The Forbidden Gospels and Epistles Part 39

THE FIRST EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS.

CHAPTER I.

Clement commends them for their excellent order and piety in Christ, before their schism broke out.

THE Church of G.o.d which is at Rome, to the Church of G.o.d which is at Corinth, elect, sanctified by the will of G.o.d, through Jesus Christ our Lord: grace and peace from the Almighty G.o.d, by Jesus Christ, be multiplied unto you.

2 Brethren, the sudden and unexpected dangers and calamities that have fallen upon us, have, we fear, made us the more slow in our consideration of those things which you inquired of us:

3 As also of that wicked and detestable sedition, so unbecoming the elect of G.o.d, which a few headstrong and self-willed men have fomented to such a degree of madness, that your venerable and renowned name, so worthy of all men to be beloved, is greatly blasphemed thereby.

4 For who that has ever been among you has not experienced the firmness of your faith, and its fruitfulness in all good works; and admired the temper and moderation of your religion in Christ; and published abroad the magnificence of your hospitality; and thought you happy in your perfect and certain knowledge of the Gospel?

5 For ye did all things without respect of persons, and walked according to the laws of G.o.d; being subject to those who had the rule over you, and giving the honour that was fitting to the aged among you.

6 Ye commanded the young men to think those things that were modest and grave.

7 The women ye exhorted to do all things with an unblameable, and seemly, and pure conscience; loving their own husbands, as was fitting: and that keeping themselves within the bounds of a due obedience, they should order their houses gravely, with all discretion.

8 Ye were all of you humble- minded, not boasting of anything desiring rather to be subject than to govern; to give than to receive; being a content with the portion G.o.d hath dispensed to you:

9 And hearkening diligently to his word, ye were enlarged in your bowels, having his sufferings always before your eyes.

10 Thus a firm, and blessed, and profitable peace was given unto you: and an unsatiable desire of doing good; and a plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost was upon all of you.

11 And being full of good designs, ye did with, great readiness of mind, and with a religious confidence stretch forth your hands to G.o.d Almighty; beseeching him to be merciful unto you, if in anything ye had unwillingly sinned against him.

12 Ye contended day and night for the whole brotherhood; that with compa.s.sion and a good conscience, the number of his elect might be saved.

13 Ye were sincere, and without offence towards each other; not mindful of injuries; all sedition and schism was an abomination unto you.

14 Ye bewailed every one his neighbours' sins, esteeming their defects your own.

15 Ye were kind one to another without grudging; being ready to every good work. And being adorned with a conversation altogether virtuous and religious, ye did all things in the fear of G.o.d; whose I commandments were written upon the tables of your heart.

CHAPTER II.

How their divisions began.

ALL honour and enlargement was given unto you; and so was fulfilled that which is written, my beloved did eat and drink, he was enlarged and waxed fat, and he kicked.

2 From hence came emulation, and envy, and strife, and sedition; persecution and disorder, war and captivity.

3 So they who were of no renown, lifted up themselves against the honourable; those of no reputation against those who were in respect; the foolish against the wise; the young men against the aged.

4 Therefore righteousness and peace are departed from you, because every one hath forsaken the fear of G.o.d; and is grown blind in his faith; nor walketh by the rule of G.o.d's commandments nor liveth as is fitting in Christ:

5 But every one follows his own wicked l.u.s.ts: having taken up an unjust and wicked envy, by which death first entered into the world.

CHAPTER III.

Envy and emulation the original of all strife and disorder. Examples of the mischiefs they have occasioned.

FOR thus it is written, And in process of time it came to pa.s.s, 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:

2 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 sorrowful, and his countenance fell.

3 And the Lord said unto Cain, Why art thou sorrowful? And why is thy countenance fallen?

If thou shalt offer aright, but not divide aright, hast thou not sinned?

Hold thy peace: unto thee shall be his desire, and thou shalt rule over him.

4 And Cain said unto Abel his brother, Let us go down into the field. And it came to pa.s.s, as they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.

5 Ye see, brethren, how envy and emulation wrought the death of a brother. For this, our father Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau.

6 It was this that caused Joseph to be persecuted even unto death, and to come into bondage. Envy forced Moses to flee from the face of Pharoah king of Egypt, when he heard his own countryman ask him, "Who made thee a Judge, and a ruler over us? Wilt thou kill me as thou didst the Egyptian yesterday?"

7 Through envy Aaron and Miriam were shut out of the camp, from the rest of the congregation seven days.

8 Emulation's sent Dathan and Abiram quick into the grave because they raised up a sedition against Moses the servant of G.o.d.

9 For this, David was not only hated of strangers, but was persecuted even by Saul the king of Israel.

10 But not to insist upon ancient examples, let us come to those worthies that have been nearest to us; and take the brave examples of our own age.

11 Through zeal and envy, the most faithful and righteous pillars of the church have been persecuted even to the most grievous deaths.

12 Let us set before our eyes, the holy Apostles; Peter by unjust envy underwent not one or two, but many sufferings; till at last being martyred, he went to the place of glory that was due unto him.

13 For the same cause did Paul in like manner receive the reward of his patience. Seven times he was in bonds; he was whipped, was stoned; he preached both in the East and in the West; leaving behind him the glorious report of his faith:

14 And so having taught the whole world righteousness, and for that end travelled even to the utmost bounds of the West; he at last suffered martyrdom by the command of the governors,

15 And departed out of the world, and went unto his holy place; having become a most eminent pattern of patience unto all ages.

16 To these Holy Apostles were joined a very great number of others, who having through envy undergone in like manner many pains and torments, have left a glorious example to us.

17 For this, not only men but women have been persecuted; and having suffered very grievous and cruel punishments, have finished the course of their faith with firmness; and though weak in body, yet received a glorious reward.

18 This has alienated the minds even of women from their husbands; and changed what was once said by our father Adam; This is now bone of my bones, and flesh of my flesh.

19 In a word, envy and strife, have overturned whole cities, and rooted out great nations from off the earth.