Exhorts to peace tion to them. particularly from St. Paul's exhorta- | be glory for ever and ever, Amen. 11 But they who with a full persuasion have endured these things, 8 YE are are made partakers of E 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 2And all these things they underwent gloriously. 4 9 For what shall we say, brethren? Was Daniel cast into the den of lions, by men fearing God? Ananias, Azarius, and Misael, were they cast into the 5 fiery furnace by men, 6 professing the excellent and glorious worship of the Most High? God forbid. 10 What kind of persons then where they that did these things They were men abominable, full of all wickedness; who where 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 7 Just men. Dan. vi. 16. Full of virtue. 11 Psalm xvii. 2. 13Turn aside rvii. 2. glory and honour: and are exalted and lifted up by God in their memorial throughout all ages, Amen. 12 Wherefore it will behove us also, brethren, 10 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, 11 With the pure thou shalt be pure, (12 and with the elect thou shalt be elect), but with the perverse man thou shalt be 1s per verse. 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 14 Have we not all one God, and one Christ? 15 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 seditions against our own body? And are come to such a height of madness, asto forget that we were members one of another? 16 18 Remember the words of ourLord Jesus, "how he said, Wo to that man, (by whom offences come) 18 It were better for him that he had never been born, than that he should have offended oneof 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 Suffering these things they underwent them gloriously. Shut into. Dan. iii. 20. Worshipping the worship. 8 Have inherited. Have been exalted. 10 To cleave to. 12 Omitted by Junius, and now restored from the MS. Eph. iv. 4. 151 Cor. xii. 16 Rom. xii. 17 For he said. 18 Lukę. 6 8 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 9 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 10 put an end to this sedition; 4 to peace and union. 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, 13 Open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will go in unto 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. 6 7 1 See Dodwell's add. and Pearson, Dr. Grabe, &c. 2 Spiritually send to you. 3 Inclinations. Inclined. Witnessed of. Gravity. So much spoken of. Institution. See Dodwell. 10 Take away. able 12 Grave, venerable. 13 Psalm cxviii. 19, 20. 8 "Becoming favour15 Bond. 14 Greater. 1. CLEMENT. The value and effects of 4 Charity unites us to God; 3 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 4 join us unto 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 unblamable, 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. Б 12 For it is written, 6 Enter into thy chambers for a little space, till my anger and indignation shall unity and charity. pass away: And I will remember 7 13 Happy then shall we be, are 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. CHAP. 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. ET us therefore, as many as I have transgressed by any of the suggestions of the adversary, beg God's forgiveness. 9 2 And as for those who have 11 let them been the 10 heads of the sedition look to the common end of our and faction among you, hope. 12 endued 3 For as many as are with fear and charity, would rather they themselves should fall into trials than their neighbours : And chuse to be themselves condemned, rather than that the good should suffer. and just charity delivered to us, 4 For it is seemly for a man to confess wherein he has trans gressed. 7 Are we. 8 Psalm xxxii. See Junius Take us up. Animadversion, Walk according to; live in. 2 Exhorts to unity from I. CLEMENT. 5 1 And not to harden his heart, as the hearts of those were harddened, 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. 63 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 any thing; nor does he demand any thing 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. 6 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 fall 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 7 8 the example of Moses. 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 stiffnecked 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 10 larger than this. 13 But Moses said, Not 80, 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. 11 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. 12 15 He that shall do this, shall get to himself a very great honour in the Lord; and 13 there is no place but what will be ready to receive him: 14 For the earth is the Lord's and the fulness thereof. 16 These things they who have Chosen. "Psalm lxix. 31. Psalm 'Rather than. 2Num. xvi. Exod. iv. L. 14. Psalm li. 17. Exod. xxxii. Deut. ix. Once and twice. 10 More, greater. 11 Blot out. 12 The multitude. 13 Every place. 14 Psalm xxiv. the heathens, &c. I. CLEMENT. The benefit their conversation towards God | soul, he delivered the people, for do. 1 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. CHAP. XXIII. The benefit of mutual advice and correc- WH HEREFORE let us also 2 For by this means 20 We know how many among ourselves, have given up them-"saints. selves 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 24 Nor did Esther, being per- 8 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. 12 5 For so says the Holy Scripture, 1 The Lord corrected me. but he did not deliver me over unto death. 13 For whom the Lord loveth he chasteneth, and scourg eth every son whom he receiveth. 614 The righteous, saith he, shall instruct me in mercy and reprove me; but let not oil of sinners make fat my head. 16 7 And again he saith, 15 Happy is the man whom God correcteth; therefore despise not thou the chastening of the Almighty. 8 For he maketh sore and bindeth up; he woundeth and his hands make whole. 9 He shall deliver thee in six In famine he troubles; yea in seven there shall no evil touch thee. shall redeem thee from death; Citizens. Many. 8 But that we may bring the examples of heathens. Others. Judith, viii. ix. x. xiii. "The Strangers. 7 Esther, vii. viii. Ages; 10 There shall be to them. ii. e. our Fellow who. 9 Viz. that of schism. Christians. 12 Psalm xcviii. 13 Prov. iii. 11. 14 Psalm cxli. 5. 16 Job. v. 17, &c. |