Vol 01 - ST. CLEMENT'S EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS.

ST. CLEMENT'S EPISTLE TO THE CORINTHIANS
The church of GOD which sojourneth at Corinth, elect, sanctified by the will of GOD, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord: grace and peace be multiplied unto you, from the Almighty GOD, through JESUS CHRIST. BRETHREN,
1. BY reason of the sudden dangers and calamities which have befallen us, we may have seemed slow to consider the things you required of us: and especially that detestable and unholy sedition, strange to us, and unbecoming the elect of GOD: which a few rash and self-willed men have inflamed to such a height of madness, that their venerable and renowned name, worthy to be loved of all, has been greatly blasphemed. For who that has only sojourned among you, has not praised the firmness of your faith, adorned with all virtues
Who has not admired the wisdom and gentleness of your piety in CHRIST Who has not published abroad the exceeding greatness of your hospitality And accounted you happy, for your perfect and certain knowledge of the gospel. For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked in the laws of GOD, being subject to them who had the rule over you, and giving the honor that was due to the presbyters among you. 1. The reason of his not sooner answering their letter, which had given an account of the new schism in their church.-
The scandal occasioned by it.-A commendation of their preceding behavior. Ye commanded the. young men to be of a modest and serious mind: the women ye exhorted to do all things with gravity, and with an unblamable and pure conscience; loving their husbands; obeying them, and ordering their houses with all sobriety and discretion.
2. Ye were all humble-minded, without arrogance, desiring rather to be subject than to govern; more ready to give than to receive; content with the portion GOD has dispensed to you: and, hearkening diligently to his word, ye were enlarged in your bowels, having his sufferings always before your eyes. Thus a firm and blessed peace was given to you all; and an insatiable desire of doing good; and a full effusion of the Holy Ghost was upon you all. Being fall of a holy intention, ye did, with great readiness of mind, and with a pious confidence, stretch forth your hands unto Almighty GOD, beseeching him to be merciful -unto you, if in any thing ye had unwillingly offended.
Ye strove with GOD day and night for all the brethren, that through his mercy the number of the elect might be saved. Ye were sincere, and without guile, toward each other; ye were not mindful of injuries; all sedition and all schism was an abomination to you. Ye bewailed every one his neighbor's sins. Ye esteemed their defects your own. Ye were kind to one another without grudging, and ready, to every good work. Being adorned with an altogether virtuous and holy conversation, ye did all things in the fear of God; and the commandments of the Lord were written on the tables of your heart.
3. But, when all honor and enlargement were given unto you, then was fulfilled that which is written, My beloved did eat and drink, he was enlarged, and waxed fat, and kicked." From hence envy, and strife, and sedition, persecution, and tumult, and war, and captivity. Hence the vile rose up against the honorable, A farther commendation of their preceding behavior. 4 1. The cause and consequences of their present schism-the foolish against the wise, the young men against the, elders. Therefore righteousness and peace are now far from you, while many leave the fear of GOD, are dim sighted in the faith, and no longer walk in the commandments of GOD, neither have their conversation as becomes the gospel of CHRIST; but walk after their own desires, full of unjust and wicked envy, by which death entered into the world.
4. For thus it is written, a And in process of time, it came to pass that Cain brought of the fruit of the ground, an offering unto the Lord. And Abel, he also brought of the firstlings of his flock, and of the fat thereof. And the Lord had respect unto Abel and to his offering; but unto Cain and unto his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very wroth, and his countenance fell. And Cain talked with Abel his brother: and it came to pass, when they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him." Ye see, brethren, envy wrought the death of a brother. For this our father Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau: this caused Joseph to be persecuted to the death, and come into bondage. For envy Aaron and Miriam were shut out of the camp. Envy sent Dathan and Abiram quick into hell, because they were seditious against Moses the servant of God. For this David underwent not only the hate of strangers, but was persecuted by Saul, the king of Israel.
5. But to cease from ancient examples, let us come to those combatants who have been nearest to us; let us take the examples of our own age. Through envy the faithful and most righteous pillars of the church have been persecuted even to the most grievous deaths. Let us set before our eyes the holy apostles. Peter, by unjust envy, underwent his many sufferings; till at last, being martyred, he went to the place of glory that was due to him. Through envy did Paul receive the reward ( 4, 5, f. Examples of the ill effects of envy of his patience, having been seven times in bonds, having been scourged, stoned; having preached both in the east and in the west; having taught the whole world righteousness, and traveled to the utmost bounds of the west, and borne testimony before rulers, he left the world, and went unto the holy place; leaving behind him a glorious report of his faith, and a most eminent pattern of patience.
6. To these holy men has been joined a great number of others, who having through envy endured many torments, have left us a glorious example. Even women, persecuted through envy, having suffered grievous tortures, have finished the course of the faith, and weak as they were in body, have attained a great reward.
7. These things, brethren, we write unto you, not only for your instruction, but also for our own remembrance. For we are in the same lists, and engaged in the same combat. Let us lay aside all vain and useless cares, and let us come up to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling. Let us consider what is good, and acceptable, and well pleasing in the sight of him that made us. Let us fix our eye on the blood of CHRIST, and see how precious it is before GOD, which, being shed for our salvation, brought the grace of repentance to all the world. Let us look diligently to all ages, and learn that our Lord has always given place for repentance, to all who desire to turn to him. Noah preached repentance, and they who hearkened to him were saved. Jonah denounced destruction against the Ninevites; yet they, repenting of their sins, appeased GOD by their prayers, and received salvation, although they were strangers to the covenant of God.
8. All the ministers of the grace of GOD have, by the Holy Spirit, spoken of repentance. And even the Lord of all, has spoken concerning it with an oath, 7. An exhortation to repentance, 8. Promises to the penitent. " As I live, says the Lord, I desire not the death of a sinner, but that he should repent;" adding this good sentence, " Turn ye from your sins, for why will ye die, O house of Israel"
9. Wherefore let us obey his excellent and glorious will, and, imploring his compassion and goodness, fall down before him, and turn ourselves to his mercy. Laying aside all vain labor, and contention, and envy, which leadeth unto death; let us fix our eyes on those who have perfectly ministered to his excellent glory. Look on Enoch, who, being found upright and obedient, was translated, and his death was not found. Noah, being found faithful by his ministry, preached regeneration to the world: and the Lord saved by him all the creatures that entered with one accord into the ark.
10. Abraham, named the friend of GOD, was found faithful, in obeying the words of God. By obedience he went out of his own land, and from his kindred, and his father's house; that, forsaking a narrow land, and a weak kindred, and a small house, he might inherit the promises of God.
11. By faith was Lot saved out of Sodom, when all the country round was destroyed by fire and brimstone, the Lord showing, that he will not forsake them that trust in him, but that he will bring the disobedient to punishment. For his wife, who went out with him, being not of the same mind, was set for a sign; and is a pillar of salt unto this day; that all may know, that the double-minded, and they who distrust the power of GOD, become a condemnation, and a sign to all ages.
12. By faith and hospitality was Rahab saved. For when the spies were sent by Joshua the son of Nun to search out Jericho, she would not discover them unto the messengers of the king. Then she said to them, " I know that the Lord your GOD has given this city into your hands. When therefore ye shall have taken it, ye shall save me and my father's house." And they gave her a sign, that she should hang out of her house a scarlet thread: a type of the blood of our Lord, whereby should be redemption to all who believe and trust in God.
13. Let us therefore humble ourselves, brethren, laying aside all arrogance, and pride, and foolishness, and anger. Let us-remember the words of our Lord JESUS, " Be ye merciful, and ye shall obtain mercy; forgive and ye shall be forgiven." By this command and these rules, let us establish ourselves, that so we may always walk obediently to his holy words.
14. It is therefore just and righteous, men and brethren, that we obey GOD, and not the authors of sedition and discord; considering, the danger of giving ourselves up to turbulent men, estranged from that which is good. But let us be kind to one another, according to the compassion and sweetness of him that made us. Arid let us hold fast to those who follow peace in sincerity, not with those who "bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart."
15, CHRIST is theirs who are humble, not who exalt themselves over his flock. The sceptre of the majesty of GOD, our Lord JESUS CHRIST, came not in the pomp of pride and arrogance, but in lowliness and humility. He was as " a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people." Ye see, beloved, what a pattern is set before us: and if our Lord thus humbled himself, what should we do
16. In humility then let us return to the mark of peace which was given to us from the beginning. Let us steadfastly behold the Father and Creator of the universe, and hold fast his glorious and exceeding great gifts and benefits. Let us see him with our understanding, and with the eyes of our soul behold his long-suffering will let us consider, how gentle and patient he is, toward his whole creation.
17. The heavens continue unshaken by his appointment, and are subject to him in peace. Day and night fulfill their allotted course, and hinder not each other. The sun and moon, and all the quires of stars, run the race he has commanded in concord. The fruitful earth yields her food plentifully in its season, to all the animals that are thereon, according to his will, not disputing or altering any thing of what he has ordered. The floods of the great deep, gathered together by him, pass not the bounds which he has appointed for them.
The impassible ocean and the worlds beyond, are governed by the same Lord. Spring and summer, autumn and winter, give place to each other in peace. The winds in their courses fulfill their ministry, each in his appointed season. The eternal springs never fail to reach out their breasts, for the health and delight of man. The very smallest of creatures, join together in unity and mutual peace. All these has the great Creator and Lord of all, commanded to abide in peace and concord; who does good to all, but more abundantly to us, who have fled to his mercies, through our Lord JESUS CHRIST: to whom be glory and majesty for ever and ever. Amen.
18. Take heed, my beloved, that his many blessings be not to us to condemnation, if we walk not worthy of him, doing with one consent the things that are good. and well-. pleasing in his sight. Let us consider,, how near he is, and that nothing of our words or thoughts is hid from him. Let us not therefore leave the rank assigned us by his will. Let us offend foolish and unreasonable men, lifted up and glorifying in the arrogance of their own wisdom, rather than God. Let us reverence our Lord JESUS CHRIST, whose blood was given for us.
Let us honor those that are over us in the Lord; let us respect our elders; let us train up our young men in the fear of the Lord. Our women let us guide into that which is good. Let them show forth a purity, worthy of all love; let them be patterns of sincerity and meekness: the government of their tongues let them manifest by their silence. Let them show their love, not with respect of persons, but alike toward all those who fear GOD in holiness. Let their children partake of the discipline of CHRIST. Let them learn how great power humility has with God; how much holy love avails with him: how the fear of him is good and great, and saves all those, who with a pure mind turn to him in holiness. For he is a searcher of the thoughts and intents of the heart. His breath is in us: and when he will, he takes it away.
19. Let us consider, beloved, how the Lord continually shows us the resurrection which is to come; of which he had made our Lord JESUS CHRIST the first fruits, raising him from the dead. Behold the types thereof in every season: the night lies down, the day arises again, the day goes, and the night comes on. Let us behold the fruits of the earth: how the seed is sown. The sower went forth and cast it into "the ground. It fell naked and dry: it was afterwards. dissolved: then from that dissolution, the great power of GOD raiseth it up again, and it increases and brings forth fruit.
20. In this hope, therefore, let our souls cleave to him, who is faithful in his promises, and righteous in his judgments. He has commanded us not to lie. Much less will he himself. For nothing is impossible to GOD, but to lie. Let us then stir up our faith, and consider, that all things are nigh unto him. By the word of his majesty he made all things and by a word he is able to destroy them. “who shall say unto him, what dost you" or who shall resist the power of his strength When he pleases, and as he pleases, he does all things.; and of all he has determined, nothing passes away. All things are continually in his sight; nor path any thing been hid from him.
21. Seeing then he sees and heareth all things, let us fear him, and lay aside our unholy desires, that his mercy may cover us from the wrath to come. For whither can any of us flee from his mighty hand What world will receive those that flee from him " If we ascend into heaven, he is there: if we go down to hell, he is there also." Whither shall a man go, or whither shall he run, from him who containeth all things.
22. An exhortation to purity, grounded on the omnipresence ~f GOD, and enforced by his mercy, to his servants.