The FIRST EPISTLE of CLEMENT to the CORINTHIANS.
CHAP. I. He 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.
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. As also of that wicked and detestable
sedition, so unbecoming the elect of God, which a few heady 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. For
who that has ever been among you has not experimented 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? 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.
Ye commanded
the young men to think those things that were modest and grave. 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.
Ye were all of you humble minded, not boasting of
any thing: desiring rather to be subject than to govern; to give
than to receive; being content with the portion God
hath dispensed to you; and hearkening diligently to his word, ye were enlarged in your bowels, having his suffering always before your eyes. 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. 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 any thing ye had
unwillingly sinned against him. Ye contended day and night for the whole
brotherhood; that with compassion and a good conscience,
the number of his elect might be saved. Ye were sincere, and without offence
towards each other; not mindful of injuries; all sedition and schism was an
abomination unto you. Ye bewailed every one his
neighbour's sins, esteeming their defects your own. 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 commandments were written
upon the tables of your heart.
CHAP. 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. From hence came emulation, and envy, and strife, and
sedition; persecution and disorder, war and captivity. 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. 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:
But every one follows his own wicked lusts: having
taken up an unjust and wicked envy, by which death first entered into the
world.
CHAP. 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: 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. 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. 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”.
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. 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 Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he
heard his own countrymen ask him, “Who made thee a Judge, and a ruler over us?
Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?”
Through envy
Aaron and Miriam were shut out of the camp, from the rest
of the congregation seven days. Emulation sent Dathan and Abiram quick into the
grave because they raised up a sedition against
Moses the servant of God. For this David was not only
hated of strangers, but was persecuted even by Saul the king of Israel. But not to insist upon antient examples, let us come to those worthies that have been nearest to us; and take the brave
examples of our own age. Through zeal and envy, the
most faithful and righteous pillars of the church
have been persecuted even to the most grievous deaths.
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. 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: 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, and departed out of the world, and went unto his holy
place; being become a most eminent pattern of patience unto all ages.
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. 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. 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 bone, and flesh of my flesh. In
a word, envy and strife, have overturned whole cities, and
rooted out great nations from off the earth.
CHAP. IV. He exhorts them to live by the 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. For we are all in the same lists,
and the same combat is prepared for us all. 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. Let us consider what is good, and
acceptable and well-pleasing in the sight of him that made us. 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. Let us search
into all the ages that have gone before us; and let us learn that our Lord has in every one of them still given place for repentance to all
such as would turn to him. Noah preached
repentance; and as many as hearkened to him were saved. Jonah denounced destruction against the
Ninevites: Howbeit they repenting of their sins, appeased God by their prayers:
and were saved, though they were strangers to the covenant
of God. 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; “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. 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”.
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. 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 he red as crimson, they shall be as wool. If ye he 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”.
These things
has God established by his Almighty will, desiring that all his beloved should
come to repentance.
CHAP. V. He sets before them the examples of holy men, whose piety
is recorded in the Scriptures.
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. 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. 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. Abraham, who was called God's friend, was in like
manner found faithful; inasmuch as he obeyed the commands
of God. 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. 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. 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”. And again when he separated himself from Lot, God
said unto him; “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. 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”. 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. And Abraham believed God,
and it was counted to him for righteousness”. 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 unto him.
CHAP. VI. And particularly such as have been eminent for their kindness
and charity to their neighbours.
BY hospitality and godliness was Lot saved out of Sodom, when
all the country round about was destroyed by fire and
brimstone: 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. 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. 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.
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. Rahab therefore being hospitable, received them, and hid them
under the stalks of flax, on the top of her house. 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. 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”. And they answered
her, saying, It shall be as thou hast spoken to us. “Therefore,
when thou shalt know that we are near thou shalt gather all thy family together
upon the housetop, and they shall be saved: but all that shall be found without
thy house, shall be destroyed”. And they gave her moreover a sign: that she
should hang out of her house a scarlet rope; sheaving
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
prophecy too in this woman.
CHAP. VII. What rules are given for this purpose.
LET us,
therefore, humble ourselves, brethren, laying aside all pride, and boasting,
and foolishness, and anger: And let us do as it is written. 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”. Above all, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus,
which he spake concerning equity
and long suffering, saying, “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”. 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. 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”. 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. 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. But let us
be kind to one another, according to the compassion and sweetness of him that
made us. 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”. And again he
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”.
Keep innocently,
and do the thing that is right, for there shall be a remnant to the peaceable
man. Let us, therefore, hold fast to those who religiously
follow peace; and not to such as only
pretend to desire. For he saith in a certain place, “This
people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart
is far from me”. And again, “They bless with their mouths, but curse in their
hearts”. 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. 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. 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.
CHAP. VIII. He advises them to be humble; and that from 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. 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.” He hath no form or comeliness, and when we
shall see him, there is no beauty that we should desire him. He is despised and
rejected of men; a man of sorrows and acquainted with grief And we hid, as it
were, our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. Surely he
hath born our griefs, and carried our sorrows: yet we did esteem him stricken,
smitten of God, and afflicted. 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. 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. 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. He was taken from prison, and from judgment; and who shall declare
his generation? For he was cut off out of the land of the living, for the
transgressions of my people was he stricken. 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. 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 in his hand. 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. 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 into death; and he was numbered with the transgressors, and he
bare the sin of many, and made intercession for the transgressors. 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.”
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? Let us be followers of those who went about in
goat-skins and sheep-skins; preaching the coming of Christ. Such were Elias,
and Elisaeus, and Ezekiel the prophets. And let us add to these such others as have received the
like testimony. 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”. 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,
says, “No man is free from pollution, no not though
he should live but one day”.
Moses was
called faithful in all God's House; and by his conduct the
Lord punished Israel by stripes and plagues. And even this man, though thus
greatly honoured, spoke 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”. And again he
saith, “I am as the smoke of the pot”.
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”. But yet be 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. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my
sin! For I acknowledge my transgressions, and my sin is ever before me. Against
Thee only have I sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest,
and be clear when thou judgest. Behold I was shapen in iniquity, and in sin did my mother conceive me. Behold,
thou desireth truth in the inward parts; and in the
hidden part thou shalt make me to know wisdom. Purge me with hyssop and I shall
be clean, wash me and I shall be whiter than snow. Make me to hear joy and
gladness, that the bones which thou hast broken may rejoice. 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. Cast me not away
from thy presence, and take not thy holy spirit from me. Restore unto me the
joy of thy salvation, and uphold me with thy free spirit. Then I will teach
transgressors thy ways, and sinners shall be converted unto thee. Deliver me
from blood-guiltiness, O God, thou God of my salvation, and my tongue shall
sing aloud of thy righteousness. O Lord open thou my lips, and my mouth shall
show forth thy praise. For thou desirest not
sacrifice, else would I give it; thou delightest not
in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit, a broken and a
contrite heart, O God, thou wilt not despise”.
CHAP. 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. 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; 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. 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.
The heavens
moving by his appointment, are subject to him in peace. Day and night
accomplish the courses that he has allotted unto them, not disturbing one
another. 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. 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. So also the unfathomable and unsearchable floods of
the deep, are kept in by his command; 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; but as he appointed it,
so it remains. For he said, “Hitherto shalt thou come, and
thy floods shall be broken within thee”.
The ocean,
unpassable to mankind, and the worlds that are beyond it, are governed by the
same commands of their great master. Spring and summer, autumn and winter, give
place peaceably to each other. The several quarters of the
winds fulfil their work in their seasons, without
offending one another. The ever-flowing fountains, made both for pleasure and
health, never fail to reach out their breasts to support the life of men. Even
the smallest creatures live together in peace and concord with each other. All these has the Great Creator
and Lord of all, commanded to observe peace and concord; being good to all. 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.
CHAP. 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 us to condemnation;
except we shall walk worthy of him, doing with one
consent what is good and pleasing in his sight. The spirit of the Lord is a candle,
searching out the inward of the belly. 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. It is therefore just that we
should not forsake our rank, by doing contrary to his will. Let us choose to
offend a few foolish and inconsiderate men, lifted up and glorying in their own pride, rather than God. Let us reverence
our Lord Jesus Christ whose blood was given for us. 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. Our wives let us direct to do
that which is good. Let them show forth a lovely habit of purity in all their
conversation; with a sincere affection of meekness. Let the government
of their tongues be made manifest by their silence. Let
their charity be without respect of persons alike towards all such as
religiously fear God. Let your children be bred up in the instruction of Christ: 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. 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. “Come ye
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? Keep thy tongue from evil, and thy lips that they speak no guile.
Depart from evil and do good; seek peace and ensue it. The eyes of the Lord are
upon the righteous, and his ears are open unto their prayers. But the face of
the Lord is against them that do evil, to cut off the remembrance of them from
the earth. The righteous cried, and the Lord heard him, and delivered him out
of all his troubles. Many are the troubles of the wicked; but they that trust
in the Lord, mercy shall encompass them about”.
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. Wherefore let us not waver,
neither let us have any doubt in our hearts, of his excellent and glorious
gifts. Let that be far from us which is written, “Miserable
are the double-minded, and those who are doubtful in their hearts. 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”.
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. Ye
see how in a little time the fruit of the tree comes to maturity. Of a truth,
yet a little while and his will shall suddenly be accomplished.
The Holy
Scripture itself bearing witness, That “He shall quickly
come and not tarry, and that the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple, even
the holy ones whom ye look for”.
Let us
consider, beloved, how the Lord does continually shew 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. Let us contemplate,
beloved, the resurrection that is continually made before
our eyes. Day and night manifest a resurrection to us. The night lies down, and
the day arises: main the day departs, and the night comes on. 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. And from the dissolution, the great power of the providence
of the Lord raises it again; and of one seed many arise, and bring forth fruit.
CHAP. 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.
There is a
certain bird called a Phœnix; 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. 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 parents lie, and carries it from Arabia into Egypt,
to a city called Heliopolis. 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. The
priests then search into the records of the time; and find that it returned
precisely at the end of five hundred years. 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 him in the assurance of good faith, when even
by a bird he shews us the greatness of his power to fulfil his promise? For he
says in a certain place, “Thou shalt raise me up, and I shall confess unto thee”.
And again “I laid me down and slept, and awaked, because
thou art with me”. And again, Job says, “Thou shalt
raise up this flesh of mine, that has suffered all these things”.
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? For nothing is
impossible with God but to lie.
Let his faith
then be stirred up again in us; and let us consider that all things are nigh
unto him. By the word of his power he made all things; and
by the same word he is able (whenever he will), to destroy
them.
Who shall say
unto him, what dost thou? or who shall resist the power of his strength? When, and as he
pleased, he will do all things; and nothing shall pass
away of all that has been determined by him. All things are open before him;
nor can anything be hid from his council.
The heavens
declare the glory of God, and the firmament sheweth his handy work. Day unto day uttereth speech, and
night unto night sheweth knowledge. There is no
speech nor language where their voice is not heard.
CHAP. 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. For whither can any of us flee from his mighty hand? Or what world shall
receive any of those who run away from him? 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? If I ascend up into heaven, thou
art there; if I shall go to the utmost part of the earth, there is thy right
hand: If I shall make my bed in the deep, thy Spirit is there. Whither then
shall any one go; or whither shall he run from him that comprehends all things?”
Let us
therefore come to him with holiness of heart, lifting up
chaste and undefiled hands unto him; loving our gracious and merciful Father,
who has made us to partake of his election. 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”.
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 flower; the Most
Holy shall come out of that nation”.
CHAP. XIV. How we must live that we may please God.
WHEREFORE we
being a part of the Holy One, let us do all those things that pertain unto
holiness: 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. “For
God, saith he, resisteth the proud, but giveth grace to
the humble”.
Let us
therefore hold fast to those to whom God has given
His grace. And let us put on concord, being humble, temperate; free from all
whispering and detraction; and justified by our actions,
not our words. For he saith, “Doth he that speaketh and heareth many things, and that 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.
Let our praise
be of God, not of ourselves; for God hates those that commend
themselves. Let the witness of our good actions be given to us of others, as it
was given to the holy men that went before us. 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. Let us then lay hold of his blessing, and let us consider what are the ways by which we may attain unto it. Let
us look back upon those things that have happened from the
beginning.
For what was
our father Abraham blessed? Was it not because that through faith he wrought righteousness
and truth? 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.
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. For from
him came the priests and Levites, who all ministered at the altar of God. From
him came our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. From him came the kings,
and princes, and rulers in Judah. Nor were the rest of his tribes in any small
glory: God having promised that thy seed (says he) shall
be as the stars of heaven.
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. 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: But by that faith by which God Almighty has justified
all men from the beginning; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
CHAP. XV. We are justified by faith; yet this must not lessen our care
to live well, 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. 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. By his Almighty power he fixed the heavens,
and by his incomprehensible wisdom he adorned them. 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. He also by his appointment, commanded all
the living creatures that are upon it, to exist. So likewise the sea, and all
the creatures that are in it; having first created them, he enclosed them
therein by his power. 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. For so God says, “Let us make man in our image, after our own likeness. So
God created man, male and female created he them. And having thus finished all
these things, he commended all that he had made, and blessed them, and said, increase and multiply”.
We see how all righteous men have been adorned with good works: Wherefore even
the Lord himself, having adorned himself with his works, rejoiced. Having
therefore such an example, let us without delay, fulfil his will; and with all our strength, work the work of
righteousness.
CHAP. XVI. This 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. We
must therefore be ready and forward in well doing; for from him are all things.
And thus he foretells us, “behold the Lord cometh, and his
reward is with him, even before his face, to render to every one according to
his work”. He warns us therefore beforehand, with all his heart to this end,
that we should not be slothful and negligent in well
doing.
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. 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 Sabaoth: The whole earth is full of his glory”.
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. For he saith, “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”.
CHAP. XVII.We must attain unto this
reward by faith and obedience, which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of
the duties of our several stations, without envy or contention. The
necessity of different orders among men. 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. Life in immortality! brightness in
righteousness! truth in full assurance! faith in confidence! temperance in
holiness! And all this has God subjected to our
understandings: What therefore shall those things be which he has prepared for
them that wait for him?
The Creator and
Father of spirits, the Most Holy; he only knows both the greatness
and beauty of them. 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 thereward which he has promised. 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. 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; vainglory and ambition; 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. 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 the mouth?
Seeing that thou hatest instruction, and castest my words behind thee. When thou sawest a
thief, then thou consentedst with him; and 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. 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”.
Now consider
this ye that forget God, lest I tear you in pieces, and there be none to
deliver. Whoso offereth praise, glorifieth me: and to him that disposeth his way aright, will I shew the salvation of God. 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. By him we look up
to the highest heavens; and behold, as in a glass, his
spotless and most excellent visage. By him are the eyes of our hearts opened;
by him our foolish and darkened understanding rejoiceth to behold his wonderful light. 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 he has by inheritance obtained a more
excellent name than they”. For so it is written, “who maketh his angels spirits, and his ministers a flame of
fire: But to his son, thus saith the Lord, Thou art my Son, today have I begotten thee. Ask
of me, and I will give thee the heathen for thy inheritance, and the utmost
parts of the earth for thy possession”. And again he saith unto him, “Sit thou on my right hand until I make thine enemies my footstool”.
But who are his
enemies? even the wicked, and such who oppose their own wills to the will of
God. Let us therefore march on, men and brethren, with all
earnestness in his holy laws. 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. All are not generals,
nor colonels, nor captains, nor
inferior officers. But every one in his respective rank does what is commanded him by the king, and those who
have the authority over him. They who are great, cannot subsist without those
that are little; nor the little without the great. But there must be a mixture
in all things, and then there will be use and profit too. Let us, for example, take our
body: the head without the feet is nothing, neither the feet without the head. And
even the smallest members of our body are yet both necessary and useful to the
whole body. But all conspire together, and are
subject to one common use, namely, the preservation of the whole body.
Let therefore
our whole body be saved in Christ Jesus; and let every one be subject to his neighbour, according to the order in
which he is placed by the gift of God. Let not the strong
man despise the weak; and let the weak see that he reverence the strong.
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.
Let the wise
man shew forth his wisdom, not in words, but in good works.
Let him that is
humble, not bear witness to himself, but let him leave it to another to bear
witness of him.
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.
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.
He that made
us, and formed us, brought us into his own world; having presented
us with his benefits, even before we were born.
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.
CHAP. XVIII. From
whence he 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 set up themselves in their own
conceits; but what can a mortal man do? Or what strength is there in him that
is made out of the dust? For it is written, “there was no shape before mine
eyes; only I heard a sound and a voice”. For what?
Shall man be pure before the Lord? Shall he be blameless in his works? “Behold,
he trusteth not in his servants; and his angels he chargeth with folly”. 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? 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. Call
now if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the angels wilt thou
look? For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth him that is in error.
“I have seen
the foolish taking root, but lo, their habitation was presently consumed. 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. For what was prepared for them, the righteous did eat: and they shall not be delivered from evil”.
Seeing then
these things are manifest unto us, it will behoove 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. 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. 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.
They therefore
who make their offerings at the appointed seasons, are happy and accepted: because
that obeying the commandments of the Lord, they are free from sin. And the same
care must be had of the persons that minister unto him. For the chief-priest
has his proper services; and to the priests their proper place is appointed;
and to the Levites appertain their proper ministries: and the layman is
confined within the bounds of what is commanded to laymen.
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.
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. They therefore who do anything which is not agreeable to His
will are punished with death. Consider, brethren, that by how much the
better knowledge God has vouchsafed unto us by so much the greater danger are
we exposed to.
CHAP. XIX. The orders of Ministers in Christ's Church established by the
Apostles according to Christ's command, after the example of
Moses. 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. Christ
therefore was sent by God, the Apostles by Christ; so both were orderly sent, according to the will of God. 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. 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.
Nor was this
any new thing: seeing that long before it was written concerning bishops and
deacons. For thus saith the Scripture, in a certain place: “I will appoint their overseers in righteousness, and
their ministers in faith”.
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. Whom also all the rest of the prophets
followed, bearing witness with one consent to those things that were appointed
by him. 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. 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. 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. And when the
morning was come, he called together all Israel, six hundred thousand men; and
shewed to the princes their seals; and opened the tabernacle of witness; and
brought forth the rods. And the rod of Aaron was found not only to have
blossomed, but also to have fruit upon it”.
What think you,
beloved? Did not Moses before know what should
happen?
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 him be
honour for ever and ever, Amen.
So likewise our
Apostles knew by our Lord Jesus Christ, that there should contentions arise,
upon account of the ministry. And therefore having
a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed persons, as we have before
said, and then gave direction, how, when they should die,
other chosen and approved men should succeed in their ministry. 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 Christ, in peace, and
without self-interest, and were for a long time commended by all. 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.
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. But we see how you have put out some, who lived reputably
among you, from the ministry, which by their innocence they had adorned.
CHAP. XX. He exhorts them to peace from examples out of the Holy Scriptures, particularly
from St. Paul's exhortation to them.
YE are
contentious, brethren, and zealous for things that pertain not unto salvation. 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. There you shall
not find that righteous men were ever cast off by such as were good themselves. They were persecuted, but it was by the wicked and unjust. They
were cast into prison; but they were cast in by those that were unholy. They
were stoned; but it was by transgressors. They were killed; but by accursed
men, and such as had taken up an unjust envy against them. And all these things
they underwent gloriously. For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast
into the den of lions, by men fearing God? Ananias, Azarius, and Misael, were they cast
into the fiery furnace by men, professing
the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? God forbid.
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.
But they who
with a full persuasion have endured these things, and
are made partakers of glory and honour: and are
exalted and lifted up by God in their memorial throughout all ages, Amen. Wherefore
it will behoove 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. 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”.
Let us
therefore join ourselves to the innocent and righteous; for such are the elect
of God. Wherefore are there strifes, and anger, and
divisions, and schisms, and wars, among us? 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? Why then do we rend 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? Remember the words of our Lord Jesus, how he said, Wo 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 millstone should be
tied about his neck, and he should be cast into the sea, than that he should
offend one of my little ones. 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.
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? 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. 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.
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? 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. And this report is come not only to us, but to those also that differ
from us. Insomuch that the name of the Lord is blasphemed through your folly;
and even ye yourselves are brought into danger by it. 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. For this is the gate of righteousness,
opening unto life: as it is written, “Open unto me the
gates of righteousness; I will go in unto them and will praise the Lord. This
is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it”.
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.
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. 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 behoove him to be humble-minded; and to seek what is profitable to all men, and not his
own advantage.
CHAP. XXI. 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. 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?
The height to
which charity leads is inexpressible. Charity unites us to
God; charity covers the multitude of sins: charity endures all things, is long-suffering in all things.
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. By charity were all the elect of God made perfect: Without it
nothing is pleasing and acceptable in the sight of God. Through charity did the
Lord join us unto 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.
Ye see,
beloved, how great and wonderful a thing charity is: and how that no
expressions are sufficient to declare its perfection. But who is fit to be found
in it? Even such only as God shall vouchsafe to make so. Let us therefore pray
to him, and beseech him, that we may be worthy of it; that so we may live in
charity; being unblameable, without human propensities, without respect of persons.
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. 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”.
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. 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”.
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.
CHAP. XXII. He exhorts such as have been concerned in these divisions to
repent, and return to their unity, confessing their sin to God, which he
enforces from the example of Moses, and of many among the heathen, 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. 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. 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. For it is seemly for
a man to confess wherein he has transgressed. 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.
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.
Beloved, God is
rot indigent of any thing; nor does he demand any thing of us, but that we should confess our sins unto
him. 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”. 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”.
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. 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”. And the Lord said unto him, “I have spoken
unto thee several times, saying I have seen this people,
and behold it is a stiffnecked 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”. 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.
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. 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”.
These things
they who have their conversation towards God not to be repented of, both have
done and will always be ready! to do. Nay and even the Gentiles themselves have
given us! examples of this kind. 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. Others have forsaken their cities, so that they might put an end
to the seditions of them”.
We know how
many among ourselves, have given up themselves unto bonds, that thereby they
might free others from them. Others have sold themselves into bondage that they
might feed their brethren with the price of themselves. And
even many women, being strengthened by the grace of God, have done many
glorious and manly things on such occasions.
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 bore to
her country and her people that were besieged; and the Lord delivered
Holofernes into the hands of a woman. 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.
CHAP. 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 will of God. 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.
Let us receive
correction, at which no man ought to repine.
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. 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”. “The righteous”, saith
he, “shall instruct me in mercy and reprove me; but let not oil of sinners make
fat my head”. And again he saith, “Happy is the man whom
God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the
chastening of the Almighty. For he maketh sore and bindeth up; he woundeth and his hands make whole. 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. Thou shalt be
hid from the scourge of the tongue; neither shalt thou be afraid of destruction
when it cometh. 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. Then shalt thou know that thy house shall be in peace; and the habitation
of thy tabernacle shall not err. Thou shalt know also that thy seed shall be
great and thy offspring as the grass of the earth. 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”.
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
discipline.
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. Learn to be subject, laying aside all proud and arrogant
boasting of your tongues. 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. 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. Because I
called and ye would not hear, I stretched out my words and ye regarded not. 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. When your fear cometh
as desolation, and your destruction as a whirlwind, when distress and anguish
cometh upon you. 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. 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.
CHAP. XXIV.
Recommends
there to God. Desires speedily to hear that this Epistle has had a good effect
upon them. 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; 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.
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.
The Grace of
our Lord Jesus Christ be with you, and with all that are anywhere called by God
through him: To whom be honour and glory, and might and majesty, and eternal
dominion, by Christ Jesus, from everlasting to
everlasting. Amen.