9 Our all-merciful and beneficent
Father hath bowels of compassion
towards them that fear him: and
kindly and lovingly bestows his
graces upon all such as come to
him with a simple mind.

10 Wherefore let us not waver,
neither let us have any doubt in
our hearts, of his excellent and
glorious gifts.

11 Let that be far from us
which is written, Miserable are
the double-minded, and those who
are doubtful in their hearts;

12 Who say these things have
we heard, and our fathers have
told us these things. But behold
we are grown old, and none of
them has happened unto us.

13 O ye fools consider the trees:
take the vine for an example.
First it sheds its leaves; then it
buds; after that it spreads its
leaves; then it flowers; then come
the sour grapes; and after them
follows the ripe fruit. See how in
a little time the fruit of the trees
comes to maturity.

14 Of a truth yet a little while
and his will shall suddenly be
accomplished.

15 The Holy Scripture itself
bearing witness, that He shall
quickly come and not tardy, and
that the Lord shall suddenly come
to his temple, even the 3 holy ones
whom ye look for.

16 Let us consider, beloved,
how the Lord does continually
show us, that there shall be a
future resurrection; of which he
has made our Lord Jesus Christ
the first fruits, raising him from
the dead.

17 Let us contemplate, beloved,
the resurrection that is continually
made before our eyes.

18 Day and night manifest a
resurrection to us. The night lies
down, and the day arises: again
the day departs and the night
comes on.

19 Let us behold the fruits of
the earth. Every one sees how the
seed is sown. The sower goes
forth, and casts it upon the earth;
and the seed which when it was
sown fell upon the earth dry and
naked, in time dissolves.

20 And from the dissolution,
the great power of the providence
of the Lord rises it again; and of
one seed many arise, and bring
forth fruit.

CHAPTER XII.

The Resurrection further proved.

LET us consider that wonderful
type of the resurrection which
is seen in the Eastern countries:
that is to say, in Arabia.

2 There is a certain bird called
a Phoenix; of this there is never
but one at a time: and that lives
five hundred years. And when
the time of its dissolution draws
near, that it must die, it makes
itself a nest of frankincense, and
myrrh, and other spices into which
when its time is fulfilled it enters
and dies.

3 But its flesh putrefying, breeds
a certain worm, which being nourished
with the juice of the dead bird
brings forth feathers; and when
it is grown to a perfect state,
it takes up the nest in which
the bones of its parent lie, and
carries it from Arabia into Egypt,
to a city called Heliopolis:

4 And flying in open day in the
sight of all men, lays it upon the
altar of the sun, and so returns
from whence it came.

5 The priests then search into
the records of the time: and find
that it returned precisely at the
end of five hundred years.

6 And shall we then think it to
be any very great and strange
thing for the Lord of all to raise
up those that religiously serve him
in the assurance of a good faith,
when even by a bird he shows us
the greatness of his power to fulfil
his promise?

7 For he says in a certain place,
Thou shalt raise me up and I shall
confess unto thee.

8 And again, I laid me down
and slept, and awaked, because
thou art with me.

9 And again, Job says, Thou
shalt raise up this flesh of mine,
that has suffered all these
things.

10 Having therefore this hope,
let us hold fast to him who is
faithful in all his promises, and
righteous in all his judgments;
who has commanded us not to lie,
how much more will he not
himself lie?

11 For nothing is impossible
with God but to lie.

12 Let his faith then be stirred
up again in us; and let us consider
that all things are nigh unto him.

13 By the word of his power he
made all things: and by the same
word he is able, (whenever he
will,) to destroy them.

14 Who shall say unto him,
what dost thou? or who shall
resist the power of his strength?

15 When, and as he pleased,
he will do all things; and nothing
shall pass away of all that has been
determined by him.

16 All things are open before
him; nor can anything be hid
from his counsel.

17 The heavens declare the
glory of God, and the firmament
showeth his handy work. Day
unto day uttereth speech, and
night unto night showeth
knowledge. There is no speech nor
language where their voice is not
heard.

CHAPTER XIII.

It is impossible to escape the vengeance of God,
if we continue in sin.

SEEING then all things are seen
and heard by God, let us fear
him, and let us lay aside our
wicked works which proceed from
ill desires; that through his mercy
we may be delivered from the
condemnation to come.

2 For whither can any of us flee
from his mighty hand? Or what
world shall receive any of those
who run away from him?

3 For thus saith the Scripture
in a certain place. Whither shall
I flee from thy spirit, or where
shall I hide myself from thy
presence?

4 If I ascend up into heaven,
thou art there; if I shall go to the
uttermost parts of the earth, there
is thy right hand: if I shall make
my bed in the deep, thy Spirit is
there.

5 Whither then shall any one
go; or whither shall he run from
him that comprehends all things?

6 Let us therefore come to him
with holiness of heart, lifting up
chaste and undefiled hands unto
him; loving our gracious and
merciful Father, who has made us
to partake of his election.

7 For so it is written, When
the Most High divided the nations;
when he separated the sons of
Adam, he set the bounds of the
nations, according to the number
of his angels; his people Jacob
became the portion of the Lord,
and Israel the lot of his
inheritance.

8 And in another place he saith,
Behold the Lord taketh unto himself
a nation, out of the midst of the
nations, as a man taketh the first-
fruits of his flour; and the Most
Holy shall come out of that nation.

CHAPTER XIV.

How we must live that we may please God.

WHEREFORE we being apart
of the Holy One: let us do
all those things that pertain unto
holiness:

2 Fleeing all evil-speaking
against one another; all filthy
and impure embraces, together with
all drunkenness, youthful lusts,
abominable concupiscences,
detestable adultery, and
execrable pride.

3 For God saith, he resisteth
the proud, but giveth grace to the
humble.

4 Let us therefore hold fast to
those to whom God has given his
grace.

5 And let us put on concord,
being humble, temperate; free
from all whispering and detraction;
and justified by our actions,
not our words.

6 For he saith, Doth he that
speaketh and heareth many things,
and is of a ready tongue, suppose
that he is righteous? Blessed is
he that is born of a woman, that
liveth but a few days: use not
therefore much speech.

7 Let our praise be of God, not
of ourselves; for God hateth those
that commend themselves.

8 Let the witness of our good
actions be given to us by others,
as it was given to the holy men
that went before us.

9 Rashness, and arrogance, and
confidence, belong to them who
are accursed of God: but equity,
and humility, and mildness, to
such as are blessed by him.

10 Let us then lay hold of his
blessing, and let as consider what
are the ways by which we may
attain unto it.

11 Let us look back upon those
things that have happened from
the beginning.

12 For what was our Father
Abraham blessed? Was it not
because that through faith he
wrought righteousness and truth?

13 Isaac being fully persuaded
of what he knew was to come,
cheerfully yielded himself up for
a sacrifice. Jacob with humility
departed out of his own country,
fleeing from his brother, and went
unto Laban and served him; and
so the sceptre of the twelve tribes
of Israel was given unto him.

14 Now what the greatness of
this gift was, will plainly appear,
if we shall take the pains distinctly
to consider all the parts of it.

15 For, from him came the
priests and Levites; who all
ministered at the altar of God.

16 From him came our Lord
Jesus Christ, according to the
flesh.

17 From him came the kings,
and princes, and rulers in Judah.

18 Nor were the rest of his
tribes in any little glory: God
having promised that their seed
shall be as the stars of heaven.

19 They were all therefore
greatly glorified, not for their own
sake, or for their own works, or
for the righteousness that they
themselves wrought, but through
his will.

20 And we also being called by
the same will in Christ Jesus, are
not justified by ourselves, neither
by our own wisdom, or knowledge,
or piety, or the works which we
have done in the holiness of our
hearts.

21 But by that faith, by which
God Almighty has justified all
men from the beginning; to whom
be glory for ever and ever, Amen.

CHAPTER XV.

We are justified by faith; yet this must not
lessen our care to live a virtuous life,
nor our pleasure in it.

WHAT shall we do therefore,
brethren? Shall we be slothful
in well-doing, and lay aside
our charity? God forbid that any
such thing should be done by us.

2 But rather let us hasten with
all earnestness and readiness of
mind, to perfect every good work.
For even the Creator and Lord of
all things himself rejoices in his
own works.

3 By his Almighty power he
fixed the heavens, and by his
incomprehensible wisdom he
adorned them.

4 He also divided the earth
from the water, with which it is
encompassed: and fixed it as a
secure tower, upon the foundation
of his own will.

5 He also by his appointment,
commanded all the living creatures
that are upon it, to exist.

6 So likewise the sea, and all
the creatures that are in it;
having first created them, he
enclosed them therein by his power.

7 And above all, he with his
holy and pure hands, formed man,
the most excellent; and, as to his
understanding, truly the greatest
of all other creatures; the character
of his own image.

8 For thus God says; Let us
make man in our image, after our
own likeness; so God created man,
male and female created he them.

9 And having thus finished all
these things, he commended all
that he had made, and blessed
them, and said, increase and
multiply.

10 We see how all righteous men
have been adorned with good works
Wherefore even the Lord himself,
having adorned himself with his
works, rejoiced.

11 Having therefore such an
example, let us without delay,
fulfil his will; and with all
our strength, work the work of
righteousness.

CHAPTER XVI.

A virtuous life enforced from the examples
of the holy angels, and from the exceeding
greatness of that reward which God has prepared for us.

THE good workman with
confidence receives the bread of
his labour; but the sluggish and
lazy cannot look him in the face
that set him on work.

2 We must therefore be ready
and forward in well-doing: for
from him are all things.

3 And thus he foretells us,
behold the Lord cometh, and his
reward is with him, even before his
face, to render to everyone according
to his work.

4 He warns us therefore beforehand,
with all his heart to this end,
that we should not be slothful and
negligent in well-doing.

5 Let our boasting, therefore,
and our confidence be in God
let us submit ourselves to his will,
Let us consider the whole multitude
of his angels, how ready they
stand to minister unto his will.

6 As saith the Scripture,
thousands of thousands stood
before him and ten thousand
times ten thousand ministered
unto him. And they cried, saying,
Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of
hosts; The whole earth is full
of his glory.

7 Wherefore let us also, being
conscientiously gathered together
in concord with one another; as
it were with one mouth, cry,
earnestly unto him, that he would
make us partakers of his great and
glorious promises.

8 For he saith, a Eye hath not
seen, nor ear heard, neither have
entered into the heart of man, the
things which God has prepared for
them that wait for him,

CHAPTER XVII.

1 We must attain the gifts of God by faith and obedience,
which we must carry on in an orderly pursuing of the
duties of our several stations, without envy or contention.
24 The necessity of different orders among men.
33 We have none of us anything but what we received of God:
whom therefore we ought in every condition thankfully to obey.

HOW blessed and wonderful,
beloved, are the gifts of God.

2 Life in immortality! brightness
in righteousness! truth in full
assurance! faith in confidence!
temperance in holiness!

3 And all this has God subjected
to our understandings:

4 What therefore shall those
things be which he has prepared
for them that wait for him?

5 The Creator and Father of
spirits, the Most Holy; he only
knows both the greatness and
beauty of them,

6 Let us therefore strive with
all earnestness, that we may be
found in the number of those that
wait for him, that so we may
receive the reward which he has
promised.

7 But how, beloved, shall we do
this? We must fix our minds by
faith towards God, and seek those
things that are pleasing and
acceptable unto him.

8 We must act conformably to
his holy will; and follow the way
of truth, casting off from us all
unrighteousness and iniquity,
together with all covetousness,
strife, evil manners, deceit,
whispering, detractions; all
hatred of God, pride and boasting;
vain-glory and ambition;

9 For they that do these things
are odious to God; and not only
they that do them, but also all
such as approve of those that do
them.

10 For thus saith the Scripture,
But unto the wicked, God said,
What hast thou to do to declare
my statute, or that thou shouldst
take my covenant in thy mouth?
Seeing that thou hatest instruction,
and castest my words behind thee.

11 When thou sawest a thief,
then thou consentedst with him;
thou hast been partaker with
adulterers, Thou givest thy mouth
to evil, and thy tongue frameth
deceit. Thou sittest and speakest
against thy brother; thou slanderest
thine own mother's son.

12 These things hast thou done
and I kept silence; thou thoughtest
that I was altogether such a one
as thyself: but I will reprove thee,
and set them in order before thine
eyes.

13 Now consider this ye that
forget God, lest I tear you in pieces,
and there be none to deliver.

14 Whose offereth praise,
glorifieth me; And to him that
disposeth his way aright, will
I show the salvation of God.

15 This is the way, beloved, in
which we may find our Saviour,
even Jesus Christ, the high-priest
of all our offerings, the defender
and helper of our weakness.

16 By him we look up to the
highest heavens; and behold, as
in a glass, his spotless and most
excellent visage.

17 By him are the eyes of our
hearts opened; by him our foolish
and darkened understanding
rejoiceth to behold his wonderful
light.

18 By him would God have us
to taste the knowledge of
immortality: who being the
brightness of his glory, is by
so much greater than the angels,
as he has by inheritance obtained
a more excellent name than they.

19 For so it is written, who
maketh his angels spirits, and his
ministers a flame of fire:

20 But to his son, thus saith the
Lord, Thou art my Son, to-day
have I begotten thee.

21 Ask of me and I will give
thee the heathen for thy inheritance,
and the utmost parts of the earth
for thy possession.

22 And again he saith unto him,
Sit thou on my right hand until
I make thine enemies thy
foot-stool.

23 But who are his enemies?
even the wicked, and such who
oppose their own wills to the
will of God.

24 Let us therefore march-on,
men and brethren, with all
earnestness in his holy laws.

25 Let us consider those who
fight under our, earthly governors
How orderly, how readily, and
with what exact obedience they
perform those things that are
commanded them.

26 All are not generals, nor
colonels, nor captains, nor
inferior officers:

27 But everyone in his respective
rank does what is commanded him by
the king, and those who have the
authority over him.

28 They who are great, cannot
subsist without those that are little;
nor the little without the great;

29 But there must be a mixture
in all things, and then there will
be use and profit too.

30 Let us, for example, take
our body: the head without the
feet is nothing, neither the feet
without the head.

31 And even the smallest members
of our body are yet both necessary
and useful to the whole body.

32 But all conspire together,
and are subject to one common
use, namely, the preservation of
the whole body.

33 Let therefore our whole body
by saved in Christ Jesus; and let
everyone be subject to his neighbour,
according to the order in which
he is placed by the gift of God.

34 Let not the strong man despise
the weak; and let the weak see that
he reverence the strong.

35 Let the rich man distribute
to the necessity of the poor; and
let the poor bless God, that he has
given one unto him, by whom his
want may be supplied.

36 Let the wise man show forth
his wisdom, not in words, but in
good works.

37 Let him that is humble, not
bear witness to himself, but let
him leave it to another to bear
witness of him.

38 Let him that is pure in the
flesh, not grow proud of it, knowing
that it was from another that he
received the gift of continence.

39 Let us consider therefore,
brethren, whereof we are made;
who, and what kind of men we
came into the world, as it were
out of a sepulchre, and from outer
darkness.

40 He hath made us, and formed
us, brought us into his own world;
having presented us with his
benefits, even before we were born.

41 Wherefore, having received
all these things from him, we
ought in everything to give thanks
unto him, to whom be glory for
ever and ever. Amen.

CHAPTER XVIII.

Clement therefore exhorts them to do everything
orderly in the Church, as the only way to please God.

FOOLISH and unwise men, who
have neither prudence, nor
learning, may mock and deride
us; being willing to set up
themselves in their own conceits.

2 But what can a mortal man
do? Or what strength is there in
him that is made out of the dust?

3 For it is written, there was no
shape before mine eyes; only I
heard a sound and a voice.

4 For what? Shall man be pure
before the Lord? Shall he be
blameless in his works?

5 Behold, he trusteth not in
his servants; and his angels he
chargeth with folly.

6 Yes, the heaven is not clean
in his sight, how much less they
that dwell in houses of clay; of
which also we ourselves were
made?

7 He smote them as a moth:
and from morning even unto the
evening they endure not. Because
they were not able to help
themselves, they perished;
he breathed upon them and they
died, because they had no wisdom.

8 Call now if there be any that
will answer thee; and to which of
the angels wilt thou look?

9 For wrath killeth the foolish
man, and envy slayeth him that is
in error.

10 I have seen the foolish taking
root, but lo, their habitation was
presently consumed.

11 Their children were far from
safety, they perished at the gates
of those who were lesser than
themselves: and there was no man
to help them.

12 For what was prepared for
them, the righteous did eat; and
they shall not be delivered from
evil.

13 Seeing then these things are
manifest unto us, it will behove
us to take care that looking into
the depths of the divine knowledge,
we do all things in order,
whatsoever our Lord has commanded
us to do.

14 And particularly that we
perform our offerings and service to
God, at their appointed seasons
for these he has commanded to be
done, not rashly and disorderly,
but at certain determinate times
and hours.

15 And therefore he has ordained
by his supreme will and authority,
both where, and by what persons,
they are to be performed; that
so all things being piously done
unto all well-pleasing, they
may be acceptable unto him.

16 They therefore who make
their offerings at the appointed
seasons, are happy and accepted;
because through obeying the
commandments of the Lord,
they are free from sin.

17 And the same care must be
had of the persons that minister
unto him.

18 For the chief-priest has his
proper services; and to the priest
their proper place is appointed;
and to the Levites appertain their
proper ministries; and the layman
is confined within the bounds of
what is commanded to laymen.

19 Let every one of you therefore,
brethren, bless God in his proper
station, with a good conscience,
and with all gravity, not exceeding
the rule of his service that is
appointed to him.

20 The daily sacrifices are not
offered everywhere; nor the peace-
offerings, nor the sacrifices
appointed for sins and transgressions;
but only at Jerusalem: nor in any
place there, but only at the altar
before the temple; that which is
offered being first diligently
examined by the high-priest and
the other minister we before
mentioned.

21 They therefore who do any
thing which is not agreeable to his
will, are punished with death.

22 Consider, brethren, that by
how much the better knowledge
God has vouchsafed unto us, by so
much the greater danger are we
exposed to.

CHAPTER XIX.

The orders of Ministers in Christ's Church established
by the Apostles, according to Christ's command,
7 after the example of Moses.
16 Therefore they who have been duly placed in the
ministry according to their order, cannot without
great sin be put out of it.

THE Apostles have preached to
us from the Lord Jesus Christ
Jesus Christ from God.

2 Christ therefore was sent by
God, the Apostles by Christ; so
both were orderly sent, according
to the will of God.

3 For having received their
command, and being thoroughly
assured by the resurrection of our
Lord Jesus Christ, and convinced
by the word of God, with the
fulness of the Holy Spirit, they
went abroad, publishing, That the
kingdom of God was at hand.

4 And thus preaching through
countries and cities, they appointed
the first fruits of their conversion
to be bishops and ministers over
such as should afterwards believe,
having first proved them by the
Spirit.

5 Nor was this any new thing;
seeing that long before it was
written concerning bishops and
deacons.

6 For thus saith the Scripture,
in a certain place; I will appoint
their overseers in righteousness,
and their ministers in faith.

7 And what wonder if they, to
whom such a work was committed
by God in Christ, established such
officers as we before mentioned;
when even that blessed and faithful
servant in all his house, Moses,
set down in the Holy Scriptures
all things that were commanded
him.

8 Whom also all the rest of the
prophets followed, bearing witness
with one consent to those things
that were appointed by him.

9 For he, perceiving an emulation
to arise among the tribes concerning
the priesthood, and that there was
a strife about it, which of them
should be adorned with that glorious
name; commanded their twelve captains
to bring to him twelve rods; every
tribe being written upon its rod,
according to its name,

10 And he took them and bound
them together, and sealed them
with the seals of the twelve princes
of the tribes: and laid them up in
the tabernacle of witness, upon
the table of God.

11 And when he had shut the
door of the tabernacle, he sealed
up the keys of it, in like manner
as he had done the rods; and said
unto them, Men and brethren,
whichsoever tribe shall have its
rod blossom, that tribe has God
chosen to perform the office of a
priest, and to minister unto him
in holy things.

12 And when the morning was
come, he called together all Israel,
six hundred thousand men; and
showed to the princes their seals
and opened the tabernacle of
witness; and brought forth the
rods.

13 And the rod of Aaron was
found not only to have blossomed,
but also to have fruit upon it.

14 What think you, beloved?
Did not Moses before know what
should happen?

15 Yes verily: but to the end
there might be no division, nor
tumult in Israel, he did in this
manner, that the name of the true
and only God might be glorified;
to whom be honour for ever and
ever, Amen.

16 So likewise our Apostles
knew by our Lord Jesus Christ,
that there should contentions arise,
upon account of the ministry.

17 And therefore having a perfect
fore-knowledge of this, they
appointed persons, as we have
before said, and then a gave
direction, how, when they should
die, other chosen and approved men
should succeed in their ministry.

18 Wherefore we cannot think
that those may justly be thrown
out of their ministry, who were
either appointed by them, or
afterwards chosen by other eminent
men, with the consent of the whole
church; and who have with all
lowliness and innocency ministered
to the flock of Church, in peace,
and without self-interest, and
were for a long time commended
by all.

19 For it would be no small sin
in us, should we cast off those
from their ministry, who holily
and without blame fulfil the
duties of it.

20 Blessed are those priests,
who having finished their course
before these times, have obtained
a fruitful and perfect dissolution
for they have no fear, lest any one
should turn them out of the place
which is now appointed for them.

21 But we see how you have
put out some, who lived reputably
among you, from the ministry,
which by their innocence they had
adorned.

CHAPTER XX.

He exerts them to peace from examples out of
the Holy Scriptures,
20 particularly from St. Paul's exhortation to them.

YE are contentious, brethren,
and zealous for things that
pertain not unto salvation.

2 Look into the Holy Scriptures,
which are the true words of the
Holy Ghost. Ye know that there
is nothing unjust or counterfeit
written in them.

3 There you shall not find that
righteous men were ever cast off
by such as were good themselves.

4 They were persecuted, but it
was by the wicked and unjust.

5 They were cast into prison,
but they were cast in by those that
were unholy.

6 They were stoned, but it was
by transgressors.

7 They were killed, but by accursed
men, and such as had taken up an
unjust envy against them.

8 And all these things they
underwent gloriously.

9 For what shall we say,
brethren? Was Daniel cast into the
den of lions, by men fearing
God? Shadrach, Meshach, and
Abednego, were they cast into the
fiery furnace by men, professing
the excellent and glorious worship
of the Most High? God forbid.

10 What kind of persons then
were they that did these things?
They were men abominable, full
of all wickedness; who were
incensed; to so great a degree,
as to bring those into sufferings,
who with a holy and unblameable
purpose of mind worshipped God:
not knowing that the Most High is
the protector and defender of all
such as with a pure conscience
serve his holy name: to whom be
glory for ever and ever, Amen.

11 But they who with a full
persuasion have endured these
things, are made partakers of glory
and honour: and are exalted and
lifted up by God for a memorial
throughout all ages, Amen.

12 Wherefore it will behove
us also, brethren, to follow such
examples as these; for it is
written, Hold fast to such as are
holy; for they that do so shall be
sanctified.

13 And again in another place
he saith, With the pure, thou shalt
be pure (and with the elect thou
shalt be elect,) but with, the
perverse man thou shalt be perverse.

14 Let us therefore join ourselves
to the innocent and righteous; for
such are the elect of God.

15 Wherefore are there strifes,
and anger, and divisions, and
schisms, and wars, among us?

16 Have we not all one God,
and one Christ? Is not one spirit
of grace poured out upon us all?
Have we not one calling in Christ.

17 Why then do we rent and
tear in pieces the members of
Christ; and raise seditious against
our own body? And are come to such
a height of madness, as to forget
that we were members one of another?

18 Remember the words of our
Lord Jesus, (how he said, Woe to
that man by whom offences come).
It, were better for him that he
had never been born, than that he
should have offended one of my
elect. It were better for him,
that a mill-stone should be tied
about his neck, and he should be
cast into the sea, than that he
should offend one of my
little ones.

19 Your schism has perverted
many, has discouraged many: it
has caused diffidence in many, and
grief in us all. And yet your
sedition continues still.

20 Take the Epistle of the
blessed Paul the Apostle into your
hands; What was It that he wrote
to you at his first preaching the
Gospel among you?

21 Verily he did by the spirit
admonish you concerning himself,
and Cephas, and Apollos, because
that even then ye had begun to
fall into parties and factions
among yourselves.

22 Nevertheless your partiality
then led you into a much less sin
forasmuch as ye placed your
affections upon Apostles, men
of eminent reputation in the
church; and upon another, who
was greatly tried and approved
of by them.

23 But consider, we pray you,
who are they that have now led
you astray; and lessened the
reputation of that brotherly love
that was so eminent among you;

24 It is a shame, my beloved,
yea, a very great shame, and
unworthy of your Christian
profession, to hear that the
most firm and ancient church
of the Corinthians should,
by one or two persons, be led
into a sedition against its
priests.

25 And this report is come not
only to us, but to those also that
differ from us.

26 Insomuch that the name of
the Lord is blasphemed through
your folly; and even ye yourselves
are brought into danger by it.

27 Let us therefore with all
haste put an end to this sedition;
and let us fall down before the
Lord, and beseech him with tears
that he would be favourably
reconciled to us, and restore us
again to a seemly and holy course
of brotherly love.

28 For this is the gate of
righteousness, opening unto life:
As it is written, I Open unto me
the gates of righteousness; I will
go into them and will praise the
Lord. This is the gate of the Lord,
the righteous shall enter into it.

29 Although therefore many
gates are opened, yet this gate of
righteousness is that gate in Christ
at which blessed are they that
enter in, and direct their way in
holiness and righteousness; doing
all things without disorder.

30 Let a man be faithful, let
him be powerful in the utterance
of knowledge; let him be wise in
making an exact judgment of
words; let him be pure in all
his actions.

31 But still by how much the
more he seems to be above others,
by reason of these things, by so
much the more will it behove him
to be humble-minded; and to seek
what is profitable to all men, and
not his own advantage.

CHAPTER XXI.

1 The value which God, puts upon love and
unity: the effects of a true charity,
8 which is the gift of God, and must be obtained by prayer.

HE that has the love that is in
Christ, let him keep the
commandments of Christ.

2 For who is able to express the
obligation of the love of God?
What man is sufficient to declare,
and is fitting, the excellency of its
beauty?

3 The height to which charity
leads, is inexpressible.

4 Charity unites us to God;
charity covers the multitude of
sins: charity endures all things;
is long-suffering in all things.

5 There is nothing base and
sordid in charity: charity lifts not
itself up above others; admits of
no divisions; is not seditious; but
does all things in peace and concord.

6 By charity were all the elect of
God made perfect: Without it nothing
is pleasing and acceptable in the
sight of God.

7 Through charity did the Lord
join us into himself; whilst for
the love that he bore towards us,
our Lord Jesus Christ gave his
own blood for us, by the will of
God; his flesh for our flesh; his
soul for our souls.

8 Ye see, beloved, how great
and wonderful a thing charity is;
and how that no expressions are
sufficient to declare its perfection.

9 But who is fit to be found in
it? Even such only as God shall
vouchsafe to make so.

10 Let us therefore pray to him,
and beseech him, that we may be
worthy of it; that so we may live
in charity; being unblameable,
without human propensities,
without respect of persons.

11 All the ages of the world,
from Adam, even unto this day,
are passed away; but they who
have been made perfect in love,
have by the grace of God obtained
a place among the righteous; and
shall be made manifest in the
judgment of the kingdom of Christ.

12 For it is written, Enter into
thy chambers for a little space, till
my anger and indignation shall
pass away: And I will remember
the good day, and, will raise you
up out of your graves.

13 Happy then shall we be,
beloved, if we shall have fulfilled
the commandments of God, in the
unity of love; that so, through
love, our sins may be forgiven us.

14 For so it is written, Blessed
are they whose iniquities are
forgiven, and whose sins are covered.
Blessed is the man to whom the
Lord imputeth no sin, and in whose
mouth there is no guile.

15 Now this blessing is fulfilled
in those who are chosen by God
through Jesus Christ our Lord, to
whom be glory for ever and ever,
Amen.

CHAPTER XXII.

1 He exhorts such as have been concerned in these divisions to
repent, and return to their unity, confessing their sin to God,
7 which he enforces from the example of Moses,
10 and of many among the heathen,
23 and of Judith and Esther among the Jews.

LET us therefore, as many as
have transgressed by any of
the suggestions of the adversary,
beg God's forgiveness.

2 And as for those who have
been the heads of the sedition and
faction among you, let them look
to the common end of our hope.

3 For as many as are endued
with fear and charity, would rather
they themselves should fall into
trials than their neighbours: And
choose to be themselves condemned,
rather than that the good and just
charity delivered to us, should
suffer.

4 For it is seemly for a man
to confess wherein he has
transgressed.

5 And not to harden his heart,
as the hearts of those were
hardened, who raised up sedition
against Moses the servant of God
whose punishment was manifest
unto all men, for they went down
alive into the grave; death
swallowed them up.

6 Pharaoh and his host, and
all the rulers of Egypt, their
chariots also and their horsemen,
were for no other cause drowned
in the bottom of the Red Sea,
and perished; but because they
hardened their foolish hearts,
after so many signs done in the
land of Egypt, by Moses the
servant of God.

7 Beloved, God is not indigent
of anything; nor does he demand
anything of us, but that we
should confess our sins unto him.

8 For so says the Holy David,
I will confess unto the Lord, and
it shall please him better than a
young bullock that hath horns and
hoof. Let the poor see it and be
glad.

9 And again he saith, Offer
unto God the sacrifice of praise,
and pay thy vows unto the Most
Highest. And call upon me in the
day of trouble, and I will deliver
thee, and thou shalt glorify me.
The sacrifice of God is a broken
spirit.

10 Ye know, beloved, ye know
full well, the Holy Scriptures;
and have thoroughly searched into
the oracles of God: call them
therefore to your remembrance.

11 For when Moses went up into
the mount, and tarried there forty
days and forty nights in fasting
and humiliation; God said unto
him, Arise, Moses, and get thee
down quickly from hence, for thy
people whom thou broughtest out
of the land of Egypt, have
committed wickedness: they have
soon transgressed the way that
I commanded them, and have made
to themselves graven images.

12 And the Lord said unto him,
I have spoken unto thee several
times, saying, I have seen this
people, and behold it is a stiff-
necked people: let me therefore
destroy them, and put out their
name from under heaven. And I
will make unto thee a great and a
wonderful nation, that shall be
much larger than this.

13 But Moses said, Not so,
Lord: Forgive now this people
their sin; or if thou wilt not,
blot me also out of the book of
the living. O admirable charity!
O insuperable perfection! The servant
speaks freely to his Lord: He beseeches
him either to forgive the people,
or to destroy him together with them.

14 Who is there among you
that is generous? Who that is
compassionate? Who that has
any charity? Let him say, if this
sedition, this contention, and these
schisms, be upon my account,
I am ready to depart; to go away
whithersoever you please; and do
whatsoever ye shall command me:
Only let the flock of Christ be in
peace, with the elders that are set
over it.

15 He that shall do this, shall
get to himself a very great honour
in the Lord; and there is no place
but what will be ready to receive
him: For the earth is the Lord's,
and the fulness thereof.

16 These things, they who have
their conversation towards God
not to be repented of, both have
done, and will always be ready to
do.

17 Nay and even the Gentiles
themselves have given us examples
of this kind.

18 For we read, How many
kings and princes, in times of
pestilence, being warned by their
oracles, have given up themselves
unto death; that by their own
blood, they might deliver their
country from destruction.

19 Others have forsaken their
cities, so that they might put an
end to the seditions of them.

20 We know how many among
ourselves, have given up
themselves unto bonds, that
thereby they might free others
from them.

21 Others have sold themselves
into bondage, that they might feed
their brethren with the price of
themselves.

22 And even many women,
being strengthened by the grace
of God, have done many glorious
and manly things on such occasions.

23 The blessed Judith, when
her city was besieged, desired the
elders, that they would suffer her
to go into the camp of their enemies;
and she went out exposing herself
to danger, for the love she bare
to her country and her people
that were besieged: and the
Lord delivered Holofernes into
the hands of a woman.

24 Nor did Esther, being perfect
in faith, expose herself to any
less hazard, for the delivery of the
twelve tribes of Israel, in danger
of being destroyed. For by fasting
and humbling herself, she entreated
the Great Maker of all things, the
God of spirits; so that beholding
the humility of her soul, he
delivered the people, for whose
sake she was in peril.

CHAPTER XXIII.

The benefit of mutual advice and correction.
He entreats them to follow that which is here given to them.

WHEREFORE let us also pray
for such as are fallen into
sin. That being endued with
humility and moderation, they
may submit not unto us, but to
the wish of God.

2 For by this means they shall
obtain a fruitful and perfect
remembrance, with mercy, both in
our prayers to God, and in our
mention of them before his saints.

3 Let us receive correction, at
which no man ought to repine.

4 Beloved, the reproof and the
correction which we exercise
towards one another, is good, and
exceeding profitable: for it unites
us the more closely to the will of
God.

5 For, so says the Holy Scripture,
The Lord corrected me, but he did
not deliver me over unto death. For
whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth,
and scourgeth every son whom he
receiveth.

6 The righteous, saith he, shall
instruct me in mercy and reprove
me; but let not oil of sinners
make fat my head.

7 And again he saith, Happy
is the man whom God correcteth;
therefore despise not thou the
chastening of the Almighty.

8 For he maketh gore and bindeth
up; he woundeth and his hands
make whole.

9 He shall deliver thee in six
troubles; yea in seven there shall
no evil touch thee. In famine he
shall redeem thee from death; and
in war from the power of the sword.

10 Thou shalt be hid from the
scourge of the tongue; neither
shalt thou be afraid of destruction
when it cometh.

11 Thou shalt laugh at the
wicked and sinners; neither shalt
thou be afraid of the beasts of the
earth. The wild beast shall be at
peace with thee.

12 Then shalt thou know that
thy house shall be in peace; and
the habitation of thy tabernacle
shall not err. Then shalt know
also that thy seed shall be great
and thy offspring as the grass of
the earth.

13 Thou shalt come to thy
grave as the ripe corn, that is
taken in due time: like as a shock
of corn cometh in, in its season.

14 Ye see, beloved, how there
shall be a defence to those that are
corrected of the Lord. For being
a good instructor, he is willing to
admonish us by his holy discipline.

15 Do ye therefore who laid the
first foundation of this sedition,
submit yourselves unto your
priests; and be instructed unto
repentance, bending the knees of
your hearts.

16 Learn to be subject, laying
aside all proud and arrogant
boasting of your tongues.

17 For it is better for you to be
found little, and approved, in the
sheepfold of Christ, than to seem
to yourselves better than others,
and be cast out of his fold.

18 For thus speaks the
excellent and all-virtuous wisdom,
Behold I will pour out the word
of my spirit upon you, I will make
known my speech unto you.

19 Because I called and ye
would not hear, I stretched out
my hand and ye regarded not.

20 But ye have set at nought all
my counsel, and would none of
my reproof. I will also laugh at
your calamity, and mock when
your fear cometh.

21 When your fear cometh as
desolation, and your destruction
as a whirlwind, when distress and
anguish cometh upon you.

22 Then shall ye call upon me
but I will not hear you: the
wicked shall seek me but they
shall not find me. For that they
hated knowledge, and did not seek
the fear of the Lord.

23 They would not hearken
unto my counsel: they despised
all my reproof. Therefore shall
they eat of the fruit of their own
ways; and be filled with their
own wickedness.

CHAPTER XXIV.

1 Recommends them to God. Desires speedily to hear
that this Epistle has had a good effect upon them.
4 Conclusion.

NOW God, the inspector of all
things, the Father of Spirits,
and the Lord of all flesh, who
hath chosen our Lord Jesus Christ,
and us by him, to be his peculiar
people;

2 Grant to every soul of man
that calleth upon his glorious and
holy name, faith, fear, peace,
long-suffering, patience, temperance,
holiness and sobriety, unto all
well-pleasing in his sight;
through our High-Priest and
Protector Jesus Christ, by whom
be glory and majesty, and power,
and honour unto him now and for
ever more, Amen.

3 The messengers whom we
have sent unto you, Claudius,
Ephebus, and Valerios Bito, with
Fortunatus, send back to us again
with all speed, in peace and with
joy, that they may the sooner
acquaint us with your peace and
concord, so much prayed for and
desired by us: and that we may
rejoice in your good order.

4 The grace of our Lord Jesus
Christ be with you, and with all
that are any where called by God
through him: To whom be honour
and glory, and might and majesty,
and eternal dominion, by Christ
Jesus, from everlasting to
everlasting, Amen.