(NOTE: The electronic text obtained from The Electronic Bible Society was
not completely corrected. EWTN has corrected all discovered errors.)
AN ANCIENT HOMILY COMMONLY STYLED THE SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT(1)
CHAP. I.--WE OUGHT TO THINK HIGHLY OF CHRIST.
BRETHREN, it is fitting that you should think of Jesus Christ as of
God,--as the Judge of the living and the dead. And it does not become us(2)
to think lightly(3) of our salvation; for if we think little(3) of Him, we
shall also hope but to obtain little from Him. And those of us(4) who hear
carelessly of these things, as if they were of small importance, commit
sin, not knowing whence we have been called, and by whom, and to what
place, and how much Jesus Christ submitted to suffer for our sakes. What
return, then, shall we make to Him? or what fruit that shall be worthy of
that which He has given to us? For,(5) indeed, how great are the
benefits(6) which we owe to Him! He has graciously given us light; as a
Father, He has called us sons; He has saved us when we were ready to
perish. What praise, then, shall we give to Him, or what return shall we
make for the things which we have received?(7) We were deficient(8) in
understanding, worshipping stones and wood, and gold, and silver, and
brass, the works of men's hand;(9) and our whole life was nothing else than
death. Involved in blindness, and with such darkness(10) before our eyes,
we have received sight, and through His will have laid aside that cloud by
which we were enveloped. For He had compassion on us, and mercifully saved
us, observing the many errors in which we were entangled, as well as the
destruction to which we were exposed,(11) and that we had(12) no hope of
salvation except it came to us from Him. For He called us when we were
not,(13) and willed that out of nothing we should attain a real
existence.(14)
CHAP. II.--THE CHURCH, FORMERLY BARREN, IS NOW FRUITFUL.
"Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not; break forth and cry, thou that
travailest not; for she that is desolate hath many more children than she
that hath an husband."(15) In that He said, "Rejoice, thou barren that
bearest not," He referred to us, for our Church was barren before that
children were given to her. But when He said, "Cry out, thou that
travailest not," He means this, that we should sincerely offer up our
prayers to God, and should not, like women in travail, show signs of
weakness.(16) And in that He said, "For she that is desolate hath many more
children than she that hath an husband," He means that(17) our people
seemed to be outcast from God, but now, through believing, have become more
numerous than those who are reckoned to possess God.(18) And another
Scripture saith, "I came not to call the righteous, but sinners."(19) This
means that those who are perishing must be saved. For it is indeed a great
and admirable thing to establish, not the things which are standing, but
these that are falling. Thus also did Christ desire(20) to save the things
which were perishing,(21) and has saved many by coming and calling us when
hastening to destruction.(22)
CHAP. III.--THE DUTY OF CONFESSING CHRIST.
Since, then, He has displayed so great mercy towards us, and especially
in this respect, that we who are living should not offer sacrifices to gods
that are dead, or pay them worship, but should attain through Him to the
knowledge of the true Father,(1) whereby shall we show that we do indeed
know Him,(2) but by not denying Him through whom this knowledge has been
attained? For He Himself declares,(3) "Whosoever shall confess Me before
men, him will I confess before My Father."(4) This, then, is our reward if
we shall confess Him by whom we have been saved. But in what way shall we
confess Him? By doing what He says, and not transgressing His commandments,
and by honouring Him not with our lips only, but with all our heart and all
our mind.(5) For He says(6) in Isaiah, "This people honoureth Me with their
lips, but their heart is far from Me."(7)
CHAP. IV.--TRUE CONFESSION OF CHRIST.
Let us, then, not only call Him Lord, for that will not save us. For He
saith, "Not every one that saith to Me, Lord, Lord, shall be saved, but he
that worketh righteousness."(8) Wherefore, brethren, let us confess Him
by(9) our works, by loving one another, by not committing adultery, or
speaking evil of one another, or cherishing envy; but being continent,
compassionate, and good. We ought also to sympathize with one another, and
not be avaricious. By such(10) works let us confess Him,(11) and not by
those that are of an opposite kind. And it is not fitting that we should
fear men, but rather God. For this reason, if we should do such wicked
things, the Lord hath said, "Even though ye were gathered together to
Me(12) in My very bosom, yet if ye were not to keep My commandments, I
would cast you off, and say unto you, Depart from Me; I know you not whence
ye are, ye workers of iniquity."(13)
CHAP. V.--THIS WORLD SHOULD BE DESPISED.
Wherefore, brethren, leaving willingly our sojourn in this present
world, let us do the will of Him that called us, and not fear to depart out
of this world. For the Lord saith, "Ye shall be as lambs in the midst of
wolves."(14) And Peter answered and said unto Him,(15) "What, then, if the
wolves shall tear in pieces the lambs?" Jesus said unto Peter, "The lambs
have no cause after they are dead to fear(16) the wolves; and in like
manner, fear not ye them that kill you, and can do nothing more unto you;
but fear Him who, after you are dead, has power over both soul and body to
cast them into hell-fire."(17) And consider,(18) brethren, that the
sojourning in the flesh in this world is but brief and transient, but the
promise of Christ is great and wonderful, even the rest of the kingdom to
come, and of life everlasting.(19) By what course of conduct, then, shall
we attain these things, but by leading a holy and righteous life, and by
deeming these worldly things as not belonging to us, and not fixing our
desires upon them? For if we desire to possess them, we fall away from the
path of righteousness.(20)
CHAP. VI.--THE PRESENT AND FUTURE WORLDS ARE ENEMIES TO EACH OTHER.
Now the Lord declares, "No servant can serve two masters."(21) If we
desire, then, to Serve both God and mammon, it will be unprofitable for us.
"For what will it profit if a man gain the whole world, and lose his own
soul?"(22) This world and the next are two enemies. The one urges to(23)
adultery and corruption, avarice and deceit; the other bids farewell to
these things. We cannot therefore be the friends of both; and it behoves
us, by renouncing the one, to make sure(24) of the other. Let us reckon
that it is better to hate the things present, since they are trifling, and
transient, and corruptible; and to love those which are to come, as being
good and incorruptible. For if we do the will of Christ, we shall find
rest; otherwise, nothing shall deliver us from eternal punishment, if we
disobey His commandments. For thus also saith the Scripture in Ezekiel, "If
Noah, Job, and Daniel should rise up, they should not deliver their
children in captivity."(26) Now, if men so eminently righteous(1) are not
able by their righteousness to deliver their children, how can we hope
to(2) enter into the royal residence(3) of God unless we keep our baptism
holy and undefiled? Or who shall be our advocate, unless we be found
possessed of works of holiness and righteousness?(4)
CHAP. VII.--WE MUST STRIVE IN ORDER TO BE CROWNED.
Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle s with all earnestness,
knowing that the contest is in our case close at hand, and that many
undertake long voyages to strive for a corruptible reward;(6) yet all are
not crowned, but those only that have laboured hard and striven gloriously,
Let us therefore so strive, that we may all be crowned, Let us run the
straight(7) course, even the race that is incorruptible; and let us in
great numbers set out s for it, and strive that we may be crowned, And
should we not all be able to obtain the crown, let us at least come near to
it, We must remember(9) that he who strives in the corruptible contest, if
he be found acting unfairly,(10) is taken away and scourged, and cast forth
from the lists. What then think ye? If one does anything unseemly in the
incorruptible contest, what shall he have to bear? For of those who do not
preserve the seal" unbroken, the Scripture saith,(12) "Their worm shall not
die, and their fire shall not be quenched, and they shall be a spectacle to
all flesh."(13)
CHAP. VIII.--THE NECESSITY OF REPENTANCE WHILE WE ARE ON EARTH.
As long, therefore, as we are upon earth, let us practise repentance,
for we are as clay in the hand of the artificer. For as the potter, if he
make a vessel, and it be distorted or broken in his hands, fashions it over
again; but if he have before this cast it into the furnace of fire, can no
longer find any help for it: so let us also, while we are in this world,
repent with our whole heart of the evil deeds we have done in the flesh,
that we may be saved by the Lord, while we have yet an opportunity of
repentance. For after we have gone out of the world, no further power of
confessing or repenting will there belong to us. Wherefore, brethren, by
doing the will of the Father, and keeping the flesh holy, and observing the
commandments of the Lord, we shall obtain eternal life. For the Lord saith
in the Gospel, "If ye have not kept that which was small, who will commit
to you the great? For I say unto you, that he that is faithful in that
which is least, is faithful also in much."(14) This, then, is what He
means: "Keep the flesh holy and the seal undefiled, that ye(15) may receive
eternal life."(16)
CHAP. IX.--WE SHALL BE JUDGED IN THE FLESH.
And let no one of you say that this very flesh shall not be judged, nor
rise again. Consider ye(17) in what state ye were saved, in what ye
received sight,(18) if not while ye were in this flesh. We must therefore
preserve the flesh as the temple of God. For as ye were called in the
flesh, ye shall also come to be judged in the flesh. As Christ(19) the Lord
who saved us, though He was first a Spirit,(20) became flesh, and thus
called us, so shall we also receive the reward in this flesh. Let us
therefore love one another, that we may all attain to the kingdom of God.
While we have an opportunity of being healed, let us yield ourselves to God
that healeth us, and give to Him a recompense. Of what sort? Repentance out
of a sincere heart; for He knows all things beforehand, and is acquainted
with what is in our hearts. Let us therefore give Him praise,(21) not with
the mouth only, but also with the heart, that He may accept us as sons. For
the Lord has said, "Those are My brethren who do the will of My
Father."(22)
CHAP. X.--VICE IS TO BE FORSAKEN, AND VIRTUE FOLLOWED.
Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father who called us,
that we may live; and let us earnestly(23) follow after virtue, but forsake
every wicked tendency(1) which would lead into transgression; and flee from
ungodliness, lest evils overtake us. For if we are diligent in doing good,
peace will follow us. On this account, such men cannot find it, i.e.,
peace, as are(2) influenced by human terrors, and prefer rather present
enjoyment to the promise which shall afterwards be fulfilled. For they know
not what torment present enjoyment incurs, or what felicity is involved in
the future promise. And if, indeed, they themselves only did such things,
it would be the more tolerable; but now they persist in imbuing innocent
souls with their pernicious doctrines,(3) not knowing that they shall
receive a double condemnation, both they and those that hear them.
CHAP. XI.--WE OUGHT TO SERVE GOD, TRUSTING IN HIS PROMISES.
Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be
righteous; but if we do not serve Him, because we believe not the promise
of God, we shall be miserable. For the prophetic word also declares,
"Wretched are those of a double mind, and who doubt in their heart, who
say, All these things have we heard even in the times of our fathers; but
though we have waited day by day, we have seen none of them accomplished.
Ye fools! compare yourselves to a tree; take, for instance, the vine. First
of all it sheds its leaves, then the bud appears; after that the sour
grape, and then the fully-ripened fruit. So, likewise, my people have borne
disturbances and afflictions, but afterwards shall they receive their good
things."(4) Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be of a double mind, but let
us hope and endure, that we also may obtain the reward. For He is faithful
who has promised that He will bestow on every one a reward according to his
works. If, therefore, we shall do righteousness in the sight of God, we
shall enter into His kingdom, and shall receive the promises, "which ear
hath not heard, nor eye seen, neither have entered into the heart of
man."(5)
CHAP. XII.--WE ARE CONSTANTLY TO LOOK FOR THE KINGDOM OF GOD.
Let us expect, therefore, hour by hour, the kingdom of God in love and
righteousness, since we know not the day of the appearing of God. For the
Lord Himself, being asked by one when His kingdom would come, replied,
"When two shall be one, and that which is without as that which is within,
and the male with the female, neither male nor female."(6) Now, two are one
when we speak the truth one to another, and there is unfeignedly one soul
in two bodies. And "that which is without as that which is within" meaneth
this: He calls the soul "that which is within," and the body "that which is
without." As, then, thy body is visible to sight, so also let thy soul be
manifest by good works. And "the male with the female, neither male nor
female," this(7) ...
[The newly recovered portion follows:](8)--
... meaneth,(9) that a brother seeing a sister should think nothing(10)
about her as of a female, nor she(11) think anything about him as of a
male. If ye do these things, saith He,(12) the kingdom of my Father shall
come.
CHAP. XIII.--DISOBEDIENCE CAUSETH GOD'S NAME TO BE BLASPHEMED.(13)
Therefore, brethren,(14) let us now at length repent; let us be sober
unto what is good; for we are full of much folly and wickedness. Let us
blot out from us our former sins, and repenting from the soul let us be
saved; and let us not become(15) men-pleasers, nor let us desire to please
only one another,(16) but also the men that are without, by our
righteousness, that the Name(17) be not blasphemed on account of us.(1) For
the Lord also saith "Continually(2) My name is blasphemed among all the
Gentiles,"(3) and again, "Woe(4) to him on account of whom My name is
blasphemed." Wherein is it blasphemed? In your not doing what I desire.(5)
For the Gentiles, when they hear from our mouth the oracles of God,(6)
marvel at them as beautiful and great; afterwards, when they have learned
that our works are not worthy of the words we speak, they then turn
themselves to blasphemy, saying that it is some fable and delusion. For
when they hear from us that God saith,(7) "There is no thank unto you, if
ye love them that love you; but there is thank unto you, if ye love your
enemies and them that hate you;"(8) when they hear these things, they
marvel at the excellency of the goodness; but when they see that we not
only do not love them that hate us, but not even them that love us, they
laugh us to scorn, and the Name is blasphemed.
CHAP. XIV.--THE LIVING CHURCH IS THE BODY OF CHRIST.
Wherefore,(9) brethren, if we do the will of God our Father, we shall
be of the first Church, that is, spiritual, that hath been created before
the sun and moon;(10) but if we do not the will of the Lord, we shall be of
the scripture that saith, "My house was made a den of robbers."(11) So then
let us choose to be of the Church of life,(12) that we may be saved. I do
not, however, suppose ye are ignorant that the living Church is the body of
Christ;(13) for the Scripture saith, "God made man, male and female."(14)
The male is Christ, the female is the Church. And the Books(15) and the
Apostles plainly declare(16) that the Church is not of the present, but
from the beginning.(17) For she was spiritual, as our Jesus also was, but
was manifested In the last days that He(18) might save us. Now the Church,
being spiritual, was manifested in the flesh of Christ, thus signifying to
us that, if any of us keep(19) her in the flesh and do not corrupt her, he
shall receive her again so in the Holy Spirit: for this flesh is the copy
of the spirit. No one then who corrupts the copy, shall partake of the
original.(21) This then is what He meaneth, "Keep the flesh,(22) that ye
may partake of the spirit." But if we say that the flesh is the Church and
the spirit Christ,(23) then he that hath shamefully used the flesh hath
shamefully used the Church. Such a one then shall not partake of the
spirit, which is Christ. Such life and incorruption this flesh(24) can
partake of, when the Holy Spirit is joined to it. No one can utter or speak
"what the Lord hath prepared" for His elect.(25)
CHAP. XV.--FAITH AND LOVE THE PROPER RETURN TO GOD.
Now I do not think I have given you any light counsel concerning self-
control,(26) which if any one do he will not repent of it, but will save
both himself and me who counselled him. For it is no light reward to turn
again a wandering and perishing soul that it may be saved.(27) For this is
the recompense(28) we have to return to God who created us, if he that
speaketh and heareth both speaketh and heareth with faith and love. Let us
therefore abide in the things which we believed, righteous and holy, that
with boldness we may ask of God who saith, "While thou art yet speaking, I
will say, Lo, I am here."(29) For this saying is the sign of a great
promise; for the Lord saith of Himself that He is more ready to give than
he that asketh to ask.(30) Being therefore partakers of so great kindness,
let us not be envious of one another(1) in the obtaining of so many good
things. For as great as is the pleasure which these sayings have for them
that have done them, so great is the condemnation they have for them that
have been disobedient.
CHAP. XVI.--THE EXCELLENCE OF ALMSGIVING.
Wherefore, brethren, having received no small occasion(2) for
repentance, while we have the opportunity,(3) let us turn unto God that
called us, while we still have Him as One that receiveth us. For if we
renounce(4) these enjoyments and conquer our soul in not doing these its
evil desires, we shall partake of the mercy of Jesus. But ye know that the
day of judgment even now "cometh as a burning oven,"(5) and some "of the
heavens shall melt," and all the earth shall be as lead melting on the
fire,(6) and then the hidden and open works of men shall appear. Almsgiving
therefore is a good thing, as repentance from sin; fasting is better than
prayer, but almsgiving than both;(7) "but love covereth a multitude of
sins."(8) But prayer out of a good conscience delivereth from death.
Blessed is every one that is found full of these; for alms-giving
lighteneth the burden of sin.(9)
CHAP. XVII.--THE DANGER OF IMPENITENCE.
Let us therefore repent from the whole heart, that no one of us perish
by the way. For if we have commandments that we should also practise
this,(10) to draw away men from idols and instruct them, how much more
ought a soul already knowing God not to perish! Let us therefore assist one
another that we may also lead up those weak as to what is good,(11) in
order that all may be saved; and let us convert and admonish one
another.(12) And let us not think to give heed and believe now only, while
we are admonished by the presbyters, but also when we have returned
home,(13) remembering the commandments(14) of the Lord; and let us not be
dragged away by worldly lusts, but coming(15) more frequently let us
attempt to make advances in the commandments of the Lord, that all being of
of the same mind(16) we may be gathered together unto life. For the Lord
said," I come to gather together all the nations, tribes, and tongues."(17)
This He speaketh of the day of His appearing, when He shall come and redeem
us, each one according to his works.(18) And the unbelievers "shall see His
glory," and strength; and they shall think it strange when they see the
sovereignty(19) of the world in Jesus, saying, Woe unto us, Thou wast
He,(20) and we did not know and did not believe, and we did not obey the
presbyters when they declared unto us concerning our salvation. And "their
worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched, and they shall be for a
spectacle unto all flesh."(21) He speaketh of that day of judgment, when
they shall see those among us(22) that have been ungodly and acted
deceitfully with the commandments of Jesus Christ. But the righteous who
have done well and endured torments and hated the enjoyments of the soul,
when they shall behold those that have gone astray and denied Jesus through
their words or through their works, how that they are punished with
grievous torments in unquenchable fire, shall be giving glory to God,
saying, There will be hope for him that hath served God with his whole
heart.
CHAP. XVIII.--THE PREACHER CONFESSETH HIS OWN SINFULNESS.
Let us also become of the number of them that give thanks, that have
served God, and not of the ungodly that are judged. For I myself also,
being an utter sinner,(23) and not yet escaped from temptation, but still
being in the midst of the engines(24) of the devil, give diligence to
follow after righteousness, that I may have strength to come even near
it,(1) fearing the judgment to come.
CHAP. XIX.--HE JUSTIFIETH HIS EXHORTATION.
Wherefore, brethren and sisters,(2) after the God of truth hath been
heard,(3) I read to you an entreaty(4) that ye may give heed to the things
that are written, in order that ye may save both yourselves and him that
readeth among you. For as a reward I ask of you that ye repent with the
whole heart, thus giving to yourselves salvation and life. For by doing
this we shall set a goal(5) for all the young who are minded to labour(6)
on behalf of piety and the goodness of God. And let us not, unwise ones
that we are, be affronted and sore displeased, whenever some one
admonisheth and turneth us from iniquity unto righteousness. For sometimes
while we are practising evil things we do not perceive it on account of the
double-mindedness and unbelief that is in our breasts, and we are "darkened
in our understanding"(7) by our vain lusts. Let us then practise
righteousness that we may be saved unto the end. Blessed are they that obey
these ordinances. Even if for a little time they suffer evil in the
world,(8) they shall enjoy the immortal fruit of the resurrection. Let not
then the godly man be grieved, if he be wretched in the times that now
are; a blessed time waits for him. He, living again above with the fathers,
shall be joyful for an eternity without grief.
CHAP. XX.--CONCLUDING WORD OF CONSOLATION. DOXOLOGY.
But neither let it trouble your understanding, that we see the
unrighteous having riches and the servants of God straitened. Let us
therefore, brethren and sisters, be believing: we are striving in the
contest(9) of the living God, we are exercised by the present life, in
order that we may be crowned by that to come. No one of the righteous
received fruit speedily, but awaiteth it. For if God gave shortly the
recompense of the righteous, straightway we would be exercising ourselves
in business, not in godliness; for we would seem to be righteous, while
pursuing not what is godly but what is gainful. And on this account Divine
judgment surprised a spirit that was not righteous, and loaded it with
chains.(10)
To the only God invisible,(11) the Father of truth, who sent forth to
us the Saviour and Prince of incorruption,(12) through whom also He
manifested to us the truth and the heavenly life, to Him be the glory for
ever and ever. Amen.(13)
Taken from "The Early Church Fathers and Other Works" originally published
by Wm. B. Eerdmans Pub. Co. in English in Edinburgh, Scotland beginning in
1867. (ANF 7, Roberts and Donaldson). The digital version is by The
Electronic Bible Society, P.O. Box 701356, Dallas, TX 75370, 214-407-WORD.
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