Shareware Overload Trio 2/Shareware Overload Trio Volume 2 (Chestnut CD-ROM).ISO/dir33/_all_aca.zip/AF_L_H.ZIP/CLEM_L_H.TXT

Text File | 1993-10-11 | 79KB | 1,787 lines

BOOK 3  (from: _Apostolic Fathers,_ Lightfoot & Harmer, 1891 translation)

                         CLEMENT to the Corinthians

<<ASCII file produced by Athenaeum of Christian Antiquity.>>
<<4648 East Saint Catherine Avenue, Phoenix, AZ 85040-5369>>
<<Voice: [phone]   [Rod Bias]   BBS: [phone]>>

CHAPTER 0
 0:1  |The Church of God which sojourneth in Rome to
the Church of God which sojourneth in Corinth, to them
which are called and sanctified by the will of God
through our Lord Jesus Christ. Grace to you and peace
from Almighty God through Jesus Christ be multiplied.

CHAPTER 1
 1:1  |By reason of the sudden and repeated calamities
and reverses which are befalling us, brethren, we
consider that we have been somewhat tardy in giving
heed to the matters of dispute that have arisen among
you, dearly beloved, and to the detestable and unholy
sedition, so alien and strange to the elect of God,
which a few headstrong and self-willed persons have
kindled to such a pitch of madness that your name,
once revered and renowned and lovely in the sight of
all men, hath been greatly reviled.
 1:2  For who that had sojourned among you did not
approve your most virtuous and stedfast faith? Who did
not admire your sober and forbearing piety in Christ?
Who did not publish abroad your magnificent
disposition of hospitality? Who did not congratulate
you on your perfect and sound knowledge?
 1:3  For ye did all things without respect of
persons, and ye walked after the ordinances of God,
submitting yourselves to your rulers and rendering to
the older men among you the honour which is their due.
On the young too ye enjoined modest and seemly
thoughts: and the women ye charged to perform all
their duties in a blameless and seemly and pure
conscience, cherishing their own husbands, as is meet;
and ye taught them to keep in the rule of obedience,
and to manage the affairs of their household in
seemliness, with all discretion.

CHAPTER 2
 2:1  |And ye were all lowly in mind and free from
arrogance, yielding rather than claiming submission,
_more glad to give than to receive,_ and content with
the provisions which God supplieth. And giving heed
unto His words, ye laid them up diligently in your
hearts, and His sufferings were before your eyes.
 2:2  Thus a profound and rich peace was given to all,
and an insatiable desire of doing good. An abundant
outpouring also of the Holy Spirit fell upon all;
 2:3  and, being full of holy counsel, in excellent
zeal and with a pious confidence ye stretched out your
hands to Almighty God, supplicating Him to be
propitious, if unwillingly ye had committed any sin.
 2:4  Ye had conflict day and night for all the
brotherhood, that the number of His elect might be
saved with fearfulness and intentness of mind.
 2:5  Ye were sincere and simple and free from malice
one towards another.
 2:6  Every sedition and every schism was abominable
to you. Ye mourned over the transgressions of your
neighbours: ye judged their shortcomings to be your
own.
 2:7  Ye repented not of any well-doing, but were
_ready unto every good work._
 2:8  Being adorned with a most virtuous and
honourable life, ye performed all your duties in the
fear of Him. The commandments and the ordinances of
the Lord were _written on the tables of your hearts._

CHAPTER 3
 3:1  |All glory and enlargement was given unto you,
and that was fulfilled which is written; _My beloved
ate and drank and was enlarged and waxed fat and
kicked._
 3:2  Hence come jealousy and envy, strife and
sedition, persecution and tumult, war and captivity.
 3:3  So men were stirred up, _the mean against the
honourable,_ the ill-reputed against the
highly-reputed, the foolish against the wise, _the
young against the elder._
 3:4  For this cause _righteousness_ and peace _stand
aloof,_ while each man hath forsaken the fear of the
Lord and become purblind in the faith of Him, neither
walketh in the ordinances of His commandments nor
liveth according to that which becometh Christ, but
each goeth after the lusts of his evil heart, seeing
that they have conceived an unrighteous and ungodly
jealousy, through which also _death entered into the
world._

CHAPTER 4
 4:1  |For so it is written, _And it came to pass after
certain days that Cain brought of the fruits of the
earth a sacrifice unto God, and Abel he also brought
of the firstlings of the sheep and of their fatness._
 4:2  _And God looked upon Abel and upon his gifts,
but unto Cain and unto his sacrifices He gave no
heed._
 4:3  _And Cain sorrowed exceedingly, and his
countenance fell._
 4:4  _And God said unto Cain, Wherefore art thou very
sorrowful? and wherefore did thy countenance fall? If
thou hast offered aright and hast not divided aright,
didst thou not sin?_
 4:5  _Hold thy peace. Unto thee shall he turn, and
thou shalt rule over him._
 4:6  _And Cain said unto Abel his brother, Let us go
over unto the plain. And it came to pass, while they
were in the plain, that Cain rose up against Abel his
brother and slew him._
 4:7  Ye see, brethren, jealousy and envy wrought a
brother's murder.
 4:8  By reason of jealousy our father Jacob ran away
from the face of Esau his brother.
 4:9  Jealousy caused Joseph to be persecuted even
unto death, and to come even unto bondage.
 4:10  Jealousy compelled Moses to flee from the face
of Pharaoh king of Egypt while it was said to him by
his own countryman, _Who made thee a judge or a
decider over us? Wouldest thou slay me, even as
yesterday thou slewest the Egyptian?_
 4:11  By reason of jealousy Aaron and Miriam were
lodged outside the camp.
 4:12  Jealousy brought Dathan and Abiram down alive
to hades, because they made sedition against Moses the
servant of God.
 4:13  By reason of jealousy David was envied not only
by the Philistines, but was persecuted also by Saul
[king of Israel].

CHAPTER 5
 5:1  |But, to pass from the examples of ancient days,
let us come to those champions who lived nearest to
our time. Let us set before us the noble examples
which belong to our generation.
 5:2  By reason of jealousy and envy the greatest and
most righteous pillars of the Church were persecuted,
and contended even unto death.
 5:3  Let us set before our eyes the good Apostles.
 5:4  There was Peter who by reason of unrighteous
jealousy endured not one nor two but many labours, and
thus having borne his testimony went to his appointed
place of glory.
 5:5  By reason of jealousy and strife Paul by his
example pointed out the prize of patient endurance.
 5:6  After that he had been seven times in bonds, had
been driven into exile, had been stoned, had preached
in the East and in the West, he won the noble renown
which was the reward of his faith,
 5:7  having taught righteousness unto the whole world
and having reached the farthest bounds of the West;
and when he had borne his testimony before the rulers,
so he departed from the world and went unto the holy
place, having been found a notable pattern of patient
endurance.

CHAPTER 6
 6:1  |Unto these men of holy lives was gathered a vast
multitude of the elect, who through many indignities
and tortures, being the victims of jealousy, set a
brave example among ourselves.
 6:2  By reason of jealousy women being persecuted,
after that they had suffered cruel and unholy insults
+as Danaids and Dircae+, safely reached the goal in
the race of faith, and received a noble reward, feeble
though they were in body.
 6:3  Jealousy hath estranged wives from their
husbands and changed the saying of our father Adam,
_This now is bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh._
 6:4  Jealousy and strife have overthrown great cities
and uprooted great nations.

CHAPTER 7
 7:1  |These things, dearly beloved, we write, not only
as admonishing you, but also as putting ourselves in
remembrance. For we are in the same lists, and the
same contest awaiteth us.
 7:2  Wherefore let us forsake idle and vain thoughts;
and let us conform to the glorious and venerable rule
which hath been handed down to us;
 7:3  and let us see what is good and what is pleasant
and what is acceptable in the sight of Him that made
us.
 7:4  Let us fix our eyes on the blood of Christ and
understand how precious it is unto His Father, because
being shed for our salvation it won for the whole
world the grace of repentance.
 7:5  Let us review all the generations in turn, and
learn how from generation to generation the Master
hath given a place for repentance unto them that
desire to turn to Him.
 7:6  Noah preached repentance, and they that obeyed
were saved.
 7:7  Jonah preached destruction unto the men of
Nineveh; but they, repenting of their sins, obtained
pardon of God by their supplications and received
salvation, albeit they were aliens from God.

CHAPTER 8
 8:1  |The ministers of the grace of God through the
Holy Spirit spake concerning repentance.
 8:2  Yea and the Master of the universe Himself spake
concerning repentance with an oath; _For, as I live,
saith the Lord, I desire not the death of the sinner,
so much as his repentance;_ and He added also a
merciful judgment:
 8:3  _Repent ye, O house of Israel, of your iniquity;
say unto the sons of My people, Though your sins reach
from the earth even unto the heaven, and though they
be redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth, and
ye turn unto Me with your whole heart and say Father,
I will give ear unto you as unto a holy people._
 8:4  And in another place He saith on this wise,
_Wash, be ye clean. Put away your iniquities from your
souls out of My sight. Cease from your iniquities;
learn to do good; seek out judgment; defend him that
is wronged: give judgment for the orphan, and execute
righteousness for the widow; and come and let us
reason together, saith He; and though your sins be as
crimson, I will make them white as snow; and though
they be as scarlet, I will make them white as wool.
And if ye be willing and will hearken unto Me, ye
shall eat the good things of the earth; but if ye be
not willing, neither hearken unto Me, a sword shall
devour you; for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken
these things._
 8:5  Seeing then that He desireth all His beloved to
be partakers of repentance, He confirmed it by an act
of His almighty will.

CHAPTER 9
 9:1  |Wherefore let us be obedient unto His excellent
and glorious will; and presenting ourselves as
suppliants of His mercy and goodness, let us fall down
before Him and betake ourselves unto His compassions,
forsaking the vain toil and the strife and the
jealousy which leadeth unto death.
 9:2  Let us fix our eyes on them that ministered
perfectly unto His excellent glory.
 9:3  Let us set before us Enoch, who being found
righteous in obedience was translated, and his death
was not found.
 9:4  Noah, being found faithful, by his ministration
preached regeneration unto the world, and through him
the Master saved the living creatures that entered
into the ark in concord.

CHAPTER 10
 10:1  |Abraham, who was called the `friend,' was found
faithful in that he rendered obedience unto the words
of God.
 10:2  He through obedience went forth from his land
and from his kindred and from his father's house, that
leaving a scanty land and a feeble kindred and a mean
house he might inherit the promises of God. For He
saith unto him;
 10:3  _Go forth from thy land and from thy kindred
and from thy father's house unto the land which I
shall show thee, and I will make thee into a great
nation, and I will bless thee and will magnify thy
name, and thou shalt be blessed. And I will bless them
that bless thee, and I will curse them that curse
thee; and in thee shall all the tribes of the earth be
blessed._
 10:4  And again, when he was parted from Lot, God
said unto him; _Look up with thine eyes, and behold
from the place where thou now art, unto the north and
the south and the sunrise and the sea; for all the
land which thou seest, I will give it unto thee and to
thy seed for ever;_
 10:5  _and I will make thy seed as the dust of the
earth. If any man can count the dust of the earth,
then shall thy seed also be counted._
 10:6  And again He saith; _God led Abraham forth and
said unto him, Look up unto the heaven and count the
stars, and see whether thou canst number them. So
shall thy seed be. And Abraham believed God, and it
was reckoned unto him for righteousness._
 10:7  For his faith and hospitality a son was given
unto him in old age, and by obedience he offered him a
sacrifice unto God on one of the mountains which He
showed him.

CHAPTER 11
 11:1  |For his hospitality and godliness Lot was saved
from Sodom, when all the country round about was
judged by fire and brimstone; the Master having thus
foreshown that He forsaketh not them which set their
hope on Him, but appointeth unto punishment and
torment them which swerve aside.
 11:2  For when his wife had gone forth with him,
being otherwise-minded and not in accord, she was
appointed for a sign hereunto, so that she became a
pillar of salt unto this day, that it might be known
unto all men that they which are double-minded and
they which doubt concerning the power of God are set
for a judgment and for a token unto all the
generations.

CHAPTER 12
 12:1  |For her faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot
was saved.
 12:2  For when the spies were sent forth unto Jericho
by Joshua the son of Nun, the king of the land
perceived that they were come to spy out his country,
and sent forth men to seize them, that being seized
they might be put to death.
 12:3  So the hospitable Rahab received them and hid
them in the upper chamber under the flax-stalks.
 12:4  And when the messengers of the king came near
and said, _The spies of our land entered in unto thee:
bring them forth, for the king so ordereth:_ then she
answered, _The men truly, whom ye seek, entered in
unto me, but they departed forthwith and are
journeying on the way;_ and she pointed out to them
the opposite road.
 12:5  And she said unto the men, _Of a surety I
perceive that the Lord your God delivereth this city
unto you; for the fear and the dread of you is fallen
upon the inhabitants thereof. When therefore it shall
come to pass that ye take it, save me and the house of
my father._
 12:6  And they said unto her, _It shall be even so as
thou hast spoken unto us. Whensoever therefore thou
perceivest that we are coming, thou shalt gather all
thy folk beneath thy roof, and they shall be saved;
for as many as shall be found without the house shall
perish._
 12:7  And moreover they gave her a sign, that she
should hang out from her house a scarlet thread,
thereby showing beforehand that through the blood of
the Lord there shall be redemption unto all them that
believe and hope on God.
 12:8  Ye see, dearly beloved, not only faith, but
prophecy, is found in the woman.

CHAPTER 13
 13:1  |Let us therefore be lowly-minded, brethren,
laying aside all arrogance and conceit and folly and
anger, and let us do that which is written. For the
Holy Ghost saith, _Let not the wise man boast in his
wisdom, nor the strong in his strength, neither the
rich in his riches; but he that boasteth let him boast
in the Lord, that he may seek Him out, and do judgment
and righteousness;_ most of all remembering the words
of the Lord Jesus which He spake, teaching forbearance
and long-suffering:
 13:2  for thus He spake; _Have mercy, that ye may
receive mercy: forgive, that it may be forgiven to
you. As ye do, so shall it be done to you. As ye give,
so shall it be given unto you. As ye judge, so shall
ye be judged. As ye show kindness, so shall kindness
be showed unto you. With what measure ye mete, it
shall be measured withal to you._
 13:3  With this commandment and these precepts let us
confirm ourselves, that we may walk in obedience to
His hallowed words, with lowliness of mind. For the
holy word saith,
 13:4  _Upon whom shall I look, save upon him that is
gentle and quiet and feareth Mine oracles?_

CHAPTER 14
 14:1  |Therefore it is right and proper, brethren,
that we should be obedient unto God, rather than
follow those who in arrogance and unruliness have set
themselves up as leaders in abominable jealousy.
 14:2  For we shall bring upon us no common harm, but
rather great peril, if we surrender ourselves
recklessly to the purposes of men who launch out into
strife and seditions, so as to estrange us from that
which is right.
 14:3  Let us be good one towards another according to
the compassion and sweetness of Him that made us.
 14:4  For it is written: _The good shall be dwellers
in the land, and the innocent shall be left on it; but
they that transgress shall be destroyed utterly from
it._
 14:5  And again He saith; _I saw the ungodly lifted
up on high and exalted as the cedars of Lebanon. And I
passed by, and behold he was not; and I sought out his
place, and I found it not. Keep innocence and behold
uprightness; for there is a remnant for the peaceful
man._

CHAPTER 15
 15:1  |Therefore let us cleave unto them that practise
peace with godliness, and not unto them that desire
peace with dissimulation.
 15:2  For He saith in a certain place; _This people
honoureth Me with their lips, but their heart is far
from Me;_
 15:3  and again, _They blessed with their mouth, but
they cursed with their heart._
 15:4  And again He saith, _They loved Him with their
mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto Him; and
their heart was not upright with Him, neither were
they stedfast in His covenant._
 15:5  _For this cause let the deceitful lips be made
dumb which speak iniquity against the righteous._ And
again; _May the Lord utterly destroy all the deceitful
lips, the tongue that speaketh proud things, even them
that say, Let us magnify our tongue; our lips are our
own; who is lord over us?_
 15:6  _For the misery of the needy and for the
groaning of the poor I will now arise, saith the Lord.
I will set him in safety;_
 15:7  _I will deal boldly by him._

CHAPTER 16
 16:1  |For Christ is with them that are lowly of mind,
not with them that exalt themselves over the flock.
 16:2  The sceptre [of the majesty] of God, even our
Lord Jesus Christ, came not in the pomp of arrogance
or of pride, though He might have done so, but in
lowliness of mind, according as the Holy Spirit spake
concerning Him. For He saith;
 16:3  _Lord, who believed our report? and to whom was
the arm of the Lord revealed? We announced Him in His
presence. As a child was He, as a root in a thirsty
ground. There is no form in Him, neither glory. And we
beheld Him, and He had no form nor comeliness, but His
form was mean, lacking more than the form of men. He
was a man of stripes and of toil, and knowing how to
bear infirmity: for His face is turned away. He was
dishonoured and held of no account._
 16:4  _He beareth our sins and suffereth pain for our
sakes: and we accounted Him to be in toil and in
stripes and in affliction._
 16:5  _And He was wounded for our sins and hath been
afflicted for our iniquities. The chastisement of our
peace is upon Him. With His bruises we were healed._
 16:6  _We all went astray like sheep, each man went
astray in his own path:_
 16:7  _and the Lord delivered Him over for our sins.
And He openeth not His mouth, because He is afflicted.
As a sheep He was led to slaughter; and as a lamb
before his shearer is dumb, so openeth He not His
mouth. In His humiliation His judgment was taken
away._
 16:8  _His generation who shall declare? For His life
is taken away from the earth._
 16:9  _For the iniquities of my people He is come to
death._
 16:10  _And I will give the wicked for His burial,
and the rich for His death; for He wrought no
iniquity, neither was guile found in His mouth. And
the Lord desireth to cleanse Him from His stripes._
 16:11  _If ye offer for sin, your soul shall see a
long-lived seed._
 16:12  _And the Lord desireth to take away from the
toil of His soul, to show Him light and to mould Him
with understanding, to justify a Just One that is a
good servant unto many. And He shall bear their sins._
 16:13  _Therefore He shall inherit many, and shall
divide the spoils of the strong; because His soul was
delivered unto death, and He was reckoned unto the
transgressors;_
 16:14  _and He bare the sins of many, and for their
sins was He delivered up._
 16:15  And again He Himself saith; _But I am a worm
and no man, a reproach of men and an outcast of the
people._
 16:16  _All they that beheld me mocked at me; they
spake with their lips; they wagged their heads,
saying, He hoped on the Lord; let Him deliver him, or
let Him save him, for He desireth him._
 16:17  Ye see, dearly beloved, what is the pattern
that hath been given unto us; for, if the Lord was
thus lowly of mind, what should we do, who through Him
have been brought under the yoke of His grace?

CHAPTER 17
 17:1  |Let us be imitators also of them which went
about in goatskins and sheepskins, preaching the
coming of Christ. We mean Elijah and Elisha and
likewise Ezekiel, the prophets, and besides them those
men also that obtained a good report.
17:2  Abraham obtained an exceeding good report and
was called the friend of God; and looking stedfastly
on the glory of God, he saith in lowliness of mind,
_But I am dust and ashes._
 17:3  Moreover concerning Job also it is thus
written; _And Job was righteous and unblameable, one
that was true and honoured God and abstained from all
evil._
 17:4  Yet he himself accuseth himself saying, _No man
is clean from filth; no, not though his life be but
for a day._
 17:5  Moses was called _faithful in all His house,_
and through his ministration God judged Egypt with the
plagues and the torments which befel them. Howbeit he
also, though greatly glorified, yet spake no proud
words, but said, when an oracle was given to him at
the bush, _Who am I, that Thou sendest me? Nay, I am
feeble of speech and slow of tongue._
 17:6  And again he saith, _But I am smoke from the
pot._

CHAPTER 18
 18:1  |But what must we say of David that obtained a
good report? of whom God said, _I have found a man
after My heart, David the son of Jesse: with eternal
mercy have I anointed him._
 18:2  Yet he too saith unto God; _Have mercy upon me,
O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to
the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out mine
iniquity._
 18:3  _Wash me yet more from mine iniquity, and
cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine
iniquity, and my sin is ever before me._
 18:4  _Against Thee only did I sin, and I wrought
evil in Thy sight; that Thou mayest be justified in
Thy words, and mayest conquer in Thy pleading._
 18:5  _For behold, in iniquities was I conceived, and
in sins did my mother bear me._
 18:6  _For behold Thou hast loved truth: the dark and
hidden things of Thy wisdom hast Thou showed unto me._
 18:7  _Thou shalt sprinkle me with hyssop, and I
shall be made clean. Thou shalt wash me, and I shall
become whiter than snow._
 18:8  _Thou shalt make me to hear of joy and
gladness. The bones which have been humbled shall
rejoice._
 18:9  _Turn away Thy face from my sins, and blot out
all mine iniquities._
 18:10  _Make a clean heart within me, O God, and
renew a right spirit in mine inmost parts._
 18:11  _Cast me not away from Thy presence, and take
not Thy Holy Spirit from me._
 18:12  _Restore unto me the joy of Thy salvation, and
strengthen me with a princely spirit._
 18:13  _I will teach sinners Thy ways, and godless
men shall be converted unto Thee._
 18:14  _Deliver me from bloodguiltiness, O God, the
God of my salvation._
 18:15  _My tongue shall rejoice in Thy righteousness.
Lord, Thou shalt open my mouth, and my lips shall
declare Thy praise._
 18:16  _For, if Thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would
have given it: in whole burnt-offerings Thou wilt have
no pleasure._
 18:17  _A sacrifice unto God is a contrite spirit; a
contrite and humbled heart God will not despise._

CHAPTER 19
 19:1  |The humility therefore and the submissiveness
of so many and so great men, who have thus obtained a
good report, hath through obedience made better not
only us but also the generations which were before us,
even them that received His oracles in fear and truth.
 19:2  Seeing then that we have been partakers of many
great and glorious doings, let us hasten to return
unto the goal of peace which hath been handed down to
us from the beginning, and let us look stedfastly unto
the Father and Maker of the whole world, and cleave
unto His splendid and excellent gifts of peace and
benefits.
 19:3  Let us behold Him in our mind, and let us look
with the eyes of our soul unto His long-suffering
will. Let us note how free from anger He is towards
all His creatures.

CHAPTER 20
 20:1  |The heavens are moved by His direction and obey
Him in peace.
 20:2  Day and night accomplish the course assigned to
them by Him, without hindrance one to another.
 20:3  The sun and the moon and the dancing stars
according to His appointment circle in harmony within
the bounds assigned to them, without any swerving
aside.
 20:4  The earth, bearing fruit in fulfilment of His
will at her proper seasons, putteth forth the food
that supplieth abundantly both men and beasts and all
living things which are thereupon, making no
dissension, neither altering anything which He hath
decreed.
 20:5  Moreover, the inscrutable depths of the abysses
and the unutterable +statutes+ of the nether regions
are constrained by the same ordinances.
 20:6  The basin of the boundless sea, gathered
together by His workmanship _into its reservoirs,_
passeth not the barriers wherewith it is surrounded;
but even as He ordered it, so it doeth.
 20:7  For He said, _So far shalt thou come, and thy
waves shall be broken within thee._
 20:8  The ocean which is impassable for men, and the
worlds beyond it, are directed by the same ordinances
of the Master.
 20:9  The seasons of spring and summer and autumn and
winter give way in succession one to another in peace.
 20:10  The winds in their several quarters at their
proper season fulfil their ministry without
disturbance; and the everflowing fountains, created
for enjoyment and health, without fail give their
breasts which sustain the life for men. Yea, the
smallest of living things come together in concord and
peace.
 20:11  All these things the great Creator and Master
of the universe ordered to be in peace and concord,
doing good unto all things, but far beyond the rest
unto us who have taken refuge in His compassionate
mercies through our Lord Jesus Christ,
 20:12  to whom be the glory and the majesty for ever
and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 21
 21:1  |Look ye, brethren, lest His benefits, which are
many, turn unto judgment to all of us, if we walk not
worthily of Him, and do those things which are good
and well-pleasing in His sight with concord.
 21:2  For He saith in a certain place, _The Spirit of
the Lord is a lamp searching the closets of the
belly._
 21:3  Let us see how near He is, and how that nothing
escapeth Him of our thoughts or our devices which we
make.
 21:4  It is right therefore that we should not be
deserters from His will.
 21:5  Let us rather give offence to foolish and
senseless men who exalt themselves and boast in the
arrogance of their words, than to God.
 21:6  Let us fear the Lord Jesus [Christ], whose
blood was given for us. Let us reverence our rulers;
let us honour our elders; let us instruct our young
men in the lesson of the fear of God. Let us guide our
women toward that which is good:
 21:7  let them show forth their lovely disposition of
purity; let them prove their sincere affection of
gentleness; let them make manifest the moderation of
their tongue through their silence; let them show
their love, not in factious preferences but without
partiality towards all them that fear God, in
holiness.
 21:8  Let our children be partakers of the
instruction which is in Christ: let them learn how
lowliness of mind prevaileth with God, what power
chaste love hath with God, how the fear of Him is good
and great and saveth all them that walk therein in a
pure mind with holiness.
 21:9  For He is the searcher out of the intents and
desires; whose breath is in us, and when He listeth,
He shall take it away.

CHAPTER 22
 22:1  |Now all these things the faith which is in
Christ confirmeth: for He Himself through the Holy
Spirit thus inviteth us: _Come, my children, hearken
unto Me, I will teach you the fear of the Lord._
 22:2  _What man is he that desireth life and loveth
to see good days?_
 22:3  _Make thy tongue to cease from evil, and thy
lips that they speak no guile._
 22:4  _Turn aside from evil and do good._
 22:5  _Seek peace and ensue it._
 22:6  _The eyes of the Lord are over the righteous,
and His ears are turned to their prayers. But the face
of the Lord is upon them that do evil, to destroy
their memorial from the earth._
 22:7  _The righteous cried out, and the Lord heard
him, and delivered him from all his troubles. Many are
the troubles of the righteous, and the Lord shall
deliver him from them all._
 22:8  And again; _Many are the stripes of the
sinner, but them that set their hope on the Lord mercy
shall compass about._

CHAPTER 23
 23:1  |The Father, who is pitiful in all things, and
ready to do good, hath compassion on them that fear
Him, and kindly and lovingly bestoweth His favours on
them that draw nigh unto Him with a single mind.
 23:2  Wherefore let us not be double-minded, neither
let our soul indulge in idle humours respecting His
exceeding and glorious gifts.
 23:3  Let this scripture be far from us where He
saith; _Wretched are the double-minded, which doubt in
their soul and say, These things we did hear in the
days of our fathers also, and behold we have grown
old, and none of these things hath befallen us._
 23:4  _Ye fools, compare yourselves unto a tree; take
a vine. First it sheddeth its leaves, then a shoot
cometh, then a leaf, then a flower, and after these a
sour berry, then a full ripe grape._ Ye see that in a
little time the fruit of the tree attaineth unto
mellowness.
 23:5  Of a truth quickly and suddenly shall His will
be accomplished, the scripture also bearing witness to
it, saying; _He shall come quickly and shall not
tarry; and the Lord shall come suddenly into His
temple, even the Holy One, whom ye expect._

CHAPTER 24
 24:1  |Let us understand, dearly beloved, how the
Master continually showeth unto us the resurrection
that shall be hereafter; whereof He made the Lord
Jesus Christ the firstfruit, when He raised Him from
the dead.
 24:2  Let us behold, dearly beloved, the resurrection
which happeneth at its proper season.
 24:3  Day and night show unto us the resurrection.
The night falleth asleep, and day ariseth; the day
departeth, and night cometh on.
 24:4  Let us mark the fruits, how and in what manner
the sowing taketh place.
 24:5  _The sower goeth forth_ and casteth into the
earth each of the seeds; and these falling into the
earth dry and bare decay: then out of their decay the
mightiness of the Master's providence raiseth them up,
and from being one they increase manifold and bear
fruit.

CHAPTER 25
 25:1  |Let us consider the marvellous sign which is
seen in the regions of the east, that is, in the parts
about Arabia.
 25:2  There is a bird, which is named the phoenix.
This, being the only one of its kind, liveth for five
hundred years; and when it hath now reached the time
of its dissolution that it should die, it maketh for
itself a coffin of frankincense and myrrh and the
other spices, into the which in the fulness of time it
entereth, and so it dieth.
 25:3  But, as the flesh rotteth, a certain worm is
engendered, which is nurtured from the moisture of the
dead creature and putteth forth wings. Then, when it
is grown lusty, it taketh up that coffin where are the
bones of its parent, and carrying them journeyeth from
the country of Arabia even unto Egypt, to the place
called the City of the Sun;
 25:4  and in the day time in the sight of all, flying
to the altar of the Sun, it layeth them thereupon; and
this done, it setteth forth to return.
 25:5  So the priests examine the registers of the
times, and they find that it hath come when the five
hundredth year is completed.

CHAPTER 26
 26:1  |Do we then think it to be a great and
marvellous thing, if the Creator of the universe shall
bring about the resurrection of them that have served
Him with holiness in the assurance of a good faith,
seeing that He showeth to us even by a bird the
magnificence of His promise?
 26:2  For He saith in a certain place; _And Thou
shalt raise me up, and I will praise Thee;_ and; _I
went to rest and slept, I was awaked, for Thou art
with me._
 26:3  And again Job saith; _And Thou shalt raise this
my flesh which hath endured all these things._

CHAPTER 27
 27:1  |With this hope therefore let our souls be bound
unto Him that is faithful in His promises and that is
righteous in His judgments.
 27:2  He that commanded not to lie, much more shall
He Himself not lie: for nothing is impossible with God
save to lie.
 27:3  Therefore let our faith in Him be kindled
within us, and let us understand that all things are
nigh unto Him.
 27:4  By a word of His majesty He compacted the
universe; and by a word He can destroy it.
 27:5  _Who shall say unto Him, What hast thou done?
or who shall resist the might of His strength?_ When
He listeth, and as He listeth, He will do all things;
and nothing shall pass away of those things that He
hath decreed.
 27:6  All things are in His sight, and nothing
escapeth His counsel,
 27:7  seeing that _The heavens declare the glory of
God, and the firmament proclaimeth His handiwork. Day
uttereth word unto day, and night proclaimeth
knowledge unto night; and there are neither words nor
speeches, whose voices are not heard._

CHAPTER 28
 28:1  |Since therefore all things are seen and heard,
let us fear Him and forsake the abominable lusts of
evil works, that we may be shielded by His mercy from
the coming judgments.
 28:2  For where can any of us escape from His strong
hand? And what world will receive any of them that
desert from His service?
 28:3  For the holy writing saith in a certain place;
_Where shall I go, and where shall I be hidden from
Thy face? If I ascend into the heaven, Thou art there;
if I depart into the farthest parts of the earth,
there is Thy right hand; if I make my bed in the
depths, there is Thy Spirit._
 28:3  Whither then shall one depart, or where shall
one flee, from Him that embraceth the universe?

CHAPTER 29
 29:1  |Let us therefore approach Him in holiness of
soul, lifting up pure and undefiled hands unto Him,
with love towards our gentle and compassionate Father
who made us an elect portion unto Himself.
 29:2  For thus it is written: _When the Most High
divided the nations, when He dispersed the sons of
Adam, He fixed the boundaries of the nations according
to the number of the angels of God. His people Jacob
became the portion of the Lord, and Israel the
measurement of His inheritance._
 29:3  And in another place He saith; _Behold, the
Lord taketh for Himself a nation out of the midst of
the nations, as a man taketh the firstfruits of his
threshing floor; and the holy of holies shall come
forth from that nation._

CHAPTER 30
 30:1  |Seeing then that we are the special portion of
a Holy God, let us do all things that pertain unto
holiness, forsaking evil-speakings, abominable and
impure embraces, drunkennesses and tumults and hateful
lusts, abominable adultery, hateful pride;
 30:2  _For God,_ He saith, _resisteth the proud, but
giveth grace to the lowly._
 30:3  Let us therefore cleave unto those to whom
grace is given from God. Let us clothe ourselves in
concord, being lowly-minded and temperate, holding
ourselves aloof from all backbiting and evil speaking,
being justified by works and not by words.
 30:4  For He saith; _He that saith much shall hear
also again. Doth the ready talker think to be
righteous?_
 30:5  _Blessed is the offspring of a woman that
liveth but a short time. Be not thou abundant in
words._
 30:6  Let our praise be with God, and not of
ourselves: for God hateth them that praise themselves.
 30:7  Let the testimony to our well-doing be given by
others, as it was given unto our fathers who were
righteous.
 30:8  Boldness and arrogance and daring are for them
that are accursed of God; but forbearance and humility
and gentleness are with them that are blessed of God.

CHAPTER 31
 31:1  |Let us therefore cleave unto His blessing, and
let us see what are the ways of blessing. Let us study
the records of the things that have happened from the
beginning.
 31:2  Wherefore was our father Abraham blessed? Was
it not because he wrought righteousness and truth
through faith?
 31:3  Isaac with confidence, as knowing the future,
was led a willing sacrifice.
 31:4  Jacob with humility departed from his land
because of his brother, and went unto Laban and
served; and the twelve tribes of Israel were given
unto him.

CHAPTER 32
 32:1  |If any man will consider them one by one in
sincerity, he shall understand the magnificence of the
gifts that are given by Him.
 32:2  For of Jacob are all the priests and levites
who minister unto the altar of God; of him is the Lord
Jesus as concerning the flesh; of him are kings and
rulers and governors in the line of Judah; yea and the
rest of his tribes are held in no small honour, seeing
that God promised saying, _Thy seed shall be as the
stars of heaven._
 32:3  They all therefore were glorified and
magnified, not through themselves or their own works
or the righteous doing which they wrought, but through
His will.
 32:4  And so we, having been called through His will
in Christ Jesus, are not justified through ourselves
or through our own wisdom or understanding or piety or
works which we wrought in holiness of heart, but
through faith, whereby the Almighty God justified all
men that have been from the beginning; to whom be the
glory for ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 33
 33:1  |What then must we do, brethren? Must we idly
abstain from doing good, and forsake love? May the
Master never allow this to befal us at least; but let
us hasten with instancy and zeal to accomplish every
good work.
 33:2  For the Creator and Master of the universe
Himself rejoiceth in His works.
 33:3  For by His exceeding great might He established
the heavens, and in His incomprehensible wisdom He set
them in order. And the earth He separated from the
water that surroundeth it, and He set it firm on the
sure foundation of His own will; and the living
creatures which walk upon it He commanded to exist by
His ordinance. Having before created the sea and the
living creatures therein, He enclosed it by His own
power.
 33:4  Above all, as the most excellent and exceeding
great work of His intelligence, with His sacred and
faultless hands He formed man in the impress of His
own image.
 33:5  For thus saith God; _Let us make man after our
image and after our likeness. And God made man; male
and female made He them._
 33:6  So having finished all these things, He praised
them and blessed them and said, _Increase and
multiply._
 33:7  We have seen that all the righteous were
adorned in good works. Yea, and the Lord Himself
having adorned Himself with works rejoiced.
 33:8  Seeing then that we have this pattern, let us
conform ourselves with all diligence to His will; let
us with all our strength work the work of
righteousness.

CHAPTER 34
 34:1  |The good workman receiveth the bread of his
work with boldness, but the slothful and careless
dareth not look his employer in the face.
 34:2  It is therefore needful that we should be
zealous unto well-doing, for of Him are all things:
 34:3  since He forewarneth us saying, _Behold, the
Lord, and His reward is before His face, to recompense
each man according to his work._
 34:4  He exhorteth us therefore to believe on Him
with our whole heart, and to be not idle nor careless
unto every good work.
 34:5  Let our boast and our confidence be in Him: let
us submit ourselves to His will; let us mark the whole
host of His angels, how they stand by and minister
unto His will.
 34:6  For the scripture saith; _Ten thousands of ten
thousands stood by Him, and thousands of thousands
ministered unto Him: and they cried aloud, Holy, holy,
holy is the Lord of Sabaoth; all creation is full of
His glory._
 34:7  Yea, and let us ourselves then, being gathered
together in concord with intentness of heart, cry unto
Him as from one mouth earnestly that we may be made
partakers of His great and glorious promises.
 34:8  For He saith, _Eye hath not seen and ear hath
not heard, and it hath not entered into the heart of
man what great things He hath prepared for them that
patiently await Him._

CHAPTER 35
 35:1  |How blessed and marvellous are the gifts of
God, dearly beloved!
 35:2  Life in immortality, splendour in
righteousness, truth in boldness, faith in confidence,
temperance in sanctification! And all these things
fall under our apprehension.
 35:3  What then, think ye, are the things preparing
for them that patiently await Him? The Creator and
Father of the ages, the All-holy One Himself knoweth
their number and their beauty.
 35:4  Let us therefore contend, that we may be found
in the number of those that patiently await Him, to
the end that we may be partakers of His promised
gifts.
 35:5  But how shall this be, dearly beloved? If our
mind be fixed through faith towards God; if we seek
out those things which are well pleasing and
acceptable unto Him; if we accomplish such things as
beseem His faultless will, and follow the way of
truth, casting off from ourselves all unrighteousness
and iniquity, covetousness, strifes, malignities and
deceits, whisperings and backbitings, hatred of God,
pride and arrogance, vainglory and inhospitality.
 35:6  For they that do these things are hateful to
God; and not only they that do them, but they also
that consent unto them.
 35:7  For the scripture saith; _But unto the sinner
said God, Wherefore dost thou declare Mine ordinances,
and takest My covenant upon thy lips?_
 35:8  _Yet thou didst hate instruction and didst cast
away My words behind thee. If thou sawest a thief,
thou didst keep company with him, and with the
adulterers thou didst set thy portion. Thy mouth
multiplied wickedness, and thy tongue wove deceit.
Thou sattest and spakest against thy brother, and
against the son of thy mother thou didst lay a
stumbling-block._
 35:9  _These things thou hast done, and I kept
silence. Thou thoughtest, unrighteous man, that I
should be like unto thee._
 35:10  _I will convict thee and will set thee face to
face with thyself._
 35:11  _Now understand ye these things, ye that
forget God, lest at any time He seize you as a lion,
and there be none to deliver._
 35:12  _The sacrifice of praise shall glorify Me, and
there is the way wherein I will show him the salvation
of God._

CHAPTER 36
 36:1  |This is the way, dearly-beloved, wherein we
found our salvation, even Jesus Christ the High-priest
of our offerings, the Guardian and Helper of our
weakness.
 36:2  Through Him let us look stedfastly unto the
heights of the heavens; through Him we behold as in a
mirror His faultless and most excellent visage;
through Him the eyes of our hearts were opened;
through Him our foolish and darkened mind springeth up
unto the light; through Him the Master willed that we
should taste of the immortal knowledge; _Who being the
brightness of His majesty is so much greater than
angels, as He hath inherited a more excellent name._
 36:3  For so it is written; _Who maketh His angels
spirits and His ministers a flame of fire;_
 36:4  but of His Son the Master said thus; _Thou art
My Son, I this day have begotten Thee. Ask of Me, and
I will give Thee the Gentiles for Thine inheritance,
and the ends of the earth for Thy possession._
 36:5  And again He saith unto Him; _Sit Thou on My
right hand, until I make Thine enemies a footstool for
Thy feet._
 36:6  Who then are these enemies? They that are
wicked and resist His will.

CHAPTER 37
 37:1  |Let us therefore enlist ourselves, brethren,
with all earnestness in His faultless ordinances.
 37:2  Let us mark the soldiers that are enlisted
under our rulers, how exactly, how readily, how
submissively, they execute the orders given them.
 37:3  All are not prefects, nor rulers of thousands,
nor rulers of hundreds, nor rulers of fifties, and so
forth; but each man in his own rank executeth the
orders given by the king and the governors.
 37:4  The great without the small cannot exist,
neither the small without the great. There is a
certain mixture in all things, and therein is
utility.
 37:5  Let us take our body as an example. The head
without the feet is nothing; so likewise the feet
without the head are nothing: even the smallest limbs
of our body are necessary and useful for the whole
body: but all the members conspire and unite in
subjection, that the whole body may be saved.

CHAPTER 38
 38:1  |So in our case let the whole body be saved in
Christ Jesus, and let each man be subject unto his
neighbour, according as also he was appointed with his
special grace.
 38:2  Let not the strong neglect the weak; and let
the weak respect the strong. Let the rich minister aid
to the poor; and let the poor give thanks to God,
because He hath given him one through whom his wants
may be supplied. Let the wise display his wisdom, not
in words, but in good works. He that is lowly in mind,
let him not bear testimony to himself, but leave
testimony to be borne to him by his neighbour. He that
is pure in the flesh, let him be so, and not boast,
knowing that it is Another who bestoweth his
continence upon him.
 38:3  Let us consider, brethren, of what matter we
were made; who and what manner of beings we were, when
we came into the world; from what a sepulchre and what
darkness He that moulded and created us brought us
into His world, having prepared His benefits aforehand
ere ever we were born.
 38:4  Seeing therefore that we have all these things
from Him, we ought in all things to give thanks to
Him, to whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 39
 39:1  |Senseless and stupid and foolish and ignorant
men jeer and mock at us, desiring that they themselves
should be exalted in their imaginations.
 39:2  For what power hath a mortal? or what strength
hath a child of earth?
 39:3  For it is written; _There was no form before
mine eyes; only I heard a breath and a voice._
 39:4  _What then? Shall a mortal be clean in the
sight of the Lord; or shall a man be unblameable for
his works? seeing that He is distrustful against His
servants and noteth some perversity against His
angels._
 39:5  _Nay, the heaven is not clean in His sight.
Away then, ye that dwell in houses of clay, whereof,
even of the same clay, we ourselves are made. He smote
them like a moth, and from morn to even they are no
more. Because they could not succour themselves, they
perished._
 39:6  _He breathed upon them and they died, because
they had no wisdom._
 39:7  _But call thou, if perchance one shall obey
thee, or if thou shalt see one of the holy angels. For
wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth him
that is gone astray._
 39:8  _And I have seen fools throwing out roots, but
forthwith their habitation was eaten up._
 39:9  _Far be their sons from safety. May they be
mocked at the gates of inferiors, and there shall be
none to deliver them. For the things which are
prepared for them, the righteous shall eat; but they
themselves shall not be delivered from evils._

CHAPTER 40
 40:1  |Forasmuch then as these things are manifest
beforehand, and we have searched into the depths of
the Divine knowledge, we ought to do all things in
order, as many as the Master hath commanded us to
perform at their appointed seasons.
 40:2  Now the offerings and ministrations He
commanded to be performed with care, and not to be
done rashly or in disorder, but at fixed times and
seasons.
 40:3  And where and by whom He would have them
performed, He Himself fixed by His supreme will: that
all things being done with piety according to His good
pleasure might be acceptable to His will.
 40:4  They therefore that make their offerings at the
appointed seasons are acceptable and blessed: for
while they follow the institutions of the Master they
cannot go wrong.
 40:5  For unto the high-priest his proper services
have been assigned, and to the priests their proper
office is appointed, and upon the levites their proper
ministrations are laid. The layman is bound by the
layman's ordinances.

CHAPTER 41
 41:1  |Let each of you, brethren, in his own order
give thanks unto God, maintaining a good conscience
and not transgressing the appointed rule of his
service, but acting with all seemliness.
 41:2  Not in every place, brethren, are the continual
daily sacrifices offered, or the freewill offerings,
or the sin offerings and the trespass offerings, but
in Jerusalem alone. And even there the offering is not
made in every place, but before the sanctuary in the
court of the altar; and this too through the
high-priest and the aforesaid ministers, after that
the victim to be offered hath been inspected for
blemishes.
 41:3  They therefore who do any thing contrary to the
seemly ordinance of His will receive death as the
penalty.
 41:4  Ye see, brethren, in proportion as greater
knowledge hath been vouchsafed unto us, so much the
more are we exposed to danger.

CHAPTER 42
 42:1  |The Apostles received the Gospel for us from
the Lord Jesus Christ; Jesus Christ was sent forth
from God.
 42:2  So then Christ is from God, and the Apostles
are from Christ. Both therefore came of the will of
God in the appointed order.
 42:3  Having therefore received a charge, and having
been fully assured through the resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ and confirmed in the word of God
with full assurance of the Holy Ghost, they went forth
with the glad tidings that the kingdom of God should
come.
 42:4  So preaching everywhere in country and town,
they appointed their first-fruits, when they had
proved them by the Spirit, to be bishops and deacons
unto them that should believe.
 42:5  And this they did in no new fashion; for indeed
it had been written concerning bishops and deacons
from very ancient times; for thus saith the scripture
in a certain place, _I will appoint their bishops in
righteousness and their deacons in faith._

CHAPTER 43
 43:1  |And what marvel, if they which were entrusted
in Christ with such a work by God appointed the
aforesaid persons? seeing that even the blessed Moses
who was _a faithful servant in all His house_ recorded
for a sign in the sacred books all things that were
enjoined upon him. And him also the rest of the
prophets followed, bearing witness with him unto the
laws that were ordained by him.
 43:2  For he, when jealousy arose concerning the
priesthood, and there was dissension among the tribes
which of them was adorned with the glorious name,
commanded the twelve chiefs of the tribes to bring to
him rods inscribed with the name of each tribe. And he
took them and tied them and sealed them with the
signet rings of the chiefs of the tribes, and put them
away in the tabernacle of the testimony on the table
of God.
 43:3  And having shut the tabernacle he sealed the
keys and likewise also the doors.
 43:4  And he said unto them, Brethren, the tribe
whose rod shall bud, this hath God chosen to be
priests and ministers unto Him.
 43:5  Now when morning came, he called together all
Israel, even the six hundred thousand men, and showed
the seals to the chiefs of the tribes and opened the
tabernacle of the testimony and drew forth the rods.
And the rod of Aaron was found not only with buds, but
also bearing fruit.
 43:6  What think ye, dearly beloved? Did not Moses
know beforehand that this would come to pass?
Assuredly he knew it. But that disorder might not
arise in Israel, he did thus, to the end that the Name
of the true and only God might be glorified: to whom
be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 44
 44:1  |And our Apostles knew through our Lord Jesus
Christ that there would be strife over the name of the
bishop's office.
 44:2  For this cause therefore, having received
complete foreknowledge, they appointed the aforesaid
persons, and afterwards they provided a continuance,
that if these should fall asleep, other approved men
should succeed to their ministration.
 44:3  Those therefore who were appointed by them, or
afterward by other men of repute with the consent of
the whole Church, and have ministered unblameably to
the flock of Christ in lowliness of mind, peacefully
and with all modesty, and for long time have borne a
good report with all -- these men we consider to be
unjustly thrust out from their ministration.
 44:4  For it will be no light sin for us, if we
thrust out those who have offered the gifts of the
bishop's office unblameably and holily.
 44:5  Blessed are those presbyters who have gone
before, seeing that their departure was fruitful and
ripe: for they have no fear lest any one should remove
them from their appointed place.
 44:6  For we see that ye have displaced certain
persons, though they were living honourably, from the
ministration which +had been respected by them+
blamelessly.

CHAPTER 45
 45:1  |Be ye contentious, brethren, and jealous about
the things that pertain unto salvation.
 45:2  Ye have searched the scriptures, which are
true, which were given through the Holy Ghost;
 45:3  and ye know that nothing unrighteous or
counterfeit is written in them. Ye will not find that
righteous persons have been thrust out by holy men.
 45:4  Righteous men were persecuted, but it was by
the lawless; they were imprisoned, but it was by the
unholy. They were stoned by transgressors: they were
slain by those who had conceived a detestable and
unrighteous jealousy.
 45:5  Suffering these things, they endured nobly.
 45:6  For what must we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast
into the lions' den by them that feared God?
 45:7  Or were Ananias and Azarias and Misael shut up
in the furnace of fire by them that professed the
excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? Far
be this from our thoughts. Who then were they that did
these things? Abominable men and full of all
wickedness were stirred up to such a pitch of wrath,
as to bring cruel suffering upon them that served God
in a holy and blameless purpose, not knowing that the
Most High is the champion and protector of them that
in a pure conscience serve His excellent Name: unto
whom be the glory for ever and ever. Amen.
 45:8  But they that endured patiently in confidence
inherited glory and honour; they were exalted, and had
their names recorded by God in their memorial for ever
and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 46
 46:1  |To such examples as these therefore, brethren,
we also ought to cleave.
 46:2  For it is written; _Cleave unto the saints, for
they that cleave unto them shall be sanctified._
 46:3  And again He saith in another place; _With the
guiltless man thou shalt be guiltless, and with the
elect thou shalt be elect, and with the crooked thou
shalt deal crookedly._
 46:4  Let us therefore cleave to the guiltless and
righteous: and these are the elect of God.
 46:5  Wherefore are there strifes and wraths and
factions and divisions and war among you?
 46:6  Have we not one God and one Christ and one
Spirit of grace that was shed upon us? And is there
not one calling in Christ?
 46:7  Wherefore do we tear and rend asunder the
members of Christ, and stir up factions against our
own body, and reach such a pitch of folly, as to
forget that we are members one of another? Remember
the words of Jesus our Lord:
 46:8  for He said, _Woe unto that man; it were good
for him if he had not been born, rather than that he
should offend one of Mine elect. It were better for
him that a mill-stone were hanged about him, and he
cast into the sea, than that he should pervert one of
Mine elect._
 46:9  Your division hath perverted many; it hath
brought many to despair, many to doubting, and all of
us to sorrow. And your sedition still continueth.

CHAPTER 47
 47:1  |Take up the epistle of the blessed Paul the
Apostle.
 47:2  What wrote he first unto you in the beginning
of the Gospel?
 47:3  Of a truth he charged you in the Spirit
concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos, because
that even then ye had made parties.
 47:4  Yet that making of parties brought less sin
upon you; for ye were partisans of Apostles that were
highly reputed, and of a man approved in their sight.
 47:5  But now mark ye, who they are that have
perverted you and diminished the glory of your
renowned love for the brotherhood.
 47:6  It is shameful, dearly beloved, yes, utterly
shameful and unworthy of your conduct in Christ, that
it should be reported that the very stedfast and
ancient Church of the Corinthians, for the sake of one
or two persons, maketh sedition against its
presbyters.
 47:7  And this report hath reached not only us, but
them also which differ from us, so that ye even heap
blasphemies on the Name of the Lord by reason of your
folly, and moreover create peril for yourselves.

CHAPTER 48
 48:1  |Let us therefore root this out quickly, and let
us fall down before the Master and entreat Him with
tears, that He may show Himself propitious and be
reconciled unto us, and may restore us to the seemly
and pure conduct which belongeth to our love of the
brethren.
 48:2  For this is a gate of righteousness opened unto
life, as it is written; _Open me the gates of
righteousness, that I may enter in thereby and praise
the Lord._
 48:3  _This is the gate of the Lord; the righteous
shall enter in thereby._
 48:4  Seeing then that many gates are opened, this is
that gate which is in righteousness, even that which
is in Christ, whereby all are blessed that have
entered in and direct their path in holiness and
righteousness, performing all things without
confusion.
 48:5  Let a man be faithful, let him be able to
expound a deep saying, let him be wise in the
discernment of words, let him be strenuous in deeds,
let him be pure;
 48:6  for so much the more ought he to be lowly in
mind, in proportion as he seemeth to be the greater;
and he ought to seek the common advantage of all, and
not his own.

CHAPTER 49
 49:1  |Let him that hath love in Christ fulfil the
commandments of Christ.
 49:2  Who can declare the bond of the love of God?
 49:3  Who is sufficient to tell the majesty of its
beauty?
 49:4  The height, whereunto love exalteth, is
unspeakable.
 49:5  Love joineth us unto God; _love covereth a
multitude of sins;_ love endureth all things, is
long-suffering in all things. There is nothing coarse,
nothing arrogant in love. Love hath no divisions, love
maketh no seditions, love doeth all things in concord.
In love were all the elect of God made perfect;
without love nothing is well-pleasing to God:
 49:6  in love the Master took us unto Himself; for
the love which He had toward us, Jesus Christ our Lord
hath given His blood for us by the will of God, and
His flesh for our flesh and His life for our lives.

CHAPTER 50
 50:1  |Ye see, dearly beloved, how great and
marvellous a thing is love, and there is no declaring
its perfection.
 50:2  Who is sufficient to be found therein, save
those to whom God shall vouchsafe it? Let us therefore
entreat and ask of His mercy, that we may be found
blameless in love, standing apart from the
factiousness of men.
 50:3  All the generations from Adam unto this day
have passed away: but they that by God's grace were
perfected in love dwell in the abode of the pious; and
they shall be made manifest in the visitation of the
Kingdom of God.
 50:4  For it is written; _Enter into the closet for a
very little while, until Mine anger and My wrath shall
pass away, and I will remember a good day and will
raise you from your tombs._
 50:5  Blessed were we, dearly beloved, if we should
be doing the commandments of God in concord of love,
to the end that our sins may through love be forgiven
us.
 50:6  For it is written; _Blessed are they whose
iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the Lord shall impute no
sin, neither is guile in his mouth._
 50:7  This declaration of blessedness was pronounced
upon them that have been elected by God through Jesus
Christ our Lord, to whom be the glory for ever and
ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 51
 51:1  |For all our transgressions which we have
committed through any of the wiles of the adversary,
let us entreat that we may obtain forgiveness. Yea and
they also, who set themselves up as leaders of faction
and division, ought to look to the common ground of
hope.
 51:2  For such as walk in fear and love desire that
they themselves should fall into suffering rather than
their neighbours; and they pronounce condemnation
against themselves rather than against the harmony
which hath been handed down to us nobly and
righteously.
 51:3  For it is good for a man to make confession of
his trespasses rather than to harden his heart, as the
heart of those was hardened who made sedition against
Moses the servant of God; whose condemnation was
clearly manifest,
 51:4  for they went down to hades alive, and _Death
shall be their shepherd._
 51:5  Pharaoh and his host and all the rulers of
Egypt, _their chariots and their horsemen,_ were
overwhelmed in the depths of the Red Sea, and perished
for none other reason but because their foolish hearts
were hardened after that the signs and the wonders had
been wrought in the land of Egypt by the hand of Moses
the servant of God.

CHAPTER 52
 52:1  |The Master, brethren, hath need of nothing at
all. He desireth not anything of any man, save to
confess unto Him.
 52:2  For the elect David saith; _I will confess unto
the Lord, and it shall please Him more than a young
calf that groweth horns and hoofs. Let the poor see
it, and rejoice._
 52:3  And again He saith; _Sacrifice to God a
sacrifice of praise, and pay thy vows to the Most
High: and call upon Me in the day of thine affliction,
and I will deliver thee, and thou shalt glorify Me._
 52:4  _For a sacrifice unto God is a broken spirit._

CHAPTER 53
 53:1  |For ye know, and know well, the sacred
scriptures, dearly beloved, and ye have searched into
the oracles of God. We write these things therefore to
put you in remembrance.
 53:2  When Moses went up into the mountain and had
spent forty days and forty nights in fasting and
humiliation, God said unto him; _Moses, Moses, come
down quickly hence, for My people whom thou leddest
forth from the land of Egypt have wrought iniquity:
they have transgressed quickly out of the way which
thou didst command unto them: they have made for
themselves molten images._
 53:3  _And the Lord said unto him; I have spoken unto
thee once and twice, saying, I have seen this people,
and behold it is stiff-necked. Let Me destroy them
utterly, and I will blot out their name from under
heaven, and I will make of thee a nation great and
wonderful and numerous more than this._
 53:4  And Moses said; _Nay, not so, Lord. Forgive
this people their sin, or blot me also out of the book
of the living._
 53:5  O mighty love! O unsurpassable perfection! The
servant is bold with his Master; he asketh forgiveness
for the multitude, or he demandeth that himself also
be blotted out with them.

CHAPTER 54
 54:1  |Who therefore is noble among you? Who is
compassionate? Who is fulfilled with love?
 54:2  Let him say; If by reason of me there be
faction and strife and divisions, I retire, I depart,
whither ye will, and I do that which is ordered by the
people: only let the flock of Christ be at peace with
its duly appointed presbyters.
 54:3  He that shall have done this, shall win for
himself great renown in Christ, and every place will
receive him: for _the earth is the Lord's and the
fulness thereof._
 54:4  Thus have they done and will do, that live as
citizens of that kingdom of God which bringeth no
regrets.

CHAPTER 55
 55:1  |But, to bring forward examples of Gentiles
also; many kings and rulers, when some season of
pestilence pressed upon them, being taught by oracles
have delivered themselves over to death, that they
might rescue their fellow citizens through their own
blood. Many have retired from their own cities, that
they might have no more seditions.
 55:2  We know that many among ourselves have
delivered themselves to bondage, that they might
ransom others. Many have sold themselves to slavery,
and receiving the price paid for themselves have fed
others.
 55:3  Many women being strengthened through the grace
of God have performed many manly deeds.
 55:4  The blessed Judith, when the city was
beleaguered, asked of the elders that she might be
suffered to go forth into the camp of the aliens.
 55:5  So she exposed herself to peril and went forth
for love of her country and of her people which were
beleaguered; and the Lord delivered Holophernes into
the hand of a woman.
 55:6  To no less peril did Esther also, who was
perfect in faith, expose herself, that she might
deliver the twelve tribes of Israel, when they were on
the point to perish. For through her fasting and her
humiliation she entreated the all-seeing Master, the
God of the ages; and He, seeing the humility of her
soul, delivered the people for whose sake she
encountered the peril.

CHAPTER 56
 56:1  |Therefore let us also make intercession for
them that are in any transgression, that forbearance
and humility may be given them, to the end that they
may yield not unto us, but unto the will of God. For
so shall the compassionate remembrance of them with
God and the saints be fruitful unto them, and perfect.
 56:2  Let us accept chastisement, whereat no man
ought to be vexed, dearly beloved. The admonition
which we give one to another is good and exceeding
useful; for it joineth us unto the will of God.
 56:3  For thus saith the holy word; _The Lord hath
indeed chastened me, and hath not delivered me over
unto death._
 56:4  _For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and
scourgeth every son whom He receiveth._
 56:5  _For the righteous,_ it is said, _shall chasten
me in mercy and shall reprove me, but let not the
+mercy+ of sinners anoint my head._
 56:6  And again He saith; _Blessed is the man whom
the Lord hath reproved, and refuse not thou the
admonition of the Almighty. For He causeth pain, and
He restoreth again:_
 56:7  _He hath smitten, and His hands have healed._
 56:8  _Six times shall He rescue thee from
afflictions: and at the seventh no evil shall touch
thee._
 56:9  _In famine He shall deliver thee from death,
and in war He shall release thee from the arm of the
sword._
 56:10  _And from the scourge of the tongue shall He
hide thee, and thou shalt not be afraid when evils
approach._
 56:11  _Thou shalt laugh at the unrighteous and
wicked, and of the wild beasts thou shalt not be
afraid._
 56:12  _For wild beasts shall be at peace with thee._
 56:13  _Then shalt thou know that thy house shall be
at peace: and the abode of thy tabernacle shall not go
wrong,_
 56:14  _and thou shalt know that thy seed is many,
and thy children as the plenteous herbage of the
field._
 56:15  _And thou shalt come to the grave as ripe corn
reaped in due season, or as the heap of the threshing
floor gathered together at the right time._
 56:16  Ye see, dearly beloved, how great protection
there is for them that are chastened by the Master:
for being a kind father He chasteneth us to the end
that we may obtain mercy through His holy
chastisement.

CHAPTER 57
 57:1  |Ye therefore that laid the foundation of the
sedition, submit yourselves unto the presbyters and
receive chastisement unto repentance, bending the
knees of your heart.
 57:2  Learn to submit yourselves, laying aside the
arrogant and proud stubbornness of your tongue. For it
is better for you to be found little in the flock of
Christ and to have your name on God's roll, than to be
had in exceeding honour and yet be cast out from the
hope of Him.
 57:3  For thus saith the All-virtuous Wisdom; _Behold
I will pour out for you a saying of My breath, and I
will teach you My word._
 57:4  _Because I called and ye obeyed not, and I held
out words and ye heeded not, but made My counsels of
none effect, and were disobedient unto My reproofs;
therefore I also will laugh at your destruction, and
will rejoice over you when ruin cometh upon you, and
when confusion overtaketh you suddenly, and your
overthrow is at hand like a whirlwind, or when anguish
and beleaguerment come upon you._
 57:5  _For it shall be, when ye call upon Me, yet
will I not hear you. Evil men shall seek Me and shall
not find Me: for they hated wisdom, and chose not the
fear of the Lord, neither would they give heed unto My
counsels, but mocked at My reproofs._
 57:6  _Therefore they shall eat the fruits of their
own way, and shall be filled with their own
ungodliness._
 57:7  _For because they wronged babes, they shall be
slain, and inquisition shall destroy the ungodly. But
he that heareth Me shall dwell safely trusting in
hope, and shall be quiet from fear of all evil._

CHAPTER 58
 58:1  |Let us therefore be obedient unto His most holy
and glorious Name, thereby escaping the threatenings
which were spoken of old by the mouth of Wisdom
against them which disobey, that we may dwell safely,
trusting in the most holy Name of His majesty.
 58:2  Receive our counsel, and ye shall have no
occasion of regret. For as God liveth, and the Lord
Jesus Christ liveth, and the Holy Spirit, who are the
faith and the hope of the elect, so surely shall he,
who with lowliness of mind and instant in gentleness
hath without regretfulness performed the ordinances
and commandments that are given by God, be enrolled
and have a name among the number of them that are
saved through Jesus Christ, through whom is the glory
unto Him for ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 59
 59:1  |But if certain persons should be disobedient
unto the words spoken by Him through us, let them
understand that they will entangle themselves in no
slight transgression and danger;
 59:2  but we shall be guiltless of this sin. And we
will ask, with instancy of prayer and supplication,
that the Creator of the universe may guard intact unto
the end the number that hath been numbered of His
elect throughout the whole world, through His beloved
Son Jesus Christ, through whom He called us from
darkness to light, from ignorance to the full
knowledge of the glory of His Name.
 59:3  |[Grant unto us, Lord,] that we may set our hope
on Thy Name which is the primal source of all
creation, and open the eyes of our hearts, that we may
know Thee, who alone _abidest Highest in the lofty,
Holy in the holy;_ who _layest low the insolence of
the proud,_ who _scatterest the imaginings of
nations;_ who _settest the lowly on high,_ and
_bringest the lofty low;_ who _makest rich and makest
poor;_ who _killest and makest alive;_ who alone art
the Benefactor of spirits and the God of all flesh;
who _lookest into the abysses,_ who scannest the works
of man; the Succour of them that are in peril, the
_Saviour of them that are in despair;_ the Creator and
Overseer of every spirit; who multipliest the nations
upon earth, and hast chosen out from all men those
that love Thee through Jesus Christ, Thy beloved Son,
through whom Thou didst instruct us, didst sanctify
us, didst honour us.
 59:4  We beseech Thee, Lord and Master, to be _our
help and succour._ Save those among us who are in
tribulation; have mercy on the lowly; lift up the
fallen; show Thyself unto the needy; heal the ungodly;
convert the wanderers of Thy people; feed the hungry;
release our prisoners; raise up the weak; comfort the
faint-hearted. _Let_ all _the Gentiles know that Thou
art God alone,_ and Jesus Christ is Thy Son, and _we
are Thy people and the sheep of Thy pasture._

CHAPTER 60
 60:1  |Thou through Thine operations didst make
manifest the everlasting fabric of the world. Thou,
Lord, didst create the earth. Thou that art faithful
throughout all generations, righteous in Thy
judgments, marvellous in strength and excellence, Thou
that art wise in creating and prudent in establishing
that which Thou hast made, that art good in the things
which are seen and faithful with them that trust on
Thee, _pitiful and compassionate,_ forgive us our
iniquities and our unrighteousnesses and our
transgressions and shortcomings.
 60:2  Lay not to our account every sin of Thy
servants and Thine handmaids, but cleanse us with the
cleansing of Thy truth, and _guide our steps to walk
in holiness_ and righteousness and singleness _of
heart_ and _to do such things as are good and
well-pleasing in Thy sight_ and in the sight of our
rulers.
 60:3  Yea, Lord, _make Thy face to shine upon us_ in
peace for our good, that we may be sheltered _by Thy
mighty hand and_ delivered from every sin _by Thine
uplifted arm._ And deliver us from them that hate us
wrongfully.
 60:4  Give concord and peace to us and to all that
dwell on the earth, as Thou gavest to our fathers,
_when they called on_ Thee _in faith and truth_ with
holiness, [that we may be saved,] while we render
obedience to Thine almighty and most excellent Name,
and to our rulers and governors upon the earth.

CHAPTER 61
 61:1  |Thou, Lord and Master, hast given them the
power of sovereignty through Thine excellent and
unspeakable might, that we knowing the glory and
honour which Thou hast given them may submit ourselves
unto them, in nothing resisting Thy will. Grant unto
them therefore, O Lord, health, peace, concord,
stability, that they may administer the government
which Thou hast given them without failure.
 61:2  For Thou, O heavenly Master, King of the ages,
givest to the sons of men glory and honour and power
over all things that are upon the earth. Do Thou,
Lord, direct their counsel according to that which is
good and well-pleasing in Thy sight, that,
administering in peace and gentleness with godliness
the power which Thou hast given them, they may obtain
Thy favour.
 61:3  O Thou, who alone art able to do these things
and things far more exceeding good than these for us,
we praise Thee through the High-priest and Guardian of
our souls, Jesus Christ, through whom be the glory and
the majesty unto Thee both now and for all generations
and for ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 62
 62:1  |As touching those things which befit our
religion and are most useful for a virtuous life to
such as would guide [their steps] in holiness and
righteousness,
 62:2  we have written fully unto you, brethren. For
concerning faith and repentance and genuine love and
temperance and sobriety and patience we have handled
every argument, putting you in remembrance, that ye
ought to please Almighty God in righteousness and
truth and long-suffering with holiness, laying aside
malice and pursuing concord in love and peace, being
instant in gentleness; even as our fathers, of whom we
spake before, pleased Him, being lowly-minded towards
their Father and God and Creator and towards all men.
 62:3  And we have put you in mind of these things the
more gladly, since we knew well that we were writing
to men who are faithful and highly accounted and have
diligently searched into the oracles of the teaching
of God.

CHAPTER 63
 63:1  |Therefore it is right for us to give heed to so
great and so many examples and to submit the neck and
occupying the place of obedience to take our side with
them that are the leaders of our souls, that ceasing
from this foolish dissension we may attain unto the
goal which lieth before us in truthfulness, keeping
aloof from every fault.
 63:2  For ye will give us great joy and gladness, if
ye render obedience unto the things written by us
through the Holy Spirit, and root out the unrighteous
anger of your jealousy, according to the entreaty
which we have made for peace and concord in this
letter.
 63:3  And we have also sent faithful and prudent men
that have walked among us from youth unto old age
unblameably, who shall also be witnesses between you
and us.
 63:4  And this we have done that ye might know that
we have had, and still have, every solicitude that ye
should be speedily at peace.

CHAPTER 64
 64:1  |Finally may the All-seeing God and Master of
spirits and Lord of all flesh, who chose the Lord
Jesus Christ, and us through Him for a peculiar
people, grant unto every soul that is called after His
excellent and holy Name faith, fear, peace, patience,
long-suffering, temperance, chastity and soberness,
that they may be well-pleasing unto His Name through
our High-priest and Guardian Jesus Christ, through
whom unto Him be glory and majesty, might and honour,
both now and for ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER 65
 65:1  |Now send ye back speedily unto us our
messengers Claudius Ephebus and Valerius Bito,
together with Fortunatus also, in peace and with joy,
to the end that they may the more quickly report the
peace and concord which is prayed for and earnestly
desired by us, that we also may the more speedily
rejoice over your good order.
 65:2  |The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you
and with all men in all places who have been called by
God and through Him, through whom be glory and honour,
power and greatness and eternal dominion, unto Him,
from the ages past and for ever and ever. Amen.