Clement on several occasions quotes that book of the New Testament. Notwithstanding the great esteem in which the primitive Church held this Epistle of Clement, and the numerous quotations from it, scattered over the pages of ecclesiastical writers, the Epistle itself was for many centuries considered to be lost. At length it was discovered, at the end of a manuscript containing the Septuagint version of the Old Testament, and the New Testament. This manuscript had been presented to King Charles the First, by Cyril, Patriarch of Alexandria, and afterwards of Constantinople. The valuable treasure was discovered by Mr. Young, the keeper of the Royal Library: and was first published at Oxford, in 1633. The original manuscript is now in the British Museum. The Epistle thus happily and unexpectedly recovered, agrees in all respects with the accounts given of the Epistle of Clement, and with the quotations from that Epistle found in ecclesiastical writers. The absence of one or two quotations * Ciem. Alexand. Stromat. i. p. 289. iv. p. 315. v. p. 58/5. ri p. 647. Origen, de Principiis, c. S. Ad Johan. i. 29. Cyr Hierosol. Cateches. xvii. p. 218. Fpiphanius Hares. Tri Num. 6. xxx. Num. 15. Jerome. In Esalam 12. 18 air. Ad Ephes. ii. 2. iv. 1. Phot as. Cod. 126 or allusions is sufficiently accounted for by the fact that a fragment is still wanting at the end of c. 57. We recognise in this Epistle the dignified simplicity of style, which is mentioned' as one of its remarkable features, and is most characteristic of the Apostolic age. The Church of Corinth, having been distracted with seditions, appears to have made application to Clement and the Church of Rome, which was itself then exposed to persecution. After some delay, arising from this cause, Clement addresses the Corinthians, in the name of the Church of God which is at Rome, and reminds them of the firmness of their faith, their fruitfulness in all good works, and the order and obedience which once prevailed among them. He contrasts their previous Christian discipline with their present disorder and schism and proceeds to shew by numerous examples, what evils have been produced by envy and hatred. He incidentally alludes to the recent martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul, and of many others, who had suffered in times of per secution. * Basil. De Spiritu Sancto. c. 29. 2 cc. 1-7. a After this introduction, Clement assures the Corinthians how sensible he is, that he himself requires to be reminded of these truths: he exhorts them to look stedfastly to the blood of Christ, which has obtained the grace of repentance to all the world; and refers to numerous passages of Scripture, which teach the doctrine of repentance, and give examples of faithful obcdience. He expatiates upon the duty of humility and peace, after the example of Christ, who came in all humility, although he was "the Sceptre of the Majesty of God:" and in imitation of those, who went about in sheep skins and goat skins, and of other holy men. Clement then shews', in a passage of great beauty and sublimity, that God has impressed upon the whole creation the visible marks of order, and arranged the several parts in concord and peace; and thence exhorts the Corinthians. to return to their former purity and meekness, confirmed by faith in Christ, not doubting the excellent gifts of his grace. Clement proceeds to remind the Corinthians that many objects of the natural world remind cc. 8-19. b cc. 20-22. c. 24. us of the resurrection from the dead, of which our Lord Jesus Christ was the first fruits. He exemplifies this in the succession of day and night, and in the growth of seed, which first dies in the ground. He adopts the story of the Phonix, which was believed by his contemporaries, and regards it as an emblem of the resurrection; and exhorts the Corinthians to hold fast the faith, to repent, and return to God in holiness. He then again refers to examples of those who have obtained blessing from God, and to the works of God himself, as an encouragement to fulfil his will. He teaches submission, and dwells upon the magnitude and importance of the eternal gifts of God, and exhorts them to fix their minds through faith towards God in Jesus Christ our High Priest, by whom God would have us taste of the knowledge of immortality. He then notices' the gradations of rank in an army, and the members of the body, which all conspire to promote the general good, as examples of the order which ought to prevail in the Church. After a quotation from the Book of Job, Clement shews that the order of times and seasons in religious offices, as well as various gradations of the priesthood, are appointed by God, and that the successors of the Apostles in the ministry were ordained by them, after they had been proved by the Spirit;" and refers to the instance of Aaron having been miraculously called to the priesthood. He explains more at large the care which the Apostles took, that chosen and approved men should constantly succeed in the ministry: contrasts the divisions among the Corinthians with the examples of holy men of old; and shews the sin of schism. k Clement then refers to the first Epistle of St. Paul to the Corinthians: exhorts them to unity; sets forth the excellence of Christian charity; advises them to repent, and confess their sin and to forgive one another after the example of Moses and others. He exhorts them meekly to pray for those who are in error; and calls upon the seditious to submit themselves. At this part of the Epistle there is a passage omitted; but the conclusion, containing an affectionate and truly apostolical benediction, is preserved." m |