Introductory Notice CLEMENT. to the Epistle. 8 And while they were saying | large a degree as that a man this, they laid hold on her by main might enter in; she did as she was force, and would have ravished commanded, bravely fled from the her. Then she with the (greatest) vile crew, and went into the rock, mildness said to them: Young which instantly so closed, that men have patience, and see the there was not any crack visible glory of the Lord. where it had opened. 13 The men stood perfectly as cle, and had no power to detain the servant of God; but only, catching hold of her veil, or hood they tore off a piece of it; 9 And while they held her, she looked up to heaven and said; Otonished at so prodigious a miraGod most reverend, to whom none can be likened; who makest thyself glorious over thine enemies; who didst deliver me from the fire, and didst not give me up to Thamyris, didst not give me up to Alexander; who deliveredst me from the wild beasts; who didst preserve me in the deep waters; who hast every where been my helper, and hast glorified thy name in me; 14 And even that was by the permission of God, for the confirmation of their faith who should, come to see this venerable place, and to convey blessings to those in succeeding ages, who should believe on our Lord Jesus Christ from a pure heart. 15 Thus suffered that first martyr and apostle of God, and virgin, Thecla; who came from Iconium at eighteen years of age; afterwards, partly in journeys and travels, and partly in a monastic life in the cave, she lived seventytwo years; so that she was ninety years old when the Lord translated her. 16 Thus ends her life. 17 The day which is kept sacred to her memory, is the twenty-fourth of September, to the glory of the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Ghost, now and for evermore. Amen. The FIRST EPISTLE of CLEMENT 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 apostolical man, and Rufinus 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 Clements 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 harin either in giving credit to such a wonder, or, believing it, to make such a use as he here dues 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 increas snd confirmation both of our faith and our charity. 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: 9 8 15 Ye were all of you humble minded, not 16 boasting of any thing: desiring rather to be sulject than to govern; to 17 give than to receive; being 18 content with the portion God hath dispensed to you: 9 And hearkening diligently to his word, ye 19 were enlarged in your bowels, having his 20 sufferings always before your eyes. 10 Thus a firm, and 21 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 22 good designs, ye did with 23 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 he had unwillingly sinned against him. 12 Ye contended day and night for the whole brotherhood; that 24 with compassion and a good conscience, the number of his elect might be saved. 1 Sojourneth. Called. See Hammond on Matt. xx. 3 Gr. in. See Bp. Fearson's note on this place. Ed. Colomesii. p. 2. 5 Ibid. 6 And. 7 Gr. Strange Gr. Lodged as a stranger. Adorned with all manner of virtues. 10 In Presbyters. 12 Canon, rule. 13 Themselves do their own business. Vid. Not Junii in loc. 14 Temperance, sobriety. 15 1 Pet. v. 5. 16 Proud. 17 Acts, xx. 35. 18 1. Tim. vi. 8. 19 Embraced it in your very bowels. 20 aðŋμata. See Dr. Grabe's Addit. to Bp. Bull's Def. fid. Nic. p. 60. 61. 21 Gr. γιπαρα 13 Holy counsel, or purpose, or will. 23 Gr. good. 24 With mercy and conscience 15 Ye were kind one to another without grudging; being ready to every good work. And being adorned with a conversa-pass, tion altogether virtuous and religious, ye did all things in the fear of God; whose commandments were written upon the tables of your heart. A1 2 CHAP. II. How their divisions began. LL 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. 4 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 5 follows his 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 ? 7 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 10this our father 11 Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau. 6 It was this that caused 12Joseph to be persecuted even unto death, and to come into bondage. Envy forced 13 Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, 2 Prov. Ye were without repentance in all well-doing. Titus, in. 1. vii. 3. 3 Deut. xxxii. 15. Confusion, tumults, &c. 6 Walketh after. Gen. iv. 3. &c. This is according to the LXX. > 8 Αποστροφη, conversion. 11 Gen. xxviii. 12 Gen. xxxvii. 13 Exodus, • Fratricide. ii. 15. 10 Envy. I. CLEMENT. They were caused by when he heard his own countryman ask him, 1 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 2 shut out of the camp, from the rest of the congregation seven days. 83 Emulation sent Dathan and Abiram quick into the 5 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. 8 10 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. 11 Through zeal and envy, the most faithful and righteous 10pillars of the church have been persecuted even to the most grievous deaths. 12 Let us set before our eyes the holy Apostles; Peter by unjust envy underwent not one or two, but many sufferings; 12till at last being martyred, he went to the place of glory that was due unto him. 13 13 For the same cause did Paul in like manner receive the reward of his patience. Seven times 14 he was in bonds; he was whipped, was stoned; he preached both in the East and in the West; 15 leaving behind him the glorious report of his faith: envy and emulation 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 16 by the command of the governors, 15 And departed out of the world, and went unto his holy place; being become a most eminent pattern of patience unto all ages. 16 To these 17 Holy Apostles were joined a very great number of others, who having through envy undergone in like manner many pains and torments, have 18 left a glorious example to us. 17 For 19 this not only men but women have been persecuted: 20 and having suffered very grierous and 21 cruel punishments, have finished the course of their faith with firmness; and though weak in body, yet received a glorious reward. 18 22 This has alienated the minds even of women from their husbands; and changed what was once said by our father Adam; 23 This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh. 19 In a word, envy and strife, have overturned 2 whole cities, and rooted out great nations from off the earth. Made to lodge out. Brought. 7 To cease from. 1 Exod. ii. 14. Num. xii. 14, 15. "Hades. Had, or underwent the hatred, not only, &c. 6 Combatants, wrestlers. The faithful and most righteous. 10 Good. 11 Labours, 12 And so. 13 By envy. 14 Having borne seven times bonds, &c. 15 He received the, &c. 16 Vid. Pearson de Success, c. viii. § 9. 17 Men who have lived godly, is gathered together. 18 Become an excellent example among us. Envy. The names of Danae and Dirce I omit. See Junius Annot. in loc. 21 Cursed afflictions or torments. 12 Envy or emulation. 23 Gen ii. 23. 14 Great 25 End. Fxhorts them to live I. CLEMENT. orderly and repent. for your instruction, but also ing farther this good sentence saying: 15 Turn from your iniquity O house of Israel. for our own remembrance. 2 For we are all in the same lists, and the same combat is 8 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 wellpleasing 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,5 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 7 in every one of them still given place for repentance to all such as would 8 turn to him. 79 Noah preached repentance; and as many as hearkened to him were saved. 10 Jonah denounced destruction against the Ninevites: 8 Howbeit they repenting of their sins, appeased God by their prayers: and 11 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 12 declared with an oath concerning it ; 10 13 As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of a sinner, 14 but that he should repent. Add 11 16 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: 17 wash ye, make you clean; put away 18 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 red as crimson, 19 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, de siring that all his beloved should come to repentance. 1 Instructing you, but also remembering, &c. 3 Imposed upon us all. Look diligently to. ii. 5. Genesis vii. 41 Tim. v. 4. 7 From age to age. 8 Be turned 2 Peter, 12 Spoken. 16 Repent 17 Isaiah, 10 John. iii. 11 Received salvation. 16 Ezekiel, xviii. 30, 23. Isaiah, i. Jeremiah, iii. 4. 19. |