THE SECOND EPISTLE OF ST. 'CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS. CHAP. I. That we ought to value our salvation; and to show that we do, by a sincere obedience. BRETHREN, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of God; as of the judge of the living and the dead; nor should we think "any a Little less of our salvation. a 2 For if we think meanly of him, we shall hope only to receive some small things from him. b a 3 And if we do so, we shall sin; not considering from whence we have been called, and by whom, and to what place; and how much Jesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer for our sakes. 4 What recompense then shall we render unto him? Or what fruit that may be worthy of what he has given to us? 5 For indeed how great are those advantages which we owe to him in relation to things, or meanly. our holiness? He has illumined us; as a father, he has called us his children; he has saved us who were lost and undone. Or 6 What praise shall we give to him? what reward that may be answerable to those things which we have received. 7 We were defective in our understandings; worshipping stones and wood; gold and silver, and brass, the works of men's hands; and our whole life was nothing else but death. 8 Wherefore being encompassed with darkness, and having such a mist before our cyes, we have looked up, and through his will have laid aside the cloud wherewith we were surrounded. 9 For he had compassion upon us, and being moved in his bowels towards us, he saved us; having beheld in us much error, and destruction; and seen that we had no hope of salvation, but only through him. 10 For he called us, who were not; and was pleased from nothing to give us a being. CHAP. II. 1 That God had before prophesied by Isaiah, that the Ger.tiles should be saved. 8 That this ought to engage such especially to live well; without which they will still miscarry. REJOICE thou barren that bearest not, break forth and cry, thou that travailest not; for she that is desolate hath many more chilIsaiah liv. dren than she that has a husband." 2 In that he said, Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not, he spake of us; for our church was barren before that children were given unto it. 3 And again; when he said, Cry, thou that travailest not, he implied thus much: That af ter the manner of women in travail, we should not cease to put up our prayers unto God abundantly. Γ Απλως. Compare 2. Cor. viii. 4 And for what follows, because she that is James 1. 5. desolate hath more children than she that hath Rom. xii. 8. a husband; it was therefore added, because 2, ix. 11, 13. our people which seemed to have been forsaken by God, now believing in him, are become more than they who seem to have God. 5 And another scripture saith, * I came not to call the righteous but sinners (to repent-13. ance). The meaning of which is this; That those who were lost must be saved. 6 For that is, indeed, truly great and wonderful, not to confirm those things that are yet standing, but those which are falling. 7 Even so did it seem good to Christ to save what was lost; and when he came into the world, he saved many, and called us who were already lost. 8 Seeing then he has showed so great mercy towards us, and chiefly for that we who are alive, do now no longer sacrifice to dead gods, nor pay any worship to them, but have by him been brought to the knowledge of the Father of truth. i Matt. ix. the knowl is towards 9 Whereby shall we show that we do in-What is deed know him, but by not denying him by edge which whom we have come to the knowledge of him? him. 10 For even he himself saith, Whosoever i Matt. x. 32. shall confess me before men, him will I confess before my Father. This therefore is our reward, if we shall confess him by whom we have been saved. 11 But, wherein must we confess him?— Namely, in doing those things which he saith; and not disobeying his commandments; by worshipping him not with our lips only, but with all our heart, and with all our mind. For Isaiah xxix. he saith in Isaiah; This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me. 13. 21. 12 Let us then not only call him Lord; for * Matt. vii. that will not save us. For he saith, *Not every one that saith unto me, Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he that doth righteous Wherefore we doing ness. 13 Wherefore, brethren, let us confess him by our works; by loving one another; in not committing adultery, not speaking evil against each other, not envying one another; but by being temperate, merciful, good. 14 Let us also have a mutual sense of one another's sufferings; and not be covetous of money but let us by our good works, confess God, and not by those that are otherwise. 15 Also let us not fear men; but rather God. 'Wherefore, if we should do such these things wicked things, the Lord hath said; Though ye should be joined unto me, even in my very bosom, and not keep my commandments, I Matt. vii, would cast you off, and say unto you, Depart from me; I know not whence you are, ye workers of iniquity. 93. xiii. 27. Luke CHAP. III. 1 That whilst we secure the other world, we need not fear what can befall us in this. 5 That if we follow the interests of this pres ent world, we cannot escape the punishment of the other. 10 Which ought to bring us to repentance and holiness, 14 and that presently; because in this world is the only time for repentance. WHEREFORE, brethren, leaving willingly for conscience' sake our sojourning in this world, let us do the will of him who has called us, and not fear to depart out of this world. " Matt. x. 16 2 For the Lord saith, " Ye shall be as sheep in the midst of wolves. Peter answered and said, What if the wolves shall tear in picces the sheep? Jesus said unto Peter, Let not the sheep fear the wolves after death: And ye al- Luke xii.4, so, fear not those that kill you, and after that have no more that they can do unto you; but fear him who after you are dead, has power to cast both soul and body into hell-fire. 3 For consider, brethren, that the sojourning of this flesh in the present world, is but little, and of a short continuance; but the promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of the kingdom that is to come, and of eternal life. P 5. ander, 4 What then must we do that we may attain unto it? We must order our conversation PMS. Alexholily and righteously, and look upon all the skat dithings of this world as none of ours, and not pai. desire them. For, if we desire to possess them, we fall from the way of righteousness. και ως αναστ 13. 5 For thus saith the Lord, 'No servant can? Luke xvi. serve two masters. If, therefore, we shall desire to serve God and Mammon, it will be with T 26. out profit to us. For what will it profit, if Matt. xvi. one gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? 6 Now this world and that to come, are two enemies. This speaketh of adultery and corruption, of covetousness and deceit; but that renounceth these things. 7 We cannot, therefore, be the friends of both; but we must resolve, by forsaking the one, to enjoy the other. And we think it is better to hate the present things, as little, short-lived, and corruptible, and to love those which are to come, which are truly good and incorruptible. |