| << | Contents | >> |
Two Epistles Concerning Virginity
Such are the ways of all those who do not work, but go hunting for tales, and think to themselves that this is profitable and right.[385] For such persons are like those idle and prating widows “who go wandering about[386] among houses”[387] with their prating, and hunt for idle tales, and carry them from house to house with much exaggeration, without fear of God. And besides all this, barefaced men as they are,[388] under pretence of teaching, they set forth a variety of doctrines. And would that they taught the doctrines of truth! But it is this which is so disquieting, that they understand not what they mean, and assert that which is not true: because they wish to be teachers, and to display themselves as skilful in speaking; because they traffic in iniquity in the name of Christ—which it is not right for the servants of God to do. And they hearken not to that which the Scripture has said: “Let not many be teachers among you, my brethren, and be not all of you prophets.”[389] For “he who does not transgress in word is a perfect man, able to keep down and subjugate his whole body.”[390] And, “If a man speak, let him speak in the words[391] of God.”[392] And, “If there is in thee understanding, give an answer to thy brother but if not, put thy hand on thy mouth.”[393] For, “at one time it is proper to keep silence, and at another thee to speak.”[394] And again it says “When a man speaks in season, it is honourable[395] to him.”[396] And again it says: “Let your speech be seasoned with grace. For it is required of a man to know how to give an answer to every one in season.”[397] For “he that utters whatsoever comes to his mouth, that man produces strife; and he that utters a superfluity of words increases vexation; and he that is hasty with his lips falls into evil. For because of the unruliness of the tongue cometh anger; but the perfect man keeps watch over his tongue, and loves his soul’s life.”[398] For these are they “who by good words and fair speeches lead astray the hearts of the simple, and, while offering them blessings, lead them astray.”[399] Let us, therefore, fear the judgment which awaits teachers. For a severe judgment will those teachers receive “who teach, but do not,”[400] and those who take upon them the name of Christ falsely, and say: We teach the truth, and yet go wandering about idly, and exalt themselves, and make their boast” in the mind of the flesh.”[401] These, moreover, are like “the blind man who leads the blind man, and they both fall into the ditch.”[402] And they will receive judgment, because in their talkativeness and their frivolous teaching they teach natural[403] wisdom and the “frivolous error of the plausible words of the wisdom of men,”[404] “according to the will of the prince of the dominion of the air, and of the spirit which works in those men who will not obey, according to the training of this world, and not according to the doctrine of Christ.”[405] But if thou hast received “the word of knowledge, or the word of instruction, or of prophecy,”[406] blessed be God, “who helps every man without grudging—that God who gives to every man and does not upbraid him.”[407] With the gift, therefore, which thou hast received from our Lord, serve thy spiritual brethren, the prophets who know that the words which thou speakest are those of our Lord; and declare the gift which thou hast received in the Church for the edification of the brethren in Christ (for good and excellent are those things which help the men of God), if so be that they are truly with thee.[408]
Moreover, also, this is comely and useful, that a man “visit orphans and widows,”[409] and especially those poor persons who have many children. These things are, without controversy, required of the servants of God, and comely and suitable for them. This also, again, is suitable and right and comely for those who are brethren in Christ, that they should visit those who are harassed by evil spirits, and pray and pronounce adjurations[410] over them, intelligently, offering such prayer as is acceptable before God; not with a multitude of fine words,[411] well prepared and arranged, so that they may appear to men eloquent and of a good memory. Such men are “like a sounding pipe, or a tinkling cymbal;”[412] and they bring no help to those over whom they make their adjurations; but they speak with terrible words, and affright people, but do not act with true faith, according to the teaching of our Lord, who hath said: “This kind goeth not out but by fasting and prayer,”[413] offered unceasingly and with earnest mind. And let them holily ask and beg of God, with cheerfulness and all circumspection and purity, without hatred and without malice. In this way let us approach a brother or a sister who is sick, and visit them in a way that is right, without guile, and without covetousness, and without noise, and without talkativeness, and without such behaviour as is alien from the fear of God, and without haughtiness, but with the meek and lowly spirit of Christ. Let them, therefore, with fasting and with prayer make their adjurations, and not with the elegant and well-arranged and fitly-ordered words of learning, but as men who have received the gift of healing from God, confidently, to the glory of God. By[414] your fastings and prayers and perpetual watching, together with your other good works, mortify the works of the flesh by the power of the Holy Spirit. He who acts thus “is a temple of the Holy Spirit of God.”[415] Let this man cast out demons, and God will help him. For it is good that a man help those that are sick. Our Lord hath said: “Cast out demons,” at the same time commanding many other acts of healing; and, “Freely ye have received, freely give.”[416] For such persons as these a goodly recompense is laid up by God, because they serve their brethren with the gifts which have been given them by the Lord. This is also comely and helpful to the servants of God, because they act according to the injunctions of our Lord, who hath said: “I was sick, and ye visited Me, and so on.”[417] And this is comely and right and just, that we visit our neighbours for the sake of God with all seemliness of manner and purity of behaviour; as the Apostle hath said: “Who is sick, and I am not sick? who is offended, and I am not offended?”[418] But all these things are spoken in reference to the love with which a man should love his neighbour. And in these things let us occupy ourselves,[419] without giving offence, and let us not do anything with partiality or for the shaming of others, but let us love the poor as the servants of God, and especially let us visit them. For this is comely before God and before men, that we should remember the poor, and be lovers of the brethren and of strangers, for the sake of God and for the sake of those who believe in God, as we have learnt from the law and from the prophets, and from our Lord Jesus Christ, concerning the love of the brotherhood and the love of strangers: for ye know the words which have been spoken concerning the love of the brotherhood and the love of strangers;[420] powerfully are the words spoken to all those who do them.
Beloved brethren! that a man should build up and establish the brethren on the faith in one God, this also is manifest and well-known. This too, again, is comely, that a man should not be envious of his neighbour. And moreover, again, it is suitable and comely that all those who work the works of the Lord should work the works of the Lord in the fear of God. Thus is it required of them to conduct themselves. That “the harvest is great, but the workmen are few,” this also is well-known and manifest. Let us, therefore, “ask of the Lord of the harvest” that He would send forth workmen into the harvest;[421] such workmen as “shall skilfully dispense the word of truth;” workmen “who shall not be ashamed;”[422] faithful workmen; workmen who shall be “the light of the world;”[423] workmen who “work not for the food that perisheth, but for that food which abideth unto life eternal;”[424] workmen who shall be such as the apostles; workmen who imitate the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; who are concerned for the salvation of men; not “hireling”[425] workmen; not workmen to whom the fear of God and righteousness appear to be gain; not workmen who “serve their belly;” not workmen who “with fair speeches and pleasant words mislead the hearts of the innocent;”[426] not workmen who imitate the children of light, while they are not light but darkness—“men whose end is destruction;”[427] not workmen who practise iniquity and wickedness and fraud; not “crafty workmen;”[428] not workmen “drunken” and “faithless;”[429] nor workmen who traffic in Christ;[430] not misleaders; not “lovers of money; not malevolent.”[431]
Let us, therefore, contemplate and imitate the faithful who have conducted themselves well in the Lord, as is becoming and suitable to our calling and profession. Thus let us do service before God in justice and righteousness, and without blemish, “occupying ourselves with things good and comely before God and also before men.”[432] For this is comely, that God be glorified in us in all things.
Here endeth the first Epistle of Clement.
Search Comments
This page has been visited 0001 times.
| << | Contents | >> |
10 per page