Church of God which is at Rome to the Church of God which is at Corinth, called, sanctified by the will of God, through our Lord Jesus Christ; grace to you and peace from Almighty God, through Jesus Christ, be multiplied.
1. The sudden and repeated dangers and calamities which have befallen us, brethren, have, we fear, made us too slow in giving heed to those things which ye inquired of us, as well as to that wicked and detestable sedition, altogether unbecoming the elect of God, which a few hasty and self-willed persons have excited to such a degree of madness, that your venerable and renowned name, so worthy of the love of all men, is thereby greatly blasphemed. For who that hath so- journed among you hath not experienced the firmness of your faith, and its fruitfulness in all good works? and admired the temper and moderation of your piety in Christ? and proclaimed the magnificent spirit of your hospitality? and thought you happy in your per- fect and certain knowledge (of the Gospel)? For ye did all things without respect of persons; and walked according to the laws of God; being subject to those who had the rule over you; and giving to the elders among you the honor which was due.. Young men ye commanded to think those things which are modest and grave. Women ye exhorted to perform all things with an unblameable, and seemly, and pure conscience; loving their own husbands as was fitting: ye taught them, also, to be subject to the rule of obedience, and to order their houses gravely with all discretion.
Yol. IV. — 1 % 2 THE EPISTLE OF CLEMENT [$2,3.
2. Ye were all of you humble-minded/ not boasting of any thing, desiring rather to be subject than to govern; to give, than to receive; b being content with the portion which God had dispensed unto you: and hearkening diligently to his word, ye were enlarged in your bowels, 6 having his sufferings always before your eyes. Thus a deep and fruitful peace d was given to you all, and an insatiable desire of doing good; and a plentiful effusion of the Holy Ghost was upon all of you. And, being full of holy counsel, ye did, with great readiness of mind, and religious confidence, stretch forth your hands to Almighty God, beseeching him to be merciful, if in any thing ye had unwillingly 6inned. Ye contended day and night for the whole brotherhood, that with compassion and a good con- science the number of his elect might be saved. Ye were sincere and without offence: not mindful of in- juries one toward another. All sedition and all schism was an abomination unto >you. Ye mourned over the sins of your neighbors, esteeming their defects your own. Ye were kind one to another without grudging; ready to every good work. Ye were adorned with a conversation entirely virtuous^ and religious; and did all things in the fear of God. The commandments of the Lord were written upon the tables of your heart.* 3. All honor and enlargement was given unto you. Then was fulfilled that which is written: “ My beloved did eat and drink, he was enlarged, and waxed fat, and kicked.” f Hence arose envy, and strife, and sedition; persecution and disorder, war and captivity. Thus they that were of no renown lifted up themselves against the honorable; those of no reputation against those that were in respect; the foolish against the wise; the young against the elders. Therefore righteousness and peace are departed from you, because every one of you hath forsaken the fear of God, and is become blind in his faith, and walks not by the rule of God’s com- 4 tipjvrf flaSua nil \irapd.
The metaphor appears to refer to a soil which is deep and fertile. Thus Chrysostom, Horn. 52 on Genesis — tUottt Bti oi sari rtrpSkv air ttpoucv, AAV tls hnapdv koI fiaSvvcuv Kara0d\Xofttv rd trripfiara. — V ol. I.
• Prov. vii. 3. 2 Cor. lit 3. f Dent xxiiL 15.
TO THE CORINTHIANS* mandments, nor regulates himself as is fitting in Christ. But every one follows his own wicked lusts, having taken up unjust and wicked envy, by which even death entered into the world.
4. For thus it is written; “And it came to pass, after certain days, 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. And God had respect unto Abel and unto his offering; but Unto Cain and to his offering he had not respect. And Cain was very sorrowful, and his countenance fell. And God 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 shah rule over him. And Cain said unto Abel his brother, Let us go aside into the field. h And it came to pass as they were in the field that Cain rose up against Abel his brother and slew him.” 1 Ye see, brethren, envy and jealousy wrought the murder of a brother. Through envy, our father Jacob fled from the face of his brother Esau. k Envy caused Joseph to be perse- cuted even unto death, and to come into bondage. 1 Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt; when he heard his own countryman gay, Who made thee a judge and a ruler over us? wilt thou kill me, as thou killedst the Egyptian yester- day?® Through envy, Aaron and Miriam 0 were shut out of the camp.° Envy sent Dathan and Abiram quick into the grave, because they raised up a sedition against Moses the servant of God.p Through envy, David was not only hated of strangers, but persecuted even by Saul, the king of Israeli 6. But not to dwell upon ancient examples, let us come to those who in these last days have wrestled * According to the version of the Septuagint. So Iren£ us, Lib. iv.
i» The Samaritan Pentateuch, Septuagint, Vulgate and other Ver- nons supply these words, which are wanting in the Hebrew copies, i Gen. iv. 3-8. k Gen. xxviii. i Gen. xxxvii. » Exod. ii. 14.
* Miriam is said to have been shot out from the camp. Numb. xiL 14, 15, but not Aaron.
4 THE EPISTLE OF CLEMENT [$ 6, 7* manfully for the faith; let us take the noble examples of our own age. Through envy and jealousy, the faithful and most righteous pillars of the Church have been persecuted even to the most dreadful deaths. Let us place before our eyes the good apostles. Peter, by unjust envy, underwent not one or two but many labors; and thus having borne testimony unto death, he went unto the place of glory which was due to him. Through envy, Paul obtained the reward of patience. Seven times was he in bonds; he was scourged; was stoned. r He preached both in the east and in the west, leaving behind him the glorious report of his faith. And thus, having taught the whole world righteousness, and, reached the furthest extremity of the west,* he suffered martyrdom, by the command of the governors, 1 and departed out of this world, and went to the holy place, having become a most exemplary pattern of patience.
6. To these holy apostles was added a great number of other godly men, who having through envy under- gone many insults and tortures, have left a most ex- cellent example to us. Through envy, women* 1 have been persecuted; and suffering grievous and unutter- able torments, have finished the course of their faith with firmness, and, though weak in body, have received a glorious reward. Envy hath alienated the minds of wives from their husbands, and changed that which was spoken by our father Adam, “ This is now bone of my bone, and flesh of my flesh.”* Envy and strife have overthrown great cities, and utterly rooted out mighty nations.
7. These things, beloved, we write onto you, not only to instruct you, but to remind ourselves: for we are enclosed in the same lists, and must engage in the same combat. Wherefore let us lay aside all vain and empty cares, and come up to the glorious and honorable rule of our holy calling. Let us consider what is good, and ■ See note (A) at the end of the Epistle.
* Probably of Fenius Rufus and Sofonius Tigellinus, the too pre- fects of the prwtorian cohorts, appointed by Nero in the place of Burras. Tacit. Annul, xiv. 51.
« The words, “ the Danaides and Diice,” here inserted, appear lobe an interpolation.
TO THIS CORINTHIANS.
5 acceptable, and well-pleasing in the sight Of him that made us.? Let us look steadfastly to the blood of Christ, and see how precious his blood is in the sight of God, which, being shed for our salvation, hath obtained the grace of repentance to the whole world. Let us look to all past generations, and learn that from age to age the Lord hath given place for repentance to all such as would turn to him. Noah preached repentance: and as many as hearkened to him were saved.* Jonah* denounced destruction against the Ninevites: and they, repenting of their sins, appeased the wrath of God by their prayers; and received salvation although they were strangers (to the covenant) of God.
8. The ministers of the grace of God have spoken by the Holy Spirit, of repentance: and even the Lord of all hath himself declared with an oath concerning it, “ As I live, saith the Lord, I desire not the death of & sinner, but rather that he should repent:” b adding also this good exhortation; “ Turn from your iniquity, O house pf Israel.® Say unto the children of my people, though your sins should reach from earth to heaven, and though they should be redder than scarlet 4 and blacker than sackcloth, yet if ye shall turn to me with all your heart, and shall say, Father!* I will hearken to you as unto a holy people.” And in another place, he saith on this wise: “Wash you, make you clean, put away the evil of your souls from before mine eyes. Cease from your wickedness: learn to do well: seek judgment: relieve the oppressed: judge the fatherless; and plead for the widow. Come now and let us reason together, (saith the Lord.) Though your sins be as scarlet, I will make them white as snow: though they be like crimson, I will make them white as wool. If ye be willing and obedient, ye shall eat the good of the land. But if ye refuse and obey not, the sword shall devour you: for the mouth of the Lord hath spoken these things.” f God hath thus appointed by his almighty will, desiring that all his beloved should come to repentance.
* Jon. iii. 5.
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0. Wherefore let us obey his excellent and glorioua will: and imploring his mercy and goodness, let us fall down before him, and turn ourselves to his mercy, lay- ing aside all labor after vanities, and strife, and envy Which leads to death. Let us look earnestly to those who have perfectly ministered to his excellent glory. Let us take Enoch, (for our example,) who being found righteous in obedience was translated, and his death was not known.* Noah being found faithful, did by his ministry preach regeneration to the woijd; h and the Lord saved by him all the living creatures, which entered with one accord into the ark.
10. Abraham, who was called the friend (of God)/ was found faithful, inasmuch as he obeyed the words of God. He, in obedience, went out of his own country, and from his kindred, and from his father’s house/ that by thus forsaking a small country, and a weak kindred, and a mean house, he might inherit the promises of God. For “ (God) said to him: Get thee out of thy country, and from thy kindred, and from thy father’s house, unto a land which I will show thee. And I will make thee a great nation: and I will bless thee, and make thy name great: and thou shalt be blessed. And I will bless them that bless thee; and curse them that curse thee: and in thee shall all families of the earth be blessed.” 1 And again, when he separated himself from Lot, Gon said unto him; “ Lift up now thine eyes, and look from the place where thou art, northward, and southward, and eastward, and westward. For all the land which thou seest, to thee will I give it, and to thy seed for ever. And I will make thy seed as the dust of the earth; so that if a man can number the dust of the earth, then shall thy seed also be numbered.” m And again he saith, “God brought forth Abraham and said unto him, Look now toward heaven and tell the stars, if thou be able to number them; so shall thy seed be. And Abraham believed God, and it was counted to him for righteousness/’* Through faith and hospitality a son, was given unto him in his ol<) * Gen. ▼. 24. Reb. zi. 5. *• Gen. vL vii. viii, i 2 Chvoa. xx. 7. lea. xlt 8. Ja. ii. 23.
k Heh, xi. 8. i Gen. xii. 1-3.
TO THE CORINTHIANS* 7 age: and through obedience he offered him up in sa- crifice to God, upon one of the mountains which God showed unto him.
11. By hospitality and godliness, Lot was saved out of Sodom, when all the country round about was punished with fire and brimstone: the Lord thereby making it manifest, that he will not forsake those th§t trust in him; but will bring to punishment and cor- rection those who decline from his ways. For his wife, who went out with him, being of a different mind, and not continuing in the same obedience, was for that reason set forth for an example, and became a pillar of salt unto this day. That all men may know, that those who are double-minded, and distrustful of the power of God, are prepared for condemnation, and to be a sign to all generations.
12. By faith and hospitality was Rahab the harlot saved. 0 For when the spies were sent by Joshua the son of Nun to search out Jericho, the king of the country knew that they were come to spy out his land, and sent men to take them and put them to death. But the hospitable Rahab received them; and hid them under the stalks of flax on the top of her house. And when the men that were sent by the king came unto her, and asked her, saying,* There came men unto thee to spy out the land; bring them forth,* for so hath the king commanded; she answered, The two men, whom ye seek, came in unto me, but presently they departed and are gone; not discovering them unto them. Then she said to the spies, I know that the Lord your God hath given you this city; * for the fear of you, and the dread of you, is fallen upon all that dwell therein. When therefore ye shall have taken it, ye shall save me and my father’s house. p And they said unto her, It shall be as thou bast spoken unto us. Therefore when thou shah know that we are near, thou shalt gather all thy family together upon the house-top, and they shall be saved; but all that shall be found without thy house shall be destroyed. Moreover they gave her a sign, that she ghoyld hang out of her house a (line of) scarlet « Josb. il. <» Josh. ii. 3.
r Josh. ii. 13^ THE EPISTLE 07 CLEMENT (thread): showing thereby, that by the blood of our Lord" there should be redemption to all who believe and hope in God. Ye see, bejoved, that there was not only faith, but prophecy also in this woman.
13. Let us, therefore, be humble-minded, brethren, laying aside all pride, and boasting, and foolishness, and anger; and let us do as it is written. For thus saith the Holy Spirit; “ Let not the wise man glory in his wisdom; nor the strong man in his strength, nor the rich man in his riches; but let him that glorieth glory in the Lord, to seek him, and to exercise judg- ment and righteousness.” 1 Above all, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus, which he spake, teaching us gentleness and long-suffering. For thus he said: “ Be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy: forgive, that it may be forgiven unto you. As ye do, so shall it be done unto you: as ye give, so shall it be given unto you: a3 ye judge, so shall ye be judged: as ye show kindness, so shall kindness be showed to you. With what measure ye mete, with the same shall it be mea- sured to you.” u By this command, and by these rules, let us establish ourselves, that so we may always walk obediently to his holy words, being humble-minded.
* Fanciful as the illustration here given may seem, it was a favorite notion of many of.the early Christian writers. Justin Martyr, in his Dialogue with Trypho, p, 338, says, “ The sign of the scarlet thread, which the spies, sent from Joshua the son of Nun, gave to Rahab the harlot in Jericho, commanding her to hang it to the window by which she let them down that they might escape their enemies, was in like manner a sign of the blood of Christ, by which those of all nations, who were once harlots and sinners, are saved, receiving for- giveness of sins, and sinning no more.” Iren;eus, Hceres. iv. 37, makes the same use of the history. “So also Rahab the haTlot, although she condemned herself as a gentile and guilty of all kinds of sin, did yet receive the three spies, who were searching the whole land, and hid them in her house, that is to say, the Father, and Son and Holy Ghost. And when all the city in which shtf dwelt had fallen in ruins, at the sound of the seven trumpets, Rahab the harlot was at the last saved, with all her bouse, by faith in the sign of the scarlet thread; as the Lord also said to the Pharisees, who received not his coming, and set at nought the crimson sign, which was the passover, the redemption and deliverance of the people out of Egypt, saying, the publicans and harlots go into the kingdom of heaven before you.”
Cotelerius [Pair. Apostol, annot. in loc. Clement] refers tammy other passages of the same kind.
TO THE CORINTHIANS* 9 For thus saith the holy word, “Upon whom shall 1 look, but upon him that is meek and quiet, and trem- bleth at my words.” x 14. It is therefore just and holy, men and brethren, that we should become obedient unto God, rather than follow those who through pride and sedition have made themselves the leaders of a detestable emulation. For we shall undergo no ordinary harm, but exceedingly great danger, if we shall rashly give ourselves up to the wills ©f men, who are urgent in promoting strife and contention, to turn us aside from that which is good. Let us be kind to one another according to the compassion and sweetness of him that made us. For it is written, “The merciful shall inherit the earth; and they that are without evil shall be left upon it.' But the trans- gressors shall perish from off (the face of) it.” And again he saith, “ I have seen the wicked in great power, and spreading himself like the cedars of Libanus. And I passed by, and lo, he was not: land I sought his place, but it could not be found. Keep innocency, and do the thing that is right; for there shall be a remnant to the peaceable man.” * 15. Let us therefore hold fast to those who follow peace with godliness, and not to such as with hypocrisy pretend to desire it. For he saith in a certain place, “This people honoreth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.”* And again, “They bless with their mouth, but curse with their heart.” 5 And again he saith, “ They loved him with their mouth, and with their tongue they lied unto him. For their heart was not right with him, neither were they faithful in his covenant.” c “ Let all deceitful lips become dumb, and the tongue that speaketh proud things. Who have said, with our tongue will we prevail; our lips are our own: who is Lord over us? For the oppression of the poor, for the sighing of the needy, now will I arise, saith the Lord: I will set him in safety; I will deal confidently with him.” d * Isa. lxvi. 2.
•Ps. xxxvii. 35—37.
* Ps. lxii. 4.
d Ps. xii. 4; xxxi. 18.
* Isa. xxix. 13.
JO THIS EPISTLE OF CLEMENT [$ 16.
16. For Christ is theirs who are humble, not theirs who exalt themselves over his flock. The sceptre of the Majesty of God, our Lord Jesus Christ, came not in the pomp of pride and arrogance, although he was able (to have done so);* but with humility, as the Holy Ghost had spoken concerning him. f For thus he saith:* “Lord who hath believed our report? and to whom is the arm of the Lord revealed? We have declared before him as (if he were) a child: as a root in a thirsty ground. For there is no form in him, nor glory. Yea we saw him, and he had no form nor comeliness: but his form was without honor, marred more than the sons of men. He is a man ip stripes and sorrow, and acquainted with $he endurance of infirmity. For his face was turned away; he was despised, and esteemed not. He beareth’our sins, and is put to grief for us; and we did esteem him to be in sorrow, and in stripes, and in affliction. But he was founded for our trans- gressions; and bruised for our iniquities. The chas- tisement of our peace was upon him; with his stripes we are healed. All we, like sheep, have gone astray: man hath gone astray in his way; and the Lord hath given him up for our sins; and he opened not his mouth through his suffering. He was led as a sheep to the slaughter, and like a lamb dumb before his shearer, so opened he not his mouth. In his humiliation his judgment was taken away: and who shall declare his generation; for his life is taken from the earth. For the transgressions of my people he cometh to death. And I will give the wicked for his tomb, and the rich for his death. Because he did no iniquity, neither was guile found in his mouth. And the Lord is pleased to purify him with stripes. If ye make an offering for sin, your soul shall see a long-lived seed. And the Lord is pleased to lighten the travail of his soul, to show him light, to form him in understanding, to justify the just one who ministereth well to many: and he himself shall bear their sins. For this cause he shall inherit many: and * Jerome, who translated this Epistle into Latin, apoears to have read ieatmp trdvra Swdfitvcs, ‘although he was able to uo all things.* Hieron. ad Isa. e. Hi. Opera, Tom. III. p. 382.
1 See note (B) at the end of the Epistle.
* Isa. liii. according to the Septuagint.
TO THE CORINTHIANS.
11 shall divide the spoil of the strong; because his soul was given up to death, and he was numbered with the transgressors: and he bare the sins of many, and was given over for their sins.” And again he himself saith; “ But I am a worm and no man, a reproach of men, and despised of the people. All they that see me laugh me to scorn: they shoot out their lips, they shake their head, (saying,) He trusted in the Lord, let him deliver him, let him save him, seeing he delighteth in him.” h Ye see, beloved, what the pattern is whieh hath been given unto us. For if the Lord was so hnmble-minded, what should we do, who are brought by him under the yoke of his grace?
17. Let us be followers of those also, who went about in goat-skins and sheep-skins, 1 preaching the coming of Christ. Such were Elijah and Elisha, and Ezekiel the prophets, and moreover those who have received the like testimony. Abraham was honored with a good report, and was called the friend of God: k and he, steadfastly beholding the glory of God, saith with all humility, I am dust and ashes. 1 Again, of Job it is thus written, “ Job was just, and blameless, true, one that served God, and eschewed all evil.”® Yet he, accusing himself, saith, “No man is free from pollution, no, not though he should live but one day.” 11 Moses was called faithful in all God’s house,® and by his conduct the Lord punished Israel by stripes and plagues. And even this man so greatly honored, spake not greatly of himself, but when the oracle of God was delivered to him out of the bush, he said, “ Who am I that thou dost send me? I am of a slender voice and of a slow tongue.” p And again he saith: “lam as the smoke of the pot.”* 18. Again, what shall we say of David who hath * 2 Chron. xx. 7. Isa. xli. 8. Ja, ii. 23.
1 Gen. xviii. 27. ra Job i. 1.
■ Job xiv. 4. Septuagint. Thus Cyprian, Test, ad Qwirinum, 1. iii. c. 54. “ A pud Job; Quis enira mundus a sordibus? Nec onus, etiamsi unius diei sit vita ejus in terrd.”— Jerome, on Iaai. liii. and on Ps. li. quotes the passage in the same manner.
* Num. xii. 7. Heb. iii. 2. 9 Exod. iii. 11; iv. 10.
* These words are not found in the Pentateuch. See Ps. cxix. 83. Hoe. xiii. 3.
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obtained so good a report? to whom God said, “ I have found a man after mine own heart, David the son of Jesse: with my holy oil have 1 anointed him.” r But yet he himself saith unto God; “Have mercy upon me, O God, according to thy great kindness, and ac- cording unto the multitude of thy tender mercies, blot out my transgression. Wash me thoroughly from mine iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin. For I acknowledge mine iniquity, and my sin is ever before me. Against thee only have 1 sinned, and done this evil in thy sight, that thou mightest be justified when thou speakest, and overcome when thou judgest. For, behold, I was shapen in wickedness, and in sin did my mother conceive me. For behold thou lovedst truth; the secret and hidden things of wisdom hast thou re- vealed unto me. Thou shalt purge me with hyssop, and 1 shall be clean: thou shalt wash me, and I shall be whiter than snow. Thou shalt make me to hear joy and gladness; the bones which have been broken shall rejoice. Turn thy face from my sins, and blot out all mine iniquities. Create in me a clean heart, O God, and renew a right spirit within me. Cast me not away from thy presence, and take not thy Holy Spirit from me. Restore unto me the joy of thy salvation, and establish me with the guidance of thy Spirit. I will teach sinners thy ways, and the ungodly shall be con- verted unto thee. Deliver me from blood, O God, thou God of my salvation. My tongue shall rejoice in thy righteousness. O Lord, open thou my lips, and my mouth shall show forth thy praise. For if thou hadst desired sacrifice, I would have given it; thou delightest not in burnt offerings. The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit: a broken and contrite heart God will not despise.” • 19. Thus the humility and.godly fear of such great and excellent men, whose praise is in the Scriptures, hath, by means of their obedience, improved not only us, but generations before us, even as many as have received his holy oracles in fear and truth. Having therefore so many, and great, and glorious examples Compare Acts, xiii. 22. 1 Sam. xiiL 14.
Google §20.] TO THE CORINTHIANS. 13 transmitted to us, let us turn again to that mark of peace which frdm the beginning was set before us: let us look steadfastly up to the Father and Creator of the universe, and hold fast by his glorious and exceeding gifts, and benefits of peace. Let us see him with our understanding, and look with the eyes of our soul to his long-suffering will: calling to mind how gentle and slow to anger he is toward his whole creation.
20. The heavens, peaceably revolving by his ap- pointment, are subject unto him. Day and night perr form the course appointed by him, in no wise inter- rupting one another. By his ordinance, the sun and moon, and all the companies of stars, roll on, in harmony, without any deviation, within the bounds allotted to them* In obedience to his will, the pregnant earth yields her fruit plentifully in due season to man and beast, and to all creatures that are therein; not hesitating nor changing any thing which was de- creed by him. The unsearchable secrets of the abyss, and the untold judgments of the lower world, are restrained by the same commands. The hollow depth of the vast sea, gathered together into its: several col- lections by his word, passes not its allotted bounds; but as he commanded, so doth if. For he said, “ Hitherto shalt thou come, and thy waves shall be broken wiihin thee.” 4 The ocean impassable to man- kind, and the worlds which are beyond it, are governed by the same commands of their master. Spring and summer, and autumn and \yinter, give place peaceably to one another. The winds, in their stations, perform their- service without interruption, each in his ap- pointed season. The ever-flowing fountains, minister-:, ing both to pleasure and to health, without ceasing put forth their breasts to support the life of man. Nay, the smallest of living creatures maintain their intercourse in concord and peace. All these hath the great Creator and Lord of all things ordained to be in peace and concord; for he is good to all; but above measure to us, who flee to his mercy, through our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom be glory and majesty, for ever and ever; Amen.
* Job xxxviii. 11.
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21. Take heed, beloved, that his many blessings be not turned into condemnation to us all. (For thus it will surely be) unless we walk worthy of him, arid with One eonsent do that which is good and well-pleasing in his sight. For he saith in a certain place, “ The Spirit of the Lord is a candle, searching out the inward parts of the belly.” u Let us consider how neaT he is, and that none of our thoughts or reasonings which we frame within ourselves are hid from him. It is therefore just that we should not desert Our ranks, (by declining) from his will. Let us choose to offend men, who are foolish and inconsiderate, lifted up, and glorying in the pride of their reasoning, rather than God. Let ns reverence our Lord Jesus Christ, whose blood was given for us. Let us honor those who are Bet over us; let us respect our elders, let us instruct our young men in the discipline and fear of the Lord. Out wives let us direct to that which is good. Let them show forth the lovely habit of purity (in all their conversation) with a sincere affection of meekness. Let them make manifest the government of their tongues by their silence. Let their charity l>e without partiality,* ex- ercised equally to all who religiously fear God. Let Our children partake of the instruction of Christ; let them learn of how great avail humility is before God, what power a pure charity hath with him, how excellent and great his fear is, saving such as live in it with holiness and a pure conscience. For he is a searcher of the thoughts and counsels (of the heart): whose breath is in us, and when he pleases, he takes it away.