========================================================================
  CAUSES OF IGNORANCE
  by Clement of Rome
========================================================================

Summary: The will of God is often obscured by evil instruction, wicked
association, and terrible society, leading to error and unbelief.

Topics: "Spiritual Warfare", "Gods Will"
Scripture References: Proverbs 3:5, John 8:12, 2 Corinthians 6:14, Ephesians 5:8, James 4:7

------------------------------------------------------------------------
DESCRIPTION
------------------------------------------------------------------------

Clement of Rome emphasizes the obscurity of God's will due to evil
influences like wicked associations, ungodly conversations, and wrongful
prejudices, leading to various sins and hindrances that prevent people
from truly knowing and pleasing God. He urges truth-seekers to cry out
for help and open the door to let the light of God's truth in and drive
out the smoke of worldly influences, allowing them to see and understand
God's will clearly.

------------------------------------------------------------------------
CONTENT
------------------------------------------------------------------------

The will of God has been kept in obscurity in many ways. In the first
place, there is evil instruction, wicked association, terrible society,
unseemly discourses, wrongful prejudice.

Thereby is error, then fearlessness, unbelief, fornication,
covetousness, vainglory; and ten thousand other such evils, filling the
world as a quantity of smoke fills a house, have obscured the sight of
the men inhabiting the world, and have not suffered them to look up and
become acquainted with God the Creator from the delineation of Himself
which He has given, and to know what is pleasing to Him.

Wherefore it behooves the lovers of truth, crying out inwardly from
their breasts, to call for aid, with truth-loving reason, that some one
living within the house which is filled with smoke may approach and open
the door, so that the light of the sun which is without may be admitted
into the house, and the smoke of the fire which is within may be driven
out.

========================================================================
Source: https://sermonindex.net/speakers/clement-of-rome/causes-of-ignorance/
========================================================================