way which I commanded them, and have made to themselves molten images. And the Lord said unto him, I have spoken unto thee once and again, saying, I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiff-necked people. Let me therefore destroy them, and I will blot out their name from under heaven, and I will make of thee a nation mighty and wonderful, and much greater than they. But Moses said, not so, Lord: forgive now this people their sin; and if not, blot me also out of the book of the living." O admirable charity! O insuperable perfection! The servant speaks boldly to his Lord; he beseeches him either to forgive the people, or that he himself may also be destroyed with them.

54. Who, then, is there among you that is generous? who, that is compassionate? who that is filled with charity? let him say, if this sedition, and strife and schism be upon my account," I am

⚫ Clement here professes no more than he practised. It is highly probable, as Epiphanius asserts, that he was appointed, by St. Peter, to be Bishop of Rome, but declined accepting the office as long as Linus and Cletus (or Anencletus) lived. This seems the most probable cause of the difficulty of ascertaining the succession of the first Bishops of Rome.

Chrysostom, in his x1th Homily on the Epistle to the Ephesians, (Vol. iii. p. 824. Savile.) expresses his readiness to act up to this precept; "If you entertain," he says, "such suspicions respecting me, I am ready to resign my office, and to retire. whithersoever ye will, only so that the unity of the Church may be preserved."

Gregory Nazianzen actually resigned the See of Constantinople, rather than be the cause of disputes in the Church. See Cave's life: Sect 6.

ready to depart, to go away whithersoever ye please; and to do whatsoever the multitude 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 obtain to himself a very great honour in the Lord and every place 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.

55. Nay, to produce examples even of the Gentiles: many kings and rulers, in times of pestilence, being warned by their oracles, have given themselves up to death, that they might, by their own blood, deliver their country. Many have forsaken their cities, that seditions might no longer continue. We know how many among ourselves

C

b Ps. xxiv. 1.

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St. Paul mentions Priscilla and Aquila, my helpers in Christ Jesus, who have for my life laid down their own necks." Rom. xvi. 3, 4. and Epaphroditus, who "for the work of Christ was nigh unto death not regarding his life." Phil. ii. 30. Baronius relates that St. Alban, the proto-martyr of Britain, gave himself up and was put to death under Diocletian, A.D. 303, instead of a fugitive who had taken refuge from persecution under his roof.

In the early ages of Christianity many, under the designation of Parabolani, gave themselves up to the care of the sick, at the peril of their own lives. These were so numerous, that a law was passed to limit their number. Codex Theodos. Lib. XVI. Tit. 2. leg: 42. (Fell.)

d

have given themselves up into bonds, that thereby they might free others. Many have sold themselves into bondage, and received the price, that with it they might feed others. Nay, even women, strengthened by the grace of God, have performed many manly actions. The blessed Judith, when her city was besieged, desired the elders that they would suffer her to go into the camp of their enemies. Thus she went out, and exposed herself to danger for the love she bare to her country, and her people that were besieged: and the Lord delivered Holofernes into the hand of a woman. Again, Esther, being made perfect in the faith, exposed herself to a danger equally great, that she might deliver the twelve tribes of Israel, who were in danger of being destroyed. For by fasting and humbling herself she entreated the great maker of all things, the God of the worlds; so that beholding the humiliation of her soul, he delivered the people, for whose sake she was in peril.

f

56. Let us, therefore, pray for those who are fallen into any sin; that meekness and humility may be given unto them, so that they may submit not unto us, but unto the will of God. For by these means they shall obtain a fruitful and perfect remembrance, with mercy, both in our prayers to

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God, and in our mention of them before his saints. Let us receive correction, at which no man ought to repine. Beloved, the admonition which we exercise towards one another is good, and exceedingly profitable for it unites us the more closely to the will of God. For thus saith the Holy Scripture; "The Lord chastened and corrected me; but he did not give me over unto death." " "For whom the Lord loveth, he chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom he receiveth." h "The righteous," saith he, "shall instruct me in mercy, and reprove me: but let not the oil of sinners anoint my head with its fatness." And again he saith,* Happy is the man, whom God correcteth: but despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. For he maketh sore, and again restoreth; he woundeth, and his hands make whole. Six times out of trouble he shall deliver thee: yea, in seven there shall no evil touch thee. In famine, he shall redeem thee from death; and in war he shall defend thee from the hand of iron. He shall hide thee from the scourge of the tongue: neither shalt thou be afraid of evils when they come. Thou shalt laugh at the wicked and sinners; neither shalt thou be afraid of the beasts of the earth. For the wild beasts shall be at peace with thee. Then shalt thou know that thy house shall be in

5 Ps. cxviii. 18.

i Ps. cxL. 5. Septuagint.

h Prov. iii. 11.

k Job v. 17.

not err.

peace; and the habitation of thy tabernacle shall Thou shalt also know that thy seed shall be great; and thy offspring as all the grass of the field. And thou shalt come to the grave as ripe corn, that is taken in due time, like as a shock of corn cometh in, in its season." Ye see, be

loved, that there is a protection to those who are corrected of the Lord. For he is a good instructor; and is willing that we should be admonished by his holy discipline.

57. Do ye, therefore, who laid the foundation of the sedition, submit yourselves unto your elders;' 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 in the sheep-fold of Christ little and approved, than to appear superior to others, and to be cast out of his hope. For thus speaks the excellent and allvirtuous 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 set at nought all my counsel, and disobeyed my reproof; therefore I also will

m

1 1 Pet. v. 5.

mex Tis midos alrow-perhaps we should read in t Email:dos - out of his fold.'

Prov. i. 23. The book of Proverbs is often quoted by this title, by the early Christian writers.