver, and\nbrass, the work of men's hands;\nand our whole life was nothing\nelse but death.\n\n8 Wherefore being encompassed\nwith darkness, and having such a\nmist before our eyes, we have\nlooked up, and through his will\nhave laid aside the cloud wherewith\nwe were surrounded.\n\n9 For he had compassion upon\nus, and being moved in his bowels\ntowards us, he saved us; having\nbeheld in us much error, and\ndestruction; and seeing that we had\nno hope of salvation, but only\nthrough him.\n\n10 For he called us, who were\nnot; and was pleased from nothing\nto give us being.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n 1 That God had before prophesied by Isaiah,\n that the Gentiles should be saved;\n 8 And that this ought to engage, such especially\n to live well; without which they will still miscarry.\n\nREJOICE, thou barren, that\nbearest not, break forth and\ncry thou that travailest not; for\nshe that is desolate hath many\nmore children than she that hath\na husband.\n\n2 In that saying, Rejoice thou\nbarren that bearest not, he spake\nof us: for our church was barren\nbefore children were given unto it.\n\n3 And again; when he said,\nCry thou that travailest not:\nhe implied thus much: That after\nthe manner of a woman in travail,\nwe should not cease to put up our\nprayers unto God abundantly.\n\n4 And for what follows, because\nshe that is desolate hath more\nchildren than she that hath a husband;\nit was therefore added, because\nour people which seemed to have\nbeen forsaken by God, now believing\nin him, are become more than they\nwho seemed to have God.\n\n5 And another Scripture saith,\na I came not to call the righteous\nbut sinners (to repentance). The\nmeaning of which is this; that\nthose who were lost must be saved:\n\n6 For that is, indeed, truly great\nand wonderful, not to confirm those\nthings that are yet standing, but\nthose which are falling,\n\n7 Even so did it seem good to\nChrist to save what was lost; and\nwhen he came into the world, he\nsaved many, and called us who\nwere already lost.\n\n8 Seeing then he has showed\nso great mercy towards us; and\nchiefly for that we who are alive,\ndo now no longer sacrifice to dead\nGods, nor pay any worship to\nthem, but have by him been\nbrought to the knowledge of\nthe Father of truth.\n\n9 Whereby shall we show that\nwe do indeed know him, and by\nnot denying him by whom we\nhave come to the knowledge of\nhim.\n\n10 For even he himself saith,\nWhosoever shall confess me before\nmen, him will I confess before\nmy Father. This therefore is our\nreward, if we shall confess him by\nwhom we have been saved.\n\n11 But, wherein must we confess\nhim?--Namely, in doing those\nthings which he saith, and not\ndisobeying his commandments\nby worshipping him not with\nour lips only, but with all our\nheart, and with all our mind. For\nhe saith in Isaiah; This people\nhonoureth me with their lips, but\ntheir heart is far from me.\n\n12 Let us then not only call\nhim Lord; for that will not save\nus. For he saith: Not everyone\nthat saith unto me Lord, Lord,\nshall be saved, but he that doth\nrighteousness.\n\n13 Wherefore, brethren,\nlet us confess him by our works;\nby loving one another; in not\ncommitting adultery, not speaking\nevil against each other, not envying\none another; but by being temperate,\nmerciful, good.\n\n14 Let us also have a mutual\nsense of one another's sufferings;\nand not be covetous of money; but\nlet us, by our good works, confess\nGod, and not by those that are\notherwise.\n\n15 Also let us not fear men: but\nrather God. Wherefore, if we\nshould do such wicked things, the\nLord hath said; Though ye should\nbe joined unto me, even in my very\nbosom, and not keep my commandments,\nI would cast you off, and say unto\nyou; Depart from me; I know not\nwhence you are, ye workers of iniquity.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n 1 That, whilst we secure the other world,\n we need not fear what can befall its in this.\n 5 That, if we follow the interests of this present world,\n we cannot escape the punishment of the other.\n 10 Which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness,\n 14 and that presently: because in this world\n is the only time for repentance.\n\nTHEREFORE brethren, leaving\nwillingly for conscience sake\nour sojourning in this world,\nlet us do the will of him who has\ncalled us, and not fear to depart\nout of this world.\n\n2 For the Lord saith, Ye shall\nbe as sheep in the midst of wolves.\nPeter answered and said, What if\nthe wolves shall tear in pieces the\nsheep? Jesus said unto Peter,\nLet not the sheep fear the wolves\nafter death: And ye also fear not\nthose that kill you, and after that\nhave no more than they can do unto\nyou; but fear him who after you\nare dead, has power to cast both\nsoul and body into hell-fire.\n\n3 For consider, brethren, that\nthe sojourning of this flesh in the\npresent world, is but little, and of\na short continuance, but the promise\nof Christ is great and wonderful,\neven the rest of the kingdom\nthat is to come, and of eternal life.\n\n4 What then must we do that\nwe may attain unto it?--We must\norder our conversation, holy and\nrighteously, and look upon all the\nthings of this world as none of\nours, and not desire them. For,\nif we desire to possess them we\nfall from the way of righteousness.\n\n5 For thus saith the Lord, No\nservant can serve two masters. If\ntherefore we shall desire to serve\nGod and Mammon, it will be without\nprofit to us. For what will it profit,\nif one gain the vole world, and lose\nhis own soul?\n\n6 Now this world and that\nto come are two enemies. This\nspeaketh of adultery and corruption,\nof covetousness and deceit; but that\nrenounces these things.\n\n7 We cannot, therefore, be the\nfriends of both; but we must\nresolve by forsaking the one,\nto enjoy the other. And we think\nit is better to hate the present\nthings, as little, short-lived,\nand corruptible; and to love\nthose which are to come, which\nare truly good and incorruptible.\n\n8 For, if we do the will of\nChrist, we shall find rest:\nbut if not, nothing shall deliver\nus from eternal punishment if we\nshall disobey his commands. For\neven thus saith the Scripture in\nthe prophet Ezekiel, If Noah, Job,\nand Daniel should rise up, they\nshall not deliver their children in\ncaptivity.\n\n9 Wherefore, if such righteous\nmen are not able by their\nrighteousness to deliver their\nchildren; how can we hope to\nenter into the kingdom of God,\nexcept we keep our baptism holy\nand undefiled? Or who shall be\nour advocate, unless we shall\nbe found to have done what is holy\nand just?\n\n10 Let us, therefore, my brethren,\ncontend with all earnestness,\nknowing that our combat is at\nhand; and that many go long\nvoyages to encounter for a\ncorruptible reward.\n\n11 And yet all are not crowned,\nbut they only that labour much,\nand strive gloriously. Let us,\ntherefore, so contend, that we may\nall be crowned. Let us run in the\nstraight road, the race that is\nincorruptible: and let us in great\nnumbers pass unto it, and strive\nthat we may receive the crown.\nBut if we cannot all be crowned,\nlet us come as near to it as we are\nable.\n\n12 Moreover, we must consider,\nthat he who contends in a corruptible\ncombat; if he be found doing anything\nthat is not fair, is taken away and\nscourged, and cast out of the lists.\nWhat think ye then that he shall\nsuffer, who does anything that is\nnot fitting in the combat of\nimmortality?\n\n13 Thus speaks the prophet\nconcerning those who keep not\ntheir seal; Their worm shall not\ndie, and their, fire shall not be\nquenched; and they shall be for a\nspectacle unto all flesh.\n\n14 Let us therefore repent, whilst\nwe are yet upon the earth: for we\nare as clay in the hand of the\nartificer. For the potter if he\nmake a vessel, and it be turned\namiss in his hands, or broken,\nagain forms it anew; but if he has\ngone so far as to throw it into the\nfurnace of fire, he can no more\nbring any remedy to it.\n\n15 So we, whilst we are in this\nworld should repent with our whole\nheart for whatsoever evil we have\ndone in the flesh; while we have\nyet the time of repentance, that\nwe may be saved by the Lord.\n\n16 For after we shall have\ndeparted out of this world, we\nshall no longer be able either\nto confess our sins or repent\nin the other.\n\n17 Wherefore, brethren, let us,\ndoing the will of the Father,\nand keeping our flesh pure,\nand observing the commandments\nof the Lord, lay hold on eternal\nlife: for the Lord saith in the\nGospel, If ye have not kept that\nwhich was little, who will give\nyou that which is great?--\nFor I say unto you, he that is\nfaithful in that which is\nleast, is faithful also in much.\n\n18 This, therefore, is what he\nsaith; keep your bodies pure, and\nyour seal without spot, that ye\nmay receive eternal life.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n We shall rise, and be judged, in our bodies;\n therefore we must live well in them;\n 6 that we ought, for our own interest,\n to live well; though few seem to\n mind what, really is for their advantage;\n 10 and we should not deceive ourselves:\n seeing God will certainly judge us,\n and render to all of us according to our works.\n\nAND let not any one among you\nsay, that this very flesh is\nnot judged, neither raised up.\nConsider, in what were you saved\nin what did you look up, if not\nwhilst you were in the flesh?\n\n2 We must, therefore, keep our\nflesh as the temple of God. For\nin like manner as ye were called\nin the flesh, ye shall also come\nto judgment in the flesh. Our one\nLord Jesus Christ, who has saved\nus, being first a spirit, was made\nflesh, and so called us; even so we\nalso shall in this flesh receive the\nreward.\n\n3 Let us, therefore, love one\nanother, that we may attain unto\nthe kingdom of God. Whilst we\nhave time to be healed, let us\ndeliver up ourselves to God our\nphysician, giving our reward unto\nhim.\n\n4 And what reward shall we\ngive?--Repentance out of a pure\nheart. For he knows all things\nbeforehand, and searches out our\nvery hearts.\n\n5 Let us, therefore, give praise\nunto him: not only with our\nmouths, but with all our souls;\nthat he may receive us as children.\nFor so the Lord hath said; They\nare my brethren, who do the will\nof my father.\n\n6 Wherefore, my brethren,\nlet us do the will of the Father,\nwho hath called us, that we may\nlive. Let us pursue virtue, and\nforsake wickedness, which leadeth\nus into sins; and let us flee all\nungodliness, that evils overtake\nus not.\n\n7 For, if we shall do our diligence\nto live well, peace shall follow us.\nAnd yet how hard is it to find a man\nthat does this? For almost all are\nled by human fears, choosing rather\nthe present enjoyments, than the\nfuture promise.\n\n8 For they know not how great\na torment the present enjoyments\nbring with them; nor what delights\nthe future promise.\n\n9 And if they themselves only\ndid this, it might the more easily\nbe endured; but now they go on\nto infect innocent souls with their\nevil doctrines; not knowing that\nboth themselves, and those that\nhear them, shall receive a double\ncondemnation.\n\n10 Let us, therefore, serve\nGod with a pure heart, and we\nshall be righteous: but if we shall\nnot serve him, because we do not\nbelieve the promise of God, we\nshall be miserable.\n\n11 For thus saith the prophet;\nMiserable are the double-minded,\nwho doubt in their heart, and say,\nthese things we have heard, even.\nin the time of our fathers, but we\nhave seen none of them, though\nwe have expected them from day\nto day.\n\n12 O ye fools! compare yourselves\nto a tree; take the vine for an\nexample. First it sheds its leaves,\nthen it buds, then come the sour\ngrapes, then the ripe fruit;\neven so my people has borne its\ndisorders and afflictions, but shall\nhereafter receive good things.\n\n13 Wherefore my brethren, let\nus not doubt in our minds, but let\nus expect with hope, that we may\nreceive our reward; for he is\nfaithful, who has promised that\nhe will render to everyone a\nreward according to his works.\n\n14 If, therefore, we shall do\nwhat is just in the sight of God\nwe shall enter into his kingdom,\nand shall receive the promises;\nWhich neither eye has seen, nor\near heard, nor have entered into\nthe heart of man.\n\n15 Wherefore let us every\nhour expect the kingdom of God\nin love and righteousness; because\nwe know not the day of God's\nappearing.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER V.\n\nA FRAGMENT.\n\n Man's immortal nature a type of the Lord's kingdom.\n\n1 * * * For the Lord\nhimself, being asked by a certain\nperson, When his kingdom should\ncome? answered, When two shall\nbe one, and that which is without\nas that which is within; and the\nmale with the female, neither male\nnor female.\n\n2 Now two are one, when we\nspeak the truth to each other, and\nthere is (without hypocrisy) one\nseal in two bodies:\n\n3 And that which is without as\nthat which, is within;--He means\nthis; he calls the soul that which\nis within, and the body that which\nis without. As therefore thy body\nappears, so let thy soul be seen by\nits good works.\n\n4 And the male with, the female,\nneither Male nor female;--He\nmeans this; he calls our anger\nthe male, our concupiscence the\nfemale.\n\n5 When therefore a man is come\nto such a pass that he is subject\nneither to the one nor the other of\nthese (both of which, through the\nprevalence of custom, and an evil\neducation, cloud and darken the\nreason,)\n\n6 But rather, having dispelled\nthe mist arising from them, and\nbeing full of shame, shall by\nrepentance have united both his\nsoul and spirit in the obedience\nof reason; then, as Paul says, there is\nin us neither male nor female.\n\n\n\n REFERENCE TO THE SECOND EPISTLE THE CORINTHIANS.\n\n[Archbishop Wake is the translator of this Second Epistle, which he says\nwas not of so great reputation among the primitive Fathers as the first.\nHe defends it notwithstanding; and in answer to those who objected to\nClement's First Epistle, that it did not duly honour the Trinity; the\nArchbishop refers to this as containing proof of the writer's fulness of\nbelief on that point.]","title":"The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Volume 6, Clement","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":16424}