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diff --git a/6512.txt b/6512.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..aa375d7 --- /dev/null +++ b/6512.txt @@ -0,0 +1,3879 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook Forbidden Gospels and Epistles, by Wake, v6 +#6 in our series by Archbishop Wake + +Copyright laws are changing all over the world. Be sure to check the +copyright laws for your country before downloading or redistributing +this or any other Project Gutenberg eBook. + +This header should be the first thing seen when viewing this Project +Gutenberg file. Please do not remove it. Do not change or edit the +header without written permission. + +Please read the "legal small print," and other information about the +eBook and Project Gutenberg at the bottom of this file. Included is +important information about your specific rights and restrictions in +how the file may be used. You can also find out about how to make a +donation to Project Gutenberg, and how to get involved. + + +**Welcome To The World of Free Plain Vanilla Electronic Texts** + +**EBooks Readable By Both Humans and By Computers, Since 1971** + +*****These EBooks Were Prepared By Thousands of Volunteers***** + + +Title: Forbidden Gospels and Epistles, Volume 6, Clement + +Author: Archbishop Wake + +Release Date: September, 2004 [EBook #6512] +[Yes, we are more than one year ahead of schedule] +[This file was first posted on December 25, 2002] +[This file was last updated on January 22, 2003] + +Edition: 11 + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + + + + + +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FORBIDDEN GOSPELS, BY WAKE, v6 *** + + + +This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> +Additional proofing was done by Curtis A. Weyant + + + + + + THE + SUPPRESSED + GOSPELS AND EPISTLES + OF THE ORIGINAL + NEW TESTAMENT + OF + JESUS THE CHRIST + + AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES. + NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO + HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES, + AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING + THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES, + BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS + FORBIDDEN BY THE + BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL, + IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE + AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT + EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS + + TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL + REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY, + + BY + ARCHBISHOP WAKE + AND OTHER + LEARNED DIVINES + + + + + + THE FIRST EPISTLE OF + CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS. + + +CHAPTER I. + + Clement commends them for their excellent order + and piety in Christ, before their schism broke out. + +THE Church of God which is +at Rome, to the Church of God +which is at Corinth, elect, +sanctified by the will of God, +through Jesus Christ our Lord: +grace and peace from the Almighty +God, by Jesus Christ, be multiplied +unto you. + +2 Brethren, the sudden and +unexpected dangers and calamities +that have fallen upon us, have, we +fear, made us the more slow in our +consideration of those things which +you inquired of us: + +3 As also of that wicked and +detestable sedition, so unbecoming +the elect of God, which a few +headstrong and self-willed men +have fomented to such a degree of +madness, that your venerable and +renowned name, so worthy of all +men to be beloved, is greatly +blasphemed thereby. + +4 For who that has ever been +among you has not experienced +the firmness of your faith, and +its fruitfulness in all good works; +and admired the temper and +moderation of your religion in +Christ; and published abroad the +magnificence of your hospitality; +and thought you happy in your +perfect and certain knowledge of +the Gospel? + +5 For ye did all things without +respect of persons, and walked +according to the laws of God; +being subject to those who had +the rule over you, and giving the +honour that was fitting to the aged +among you. + +6 Ye commanded the young men +to think those things that were +modest and grave. + +7 The women ye exhorted to do +all things with an unblameable, +and seemly, and pure conscience; +loving their own husbands, as was +fitting: and that keeping themselves +within the bounds of a due obedience, +they should order their houses +gravely, with all discretion. + +8 Ye were all of you humble- +minded, not boasting of anything +desiring rather to be subject than +to govern; to give than to receive; +being a content with the portion +God hath dispensed to you: + +9 And hearkening diligently to +his word, ye were enlarged in +your bowels, having his sufferings +always before your eyes. + +10 Thus a firm, and blessed, +and profitable peace was given +unto you: and an unsatiable desire +of doing good; and a plentiful +effusion of the Holy Ghost was +upon all of you. + +11 And being full of good +designs, ye did with, great +readiness of mind, and with +a religious confidence stretch +forth your hands to God Almighty; +beseeching him to be merciful +unto you, if in anything ye had +unwillingly sinned against him. + +12 Ye contended day and night +for the whole brotherhood; that +with compassion and a good +conscience, the number of his +elect might be saved. + +13 Ye were sincere, and without +offence towards each other; not +mindful of injuries; all sedition +and schism was an abomination +unto you. + +14 Ye bewailed every one his +neighbours' sins, esteeming their +defects your own. + +15 Ye were kind one to another +without grudging; being ready to +every good work. And being +adorned with a conversation +altogether virtuous and religious, +ye did all things in the fear of +God; whose I commandments were +written upon the tables of your +heart. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + How their divisions began. + +ALL honour and enlargement +was given unto you; and so +was fulfilled that which is written, +my beloved did eat and drink, he +was enlarged and waxed fat, and +he kicked. + +2 From hence came emulation, +and envy, and strife, and sedition; +persecution and disorder, war and +captivity. + +3 So they who were of no renown, +lifted up themselves against +the honourable; those of no +reputation against those who were +in respect; the foolish against the +wise; the young men against the +aged. + +4 Therefore righteousness and +peace are departed from you, +because every one hath forsaken +the fear of God; and is grown blind +in his faith; nor walketh by the +rule of God's commandments nor +liveth as is fitting in Christ: + +5 But every one follows his +own wicked lusts: having taken +up an unjust and wicked envy, by +which death first entered into the +world. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + Envy and emulation the original of all + strife and disorder. Examples of the + mischiefs they have occasioned. + +FOR thus it is written, +And in process of time it came to +pass, that Cain brought of the fruit +of the ground an offering unto the +Lord. And Abel, he also brought +of the firstlings of his flock, +and of the fat thereof: + +2 And the Lord had respect unto +Abel, and to his offering. But +unto Cain and unto his offering he +had not respect. And Cain was +very sorrowful, and his countenance +fell. + +3 And the Lord said unto Cain, +Why art thou sorrowful? And +why is thy countenance fallen? +If thou shalt offer aright, but not +divide aright, hast thou not sinned? +Hold thy peace: unto thee shall +be his desire, and thou shalt rule +over him. + +4 And Cain said unto Abel his +brother, Let us go down into the +field. And it came to pass, as +they were in the field, that Cain +rose up against Abel his brother, +and slew him. + +5 Ye see, brethren, how envy +and emulation wrought the death +of a brother. For this, our father +Jacob fled from the face of his +brother Esau. + +6 It was this that caused Joseph +to be persecuted even unto death, +and to come into bondage. Envy +forced "Moses to flee from the +face of Pharoah king of Egypt, +when he heard, his own countryman +ask him, "Who made thee a Judge, +and a ruler over us? Wilt thou +kill me as thou didst the +Egyptian yesterday? + +7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam +were shut out of the camp, from +the rest of the congregation +seven days. + +8 Emulation's sent Dathan and +Abiram quick into the grave because +they raised up a sedition against +Moses the servant of God. + +9 For this, David was not +only hated of strangers, but was +persecuted even by Saul the king +of Israel. + +10 But not to insist upon ancient +examples, let us come to those +worthies that have been nearest +to us; and take the brave +examples of our own age. + +11 Through zeal and envy, the +most faithful and righteous pillars +of the church have been persecuted +even to the most grevious deaths. + +12 Let us set before our eyes, +the holy Apostles; Peter by unjust +envy underwent not one or two, +but many sufferings; till at last +being martyred, he went to the +place of glory that was due unto +him. + +13 For the same cause did +Paul in like manner receive the +reward of his patience. Seven +times he was in bonds; he was +whipped, was stoned; he preached +both in the East and in the West; +leaving behind him the glorious +report of his faith: + +14 And so having taught the +whole world righteousness, and +for that end travelled even to +the utmost bounds of the West; +he at last suffered martyrdom +by the command of the governors, + +15 And departed out of the +world, and went unto his holy +place; having become a most +eminent pattern of patience +unto all ages. + +16 To these Holy Apostles +were joined a very great number +of others, who having through +envy undergone in like manner +many pains and torments, have +left a glorious example to us. + +17 For this, not only men but +women have been persecuted; +and having suffered very grievous +and cruel punishments, have +finished the course of their faith +with firmness; and though weak +in body, yet received a glorious +reward. + +18 This has alienated the +minds even of women from their +husbands; and changed what was +once said by our father Adam; +This is now bone of my bones, +and flesh of my flesh. + +19 In a word, envy and strife, +have overturned whole cities, and +rooted out great nations from off +the earth. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + 4 He exhorts them to live by holy rules, and repent + of their divisions, and they shall be forgiven. + +THESE things, beloved, we +write unto you, not only for +your instruction, but also for our +own remembrance. + +2 For we are all in the same +lists, and the same combat is +prepared for us all. + +3 Wherefore let us lay aside all +vain and empty cares; and let us +come up to the glorious and +venerable rule of our holy calling. + +4 Let us consider what is good, +and acceptable and well-pleasing +in the sight of him that made us. + +5 Let us look steadfastly to the +blood of Christ, and see how +precious his blood is in the sight +of God: which being shed for our +salvation, has obtained the grace +of repentance for all the world. + +6 Let us search into all the +ages that have gone before us; +and learn that our Lord has in +every one of them still given place +for repentance to all such as would +turn to him. + +7 Noah preached repentance; +and as many as hearkened to him +were saved. Jonah denounced +destruction against the Ninevites. + +8 Howbeit they repenting of +their sins, appeased God by their +prayers: and were saved, though +they were strangers to the covenant +of God. + +9 Hence we find how all the +ministers of the grace of God +have spoken by the Holy Spirit of +repentance. And even the Lord of +all, has himself declared with an +oath concerning it; + +10 As I live, saith the Lord, +I desire not the death of a sinner, +but that he should repent. Adding +farther this good sentence, saying +Turn from your iniquity, O house +of Israel. + +11 Say unto the children of +my people, though your sins should +reach from earth to heaven; and +though they shall be redder than +scarlet, and blacker than sackcloth +yet if ye shall turn to me with all +your heart, and shall call me +father, I will hearken to you, as +to a holy people. + +12 And in another place he saith +on this wise: wash ye, make you +clean; put away the evil of your +doings from before mine eyes; +cease to do evil, learn to do well; +seek judgment, relieve the +oppressed, judge the fatherless, +plead for the widow. + +13 Come now and let us reason +together, saith the Lord: though +your sins be as scarlet, they shall +be as white as snow; though they +be as red as crimson, they shall +be as wool. + +14 If ye be willing and obedient +ye shall eat the good of the land +but, if ye refuse and rebel, ye +shall be devoured with the sword; +for the mouth of the Lord hath +spoken it. + +15 These things has God +established by his Almighty will, +desiring that all his beloved +should come to repentance. + + + +CHAPTER V. + + 1 He sets before them the examples of holy men, + whose piety is recorded in the Scripture. + +WHEREFORE let us obey his +excellent and glorious will; +and imploring his mercy and +goodness, let us fall down upon +our faces before him, and cast +ourselves upon his mercy; laying +aside all vanity, and contention, +and envy which leads unto death. + +2 Let us look up to those who +have the most perfectly ministered +to his excellent glory. Let us +take Enoch for our example; +who being found righteous in +obedience, was translated, and +his death was not known. + +3 Noah being proved to be +faithful, did by his ministry, +preach regeneration to the world; +and the Lord saved by him all the +living creatures, that went with +one accord into the ark. + +4 Abraham, who was called +God's friend, was in like manner +found faithful; inasmuch as he +obeyed the commands of God. + +5 By obedience he went out of +his own country, and from his +own kindred, and from his father's +house; that so forsaking a small +country, and a weak affinity, and +a little house, he might inherit +the promises of God. + +6 For thus God said unto him; +"get thee out of thy country, and +from thy kindred, and from thy +father's house, unto a land that +I will show thee." + +7 "And, I will make thee a great +nation, and will bless thee, and +make thy name great, and thou +shalt be blessed. And I will +bless them that bless thee, and +curse them that curse thee; and +in thee shall all families of the +earth be blessed," + +8 And again when he separated +himself from Lot, God said unto +him; I Lift up now thine eyes, and +look from the place where thou +art northward, and southward, and +eastward, and westward, for all +the land which thou seest, to thee +will I give it, and to thy seed for +ever. + +9 And I will make thy seed as +the dust of the earth, so that if a +man can number the dust of the +earth, then shall thy seed also be +numbered. + +10 And again he saith: and +God brought forth Abraham, and +said unto him; look now toward +heaven, and tell the stars, if thou +be able to number them: so shall +thy seed be. + +11 And Abraham believed God, +and it was counted to him for +righteousness. + +12 Through faith and hospitality +he had a son given him in his +old age; and through obedience +he offered him up in sacrifice to +God, upon one of the mountains +which God showed into him. + + + +CHAPTER VI. + + 1 Redemption for such as have been eminent for their + faith, kindness, and charity to their neighbours. + +BY hospitality and goodliness +was Lot saved out of Sodom, +when all the country round about +was destroyed by fire and brimstone. + +2 The Lord thereby making it +manifest, that he will not forsake +those that trust in him; but will +bring the disobedient to punishment +and correction. + +3 For his wife who went out +with him, being of a different +mind, and not continuing in the +same obedience, was for that reason +set forth for an example, being +turned into a pillar of salt +unto this day. + +4 That so all men may know, +that those who are double minded, +and distrustful of the power of +God, are prepared for condemnation, +and to be a sign to all succeeding +ages. + +5 By faith and hospitality was +Rahab the harlot saved. For when +the spies were sent by Joshua the +son of Nun to search out Jericho, +and the king of Jericho knew that +they were come to spy out his +country, he sent men to take them, +so that they might be put to +death. + +6 Rahab therefore, being hospitable, +received them, and hid them under +the stalks of flax, on the top of +her house. + +7 And when the messengers that +were sent by the king came unto +her, and asked her, saying, +There came men unto thee to spy +out the land, bring them forth, for +so hath the king commanded: She +answered, The two men whom ye +seek came unto me, but presently +they departed, and are gone: Not +discovering them unto them. + +8 Then she said to the spies, +I know that the Lord your God has +given this city into your hands; +for the fear of you is fallen upon +all that dwell therein. When, +therefore, ye shall have taken it, +ye shall save me and my father's +house. + +9 And they answered her, saying, +It shall be as thou hast spoken +unto us, Therefore, when thou +shalt know that we are near, thou +shalt gather all thy family together, +upon the house-top and they shall +be saved: but all that shall be +found without thy house shall +be destroyed. + +10 And they gave her moreover +a sign, that she should hang +out of her house a scarlet rope, +showing thereby, that by the +blood of our Lord, there should be +redemption to all that believe and +hope in God. Ye see, beloved, +how there was not only faith, but +prophesy too in this woman. + + + +CHAPTER VII. + + 1 What rules are given for leading a holy life. + +LET us, therefore, humble ourselves, +brethren, laying aside all pride, +and boasting, and foolishness, +and anger: And let us do as it +is written. + +2 For thus saith the Holy Spirit; +Let not the wise man glory in his +wisdom, nor the strong man in +his strength, nor the rich man +in his riches; but let him that +glorieth, glory in the Lord, to seek +him, and to do judgment and justice. + +3 Above all, remembering the +words of the Lord Jesus, which he +spake concerning equity and long +suffering, saying, + +4 Be ye merciful, and ye shall +obtain mercy; forgive, and ye +shall be forgiven; as ye do, so +shall it be done unto you; as ye +give, so shall it be given unto +you; as ye judge, so shall ye be +judged; as ye are kind to others, +so shall God be kind to you; with +what measure ye mete, with the +same shall it be measured to you +again. + +5 By this command, and by +these rules, let us establish +ourselves, that so we may always +walk obediently to his holy words; +being humble minded: + +6 For so says the Holy Scripture; +upon whom shall I look, even upon +him that is poor and of a contrite +spirit, and that trembles at my word. + +7 It is, therefore, just and +righteous, men and brethren, that +we should become obedient unto God, +rather than follow such as through +pride and sedition, have made +themselves the ring-leaders of +a detestable emulation. + +8 For it is not an ordinary harm +that we shall do ourselves, but +rather a very great danger that we +shall run, if we shall rashly give +up ourselves to the wills of men, +who promote strife and seditions, +to turn us aside from that which is +fitting. + +9 But let us be kind to one +another, according to the compassion +and sweetness of him that made us. + +10 For it is written, The merciful +shall inherit the earth; and they +that are without evil shall be left +upon it: but the transgressors shall +perish from off the face of it. + +11 And again be saith, I have +seen the wicked in great power +and spreading himself like the +cedar of Libanus. I passed by, +and lo! he was not; I sought his +place, but it could not be found. + +12 Keep innocently, and do the +thing that is right, for there shall +be a remnant to the peaceable +man. + +13 Let us, therefore, hold fast +to those who religiously follow +peace; and not to such as only +pretend to desire. + +14 For he saith in a certain +place, This people honoureth me +with their lips, but their heart +is far from me. + +15 And again, They bless with +their mouths, but curse in their +hearts. + +16 And again he saith, They +loved him with their mouths, and +with their tongues they lied to +him. For their heart was not right +with him, neither were they +faithful in his covenant. + +17 Let all deceitful lips become +dumb, and the tongue that speaketh +proud things. Who have said, with +our tongue will we prevail; our lips +are our own, who is Lord over us? + +18 For the oppression of the +poor, for the sighing of the needy, +now will I arise saith the Lord; +I will set him in safety, I will +deal confidently with him. + + + +CHAPTER VIII. + + He advises then, to be humble, and, follow the + examples of Jesus, and of holy men in all ages. + +FOR Christ is theirs who are +humble, and not who exalt +themselves over his flock. The +sceptre of the majesty of God, our +Lord Jesus Christ, came not in +the show of pride and arrogance, +though he could have done so; +but with humility as the Holy +Ghost had before spoken +concerning him. + +2 For thus he saith, Lord, who +hath believed our report, and to +whom is the arm of the Lord +revealed; For he shall grow up +before him as a tender plant, and +as a root out of a dry ground; + +3 He hath no form or comeliness, +and when we shall see him, there +is no beauty that we should desire +him. + +4 He is despised and rejected of +men; a man of sorrows and acquainted +with grief. + +5 And we hid, as it were, our +faces from him; he was despised, +and we esteemed him not. + +6 Surely he hath borne our +griefs, and carried our sorrows +yet we did esteem him stricken, +smitten of God, and afflicted. + +7 But he was wounded for our +transgressions; he was bruised for +our iniquities; the chastisement +of our peace was upon him; and +with his stripes we are healed. + +8 All we like sheep have gone +astray; we have turned every one +to his own way; and the Lord hath +laid on him the iniquity of us all. + +9 He was oppressed, and he was +afflicted, yet he opened not his +mouth: he is brought as a lamb to +the slaughter; and as a sheep +before her shearers is dumb, +so he openeth not his mouth. + +10 He was taken from prison +and from judgment; and who shall +declare this generation? For he +was cut off out of the land of the +living: for the transgression of my +people was he stricken. + +11 And he made his grave with +the wicked, and with the rich in +his death; because he had done no +violence, neither was any deceit +in his mouth. + +12 Yet it pleased the Lord to +bruise him; he hath put him to +grief: when thou shalt make his +soul an offering for sin, he shall +see his seed, he shall prolong his +days, and the pleasure of the Lord +shall prosper m his hand. + +13 He shall see of the travail +of his soul, and shall be satisfied: +by his knowledge shall my righteous +servant justify many; for he shall +bear their iniquities. + +14 Therefore will I divide him +a portion with the great, and he +shall divide the spoil with the +strong; because he hath poured +out his soul unto death; and he +was numbered with the transgressors, +and he bare the sin of many, and +made intercession for the +transgressors. + +15 And again he himself saith, +I am a worm and no man, a reproach +of men, and despised of the people. +All they that see me laugh me to +scorn; they shoot out their lips, +they shake their heads, saying; +He trusted in the Lord that he +would deliver him, let him +deliver him seeing he delighted +in him. + +16 Ye see, beloved, what the +pattern is that has been given to +us. For if the Lord thus humbled +himself, what should we do who +are brought by him under the +yoke of his grace? + +17 Let us be followers of those +who went about in goat-skins, and +sheep-skins; preaching the coming +of Christ. + +18 Such were Elias, and Eliaxus, +and Ezekiel, the prophets, +And let us add to these, such +others as have received the like +testimony. + +19 Abraham has been greatly +witnessed of; having been called +the friend of God. And yet he +steadfastly beholding the glory of +God, says with all humility, I am +dust and ashes. + +20 Again of Job, it is thus +written, That he was just, and +without blame, true; one that served +God, and abstained from all evil. +Yet he accusing himself, said, No +man is free from pollution, no, +not though he should live but one +day. + +21 Moses was called faithful in +all God's House; and by his conduct +the Lord punished Israel by stripes +and plagues. + +22 And even this man, though +thus greatly honoured, spake not +greatly of himself; but when the +oracle of God was delivered to him +out of the bush, he said, Who +am I, that thou dost send me? I +am of a slender voice, and a slow +tongue. + +23 And again he saith, I am as +the smoke of the pot. + +24 And what shall we say of +David, so highly testified of in the +Holy Scriptures? To whom God said, +I have found a man after my own +heart, David the son of Jesse, +with my holy oil have I anointed +him. + +25 But yet he himself saith unto +God, Have mercy upon me, O God, +according to thy loving kindness; +according unto the multitude of +thy tender mercies, blot out my +transgressions. + +26 Wash me thoroughly from +mine iniquity, and cleanse me +from my sin. For I acknowledge +my transgressions, and my sin is +ever before me. + +27 Against Thee only have I +sinned, and done this evil in +thy sight; that thou mightest +be justified when thou speakest; +and be clear when thou judgest. + +28 Behold I was shapen in +iniquity, and in sin did my mother +conceive me. + +29 Behold, thou desirest truth +in the inward parts; and in the +hidden part thou shalt make me to +know wisdom. + +30 Purge me with hyssop, and +I shall be clean: wash me, and I +shall be whiter than snow. + +31 Make me to hear joy and +gladness, that the bones which +thou hast broken may rejoice. + +32 Hide thy face from my sins, +and blot out all mine iniquities. +Create in me a clean heart O God; +and renew a right spirit +within me. + +34 Cast me not away from thy +presence, and take not thy holy +spirit from me. + +35 Restore unto me the joy of +thy salvation, and uphold me with +thy free spirit. + +36 Then will I teach transgressors +thy ways, and sinners shall be +converted unto thee. + +37 Deliver me from blood-guiltiness, +O God, thou God of my salvation; +and my tongue shall sing aloud +of thy righteousness. + +38 O Lord open thou my lips, +and my mouth shall. show forth +thy praise. + +39 For thou desirest not sacrifice, +else would I give it; thou +delightest not in burnt-offerings. + +40 The sacrifices of God are +a broken spirit; a broken and a +contrite heart, O God, thou wilt +not despise. + + + +CHAPTER IX. + + He again persuades them to compose their divisions. + +THUS has the humility and +godly fear of these great +and excellent men recorded in +the Scriptures, through obedience, +made not only us, but also the +generations before us better; +even as many as have received his +holy oracles with fear and truth. + +2 Having therefore so many, +and such great and glorious +examples, let us return to that +peace which was the mark that +from the beginning was set before +us; + +3 Let us look up to the Father +and Creator of the whole world; +and let us hold fast to his glorious +and exceeding gifts and benefits +of peace. + +4 Let us consider and behold +with the eyes of our understanding +his long suffering will; and think +how gentle and patient he is +towards his whole creation. + +5 The heavens moving by his +appointment, are subject to him +in peace. + +6 Day and night accomplish the +courses that he has allotted unto +them, not disturbing one another. + +7 The sun and moon, and all the +several companies and constellations +of the stars, run the courses that +he has appointed to them in concord, +without departing in the least from +them. + +8 The fruitful earth yields its +food plentifully in due season both +to man and beast, and to all animals +that are upon it, according to his +will; not disputing, nor altering +any thing of what was ordered by him. + +9 So also the unfathomable and +unsearchable floods of the deep, +are kept in by his command; + +10 And the conflux of the vast +sea, being brought together by his +order into its several collections, +passes not the bounds that he has +set to it; + +11 But as he appointed it, so it +remains. For he said, Hitherto +shalt then come, and thy floods +shall be broken within thee. + +12 The ocean impassable to +mankind, and the worlds that are +beyond it are governed by the +same commands of their great +master. + +13 Spring and summer, autumn +and winter, give place peaceably +to each other. + +14 The several quarters of the +winds fulfil their work in their +seasons, without offending one +another. + +15 The ever-flowing fountains, +made both for pleasure and health, +never fail to reach out their breasts +to support the life of men. + +16 Even the smallest creatures +live together in peace and concord +with each other. + +17 All these has the Great Creator +and Lord of all, commanded to +observe peace and concord; being +good to all. + +18 But especially to us who flee +to his mercy through our Lord +Jesus Christ; to whom be glory +and majesty for ever and ever. +Amen. + + + +CHAPTER X. + + He exhorts them to obedience, from the consideration + of the goodness of God, and of his presence in every place. + +TAKE heed, beloved, that his +many blessings be not to our +condemnation; except we shall +walk worthy of him, doing with +one consent what is good and +pleasing in his sight. + +2 The spirit of the Lord is a +candle, searching out the inward +parts of the belly. + +3 Let us therefore consider how +near he is to us; and how that +none of our thoughts, or reasonings +which we frame within ourselves, +are hid from him, + +4 It is therefore just that we +should not forsake our rank, by +doing contrary to his will. + +5 Let us choose to offend a few +foolish and inconsiderate men, +lifted up and glorying in their +own pride, rather than God. + +6 Let us reverence our Lord +Jesus Christ whose blood was +given for us. + +7 Let us honour those who are +set over us; let us respect the +aged that are amongst us; and let +us instruct the younger men, in +the discipline and fear of the +LORD. + +8 Our wives let us direct, to do +that which is good. + +9 Let them show forth a lovely +habit of purity, in all their +conversation; with a sincere +affection of meekness. + +10 Let the government of their +tongues be made manifest by their +silence. + +11 Let their charity be without +respect of persons, alike towards +all such as religiously fear +God. + +12 Let your children be bred +up in the instruction of Christ: + +13 And especially let them learn +how great a power humility has +with God; how much a pure and +holy charity avails with him; how +excellent and great his fear is; +and how it will save all such as +turn to him with holiness in a pure +mind. + +14 For he is the searcher of the +thoughts and counsels of the heart; +whose breath is in us, and when +he pleases he can take it from +us. + + + + +CHAP. XI. + + Of faith: and particularly what we are + to believe as to the Resurrection. + +BUT all these things must be +confirmed by the faith which +is in Christ; for so He himself +bespeaks us by the Holy Ghost; + +2 Comeye children and hearken +unto me, and I will teach you the +fear of the Lord. What man is +there that desireth life, and loveth +to see good days? + +3 Keep thy tongue from evil, +and thy lips that they speak no +guile. + +4 Depart from evil and do good; +seek peace and pursue it. + +5 The eyes of the Lord are upon +the righteous, and his ears are +open unto their prayers. + +6 But the face of the Lord is +against them that do evil, to cut +off the remembrance of them from +the earth. + +7 The righteous cried, and the +Lord heard him, and delivered +him out of all his troubles. + +8 Many are the troubles of the +wicked; but they that trust in the +Lord mercy shall encompass them +about. + +9 Our all-merciful and beneficent +Father hath bowels of compassion +towards them that fear him: and +kindly and lovingly bestows his +graces upon all such as come to +him with a simple mind. + +10 Wherefore let us not waver, +neither let us have any doubt in +our hearts, of his excellent and +glorious gifts. + +11 Let that be far from us +which is written, Miserable are +the double-minded, and those who +are doubtful in their hearts; + +12 Who say these things have +we heard, and our fathers have +told us these things. But behold +we are grown old, and none of +them has happened unto us. + +13 O ye fools consider the trees: +take the vine for an example. +First it sheds its leaves; then it +buds; after that it spreads its +leaves; then it flowers; then come +the sour grapes; and after them +follows the ripe fruit. See how in +a little time the fruit of the trees +comes to maturity. + +14 Of a truth yet a little while +and his will shall suddenly be +accomplished. + +15 The Holy Scripture itself +bearing witness, that He shall +quickly come and not tardy, and +that the Lord shall suddenly come +to his temple, even the 3 holy ones +whom ye look for. + +16 Let us consider, beloved, +how the Lord does continually +show us, that there shall be a +future resurrection; of which he +has made our Lord Jesus Christ +the first fruits, raising him from +the dead. + +17 Let us contemplate, beloved, +the resurrection that is continually +made before our eyes. + +18 Day and night manifest a +resurrection to us. The night lies +down, and the day arises: again +the day departs and the night +comes on. + +19 Let us behold the fruits of +the earth. Every one sees how the +seed is sown. The sower goes +forth, and casts it upon the earth; +and the seed which when it was +sown fell upon the earth dry and +naked, in time dissolves. + +20 And from the dissolution, +the great power of the providence +of the Lord rises it again; and of +one seed many arise, and bring +forth fruit. + + + +CHAPTER XII. + + The Resurrection further proved. + +LET us consider that wonderful +type of the resurrection which +is seen in the Eastern countries: +that is to say, in Arabia. + +2 There is a certain bird called +a Phoenix; of this there is never +but one at a time: and that lives +five hundred years. And when +the time of its dissolution draws +near, that it must die, it makes +itself a nest of frankincense, and +myrrh, and other spices into which +when its time is fulfilled it enters +and dies. + +3 But its flesh putrifying, breeds +a certain worm, which being nourished +with the juice of the dead bird +brings forth feathers; and when +it is grown to a perfect state, +it takes up the nest in which +the bones of its parent lie, and +carries it from Arabia into Egypt, +to a city called Heliopolis: + +4 And flying in open day in the +sight of all men, lays it upon the +altar of the sun, and so returns +from whence it came. + +5 The priests then search into +the records of the time: and find +that it returned precisely at the +end of five hundred years. + +6 And shall we then think it to +be any very great and strange +thing for the Lord of all to raise +up those that religiously serve him +in the assurance of a good faith, +when even by a bird he shows us +the greatness of his power to fulfil +his promise? + +7 For he says in a certain place, +Thou shalt raise me up and I shall +confess unto thee. + +8 And again, I laid me down +and slept, and awaked, because +thou art with me. + +9 And again, Job says, Thou +shalt raise up this flesh of mine, +that has suffered all these +things. + +10 Having therefore this hope, +let us hold fast to him who is +faithful in all his promises, and +righteous in all his judgments; +who has commanded us not to lie, +how much more will he not +himself lie? + +11 For nothing is impossible +with God but to lie. + +12 Let his faith then be stirred +up again in us; and let us consider +that all things are nigh unto him. + +13 By the word of his power he +made all things: and by the same +word he is able, (whenever he +will,) to destroy them. + +14 Who shall say unto him, +what dost thou? or who shall +resist the power of his strength? + +15 When, and as he pleased, +he will do all things; and nothing +shall pass away of all that has been +determined by him. + +16 All things are open before +him; nor can anything be hid +from his counsel. + +17 The heavens declare the +glory of God, and the firmament +showeth his handy work. Day +unto day uttereth speech, and +night unto night showeth +knowledge. There is no speech nor +language where their voice is not +heard. + + + +CHAPTER XIII. + + It is impossible to escape the vengeance of God, + if we continue in sin. + +SEEING then all things are seen +and heard by God, let us fear +him, and let us lay aside our +wicked works which proceed from +ill desires; that through his mercy +we may be delivered from the +condemnation to come. + +2 For whither can any of us flee +from his mighty hand? Or what +world shall receive any of those +who run away from him? + +3 For thus saith the Scripture +in a certain place. Whither shall +I flee from thy spirit, or where +shall I hide myself from thy +presence? + +4 If I ascend up into heaven, +thou art there; if I shall go to the +uttermost parts of the earth, there +is thy right hand: if I shall make +my bed in the deep, thy Spirit is +there. + +5 Whither then shall any one +go; or whither shall he run from +him that comprehends all things? + +6 Let us therefore come to him +with holiness of heart, lifting up +chaste and undefiled hands unto +him; loving our gracious and +merciful Father, who has made us +to partake of his election. + +7 For so it is written, When +the Most High divided the nations; +when he separated the sons of +Adam, he set the bounds of the +nations, according to the number +of his angels; his people Jacob +became the portion of the Lord, +and Israel the lot of his +inheritance. + +8 And in another place he saith, +Behold the Lord taketh unto himself +a nation, out of the midst of the +nations, as a man taketh the first- +fruits of his flour; and the Most +Holy shall come out of that nation. + + + +CHAPTER XIV. + + How we must live that we may please God. + +WHEREFORE we being apart +of the Holy One: let us do +all those things that pertain unto +holiness: + +2 Fleeing all evil-speaking +against one another; all filthy +and impure embraces, together with +all drunkenness, youthful lusts, +abominable concupiscences, +detestable adultery, and +execrable pride. + +3 For God saith, he resisteth +the proud, but giveth grace to the +humble. + +4 Let us therefore hold fast to +those to whom God has given his +grace. + +5 And let us put on concord, +being humble, temperate; free +from all whispering and detraction; +and justified by our actions, +not our words. + +6 For he saith, Doth he that +speaketh and heareth many things, +and is of a ready tongue, suppose +that he is righteous? Blessed is +he that is born of a woman, that +liveth but a few days: use not +therefore much speech. + +7 Let our praise be of God, not +of ourselves; for God hateth those +that commend themselves. + +8 Let the witness of our good +actions be given to us by others, +as it was given to the holy men +that went before us. + +9 Rashness, and arrogance, and +confidence, belong to them who +are accursed of God: but equity, +and humility, and mildness, to +such as are blessed by him. + +10 Let us then lay hold of his +blessing, and let as consider what +are the ways by which we may +attain unto it. + +11 Let us look back upon those +things that have happened from +the beginning. + +12 For what was our Father +Abraham blessed? Was it not +because that through faith he +wrought righteousness and truth? + +13 Isaac being fully persuaded +of what he knew was to come, +cheerfully yielded himself up for +a sacrifice. Jacob with humility +departed out of his own country, +fleeing from his brother, and went +unto Laban and served him; and +so the sceptre of the twelve tribes +of Israel was given unto him. + +14 Now what the greatness of +this gift was, will plainly appear, +if we shall take the pains distinctly +to consider all the parts of it. + +15 For, from him came the +priests and Levites; who all +ministered at the altar of God. + +16 From him came our Lord +Jesus Christ, according to the +flesh. + +17 From him came the kings, +and princes, and rulers in Judah. + +18 Nor were the rest of his +tribes in any little glory: God +having promised that their seed +shall be as the stars of heaven. + +19 They were all therefore +greatly glorified, not for their own +sake, or for their own works, or +for the righteousness that they +themselves wrought, but through +his will. + +20 And we also being called by +the same will in Christ Jesus, are +not justified by ourselves, neither +by our own wisdom, or knowledge, +or piety, or the works which we +have done in the holiness of our +hearts. + +21 But by that faith, by which +God Almighty has justified all +men from the beginning; to whom +be glory for ever and ever, Amen. + + + +CHAPTER XV. + + We are justified by faith; yet this must not + lessen our care to live a virtuous life, + nor our pleasure in it. + +WHAT shall we do therefore, +brethren? Shall we be slothful +in well-doing, and lay aside +our charity? God forbid that any +such thing should be done by us. + +2 But rather let us hasten with +all earnestness and readiness of +mind, to perfect every good work. +For even the Creator and Lord of +all things himself rejoices in his +own works. + +3 By his Almighty power he +fixed the heavens, and by his +incomprehensible wisdom he +adorned them. + +4 He also divided the earth +from the water, with which it is +encompassed: and fixed it as a +secure tower, upon the foundation +of his own will. + +5 He also by his appointment, +commanded all the living creatures +that are upon it, to exist. + +6 So likewise the sea, and all +the creatures that are in it; +having first created them, he +enclosed them therein by his power. + +7 And above all, he with his +holy and pure hands, formed man, +the most excellent; and, as to his +understanding, truly the greatest +of all other creatures; the character +of his own image. + +8 For thus God says; Let us +make man in our image, after our +own likeness; so God created man, +male and female created he them. + +9 And having thus finished all +these things, he commended all +that he had made, and blessed +them, and said, increase and +multiply. + +10 We see how all righteous men +have been adorned with good works +Wherefore even the Lord himself, +having adorned himself with his +works, rejoiced. + +11 Having therefore such an +example, let us without delay, +fulfil his will; and with all +our strength, work the work of +righteousness. + + + +CHAPTER XVI. + + A virtuous life enforced from the examples + of the holy angels, and from the exceeding + greatness of that reward which God has prepared for us. + +THE good workman with +confidence receives the bread of +his labour; but the sluggish and +lazy cannot look him in the face +that set him on work. + +2 We must therefore be ready +and forward in well-doing: for +from him are all things. + +3 And thus he foretels us, +behold the Lord cometh, and his +reward is with him, even before his +face, to render to everyone according +to his work. + +4 He warns us therefore beforehand, +with all his heart to this end, +that we should not be slothful and +negligent in well-doing. + +5 Let our boasting, therefore, +and our confidence be in God +let us submit ourselves to his will, +Let us consider the whole multitude +of his angels, how ready they +stand to minister unto his will. + +6 As saith the Scripture, +thousands of thousands stood +before him and ten thousand +times ten thousand ministered +unto him. And they cried, saying, +Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of +hosts; The whole earth is full +of his glory. + +7 Wherefore let us also, being +conscientiously gathered together +in concord with one another; as +it were with one mouth, cry, +earnestly unto him, that he would +make us partakers of his great and +glorious promises. + +8 For he saith, a Eye hath not +seen, nor ear heard, neither have +entered into the heart of man, the +things which God has prepared for +them that wait for him, + + + +CHAPTER XVII. + + 1 We must attain the gifts of God by faith and obedience, + which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the + duties of our several stations, without envy or contention. + 24 The necessity of different orders among men. + 33 We have none of us anything but what we received of God: + whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey. + +HOW blessed and wonderful, +beloved, are the gifts of God. + +2 Life in immortality! brightness +in righteousness! truth in full +assurance! faith in confidence! +temperance in holiness! + +3 And all this has God subjected +to our understandings: + +4 What therefore shall those +things be which he has prepared +for them that wait for him? + +5 The Creator and Father of +spirits, the Most Holy; he only +knows both the greatness and +beauty of them, + +6 Let us therefore strive with +all earnestness, that we may be +found in the number of those that +wait for him, that so we may +receive the reward which he has +promised. + +7 But how, beloved, shall we do +this? We must fix our minds by +faith towards God, and seek those +things that are pleasing and +acceptable unto him. + +8 We must act conformably to +his holy will; and follow the way +of truth, casting off from us all +unrighteousness and iniquity, +together with all covetousness, +strife, evil manners, deceit, +whispering, detractions; all +hatred of God, pride and boasting; +vain-glory and ambition; + +9 For they that do these things +are odious to God; and not only +they that do them, but also all +such as approve of those that do +them. + +10 For thus saith the Scripture, +But unto the wicked, God said, +What hast thou to do to declare +my statute, or that thou shouldst +take my covenant in thy mouth? +Seeing that thou hatest instruction, +and castest my words behind thee. + +11 When thou sawest a thief, +then thou consentedst with him; +thou hast been partaker with +adulterers, Thou givest thy mouth +to evil, and thy tongue frameth +deceit. Thou sittest and speakest +against thy brother; thou slanderest +thine own mother's son. + +12 These things hast thou done +and I kept silence; thou thoughtest +that I was altogether such a one +as thyself: but I will reprove thee, +and set them in order before thine +eyes. + +13 Now consider this ye that +forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, +and there be none to deliver. + +14 Whose offereth praise, +gloryfieth me; And to him that +disposeth his way aright, will +I show the salvation of God. + +15 This is the way, beloved, in +which we may find our Saviour, +even Jesus Christ, the high-priest +of all our offerings, the defender +and helper of our weakness. + +16 By him we look up to the +highest heavens; and behold, as +in a glass, his spotless and most +excellent visage. + +17 By him are the eyes of our +hearts opened; by him our foolish +and darkened understanding +rejoiceth to behold his wonderful +light. + +18 By him would God have us +to taste the knowledge of +immortality: who being the +brightness of his glory, is by +so much greater than the angels, +as be has by inheritance obtained +a more excellent name than they. + +19 For so it is written, who +maketh his angels spirits, and his +ministers a flame of fire: + +20 But to his son, thus saith the +Lord, Thou art my Son, to-day +have I begotten thee. + +21 Ask of me and I will give +thee the heathen for thy inheritance, +and the utmost parts of the earth +for thy possession. + +22 And again he saith unto him, +Sit thou on my right hand until +I make thine enemies thy +foot-stool. + +23 But who are his enemies? +even the wicked, and such who +oppose their own wills to the +will of God. + +24 Let us therefore march-on, +men and brethren, with all +earnestness in his holy laws. + +25 Let us consider those who +fight under our, earthly governors +How orderly, how readily, and +with what exact obedience they +perform those things that are +commanded them. + +26 All are not generals, nor +colonels, nor captains, nor +inferior officers: + +27 But everyone in his respective +rank does what is commanded him by +the king, and those who have the +authority over him. + +28 They who are great, cannot +subsist without those that are little; +nor the little without the great; + +29 But there must be a mixture +in all things, and then there will +be use and profit too. + +30 Let us, for example, take +our body: the head without the +feet is nothing, neither the feet +without the head. + +31 And even the smallest members +of our body are yet both necessary +and useful to the whole body. + +32 But all conspire together, +and are subject to one common +use, namely, the preservation of +the whole body. + +33 Let therefore our whole body +by saved in Christ Jesus; and let +everyone be subject to his neighbour, +according to the order in which +he is placed by the gift of God. + +34 Let not the strong man despise +the weak; and let the weak see that +he reverence the strong. + +35 Let the rich man distribute +to the necessity of the poor; and +let the poor bless God, that he has +given one unto him, by whom his +want may be supplied. + +36 Let the wise man show forth +his wisdom, not in words, but in +good works. + +37 Let him that is humble, not +bear witness to himself, but let +him leave it to another to bear +witness of him. + +38 Let him that is pure in the +flesh, not grow proud of it, knowing +that it was from another that he +received the gift of continence. + +39 Let us consider therefore, +brethren, whereof we are made; +who, and what kind of men we +came into the world, as it were +out of a sepulchre, and from outer +darkness. + +40 He hath made us, and formed +us, brought us into his own world; +having presented us with his +benefits, even before we were born. + +41 Wherefore, having received +all these things from him, we +ought in everything to give thanks +unto him, to whom be glory for +ever and ever. Amen. + + + +CHAPTER XVIII. + + Clement therefore exhorts them to do everything + orderly in the Church, as the only way to please God. + +FOOLISH and unwise men, who +have neither prudence, nor +learning, may mock and deride +us; being willing to setup +themselves in their own conceits. + +2 But what can a mortal man +do? Or what strength is there in +him that is made out of the dust? + +3 For it is written, there was no +shape before mine eyes; only I +heard a sound and a voice. + +4 For what? Shall man be pure +before the Lord? Shall he be +blameless in his works? + +5 Behold, he trusteth not in +his servants; and his angels he +chargeth with folly. + +6 Yes, the heaven is not clean +in his sight, how much less they +that dwell in houses of clay; of +which also we ourselves were +made? + +7 He smote them as a moth: +and from morning even unto the +evening they endure not. Because +they were not able to help +themselves, they perished; +he breathed upon them and they +died, because they had no wisdom. + +8 Call now if there be any that +will answer thee; and to which of +the angels wilt thou look? + +9 For wrath killeth the foolish +man, and envy slayeth him that is +in error. + +10 I have seen the foolish taking +root, but lo, their habitation was +presently consumed. + +11 Their children were far from +safety, they perished at the gates +of those who were lesser than +themselves: and there was no man +to help them. + +12 For what was prepared for +them, the righteous did eat; and +they shall not be delivered from +evil. + +13 Seeing then these things are +manifest unto us, it will behove +us to take care that looking into +the depths of the divine knowledge, +we do all things in order, +whatsoever our Lord has commanded +us to do. + +14 And particularly that we +perform our offerings and service to +God, at their appointed seasons +for these he has commanded to be +done, not rashly and disorderly, +but at certain determinate times +and hours. + +15 And therefore he has ordained +by his supreme will and authority, +both where, and by what persons, +they are to be performed; that +so all things being piously done +unto all well-pleasing, they +may be acceptable unto him. + +16 They therefore who make +their offerings at the appointed +seasons, are happy and accepted; +because through obeying the +commandments of the Lord, +they are free from sin. + +17 And the same care must be +had of the persons that minister +unto him. + +18 For the chief-priest has his +proper services; and to the priest +their proper place is appointed; +and to the Levites appertain their +proper ministries; and the layman +is confined within the bounds of +what is commanded to laymen. + +19 Let every one of you therefore, +brethren, bless God in his proper +station, with a good conscience, +and with all gravity, not exceeding +the rule of his service that is +appointed to him. + +20 The daily sacrifices are not +offered everywhere; nor the peace- +offerings, nor the sacrifices +appointed for sins and transgressions; +but only at Jerusalem: nor in any +place there, but only at the altar +before the temple; that which is +offered being first diligently +examined by the high-priest and +the other minister we before +mentioned. + +21 They therefore who do any +thing which is not agreeable to his +will, are punished with death. + +22 Consider, brethren, that by +how much the better knowledge +God has vouchsafed unto us, by so +much the greater danger are we +exposed to. + + + +CHAPTER XIX. + + The orders of Ministers in Christ's Church established + by the Apostles, according to Christ's command, + 7 after the example of Moses. + 16 Therefore they who have been duly placed in the + ministry according to their order, cannot without + great sin be put out of it. + +THE Apostles have preached to +us from the Lord Jesus Christ +Jesus Christ from God. + +2 Christ therefore was sent by +God, the Apostles by Christ; so +both were orderly sent, according +to the will of God. + +3 For having received their +command, and being thoroughly +assured by the resurrection of our +Lord Jesus Christ, and convinced +by the word of God, with the +fulness of the Holy Spirit, they +went abroad, publishing, That the +kingdom of God was at hand. + +4 And thus preaching through +countries and cities, they appointed +the first fruits of their conversion +to be bishops and ministers over +such as should afterwards believe, +having first proved them by the +Spirit. + +5 Nor was this any new thing; +seeing that long before it was +written concerning bishops and +deacons. + +6 For thus saith the Scripture, +in a certain place; I will appoint +their overseers in righteousness, +and their ministers in faith. + +7 And what wonder if they, to +whom such a work was committed +by God in Christ, established such +officers as we before mentioned; +when even that blessed and faithful +servant in all his house, Moses, +set down in the Holy Scriptures +all things that were commanded +him. + +8 Whom also all the rest of the +prophets followed, bearing witness +with one consent to those things +that were appointed by him. + +9 For he, perceiving an emulation +to arise among the tribes concerning +the priesthood, and that there was +a strife about it, which of them +should be adorned with that glorious +name; commanded their twelve captains +to bring to him twelve rods; every +tribe being written upon its rod, +according to its name, + +10 And he took them and bound +them together, and sealed them +with the seals of the twelve princes +of the tribes: and laid them up in +the tabernacle of witness, upon +the table of God. + +11 And when he had shut the +door of the tabernacle, he sealed +up the keys of it, in like manner +as he had done the rods; and said +unto them, Men and brethren, +whichsoever tribe shall have its +rod blossom, that tribe has God +chosen to perform the office of a +priest, and to minister unto him +in holy things. + +12 And when the morning was +come, he called together all Israel, +six hundred thousand men; and +showed to the princes their seals +and opened the tabernacle of +witness; and brought forth the +rods. + +13 And the rod of Aaron was +found not only to have blossomed, +but also to have fruit upon it. + +14 What think you, beloved? +Did not Moses before know what +should happen? + +15 Yes verily: but to the end +there might be no division, nor +tumult in Israel, he did in this +manner, that the name of the true +and only God might be glorified; +to whom be honour for ever and +ever, Amen. + +16 So likewise our Apostles +knew by our Lord Jesus Christ, +that there should contentions arise, +upon account of the ministry. + +17 And therefore having a perfect +fore-knowledge of this, they +appointed persons, as we have +before said, and then a gave +direction, how, when they should +die, other chosen and approved men +should succeed in their ministry. + +18 Wherefore we cannot think +that those may justly be thrown +out of their ministry, who were +either appointed by them, or +afterwards chosen by other eminent +men, with the consent of the whole +church; and who have with all +lowliness and innocency ministered +to the flock of Church, in peace, +and without self-interest, and +were for a long time commended +by all. + +19 For it would be no small sin +in us, should we cast off those +from their ministry, who holily +and without blame fulfil the +duties of it. + +20 Blessed are those priests, +who having finished their course +before these times, have obtained +a fruitful and perfect dissolution +for they have no fear, lest any one +should turn them out of the place +which is now appointed for them. + +21 But we see how you have +put out some, who lived reputably +among you, from the ministry, +which by their innocence they had +adorned. + + + +CHAPTER XX. + + He exerts them to peace from examples out of + the Holy Scriptures, + 20 particularly from St. Paul's exhortation to them. + +YE are contentious, brethren, +and zealous for things that +pertain not unto salvation. + +2 Look into the Holy Scriptures, +which are the true words of the +Holy Ghost. Ye know that there +is nothing unjust or counterfeit +written in them. + +3 There you shall not find that +righteous men were ever cast off +by such as were good themselves. + +4 They were persecuted, but it +was by the wicked and unjust. + +5 They were cast into prison, +but they were cast in by those that +were unholy. + +6 They were stoned, but it was +by transgressors. + +7 They were killed, but by accursed +men, and such as had taken up an +unjust envy against them. + +8 And all these things they +underwent gloriously. + +9 For what shall we say, +brethren? Was Daniel cast into the +den of lions, by men fearing +God? Shadrach, Meshach, and +Abednego, were they cast into the +fiery furnace by men, professing +the excellent and glorious worship +of the Most High? God forbid. + +10 What kind of persons then +were they that did these things? +They were men abominable, full +of all wickedness; who were +incensed; to so great a degree, +as to bring those into sufferings, +who with a holy and unblameable +purpose of mind worshipped God: +not knowing that the Most High is +the protector and defender of all +such as with a pure conscience +serve his holy name: to whom be +glory for ever and ever, Amen. + +11 But they who with a full +persuasion have endured these +things, are made partakers of glory +and honour: and are exalted and +lifted up by God for a memorial +throughout all ages, Amen. + +12 Wherefore it will behove +us also, brethren, to follow such +examples as these; for it is +written, Hold fast to such as are +holy; for they that do so shall be +sanctified. + +13 And again in another place +he saith, With the pure, thou shalt +be pure (and with the elect thou +shalt be elect,) but with, the +perverse man thou shalt be perverse. + +14 Let us therefore join ourselves +to the innocent and righteous; for +such are the elect of God. + +15 Wherefore are there strifes, +and anger, and divisions, and +schisms, and wars, among us? + +16 Have we not all one God, +and one Christ? Is not one spirit +of grace poured out upon us all? +Have we not one calling in Christ. + +17 Why then do we rent and +tear in pieces the members of +Christ; and raise seditious against +our own body? And are come to such +a height of madness, as to forget +that we were members one of another? + +18 Remember the words of our +Lord Jesus, (how he said, Woe to +that man by whom offences come). +It, were better for him that he +had never been born, than that he +should have offended one of my +elect. It were better for him, +that a mill-stone should be tied +about his neck, and he should be +cast into the sea, than that he +should offend one of my +little ones. + +19 Your schism has perverted +many, has discouraged many: it +has caused diffidence in many, and +grief in us all. And yet your +sedition continues still. + +20 Take the Epistle of the +blessed Paul the Apostle into your +hands; What was It that he wrote +to you at his first preaching the +Gospel among you? + +21 Verily he did by the spirit +admonish you concerning himself, +and Cephas, and Apollos, because +that even then ye had begun to +fall into parties and factions +among yourselves. + +22 Nevertheless your partiality +then led you into a much less sin +forasmuch as ye placed your +affections upon Apostles, men +of eminent reputation in the +church; and upon another, who +was greatly tried and approved +of by them. + +23 But consider, we pray you, +who are they that have now led +you astray; and lessened the +reputation of that brotherly love +that was so eminent among you; + +24 It is a shame, my beloved, +yea, a very great shame, and +unworthy of your Christian +profession, to hear that the +most firm and ancient church +of the Corinthians should, +by one or two persons, be led +into a sedition against its +priests. + +25 And this report is come not +only to us, but to those also that +differ from us. + +26 Insomuch that the name of +the Lord is blasphemed through +your folly; and even ye yourselves +are brought into danger by it. + +27 Let us therefore with all +haste put an end to this sedition; +and let us fall down before the +Lord, and beseech him with tears +that he would be favourably +reconciled to us, and restore us +again to a seemly and holy course +of brotherly love. + +28 For this is the gate of +righteousness, opening unto life: +As it is written, I Open unto me +the gates of righteousness; I will +go into them and will praise the +Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, +the righteous shall enter into it. + +29 Although therefore many +gates are opened, yet this gate of +righteousness is that gate in Christ +at which blessed are they that +enter in, and direct their way in +holiness and righteousness; doing +all things without disorder. + +30 Let a man be faithful, let +him be powerful in the utterance +of knowledge; let him be wise in +making an exact judgment of +words; let him be pure in all +his actions. + +31 But still by how much the +more he seems to be above others, +by reason of these things, by so +much the more will it behove him +to be humble-minded; and to seek +what is profitable to all men, and +not his own advantage. + + + +CHAPTER XXI. + + 1 The value which God, puts upon love and + unity: the effects of a true charity, + 8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer. + +HE that has the love that is in +Christ, let him keep the +commandments of Christ. + +2 For who is able to express the +obligation of the love of God? +What man is sufficient to declare, +and is fitting, the excellency of its +beauty? + +3 The height to which charity +leads, is inexpressible. + +4 Charity unites us to God; +charity covers the multitude of +sins: charity endures all things; +is long-suffering in all things. + +5 There is nothing base and +sordid in charity: charity lifts not +itself up above others; admits of +no divisions; is not seditious; but +does all things in peace and concord. + +6 By charity were all the elect of +God made perfect: Without it nothing +is pleasing and acceptable in the +sight of God. + +7 Through charity did the Lord +join us into himself; whilst for +the love that he bore towards us, +our Lord Jesus Christ gave his +own blood for us, by the will of +God; his flesh for our flesh; his +soul for our souls. + +8 Ye see, beloved, how great +and wonderful a thing charity is; +and how that no expressions are +sufficient to declare its perfection. + +9 But who is fit to be found in +it? Even such only as God shall +vouchsafe to make so. + +10 Let us therefore pray to him, +and beseech him, that we may be +worthy of it; that so we may live +in charity; being unblamable, +without human propensities, +without respect of persons. + +11 All the ages of the world, +from Adam, even unto this day, +are passed away; but they who +have been made perfect in love, +have by the grace of God obtained +a place among the righteous; and +shall be made manifest in the +judgment of the kingdom of Christ. + +12 For it is written, Enter into +thy chambers for a little space, till +my anger and indignation shall +pass away: And I will remember +the good day, and, will raise you +up out of your graves. + +13 Happy then shall we be, +beloved, if we shall have fulfilled +the commandments of God, in the +unity of love; that so, through +love, our sins may be forgiven us. + +14 For so it is written, Blessed +are they whose iniquities are +forgiven, and whose sins are covered. +Blessed is the man to whom the +Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose +mouth there is no guile. + +15 Now this blessing is fulfilled +in those who are chosen by God +through Jesus Christ our Lord, to +whom be glory for ever and ever, +Amen. + + + +CHAPTER XXII. + + 1 He exhorts such as have been concerned in these divisions to + repent, and return to their unity, confessing their sin to God, + 7 which he enforces from the example of Moses, + 10 and of many among the heathen, + 23 and of Judith and Esther among the Jews. + +LET us therefore, as many as +have transgressed by any of +the suggestions of the adversary, +beg God's forgiveness. + +2 And as for those who have +been the heads of the sedition and +faction among you, let them look +to the common end of our hope. + +3 For as many as are endued +with fear and charity, would rather +they themselves should fall into +trials than their neighbours: And +choose to be themselves condemned, +rather than that the good and just +charity delivered to us, should +suffer. + +4 For it is seemly for a man +to confess wherein he has +transgressed. + +5 And not to harden his heart, +as the hearts of those were +hardened, who raised up sedition +against Moses the servant of God +whose punishment was manifest +unto all men, for they went down +alive into the grave; death +swallowed them up. + +6 Pharaoh and his host, and +all the rulers of Egypt, their +chariots also and their horsemen, +were for no other cause drowned +in the bottom of the Red Sea, +and perished; but because they +hardened their foolish hearts, +after so many signs done in the +land of Egypt, by Moses the +servant of God. + +7 Beloved, God is not indigent +of anything; nor does he demand +anything of us, but that we +should confess our sins unto him. + +8 For so says the Holy David, +I will confess unto the Lord, and +it shall please him better than a +young bullock that hath horns and +hoof. Let the poor see it and be +glad. + +9 And again he saith, Offer +unto God the sacrifice of praise, +and pay thy vows unto the Most +Highest. And call upon me in the +day of trouble, and I will deliver +thee, and thou shalt glorify me. +The sacrifice of God is a broken +spirit. + +10 Ye know, beloved, ye know +full well, the Holy Scriptures; +and have thoroughly searched into +the oracles of God: call them +therefore to your remembrance. + +11 For when Moses went up into +the mount, and tarried there forty +days and forty nights in fasting +and humiliation; God said unto +him, Arise, Moses, and get thee +down quickly from hence, for thy +people whom thou broughtest out +of the land of Egypt, have +committed wickedness: they have +soon transgressed the way that +I commanded them, and have made +to themselves graven images. + +12 And the Lord said unto him, +I have spoken unto thee several +times, saying, I have seen this +people, and behold it is a stiff- +necked people: let me therefore +destroy them, and put out their +name from under heaven. And I +will make unto thee a great and a +wonderful nation, that shall be +much larger than this. + +13 But Moses said, Not so, +Lord: Forgive now this people +their sin; or if thou wilt not, +blot me also out of the book of +the living. O admirable charity! +O insuperable perfection! The servant +speaks freely to his Lord: He beseeches +him either to forgive the people, +or to destroy him together with them. + +14 Who is there among you +that is generous? Who that is +compassionate? Who that has +any charity? Let him say, if this +sedition, this contention, and these +schisms, be upon my account, +I am ready to depart; to go away +whithersoever you please; and do +whatsoever ye shall command me: +Only let the flock of Christ be in +peace, with the elders that are set +over it. + +15 He that shall do this, shall +get to himself a very great honour +in the Lord; and there is no place +but what will be ready to receive +him: For the earth is the Lord's, +and the fulness thereof. + +16 These things, they who have +their conversation towards God +not to be repented of, both have +done, and will always be ready to +do. + +17 Nay and even the Gentiles +themselves have given us examples +of this kind. + +18 For we read, How many +kings and princes, in times of +pestilence, being warned by their +oracles, have given up themselves +unto death; that by their own +blood, they might deliver their +country from destruction. + +19 Others have forsaken their +cities, so that they might put an +end to the seditions of them. + +20 We know how many among +ourselves, have given up +themselves unto bonds, that +thereby they might free others +from them. + +21 Others have sold themselves +into bondage, that they might feed +their brethren with the price of +themselves. + +22 And even many women, +being strengthened by the grace +of God, have done many glorious +and manly things on such occasions. + +23 The blessed Judith, when +her city was besieged, desired the +elders, that they would suffer her +to go into the camp of their enemies; +and she went out exposing herself +to danger, for the love she bare +to her country and her people +that were besieged: and the +Lord delivered Holofernes into +the hands of a woman. + +24 Nor did Esther, being perfect +in faith, expose herself to any +less hazard, for the delivery of the +twelve tribes of Israel, in danger +of being destroyed. For by fasting +and humbling herself, she entreated +the Great Maker of all things, the +God of spirits; so that beholding +the humility of her soul, he +delivered the people, for whose +sake she was in peril. + + + +CHAPTER XXIII. + + The benefit of mutual advice and correction. + He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them. + +WHEREFORE let us also pray +for such as are fallen into +sin. That being endued with +humility and moderation, they +may submit not unto us, but to +the wish of God. + +2 For by this means they shall +obtain a fruitful and perfect +remembrance, with mercy, both in +our prayers to God, and in our +mention of them before his saints. + +3 Let us receive correction, at +which no man ought to repine. + +4 Beloved, the reproof and the +correction which we exercise +towards one another, is good, and +exceeding profitable: for it unites +us the more closely to the will of +God. + +5 For, so says the Holy Scripture, +The Lord corrected me, but he did +not deliver me over unto death. For +whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, +and scourgeth every son whom he +receiveth. + +6 The righteous, saith he, shall +instruct me in mercy and reprove +me; but let not oil of sinners +make fat my head. + +7 And again he saith, Happy +is the man whom God correcteth; +therefore despise not thou the +chastening of the Almighty. + +8 For he maketh gore and bindeth +up; he woundeth and his hands +make whole. + +9 He shall deliver thee in six +troubles; yea in seven there shall +no evil touch thee. In famine he +shall redeem thee from death; and +in war from the power of the sword. + +10 Thou shalt be hid from the +scourge of the tongue; neither +shalt thou be afraid of destruction +when it cometh. + +11 Thou shalt laugh at the +wicked and sinners; neither shalt +thou be afraid of the beasts of the +earth. The wild beast shall be at +peace with thee. + +12 Then shalt thou know that +thy house shall be in peace; and +the habitation of thy tabernacle +shall not err. Then shalt know +also that thy seed shall be great +and thy offspring as the grass of +the earth. + +13 Thou shalt come to thy +grave as the ripe corn, that is +taken in due time: like as a shock +of corn cometh in, in its season. + +14 Ye see, beloved, how there +shall be a defence to those that are +corrected of the Lord. For being +a good instructor, he is willing to +admonish us by his holy, diaipline. + +15 Do ye therefore who laid the +first foundation of this sedition, +submit yourselves unto your +priests; and be instructed unto +repentance, bending the knees of +your hearts. + +16 Learn to be subject, laying +aside all proud and arrogant +boasting of your tongues. + +17 For it is better for you to be +found little, and approved, in the +sheepfold of Christ, than to seem +to yourselves better than others, +and be cast out of his fold. + +18 For thus speaks the +excellent and all-virtuous wisdom, +Behold I will pour out the word +of my spirit upon you, I will make +known my speech unto you. + +19 Because I called and ye +would not hear, I stretched out +my hand and ye regarded not. + +20 But ye have set at nought all +my counsel, and would none of +my reproof. I will also laugh at +your calamity, and mock when +your fear cometh. + +21 When your fear cometh as +desolation, and your destruction +as a whirlwind, when distress and +anguish cometh upon you. + +22 Then shall ye call upon me +but I will not hear you: the +wicked shall seek me but they +shall not find me. For that they +hated knowledge, and did not seek +the fear of the Lord. + +23 They would not hearken +unto my counsel: they despised +all my reproof. Therefore shall +they eat of the fruit of their own +ways; and be filled with their +own wickedness. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + + 1 Recommends them to God. Desires speedily to hear + that this Epistle has had a good effect upon them. + 4 Conclusion. + +NOW God, the inspector of all +things, the Father of Spirits, +and the Lord of all flesh, who +hath chosen our Lord Jesus Christ, +and us by him, to be his peculiar +people; + +2 Grant to every soul of man +that calleth upon his glorious and +holy name, faith, fear, peace, +long-suffering, patience, temperance, +holiness and sobriety, unto all +well-pleasing in his sight; +through our High-Priest and +Protector Jesus Christ, by whom +be glory and majesty, and power, +and honour unto him now and for +ever more, Amen. + +3 The messengers whom we +have sent unto you, Claudius, +Ephebus, and Valerios Bito, with +Fortunatus, send back to us again +with all speed, in peace and with +joy, that they may the sooner +acquaint us with your peace and +concord, so much prayed for and +desired by us: and that we may +rejoice in your good order. + +4 The grace of our Lord Jesus +Christ be with you, and with all +that are any where called by God +through him: To whom be honour +and glory, and might and injesty, +and eternal dominion, by Christ +Jesus, from everlasting to +everlasting, Amen. + + + + REFERENCES TO CLEMENT'S FIRST EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS. + +[Clement was a disciple of Peter, and afterwards Bishop of Rome. Clemens +Alexandrinus calls him an apostle. Jerome says he was an apostolic man, +and Rafinus that he was almost an apostle. Eusebius calls this the +wonderful Epistle of St. Clement, and says that it was publicly read in +the assemblies of the primitive church. It is included in one of the +ancient collections of the Canon Scripture. Its genuineness has been +much questioned, particularly by Photius, patriarch of Constantinople in +the ninth century, who objects that Clement speaks of worlds beyond the +ocean: that he has not written worthily of the divinity of Christ; and +that to prove the possibility of a future resurrection, he introduces the +fabulous story of the phoenix's revival from its own ashes. To the latter +objection, Archbishop Wake replies that the generality of the ancient +Fathers have made use of the same instance in proof of the same point; +and asks, if St. Clement really believed that there was such a bird, and +that it did revive out of the cinders of the body after burning, where +was the, great harm either in giving credit to such a wonder, or, +believing it, to make rich a use as he here does of it?--The present is +the Archbishop's translation from the ancient Greek copy of the Epistle, +which is at the end of the celebrated Alexandrine MS. of the Septuagint +and New Testament, presented by Cyril, patriarch of Alexandria, to King +Charles the First, now in the British Museum. The Archbishop, in +prefacing his translation, esteems it a great blessing that this +"Epistle" was at last so happily found out, for the increase and +confirmation both of our faith and our charity.] + + + + THE SECOND EPISTLE OF + CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS + + + +CHAPTER I. + + That we ought to value our salvation; + and to show that we do by a sincere obedience. + +BRETHREN, we ought so to +think of Jesus Christ as of +God: as of the judge of the living, +and the dead; nor should we think +any less of our salvation. + +2 For if we think meanly of +him, we shall hope only to receive +some small things from him. + +3 And if we do so, we shall +sin; not considering from whence +we have been called, and by whom, +and to what place; and how much +Jesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer +for our sakes. + +4 What recompense then shall +we render unto him? Or what +fruit that may be worthy of what +he has given to us? + +5 For indeed how great are +those advantages which we owe to +him in relation to our holiness? +He has illuminated us; as a father, +he has called us his children; +he has saved us who were lost and +undone. + +6 What praise shall we give to +him? Or what reward that may +be answerable to those things +which we have received. + +7 We were defective in our +understandings; worshipping stones, +and wood; gold, and silver, and +brass, the work of men's hands; +and our whole life was nothing +else but death. + +8 Wherefore being encompassed +with darkness, and having such a +mist before our eyes, we have +looked up, and through his will +have laid aside the cloud wherewith +we were surrounded. + +9 For he had compassion upon +us, and being moved in his bowels +towards us, he saved us; having +beheld in us much error, and +destruction; and seeing that we had +no hope of salvation, but only +through him. + +10 For he called us, who were +not; and was pleased from nothing +to give us being. + + + +CHAPTER II. + + 1 That God had before prophesied by Isaiah, + that the Gentiles should be saved; + 8 And that this ought to engage, such especially + to live well; without which they will still miscarry. + +REJOICE, thou barren, that +bearest not, break forth and +cry thou that travailest not; for +she that is desolate hath many +more children than she that hath +a husband. + +2 In that saying, Rejoice thou +barren that bearest not, he spake +of us: for our church was barren +before children were given unto it. + +3 And again; when he said, +Cry thou that travailest not: +he implied thus much: That after +the manner of a woman in travail, +we should not cease to put up our +prayers unto God abundantly. + +4 And for what follows, because +she that is desolate hath more +children than she that hath a husband; +it was therefore added, because +our people which seemed to have +been forsaken by God, now believing +in him, are become more than they +who seemed to have God. + +5 And another Scripture saith, +a I came not to call the righteous +but sinners (to repentance). The +meaning of which is this; that +those who were lost must be saved: + +6 For that is, indeed, truly great +and wonderful, not to confirm those +things that are yet standing, but +those which are falling, + +7 Even so did it seem good to +Christ to save what was lost; and +when he came into the world, he +saved many, and called us who +were already lost. + +8 Seeing then he has showed +so great mercy towards us; and +chiefly for that we who are alive, +do now no longer sacrifice to dead +Gods, nor pay any worship to +them, but have by him been +brought to the knowledge of +the Father of truth. + +9 Whereby shall we show that +we do indeed know him, and by +not denying him by whom we +have come to the knowledge of +him. + +10 For even he himself saith, +Whosoever shall confess me before +men, him will I confess before +my Father. This therefore is our +reward, if we shall confess him by +whom we have been saved. + +11 But, wherein must we confess +him?--Namely, in doing those +things which he saith, and not +disobeying his commandments +by worshipping him not with +our lips only, but with all our +heart, and with all our mind. For +he saith in Isaiah; This people +honoureth me with their lips, but +their heart is far from me. + +12 Let us then not only call +him Lord; for that will not save +us. For he saith: Not everyone +that saith unto me Lord, Lord, +shall be saved, but he that doth +righteousness. + +13 Wherefore, brethren, +let us confess him by our works; +by loving one another; in not +committing adultery, not speaking +evil against each other, not envying +one another; but by being temperate, +merciful, good. + +14 Let us also have a mutual +sense of one another's sufferings; +and not be covetous of money; but +let us, by our good works, confess +God, and not by those that are +otherwise. + +15 Also let us not fear men: but +rather God. Wherefore, if we +should do such wicked things, the +Lord hath said; Though ye should +be joined unto me, even in my very +bosom, and not keep my commandments, +I would cast you off, and say unto +you; Depart from me; I know not +whence you are, ye workers of iniquity. + + + +CHAPTER III. + + 1 That, whilst we secure the other world, + we need not fear what can befall its in this. + 5 That, if we follow the interests of this present world, + we cannot escape the punishment of the other. + 10 Which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness, + 14 and that presently: because in this world + is the only time for repentance. + +THEREFORE brethren, leaving +willingly for conscience sake +our sojourning in this world, +let us do the will of him who has +called us, and not fear to depart +out of this world. + +2 For the Lord saith, Ye shall +be as sheep in the midst of wolves. +Peter answered and said, What if +the wolves shall tear in pieces the +sheep? Jesus said unto Peter, +Let not the sheep fear the wolves +after death: And ye also fear not +those that kill you, and after that +have no more than they can do unto +you; but fear him who after you +are dead, has power to cast both +soul and body into hell-fire. + +3 For consider, brethren, that +the sojourning of this flesh in the +present world, is but little, and of +a short continuance, but the promise +of Christ is great and wonderful, +even the rest of the kingdom +that is to come, and of eternal life. + +4 What then must we do that +we may attain unto it?--We must +order our conversation, holy and +righteously, and look upon all the +things of this world as none of +ours, and not desire them. For, +if we desire to possess them we +fall from the way of righteousness. + +5 For thus saith the Lord, No +servant can serve two masters. If +therefore we shall desire to serve +God and Mammon, it will be without +profit to us. For what will it profit, +if one gain the vole world, and lose +his own soul? + +6 Now this world and that +to come are two enemies. This +speaketh of adultery and corruption, +of covetousness and deceit; but that +renounces these things. + +7 We cannot, therefore, be the +friends of both; but we must +resolve by forsaking the one, +to enjoy the other. And we think +it is better to hate the present +things, as little, short-lived, +and corruptible; and to love +those which are to come, which +are truly good and incorruptible. + +8 For, if we do the will of +Christ, we shall find rest: +but if not, nothing shall deliver +us from eternal punishment if we +shall disobey his commands. For +even thus saith the Scripture in +the prophet Ezekiel, If Noah, Job, +and Daniel should rise up, they +shall not deliver their children in +captivity. + +9 Wherefore, if such righteous +men are not able by their +righteousness to deliver their +children; how can we hope to +enter into the kingdom of God, +except we keep our baptism holy +and undefiled? Or who shall be +our advocate, unless we shall +be found to have done what is holy +and just? + +10 Let us, therefore, my brethren, +contend with all earnestness, +knowing that our combat is at +hand; and that many go long +voyages to encounter for a +corruptible reward. + +11 And yet all are not crowned, +but they only that labour much, +and strive gloriously. Let us, +therefore, so contend, that we may +all be crowned. Let us run in the +straight road, the race that is +incorruptible: and let us in great +numbers pass unto it, and strive +that we may receive the crown. +But if we cannot all be crowned, +let us come as near to it as we are +able. + +12 Moreover, we must consider, +that he who contends in a corruptible +combat; if he be found doing anything +that is not fair, is taken away and +scourged, and cast out of the lists. +What think ye then that he shall +suffer, who does anything that is +not fitting in the combat of +immortality? + +13 Thus speaks the prophet +concerning those who keep not +their seal; Their worm shall not +die, and their, fire shall not be +quenched; and they shall be for a +spectacle unto all flesh. + +14 Let us therefore repent, whilst +we are yet upon the earth: for we +are as clay in the hand of the +artificer. For the potter if he +make a vessel, and it be turned +amiss in his hands, or broken, +again forms it anew; but if he has +gone so far as to throw it into the +furnace of fire, he can no more +bring any remedy to it. + +15 So we, whilst we are in this +world should repent with our whole +heart for whatsoever evil we have +done in the flesh; while we have +yet the time of repentance, that +we may be saved by the Lord. + +16 For after we shall have +departed out of this world, we +shall no longer be able either +to confess our sins or repent +in the other. + +17 Wherefore, brethren, let us, +doing the will of the Father, +and keeping our flesh pure, +and observing the commandments +of the Lord, lay hold on eternal +life: for the Lord saith in the +Gospel, If ye have not kept that +which was little, who will give +you that which is great?-- +For I say unto you, he that is +faithful in that which is +least, is faithful also in much. + +18 This, therefore, is what he +saith; keep your bodies pure, and +your seal without spot, that ye +may receive eternal life. + + + +CHAPTER IV. + + We shall rise, and be judged, in our bodies; + therefore we must live well in them; + 6 that we ought, for our own interest, + to live well; though few seem to + mind what, really is for their advantage; + 10 and we should not deceive ourselves: + seeing God will certainly judge us, + and render to all of us according to our works. + +AND let not any one among you +say, that this very flesh is +not judged, neither raised up. +Consider, in what were you saved +in what did you look up, if not +whilst you were in the flesh? + +2 We must, therefore, keep our +flesh as the temple of God. For +in like manner as ye were called +in the flesh, ye shall also come +to judgment in the flesh. Our one +Lord Jesus Christ, who has saved +us, being first a spirit, was made +flesh, and so called us; even so we +also shall in this flesh receive the +reward. + +3 Let us, therefore, love one +another, that we may attain unto +the kingdom of God. Whilst we +have time to be healed, let us +deliver up ourselves to God our +physician, giving our reward unto +him. + +4 And what reward shall we +give?--Repentance out of a pure +heart. For he knows all things +beforehand, and searches out our +very hearts. + +5 Let us, therefore, give praise +unto him: not only with our +mouths, but with all our souls; +that he may receive us as children. +For so the Lord hath said; They +are my brethren, who do the will +of my father. + +6 Wherefore, my brethren, +let us do the will of the Father, +who hath called us, that we may +live. Let us pursue virtue, and +forsake wickedness, which leadeth +us into sins; and let us flee all +ungodliness, that evils overtake +us not. + +7 For, if we shall do our diligence +to live well, peace shall follow us. +And yet how hard is it to find a man +that does this? For almost all are +led by human fears, choosing rather +the present enjoyments, than the +future promise. + +8 For they know not how great +a torment the present enjoyments +bring with them; nor what delights +the future promise. + +9 And if they themselves only +did this, it might the more easily +be endured; but now they go on +to infect innocent souls with their +evil doctrines; not knowing that +both themselves, and those that +hear them, shall receive a double +condemnation. + +10 Let us, therefore, serve +God with a pure heart, and we +shall be righteous: but if we shall +not serve him, because we do not +believe the promise of God, we +shall be miserable. + +11 For thus saith the prophet; +Miserable are the double-minded, +who doubt in their heart, and say, +these things we have heard, even. +in the time of our fathers, but we +have seen none of them, though +we have expected them from day +to day. + +12 O ye fools! compare yourselves +to a tree; take the vine for an +example. First it sheds its leaves, +then it buds, then come the sour +grapes, then the ripe fruit; +even so my people has borne its +disorders and afflictions, but shall +hereafter receive good things. + +13 Wherefore my brethren, let +us not doubt in our minds, but let +us expect with hope, that we may +receive our reward; for he is +faithful, who has promised that +he will render to everyone a +reward according to his works. + +14 If, therefore, we shall do +what is just in the sight of God +we shall enter into his kingdom, +and shall receive the promises; +Which neither eye has seen, nor +ear heard, nor have entered into +the heart of man. + +15 Wherefore let us every +hour expect the kingdom of God +in love and righteousness; because +we know not the day of God's +appearing. + + + +CHAPTER V. + +A FRAGMENT. + + Man's immortal nature a type of the Lord's kingdom. + +1 * * * For the Lord +himself, being asked by a certain +person, When his kingdom should +come? answered, When two shall +be one, and that which is without +as that which is within; and the +male with the female, neither male +nor female. + +2 Now two are one, when we +speak the truth to each other, and +there is (without hypocrisy) one +seal in two bodies: + +3 And that which is without as +that which, is within;--He means +this; he calls the soul that which +is within, and the body that which +is without. As therefore thy body +appears, so let thy soul be seen by +its good works. + +4 And the male with, the female, +neither Male nor female;--He +means this; he calls our anger +the male, our concupiscence the +female. + +5 When therefore a man is come +to such a pass that he is subject +neither to the one nor the other of +these (both of which, through the +prevalence of custom, and an evil +education, cloud and darken the +reason,) + +6 But rather, having dispelled +the mist arising from them, and +being full of shame, shall by +repentance have united both his +soul and spirit in the obedience +of reason; then, as Paul says, there is +in us neither male nor female. + + + + REFERENCE TO THE SECOND EPISTLE THE CORINTHIANS. + +[Archbishop Wake is the translator of this Second Epistle, which he says +was not of so great reputation among the primitive Fathers as the first. +He defends it notwithstanding; and in answer to those who objected to +Clement's First Epistle, that it did not duly honour the Trinity; the +Archbishop refers to this as containing proof of the writer's fulness of +belief on that point.] + + + + + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK FORBIDDEN GOSPELS, BY WAKE, V6 *** + +********* This file should be named 6512.txt or 6512.zip ********** + +This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net> + +Project Gutenberg eBooks are often created from several printed +editions, all of which are confirmed as Public Domain in the US +unless a copyright notice is included. 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