 CHAPTER 1 – 10 OF FIRST CLEMENT Robert's Donaldson Version This is a LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain. For more information and to find out how you can volunteer, please visit LibriVox.org. Recording by Sam Stinson. CHAPTER 1 The Church of God which sojourns at Rome to the Church of God sojourning at Corinth to those who are called and sanctified by the will of God through our Lord Jesus Christ grace to you in peace from Almighty God through Jesus Christ be multiplied. Owing dear brethren to the sudden and successive calamitous events which have happened to ourselves we feel that we have been somewhat tardy in turning our attention to the points respecting which you consulted us and especially to that shameful and detestable sedition utterly abhorrent to the elect of God which a few rash and self-confident persons have kindled to such a pitch of frenzy that your venerable and illustrious name worthy to be universally loved has suffered grievous injury. For whoever dwelt even for a short time among you and did not find your faith to be as fruitful of virtue as it was firmly established who did not admire the sobriety and moderation of your godliness in Christ who did not proclaim the magnificence of your habitual hospitality and who did not rejoice over your perfect and well-grounded knowledge for you did all things without respective persons and walked in the commandments of God being obedient to those who had rule over you and giving all fitting honor to the presbyters among you you enjoined young men to be of a sober and serious mind you instructed your wives to do all things with a blameless becoming and pure conscience loving their husbands as in duty bound and you taught them that living in the rule of obedience they should manage their household affairs becomingly and be in every respect marked by discretion. End of Chapter 1 Chapter 2 Moreover you were all distinguished by humility and were in no respect puffed up with pride but yielded obedience rather than extorted it and were more willing to give than to receive content with the provision which God had made for you and carefully attending to his words you were inwardly filled with his doctrine and his sufferings were before your eyes thus a profound and abundant peace was given to you all and you had an insatiable desire for doing good while a full outpouring of the Holy Spirit was upon you all full of holy designs and with true earnestness of mind and godly confidence you stretched forth your hands to God Almighty beseeching him to be merciful to you if you had been guilty of any involuntary transgression day and night you were anxious for the whole brotherhood that the number of God's elect might be saved with mercy and a good conscience you were sincere and uncorrupted and forgetful of injuries between one another every kind of faction and schism was abominable in your sight you mourned over the transgressions of your neighbors their deficiencies you deemed your own you never grudged any act of kindness being ready to every good work adorned by a thoroughly virtuous and religious life you did all things in the fear of God the commandments and ordinances of the Lord were written upon the tablets of your hearts End of Chapter 2 Chapter 3 every kind of honor and happiness was bestowed upon you and then was fulfilled that which is written my beloved ate and drank and was enlarged and became fat and kicked hence flowed emulation and envy strife and sedition, persecution and disorder war and captivity so the worthless rose up against the honored those of no reputation against such as were renowned the foolish against the wise the young against those advanced in years for this reason righteousness and peace are now far departed from you in as much as everyone abandons the fear of God and has become blind in his faith neither walks in the ordinances of his appointment nor acts apart becoming a Christian but walks after his own wicked lusts resuming the practice of an unrighteous and ungodly envy by which death itself entered into the world End of Chapter 3 Chapter 4 for thus it is written and it came to pass after certain days that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice to God and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep and of the fat thereof and God had respect to Abel and to his offerings but Cain and his sacrifices he did not regard and Cain was deeply grieved and his countenance fell and God said to Cain why are you grieved and why is your countenance fallen if you offer rightly but do not divide rightly have you not sinned be at peace your offering returns to yourself and you shall again possess it and Cain said to Abel his brother let us go into the field and it came to pass while they were in the field that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and killed him you see brethren how Envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother through Envy also our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death and to come into bondage Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt when he heard these words from his fellow country man who made you a judge or a ruler over us will you kill me as you killed the Egyptian yesterday an account of Envy Aaron and Miriam had to make their home outside of the camp Envy brought down Dathan and Iberum alive to Hades through the sedition which they excited against God's servant Moses through Envy David underwent the hatred not only of foreigners but was also persecuted by Saul king of Israel end of chapter 4 chapter 5 but not to dwell upon ancient examples let us come to the most recent spiritual heroes let us take the noble examples furnished in our own generation through Envy and jealousy the greatest and most righteous pillars of the church have been persecuted and put to death let us set before our eyes the illustrious apostles Peter through unrighteous Envy endured not one or two but numerous labors and when he had finally suffered martyrdom departed to the place of glory due to him owing to Envy Paul also obtained the reward of patient endurance after being seven times thrown into captivity compelled to flee and stoned after preaching both in the east and west he gained the illustrious reputation due to his faith having taught righteousness to the whole world and come to the extreme limit of the west and suffered martyrdom under the prefects thus was he removed from the world and went into the holy place having proved himself a striking example of patience end of chapter 5 chapter 6 to these men who spent their lives in the practice of holiness theirs to be added a great multitude of the elect who having through Envy endured many indignities and tortures furnished us with the most excellent example through Envy those women the deniades and dercy being persecuted after they had suffered terrible and unspeakable torments finished the course of their faith with steadfastness and though weakened body received a noble reward Envy has alienated wives from their husbands and changed that saying of our Father Adam this is now bone of my bones and flesh of my flesh Envy and strife have overthrown great cities and rooted up mighty nations end of chapter 6 chapter 7 these things beloved we write to you not merely to admonish you of your duty but also to remind ourselves for we are struggling in the same arena and the same conflict is assigned to both of us so let us give up vain and fruitless cares and approach to the glorious and venerable rule of our holy calling let us attend to what is good, pleasing and acceptable in the sight of Him who formed us let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ and see how precious that blood is to God which having been shed for our salvation has set the grace of repentance before the whole world let us turn to every age that has passed and learn that from generation to generation the Lord has granted a place of repentance to all who would be converted to Him Noah preached repentance and as many as listened to Him were saved Jonah proclaimed destruction to the Ninevites but they, repenting of their sins propitiated God by prayer and obtained salvation although they were aliens to the covenant of God End of chapter 7 Chapter 8 The ministers of the grace of God have by the Holy Spirit spoken of repentance and the Lord of all things has himself declared with an oath regarding it as I live, says the Lord I desire not the death of the sinner but rather His repentance adding moreover this gracious declaration repent O house of Israel of your iniquity say to the children of my people though your sins reach from heaven to earth and though they be redder than scarlet and blacker than sackcloth if you turn to me with your whole heart and say Father I will listen to you as to a holy people and in another place he says wash and become clean put away the wickedness of your souls from before my eyes seize from your evil ways and learn to do well seek out judgment deliver the oppressed judge the fatherless and see that justice is done to the widow and come and let us reason together he declares though your sins be like crimson I will make them white as snow scarlet I will whiten them like wool and if you are willing and obey me you shall eat the good of the land but if you refuse and will not listen to me the sword shall devour you for the mouth of the Lord has spoken these things desiring therefore that all his beloved should be partakers of repentance he has by his almighty will established these declarations End of Chapter 8 Chapter 9 So let us yield obedience to his excellent and glorious will and imploring his mercy and loving kindness while we forsake all fruitless labors and strife and envy which leads to death let us turn and have recourse to his compassion let us steadfastly contemplate those who have perfectly ministered to his excellent glory let us take for instance Enoch who being found righteous in obedience was translated and death was never known to happen to him Noah being found faithful preached regeneration to the world through his ministry and the Lord saved by him the animals which with one accord entered into the ark End of Chapter 9 Chapter 10 Abraham called the friend was found faithful in as much as he obeyed the words of God he in the exercise of obedience went out from his own country and from his kindred and from his father's house and ordered that by forsaking a small territory and a weak family and an insignificant house he might inherit the promises of God For God said to him leave your country and your kindred and your father's house and go into the land which I shall show you and I will make you a great nation and will bless you and make your name great and you shall be blessed and those who bless you and curse those who curse you and in you shall all the families of the earth be blessed and again on his departing from Lot God said to him lift up your eyes and look from the place where you now are northward and southward and eastward and westward for all the lands which you see to you will I give it and to your seed forever and I will make your seed as the dust of the earth so that if a man can number the dust of the earth then shall your seed also be numbered and again the scripture says God brought forth Abram and said to him look up now to heaven and count the stars if you are able to number them so shall your seed be and Abram believed God and it was counted to him for righteousness on account of his faith and hospitality a son was given him in his old age and in the exercise of obedience he offered him as a sacrifice to God on one of the mountains which he showed him End of Chapter 10 Chapter 11-20 of 1st Clement Robert's Donaldson Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson Chapter 11 on account of his hospitality and godliness Lot was saved out of Sodom when all the country around him was punished by means of fire and brimstone the Lord thus making it manifest that he does not forsake those who hope in him but gives up those who depart from him to punishment and torture for Lot's wife who went forth with him being of a different mind from himself in not continuing in agreement with him as to the command which had been given them was made an example of so as to be a pillar of salt to this day this was done that all might know that those who are of a double mind and who distrust the power of God bring down judgment on themselves and become a sign to all succeeding generations End of Chapter 11 Chapter 12 on account of her faith and hospitality Rahab the harlot was saved for when spies were sent by Joshua the son of Nun to Jericho the king of the country ascertained that they had come to spy out their land and sent men to seize them in order that when taken they might be put to death but the hospitable Rahab received them and hid them on the roof of her house under some stalks of flax and when the men sent by the king arrived and said to you who are to spy out our land bring them forth for so the king commands she answered them the two men whom you seek came to me but quickly departed again and are gone thus not discovering the spies to them then she said to the men I know assuredly that the Lord your God has given you this city for the fear and dread of you have fallen on its inhabitants when therefore you shall have taken it keep me in the house of my father in safety and they said to her it shall be as you have spoken to us as soon therefore as you know that we are at hand you shall gather all your family under your roof and they shall be preserved but anyone found outside of your dwelling shall perish moreover they gave her a sign to this effect that she should hang forth from her house a scarlet thread and thus they made it manifest the blood of the Lord to all those who believe in hope in God you see beloved that there was not only faith but prophecy in this woman End of Chapter 12 Chapter 13 Let us therefore brethren be of humble mind laying aside all haughtiness and pride and foolishness and angry feelings and let us act according to that which is written for the Holy Spirit says Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom neither let the mighty man glory in his might neither let the rich man story in his riches but let him that glories glory in the Lord indiligently seeking him and doing judgment and righteousness being especially mindful of the words of the Lord Jesus which he spoke teaching us meekness and longsuffering for thus he spoke be merciful that you may obtain mercy forgive that it may be forgiven to you as you do so shall it be done to you as you judge so shall you be judged as you are kind so shall kindness be shown to you with what measure you measure with the same it shall be measured to you by this precept and by these rules let us establish ourselves that we walk with all humility in obedience to his holy words for the holy word says on whom shall I look but on him that is meek and peaceable and who trembles at my words end of chapter 13 chapter 14 it is right and holy therefore men and brethren to obey God rather than to follow those who through pride and sedition have become the leaders of a detestable emulation for we shall incur no slight injury but rather great danger if we rashly yield ourselves to the inclinations of men who aim exciting strife and tummels so as to draw us away from what is good let us be kind one to another after the pattern of the tender mercy and benignity of our Creator for it is written the kind-hearted shall inhabit the land and the guiltless shall be left upon it but the transgressors shall be destroyed from off the face of it and again the scripture says I saw the ungodly highly exalted and lifted up like the cedars of Lebanon I passed by and behold he was not and I diligently sought his place and could not find it preserve innocence and look on equity for there shall be a remnant to the peaceful man end of chapter 14 chapter 15 let us cleave therefore to those who cultivate peace with godliness and not to those who hypocritically profess to desire it for the scripture says in a certain place this people honors me with their lips but their heart is far from me and again they bless with their mouth but curse with their heart and again it says they loved him with their mouth and lied to him with their tongue but their heart was not right with him neither were they faithful in his covenant let the deceitful lips become silent and let the lord destroy all the lying lips and the boastful tongue of those who have said let us magnify our tongue our lips are our own who is lord over us for the oppression of the poor and for the sighing of the needy will I now arise says the lord I will place him in safety I will deal confidently with him end of chapter 15 chapter 16 for Christ is of those who are humble minded and not of those who exalt themselves over his flock our lord Jesus Christ the scepter of the majesty of god did not come in the pomp of pride or arrogance although he might have done so but in a lowly condition as the holy spirit had declared regarding him for he says lord who has believed our report and to whom is the arm of the lord revealed we have declared our message in his presence he is as it were a child and like a root in thirsty ground he has no form nor glory yea we saw him and he had no form nor comeliness but his form was without eminence yea deficient in comparison with the ordinary form of men he is a man exposed to stripes and suffering and acquainted with the endurance of grief for his countenance was turned away he was despised and not esteemed he bears our iniquities and is in sorrow for our sakes we suppose that on his own account he was exposed to labor and stripes and affliction but he was wounded for our transgressions and bruised for our iniquities the chastisement of our peace was upon him and by his stripes we were healed all we like sheep have gone astray every man has wandered in his own way and the lord has delivered him up for our sins while he in the midst of his sufferings opens not his mouth he was brought as a sheep to the slaughter and as a land before his shearer is dumb so he opens not his mouth in his humiliation his judgment was taken away who shall declare his generation for his life is taken from the earth for the transgressions of my people was he brought down to death and I will give the wicked for his sepulcher and the rich for his death he did no iniquity nor was guile found in his mouth and the lord is pleased to purify him by stripes if you make an offering for sin your soul shall see a long-lived seed and the lord is pleased to relieve him of the affliction of his soul to show him light and to form him with understanding to justify the just one who ministers well to many and he himself shall carry their sins on this account he shall inherit many and shall divide the spoil of the strong because his soul was delivered to death and he was reckoned among the transgressors and he bear the sins of many and for their sins was he delivered and again he says I am a worm and no man a reproach of men and despised of the people all who see me have derided me they have spoken with their lips they have wagged their head saying let him deliver him let him save him since he delights in him you see beloved what is the example which has been given us for if the lord thus humbled himself what shall we do who have through him come under the yoke of his grace end of chapter 16 chapter 17 let us be imitators also of those who engote skins and sheep skins went about proclaiming the coming of Christ I mean Elijah Elisha and Ezekiel among the prophets with those others to whom alike testimony is born in scripture Abraham was specially honored and was called the friend of God yet he earnestly regarding the glory of God humbly declared I am but dust and ashes moreover it is thus written of Job Job was a righteous man and blameless, truthful God fearing and one that kept himself from all evil but bringing an accusation against himself he said no man is free from defilement even if his life be but of one day Moses was called faithful in all God's house and through his instrumentality God punished Egypt with plagues and tortures yet he though thus greatly honored did not adopt lofty language but said when the divine oracle came to him out of the bush who am I that you send me I am a man of a feeble voice and a slow tongue and again he said I am but as the smoke of a pot and of chapter 17 chapter 18 but what shall we say concerning David to whom such testimony was born and of whom God said I have found a man after my own heart David the son of Jesse and in everlasting mercy have I anointed him yet this very man says to God have mercy on me oh Lord according to your great mercy and according to the multitude of your compassion blot out my transgression wash me still more from my iniquity and cleanse me from my sin for I acknowledge my iniquity and my sin is ever before me against you only have I sinned and done that which is evil in your sight that you may be justified in your sayings and may overcome when you are judged for behold I was conceived in transgressions and in my sins did my mother conceive me for behold you have loved truth the secret and hidden things of wisdom have you shown me you shall sprinkle me with hyssop and I shall be cleansed you shall wash me and I shall be whiter than snow and gladness my bones which have been humbled shall exalt turn away your face from my sins and blot out all my iniquities create in me a clean heart oh God and renew a right spirit within me cast me not away from your presence and take not your holy spirit from me restore to me the joy of your salvation and establish me by your governing spirit I will teach transgressors your ways and the ungodly shall be converted to you deliver me from blood-guiltiness oh God the God of my salvation my tongue shall exalt in your righteousness oh Lord you shall open my mouth and my lips shall show forth your praise for if you had desired sacrifice I would have given it you will not delight in burnt offerings the sacrifice acceptable to God is a bruised spirit a broken and a contrite heart God will not despise end of chapter 18 chapter 19 thus the humility and godly submission of so great and illustrious men have rendered not only us but also all the generations before us better even as many as have received his oracles in fear and truth so having so many great and glorious examples set before us let us turn again to the practice of that peace which from the beginning was the mark set before us and let us look steadfastly to the Father and Creator of the universe and cleave to his mighty and surpassingly great gifts and benefactions of peace let us contemplate him with our understanding and look with the eyes of our soul to his long-suffering will let us reflect how free from wrath he is towards all his creation end of chapter 19 chapter 20 the heavens revolving under his government are subject to him in peace day and night run the course appointed by him in no way hindering each other the sun and moon with the companies of the stars roll on in harmony according to his command within their prescribed limits and without any deviation the fruitful earth according to his will brings forth food in abundance at the proper seasons for man and beast and all the living beings upon it never hesitating nor changing any of the ordinances which he has fixed the unsearchable places of abysses and the indescribable arrangements of the lower world are restrained by the same laws the vast unmeasurable sea gathered together by his working into various basins never passes beyond the bounds placed around it but does as he has commanded for he said thus far shall you come and your waves shall be broken within you the ocean impassable to man and the worlds beyond it are regulated by the same enactments of the lord the seasons of spring summer autumn and winter peacefully give place to one another the winds in their several quarters fulfill at the proper time their service without hindrance the ever flowing fountains formed both for enjoyment and health furnish without fail their breasts for the life of men the very smallest of living beings meet together in peace and conquered all these the great creator and lord of all has appointed to exist in peace and harmony while he does good to all but most abundantly to us who have fled for refuge to his compassion through Jesus Christ our lord to whom be glory and majesty forever and ever amen End of chapter 20 chapters 21 through 30 of 1st Clement Roberts Donaldson version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson Chapter 21 Take heed, beloved lest his many kindnesses lead to the condemnation of us all for thus it must be unless we walk worthy of him and with one mind do those things which are good and well pleasing in his sight for the scripture says in a certain place the spirit of the lord is a candle searching the secret parts of the belly let us reflect how near he is and that none of the thoughts or reasonings in which we engage are hid from him it is right therefore that we should not leave the post which his will has assigned us let us rather offend those men who are foolish and inconsiderate and lifted up and who glory in the pride of their speech than offend God let us reverence the Lord Jesus Christ whose blood was given for us let us esteem those who have the rule over us let us honor the aged among us let us train up the young men in the fear of God let us direct our wives to that which is good let them exhibit the lovely habit of purity and all their conduct let them show forth the sincere disposition of meekness let them make manifest the command which they have of their tongue by their manner of speaking let them display their love not by preferring one to another but by showing equal affection to all that piecely fear God let your children be partakers of true Christian training let them learn of how great a veil humility is with God how much the spirit of pure affection can prevail with him how excellent and great his fear is and how it saves all those who walk in it with a pure mind for he is a searcher of the thoughts for he is a searcher of the heart his breath is in us and when he pleases he will take it away end of chapter 21 chapter 22 now the faith which is in Christ confirms all these admonitions for he himself by the Holy Ghost thus addresses us come you children listen to me I will teach you the fear of the Lord what man is he that desires life keep your tongue from evil and your lips from speaking guile depart from evil and do good seek peace and pursue it the eyes of the Lord are upon the righteous and his ears are open to their prayers the face of the Lord is against those who do evil to cut off the remembrance of them from the earth the righteous cried and the Lord heard him and delivered him out of all his troubles many are the stripes appointed for the wicked mercy shall compass those about who hope in the Lord end of chapter 22 chapter 23 the all merciful and beneficent Father has bowels of compassion toward those who fear him and kindly and lovingly bestows his favors upon those who come to him with a simple mind so let us not be double-minded neither let our soul be lifted up on account of his exceedingly great and glorious gifts from us be that which is written wretched are they who are of a double mind and of a doubting heart who say these things we have heard even in the times of our fathers but behold we have grown old and none of them has happened to us you foolish ones compare yourselves to a tree take for instance the vine first of all it sheds its leaves then it buds next it puts forth leaves and then it flowers after that comes the sour grape and then follows the ripened fruit you perceive how in a little time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity of a truth soon and suddenly shall his will be accomplished as the scripture also bears witness saying speedily will he come and will not tarry and the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple even the holy one for whom you look end of chapter 23 chapter 24 let us consider beloved how the Lord continually proves to us that there shall be a future resurrection of which he has rendered the Lord Jesus Christ the first fruits by raising him from the dead let us contemplate beloved the resurrection which is at all times taking place day and night declare to us a resurrection the night sinks to sleep and the day arises the day again departs and the night comes on let us behold the fruits of the earth how the sowing of grain takes place the sower goes forth and cast it into the ground and the seed being thus scattered though dry and naked when it fell upon the earth is gradually dissolved then out of its disillusion the mighty power of the providence of the Lord raises it up again and from one seed many arise and bring forth fruit end of chapter 24 chapter 25 let us consider that wonderful sign of the resurrection which takes place in eastern lands, that is in Arabia and the country is round about there is a certain bird which is called a phoenix this is the only one of its kind and lives 500 years and when the time of its disillusion draws near that it must die it builds itself a nest of frankincense and other spices into which when the time is fulfilled it enters and dies but as the flesh decays a certain kind of worm is produced which being nourished by the juices of the dead bird brings forth feathers then when it has acquired strength it takes up that nest in which are the bones of its parent and bearing these it passes from the land of Arabia into Egypt to the city called Heliopolis and in open day flying in the sight of all men it places them on the altar of the sun and having done this hastens back to its former abode the priests then inspect the registers of the dates and find that it has returned exactly as the 500th year was completed end of chapter 25 chapter 26 do we then deem at any great and wonderful thing for the maker of all things to raise up again those who have piously served him in the assurance of a good faith when even by a bird he shows us the mightiness of his power to fulfill his promise for the scripture says in a certain place you shall raise me up and I shall confess to you and again I laid down and slept I awaked because you are with me and again Job says you shall raise up this flesh of mine which has suffered all these things end of chapter 26 chapter 27 having then this hope let our souls be bound to him who is faithful in his promises and just in his judgments he who has commanded us not to lie shall much more himself not lie for nothing is impossible with God except to lie let his faith therefore be stirred up again within us and let us consider that all things will be unto him by the word of his might he established all things and by his word he can overthrow them who shall say to him what have you done or who shall resist the power of his strength when and as he pleases he will do all things and none of the things determined by him shall pass away all things are opened before him and nothing can be hidden from his counsel the heavens declare the glory of God and the firmament shows his handiwork day to day utter speech and night to night shows knowledge and there are no words or speeches of which the voices are not heard end of chapter 27 chapter 28 since then all things are seen and heard by God let us fear him and forsake those wicked works which proceed from evil desires so that through his mercy we may be protected from the judgments to come for whither can any of us flee from his mighty hand or what world will receive any of those who run away from him for the scripture says in a certain place whither shall I go and where shall I be hid from your presence if I send into heaven you are there if I go away even to the uttermost parts of the earth there is your right hand if I make my bed in the abyss where is your spirit whither then shall any one go or where shall he escape from him who comprehends all things end of chapter 28 chapter 29 let us then draw near to him with holiness of spirit lifting up pure and undefiled hands to him loving our gracious and merciful father who has made his partakers in the blessings of his elect for thus it is written and in another place the scripture says end of chapter 29 chapter 30 let us clothe ourselves with conquered and humility ever exercising self control standing far off from all whispering and evil speaking being justified by our works and not our words for the scripture says let our praise be in God and not of ourselves for God hates those who commend themselves let testimony to our good deeds be borne by others as it was in the case of our righteous forefathers boldness and arrogance and audacity belong to those that are accursed of God but moderation humility and meekness to such as are blessed by him end of chapter 30 chapters 31 through 40 of First Clement Robert's Donaldson Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson chapter 31 let us cleave then to his blessing and consider what are the means of possessing it let us think over the things which have taken place from the beginning for what reason was our Father Abraham blessed was it not because he wrought righteousness and truth through faith Isaac with perfect confidence as if knowing what was to happen cheerfully yielded himself as a sacrifice Jacob through reason of his brother went forth with humility from his own land and came to Laban and served him and there was given to him the scepter of the twelve tribes of Israel end of chapter 31 chapter 32 whosoever will candidly consider each particular will recognize the greatness of the gifts which were given by him for from him have sprung the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God from him also was descended our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh from him arose kings, princes and rulers of the race of Judah nor are his other tribes in small glory and as much as God had promised your seed shall be as the stars of heaven all these therefore were highly honored and made great not for their own sake or for their own works or for the righteousness which they wrought but through the operation of his will and we too being called by his will in Christ Jesus are not justified by ourselves nor by our own wisdom or understanding or godliness or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart but by that faith through which from the beginning Almighty God has justified all men to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen end of chapter 32 chapter 33 shall we do then brethren shall we become slothful and well-doing and cease from the practice of love God forbid that any such course should be followed by us but rather let us hasten with all energy and readiness of mind to perform every good work for the Creator and Lord of all himself rejoices in his works for by his infinitely great power he established the heavens and by his incomprehensible wisdom he adorned them he also divided the earth from the water which surrounds it and fixed it upon the immovable foundation of his own will the animals also which are upon it he commanded by his own word into existence so likewise when he had formed the sea and the living creatures which are in it he enclosed them within their proper bounds by his own power above all with his holy and undefiled hands he formed man the most excellent of his creatures and truly great through the understanding given him the express likeness of his own image for thus says God let us make man in our image and after our likeness so God made man male and female he created them having thus finished all these things he approved them and blessed them and said increase and multiply we see then how all righteous men have been adorned with good works and how the Lord himself adorning himself with his works rejoiced having therefore such an example let us without delay a seed to his will and let us work the work of righteousness with our whole strength End of Chapter 33 Chapter 34 The good servant receives the bread of his labor with confidence the lazy and slothful cannot look his employer in the face it is requisite therefore that we be prompt in the practice of well-doing for of him are all things and thus he forewarns us behold the Lord cometh and his reward is before his face to render to every man according to his work he exhorts us therefore with our whole heart to attend to this that we be not lazy or slothful in any good work let our boasting and our confidence be in him let us submit ourselves to his will let us consider the whole multitude of his angels how they stand ever ready to minister to his will for the scripture says ten thousand times ten thousand stood around him and thousands of thousands ministered to him and cried holy, holy, holy the whole creation is full of his glory and let us therefore conscientiously gathering together in harmony cried to him earnestly as with one mouth that we may be made partakers of his great and glorious promises for the scripture says I has not seen nor ear heard neither has it entered into the heart of man the things which he has prepared for those who wait for him end of chapter 34 chapter 35 how blessed and wonderful, beloved are the gifts of God life in immortality splendor and righteousness truth and perfect confidence faith and assurance self-control and holiness and all these fall under the cognizance of our understandings now what then shall those things be which are prepared for such as wait for him the creator and father of all worlds the most holy alone knows their amount in their beauty let us therefore earnestly strive to be found in the number of those who wait for him and order that we may share in his promised gifts but how, beloved, shall this be done if our understanding be fixed by faith rewards God if we earnestly seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable to him which are in harmony with his blameless will and if we follow the way of truth casting away from us all unrighteousness and iniquity along with all covetousness, strife, evil practices deceit, whispering, and evil speaking all hatred of God pride and haughtiness, vain glory and ambition for they that do such things are hateful to God and not only they that do them but also those who take pleasure in those who do them for the scripture says but to the sinner God said why do you declare my statutes and take my covenant into your mouth seeing you hate instruction and cast my words behind you when you saw a thief you consented with him and made your portion with adulterers your mouth has abounded with wickedness and your tongue contrived deceit you sit and speak against your brother you slander your own mother's son these things you have done God kept silence you thought wicked one that I should be like you but I will reprove you and set yourself before you consider now these things you who forget God lest he tear you in pieces like a lion and there be none to deliver the sacrifice of praise will glorify me and a way is there by which I will show him the salvation of God chapter 35 chapter 36 this is the way beloved in which we find our savior even Jesus Christ the high priest of all our offerings the defender and helper of our infirmity by him we look up to the heights of heaven by him we behold as in a glass his immaculate and most excellent visage by him are the eyes of our hearts opened by him our foolish and darkened understanding blossoms up anew towards his marvelous light by him the Lord has willed that we should taste of immortal knowledge who being the brightness of his majesty is by so much greater than the angels as he has by inheritance obtained a more excellent name than they for it is thus written who makes his angels spirits and his ministers a flame of fire but concerning his son the Lord spoke thus you are my son today have I begotten you ask of me and I will give you the heathen for your inheritance and the uttermost parts of the earth for your possession and again he says to him sit at my right hand until I make your enemies your footstool but who are his enemies all the wicked and those who set themselves to oppose the will of God end of chapter 36 chapter 37 let us then with all energy act the part of soldiers in accordance with his holy commandments let us consider those who serve under our generals with what order obedience and submissiveness they perform the things which are commanded them all are not prefects nor commanders of a thousand nor of a hundred nor of fifty nor the like but each one in his own rank performs the things commanded by the king and the generals the great cannot subsist without the small nor the small without the great there is a kind of mixture in all things and then arises mutual advantage let us take our body for an example the head is nothing without the feet and the feet are nothing without the head yea the very smallest members of our body are necessary and useful to the whole body but all work harmoniously together and are under one common rule for the preservation of the whole body end of chapter 37 chapter 38 let our whole body then be preserved in Christ Jesus and let everyone be subject to his neighbor according to the special gift bestowed upon him let the strong not despise the weak and let the weak show respect to the strong let the rich man provide for the wants of the poor and let the poor man bless God because he has given him one by whom his need may be supplied let the wise man display his wisdom not by mere words but through good deeds let the humble not bear testimony to himself but leave witness to be born to him by another let him that is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it and boast knowing that it was another who bestowed on him the gift of continents let us consider then brethren of what matter we were made who and what manner of beings we came into the world as it were out of a sepulchre and from utter darkness he who made us and fashioned us having prepared his bountiful gifts for us before we were born introduced us into his world since therefore we receive all these things from him we ought for everything to give him thanks to whom be glory for ever and ever amen chapter 38 chapter 39 foolish and inconsiderate men who have neither wisdom nor instruction mock and deride us being eager to exalt themselves in their own conceits for what can a mortal man do or what strength is there in one made out of the dust for it is written there was no shape before my eyes only I heard a sound and a voice saying what then shall a man be pure before the Lord or shall such and one be counted blameless in his deeds seeing he does not confide in his servants and has charged even his angels with perversity the heaven is not clean in his sight how much less they that dwell in houses of clay of which also we ourselves were made he smote them as a moth and from mourning even until evening they endure not because they could furnish no assistance to themselves they perished he breathed upon them and they died because they had no wisdom but call now if any one will answer you or if you will look to any of the holy angels for wrath destroys the foolish man and envy kills him that is an error I've seen the foolish taking root but their habitation was presently consumed let their sons be far from safety let them be despised before the gates of those less than themselves and there shall be none to deliver for what was prepared for them the righteous shall eat and they shall not be delivered from evil End of Chapter 39 Chapter 40 These things therefore being manifest to us and since we look into the depths of the divine knowledge it behooves us to do all things in their proper order which the Lord has commanded us to perform at stated times He has enjoined offerings to be presented and service to be performed to him and that not thoughtlessly or irregularly but at the appointed times and hours where and by whom he desires these things to be done he himself has fixed by his own supreme will and obviously done according to his good pleasure may be acceptable to him those therefore who present their offerings at the appointed times are accepted and blessed for inasmuch as they follow the laws of the Lord they sin not for his own peculiar services are assigned to the high priest and their own proper place is prescribed to the priests and their own special ministrations devolve on the Levites the laymen is bound by the laws that are assigned to laymen end of chapter 40 chapters 41 through 50 of 1st Clement Robert's Donaldson Version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information and to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson chapter 41 let every one of you brethren give thanks to God in his own order living in all good conscience with becoming gravity and not going beyond the rule of the ministry prescribed to him not in every place brethren are the daily sacrifices offered or the peace offerings or the sin offerings and the trespass offerings but in Jerusalem only and even there they are not offered in any place but only at the altar before the temple that which is offered being first carefully examined by the high priest and the ministers already mentioned those therefore who do anything beyond that which is agreeable to his will are punished with death you see brethren that the greater the knowledge that has been vouchsafed to us the greater also is the danger to which we are exposed end of chapter 41 chapter 42 the apostles have preached the gospel to us from the Lord Jesus Christ Jesus Christ has done so from God Christ therefore was sent forth by God and the apostles by Christ both these appointments then were made in an orderly way according to the will of God having therefore received their orders and being fully assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ and established in the word of God with full assurance of the Holy Ghost they went forth proclaiming that the kingdom of God was at hand and thus preaching through countries and cities they appointed the first fruits of their labors having first proved them by the spirit to be bishops and deacons of those who should afterwards believe nor was this any new thing since indeed many ages before it was written concerning bishops and deacons for thus says the scripture a certain place I will appoint their bishops in righteousness and their deacons in faith end of chapter 42 chapter 43 and he took them and bound them together and sealed them with the rings of the princes of the tribes and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness on the table of God and having shut the doors of the tabernacle he sealed the keys as he had done the rods and said to them I will appoint the bishops and the deacons and the deacons and the bishops and the deacons he had done the rods and said to them the tribe whose rod shall blossom has God chosen to fulfill the office of the priesthood and to minister to him and when the morning was come he assembled all Israel 600,000 men and showed the seals to the princes of the tribes and opened the tabernacle of witness and brought forth the rods and the rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed but to bear fruit upon it what think you, beloved? did not Moses know beforehand that this would happen? undoubtedly he knew but he acted thus that there might be no sedition in Israel and that the name of the true and only God might be glorified to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen End of Chapter 43 Chapter 44 Our apostles also knew through our Lord Jesus Christ and there would be strife on account of the office of the episcopate for this reason therefore in as much as they had obtained a perfect foreknowledge of this they appointed those ministers already mentioned and afterwards gave instructions that when these should fall asleep other approved men should succeed them in their ministry we are of opinion therefore that those appointed by them or afterwards by other eminent men with the consent of the whole church and who have blamelessly served the flock of Christ in a humble, peaceable and disinterested spirit and have for a long time possessed the good opinion of all cannot be justly dismissed from the ministry for our sin will not be small if we eject from the episcopate those who have blamelessly and holily fulfilled its duties the resperters who having finished their course before now have obtained a fruitful and perfect departure from this world for they have no fear lest anyone deprive them of the place now appointed them but we see that you have removed some men of excellent behavior from the ministry which they fulfilled blamelessly in with honor end of chapter 44 chapter 45 ye are fond of contention brethren and full of zeal about things which do not pertain to salvation look carefully into the scriptures which are the true utterances of the Holy Spirit observe that nothing of any unjust or counterfeit character is written in them there you will not find that the righteous were cast off by men who themselves were holy the righteous were indeed persecuted but only by the wicked they were cast into prison but only by the unholy they were bound but only by transgressors they were slain but only by the accursed and such as had conceived an unrighteous envy against them exposed to such sufferings they endured them gloriously for what shall we say brethren was Daniel cast into the den of lions by such as feared God were Ananias and Azarias and Michelle shut up in a furnace of fire by those who observe the great and glorious worship of the most high far from us be such a thought who then were they that did such things the hateful and those full of all wickedness were roused to such a pitch of fury that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and blameless purpose of heart not knowing that the most high is the defender and protector of all such as with a pure conscience venerate his all excellent aim to whom be glory for ever and ever amen but they who with confidence endured these things are now heirs of glory and honor and have been exalted and made illustrious by God and their memorial for ever and ever amen end of chapter 45 chapter 46 such examples therefore brethren it is right that we should follow since it is written cleave to the holy for those who cleave to them shall themselves be made holy and again in another place the scripture says with a harmless man you shall prove thyself harmless and with an elect man you shall be elect and with a perverse man you shall show thyself perverse let us cleave therefore to the innocent and righteous since these are the elect of God why are there stripes and tummels and divisions and schisms and wars among you have we not all one God and one Christ is there not one spirit of grace poured out upon us and have we not one calling in Christ why do we divide and tear to pieces the members of Christ and raise up strife against our own body and have reached such a height of madness as to forget that we are members one of another of our Lord Jesus Christ how he said woe to that man by whom offenses come it were better for him that he had never been mourn than that he should cast a stumbling block before one of my elect yea it were better for him that a millstone should be hung about his neck and he should be sunk in the depths of the sea than that he should cast a stumbling block before one of my little ones your schism has subverted the faith of many has discouraged many has given rise to doubt in many and has caused grief to us all and still your sedition continues chapter 46 chapter 47 take up the epistle of the blessed apostle Paul what did he write to you at the time when the gospel first began to be preached truly under the inspiration of the spirit he wrote to you concerning himself and Cephas and Apollos because even then parties had been formed among you but that inclination for one above another entailed less guilt upon you in as much as your partialities were then shown towards apostles already of high reputation and towards a man whom they had approved but now reflect who those are that have perverted you and lessened the renown of your far brotherly love it is disgraceful beloved yay highly disgraceful and unworthy of your Christian profession that such a thing should be heard of as that the most steadfast and ancient church of the Corinthians should on account of one or two persons engage in sedition against its presbyters and this rumor has reached not only us but those also who are unconnected with us so that through your infatuation the name of the Lord is blasphemed while danger is also brought upon yourselves end of chapter 47 chapter 48 let us therefore with all haste put an end to this state of things and let us fall down before the Lord and beseech him with tears that he would mercifully be reconciled to us and restore us to our former seemingly and holy practice of brotherly love for such conduct is the gate of righteousness which is set open for the attainment of life as it is written open to me the gates of righteousness I will go in by them and will praise the Lord this is the gate of the Lord the righteous shall enter in by it although therefore many gates have been set open yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ by which blessed are all they that have entered in and have directed their way in holiness and righteousness doing all things without disorder let a man be faithful let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge let him be wise in judging up words let him be pure in all his deeds yet the more he seems to be superior to others in these respects the more humble minded ought he to be and to seek the common good of all and not merely his own advantage end of chapter 48 chapter 49 let him who has love in Christ keep the commandments of Christ who can describe the blessed bond of the love of God what man is able to tell the excellence of its beauty as it ought to be told the height to which love exalts is unspeakable love unites us to God love covers a multitude of sins love bears all things long suffering in all things there is nothing base nothing arrogant in love love admits of no schisms love gives rise to no seditions love does all things in harmony by love have all the elect of God been made perfect without love nothing is well pleasing to God in love has the Lord taken us to himself on account of the love he bore us Jesus Christ our Lord gave blood for us by the will of God his flesh for our flesh and his soul for our souls end of chapter 49 chapter 50 you see beloved how great and wonderful a thing is love and that there is no declaring its perfection who is fit to be found in it except such as God has vouch safe to render so let us pray therefore an implore of his mercy that we may live blameless in love free from all human partialities for one above another all the generations from Adam even to this day have passed away but those who through the grace of God have been made perfect in love now possess a place among the godly and shall be made manifest at the revelation of the kingdom of Christ for it is written enter into thy secret chambers for a little time until my wrath and fury pass away and I will remember a propitious day and will raise you up out of your graves blessed are we beloved if we keep the commandments of God in the harmony of love that so through love our sins may be forgiven us for it is written blessed are they whose transgressions are forgiven and whose sins are covered blessed is the man whose sin is to him and in whose mouth there is no guile this blessedness comes upon those who have been chosen by God through Jesus Christ our Lord to whom be glory for ever and ever Amen End of chapter 50 Chapters 51 through 59 a first Clement Robert's Donaldson version this is a LibriVox recording all LibriVox recordings are in the public domain for more information to find out how you can volunteer please visit LibriVox.org recording by Sam Stinson Chapter 51 Let us therefore implore forgiveness for all those transgressions which through any suggestion of the adversary we have committed and those who have been the leaders of sedition and disagreement ought to have respect to the common hope for such as live in fear and love rather that they themselves than their neighbors should be involved in suffering and they prefer to bear blame themselves rather than that the conquered which has been well and piecely handed down to us should suffer for it is better that a man should acknowledge his transgressions than that he should harden his heart as the hearts of those were hardened who stirred up sedition against Moses the servant of God and whose condemnation was made manifest for all for they went down alive into Hades and death swallowed them up Pharaoh with his army and all the princes of Egypt and the chariots with their riders were sunk in the depths of the Red Sea and perished for no other reason than that their foolish hearts were hardened after so many signs and wonders had been wrought in the land of Egypt by Moses the servant of God End of Chapter 51 Chapter 52 The Lord, brethren stands in need of nothing and he desires nothing of anyone except that confession be made to him for says the elect David I will confess to the Lord and that will please him more than a young bullock that has horns and hooks let the poor see it and be glad and again he says offer to God the sacrifice of praise and bow to the most high and call upon me in the day of your trouble I will deliver you and you shall glorify me for the sacrifice of God is a broken spirit End of Chapter 52 Chapter 53 ye understand beloved ye understand well the sacred scriptures and you have looked very earnestly into the oracles of God call then these things to your remembrance when Moses went up into the mount and abode there with fasting and humiliation forty days and forty nights the Lord said to him Moses, Moses get down quickly from here for your people whom you brought out of the land of Egypt have committed iniquity they have quickly departed from the way in which I commanded them to walk and have made to themselves molten images and the Lord said to him I have spoken to you once and again saying I have seen this people behold it is a stiff necked people let me destroy them and blot out their name from under heaven and I will make you a great and wonderful nation and one much more numerous than this but Moses said far be it from you Lord pardon the sin of this people else blot me also out of the book of the living oh marvelous love oh insuperable perfection the servant speaks freely to his Lord and asks forgiveness for the people or begs that he himself might perish along with them end of chapter 53 chapter 54 who then among you is noble minded who compassionate who full of love let him declare if on my account sedition and disagreement I will go away wither so ever you desire and I will do whatever the majority commands only let the flock of Christ live on terms of peace with the precipiters said over it he that acts thus shall procure to himself great glory in the Lord and every place will welcome him for the earth is the Lord's and the fullness thereof these things they who live a godly life that is never to be repented of both have done and always will do end of chapter 54 chapter 55 to bring forward some examples from among the heathen many kings and princes in times of pestilence when they had been instructed by an oracle have given themselves up to death and ordered that by their own blood they might deliver their fellow citizens from destruction many have gone forth from their own cities sedition might be brought to an end within them we know many among ourselves who have given themselves up to bonds in order that they might ransom others many too have surrendered themselves to slavery that with the price which they receive for themselves they might provide food for others many women also being strengthened by the grace of God have performed numerous manly exploits the blessed Judith when her city was besieged asked of the elders permission to go forth into the camp of the strangers and exposing herself to danger she went out for the love which she bear to her country and people then besieged and the Lord delivered holophones into the hands of a woman Esther also being perfect in faith exposed herself to no less danger in order to deliver the twelve tribes of Israel from impending destruction for with fasting and humiliation she entreated the everlasting God who sees all things and he perceiving the humility of her spirit delivered the people for whose sake she had encountered peril End of Chapter 55 Chapter 56 let us then also pray for those who have fallen into any sin that meekness and humility may be given to them so that they may submit not to us but to the will of God this way they shall secure a fruitful and perfect remembrance from us with sympathy for them both in our prayers to God and our mention of them to the saints let us receive correction beloved on account of which no one should feel displeased those exhortations by which we admonish one another are both good in themselves and highly profitable for they tend to unite us to the will of God for thus says the holy word for whom the Lord loves he chases and scourges every son whom he receives the righteous it says shall chasten me in mercy and reprove me but let not the oil of sinners make fat my head and again he says blessed is the man whom the Lord reproves and rejects not the warning of the Almighty for he causes sorrow and again restores to gladness he wounds and his hands make whole he shall deliver you in six troubles yea in the seventh no evil shall touch you in famine he shall rescue you from death and in war he shall free you from the power of the sword from the scourge of the tongue will he hide you and you shall not fear when evil comes you shall hew at the unrighteous and the wicked and shall not be afraid of the beasts of the field for the wild beasts shall be at peace with you then shall you know that your house shall be in peace and the habitation of your tabernacle shall not fail you shall know also that your seed shall be great and your children like the grass of the field and you shall come to the grave like ripened corn which is reaped in its season or like a heap of the threshing floor which is gathered together at the proper time you see beloved that protection is afforded to those who are chastened of the Lord for since God is good he corrects us that we may be admonished by his holy chastisement end of chapter 56 chapter 57 ye therefore who laid the foundation of this sedition submit yourselves to the presbyters and receive correction so as to repent bending the knees of your hearts learn to be subject laying aside the proud and arrogant self-confidence of your tongue for it is better for you that you should occupy a humble but honorable place in the flock of Christ than that being highly exalted you should be cast out from the hope of his people for thus speaks all virtuous wisdom behold I will bring forth to you the words of my spirit and I will teach you my speech since I called and you did not hear I held forth my words and you regarded not but said it not my counsels and yielded not at my reproofs therefore I too will laugh at your destruction ye I will rejoice when ruin comes upon you and when sudden confusion overtakes you when overturning presents itself like a tempest or when tribulation and oppression fall upon you for it shall come to pass that when you call upon me I will not hear you the wicked shall seek me and they shall not find me for they hated wisdom and did not choose the fear of the Lord nor would they listen to my counsels but despised my reproofs so they shall eat the fruits of their own way and they shall be filled with their own ungodliness and of chapter 57 chapter 58 may God who sees all things who is the ruler of all spirits and the Lord of all flesh who chose our Lord Jesus Christ and us through him to be a peculiar people grant to every soul that calls upon his glorious and holy name faith fear peace patience longsuffering self-control purity and sobriety peace and protector Jesus Christ by whom be to him glory and majesty and power and honor both now and forever more amen and of chapter 58 chapter 59 send back speedily to us in peace and with joy these are messengers to you Claudius Epibus and Valerius Bito that they may the sooner announce to us the peace and harmony we so earnestly desire and long for among you and that we may the more quickly rejoice over the good order reestablished among you the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with all everywhere that are the called of God through him by whom be to him glory and honor power majesty and eternal dominion from everlasting to everlasting amen end of chapter 59 and also the end of 1st Clement Robert Donaldson version