different orders of men, 6 Yes, 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? 7 He smote them as a moth: and from morning even unto the evening they endure not. Because they were not able to help them selves, they perished; he breathed upon them and they died, because they had no wisdom. 88 Call now if there be any that will answer thee; and to which of the angels wilt thou look? 9 For wrath killeth the foolish man, and envy slayeth him that is in error. 10 I have seen the foolish tak 40 He that made us, and formed us, brought us into his own world; having presented us with his being root, but lo, their habitation nefits, even before we were born. 3 41 Wherefore, having received all these things from him, we ought in everything, to give thanks unto him; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen. CHAP. XVIII. From whence he exhorts them to do every thing orderly in the Church, as the only way to please God. Fo NOOLISH and unwise men who have neither prudence, nor learning, may mock and deride us; being willing to set up themselves in their own conceits: 2 But what can a mortal man do? Or what strength is there in hin that is made out of the dust? 3 For it is written, there was no shape before mine eyes; only I heard a sound and a voice. 4 For what? Shall man be pure before the Lord? Shall he be blameless in his works? 5 Behold, he trusteth not in his servants; and his angels he charge with folly. was presently consumed. 9 11 Their children were far from safety, they perished at the gates of those who were lesser than themselves; and there was no man to 10 help them. 12 For what was prepared for them, the righteous "did eat: and they shall not be delivered from evil. 13 Seeing then these things ard manifest unto us, it will behove us, to take care that looking into the depths of the divine know. ledge, we do all things in order, whatsoever our Lord has commanded us to do. 14 And particularly, that we perform our offerings and service to God, at their appointed seasons: for these he has commanded to be done, not 12 rashly and disorderly, but at certain determinate times and hours. 15 And therefore he has ordained by his supreme will and authority, both where, and by 3 Of what matter. Prepared for us. 4 And For. An air. 7 John iv. 16, &c., 10 Deliver. 1 Another that him. gave impudent, and without instruction. xv. 15, iv. 19. 8 Job v. 1, &c. "Eat. 12 By chance. • Were crushed upon. to order in the church I. CLEMENT. 16 They therefore who make their offerings at the appointed seasons, are happy and accepted: because that obeying the commandments of the Lord, they are free from sin. 17 And the same care must be had of the persons that minister unto him. 18 2 For the chief-priest has his proper services; and to the priests their proper place is appointed; and to the Levites appertain their proper ministries: and the layman is confined within the bounds of what is commanded to laymen. 19 Let every one of you therefore, brethren, bless God in his proper station, with 3 a good conscience, and with all gravity, not exceeding the rule of his service that is appointed to him. 20 The daily sacrifices are not offered every where; nor the peace-offerings, nor the sacrifices appointed for sins and transgressions; but only at Jerusalem: nor in any place there, but only at the altar before the temple; that which is offered being first diligently examined by the high-priest and the other minister we before mentioned. 21 They therefore who do any thing which is not agreeable to His will, are punished with death. 4 22 Consider, brethren, that by how much the better knowledge God has vouchsafed unto us by so much the greater danger are we exposed to. as pleasing to God. CHAP. XIX. The orders of Ministers in Christ's Church established by the Apostles according to Christ's command, 7 after the example of Moses. 16 Therefore they who have been duly placed in the ministry according to their order cannot without great sin be put out of it. THE 43 from the Lord Jesus HE Apostles have preached to us Christ: Jesus Christ from God. 5 3 For having received their command, and being thoroughly assured by the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ; and convinced by the word of God, with the fulness of the Holy Spirit, they went abroad, publishing, That the kingdom of God was at hand. 8 4 And thus preaching through countries and cities, they ap pointed the first fruits of their conversion to be bishops and ministers over such as should afterwards believe, having first proved them by the Spirit. 5 Nor was this any new thing: seeing that long before it was written concerning bishops and deacons. 6 For thus saith the Scripture, in a certain place: 'I will appoint their 10 overseers in righteousness, and their ministers in faith. 7 And what wonder if they, to whom such a work was committed by God in Christ, established such officers as we before mentioned; when even that blessed and faithful servant in all His house, Moses, 11 set down in the Holy Scriptures all things that were commanded him. See Coteler. in loc. 8 Whom also all the rest of the 61 Thess. i. 5. 3 Being in a good conscience. 7 With the full assurance. Isaiah lx. 17. 10 Bishops, Deacons. 11 Signified. prophets followed, bearing witness with one consent to those things that were appointed by him. 1 9 For he, perceiving an emulation to arise among the tribes concerning the priesthood, and that there was a strife about it, which of them should be adorned with that glorious name; commanded their twelve captains to bring to him twelve rods; every tribe being written upon its rod, according to its name. 10 And he took them and bound them together, and sealed them with the scals of the twelve princes of the tribes; and laid them up in the tabernacle of witness, upon the table of God. 11 And when he had shut the door of the tabernacle he sealed up the keys of it, in like manner as he had done the rods; and said unto them, Men and brethren, whichsoever tribe shall have its rod blossom, that tribe has God chosen to perform the office of a priest, and to minister unto him in holy things. 12 And when the morning was come, he called together all Israel six hundred thousand men ; and shewed to the princes their scals; and opened the tabernacle of witness; and brought forth the rods. 13 And the rod of Aaron was found not only to have blossomed, but also to have fruit upon it. 14 What think you, beloved? Did not Moses before know what should happen? in the ministry and only God might be glorified to him be honour for ever and ever, Amen. 16 So likewise our Apostles knew by our Lord Jesus Christ, that there should contentions arise, upon account of the ministry. 7 17 And therefore having a perfect fore-knowledge of this, they appointed persons, as we have before said, and then gave direction, how, when they should die, other chosen and approved men should succeed in their ministry. 18 Wherefore we cannot think that those may justly be thrown out of their ministry, who were either appointed by them, or afterwards chosen by other eminent men, with the consent of the whole church; and who have with all lowliness and innocency ministered to the flock of Christ, in peace, and without self-interest, and were for a long time commended by all. 19 For it would be no small sin in us, should we cast off those from their ministry who holily and without blame 9 fulfil the duties of it. 20 Blessed are those priests, who having finished their course before these times have obtained a fruitful and perfect dissolution: for they have no fear, lest any one should turn them out of the place which is now appointed for them. 21 But we see how you have put out some, who lived reputably among you, from the ministry, which by their innocence they had 15 Yes verily but to the end adorned. : there might be no division, nor tumult in Israel, he did in this manner, that the name of the true CHAP. XX. He exhorts them to peace from examples out of the Holy Scriptures, 20 1 An emulation happening. 2 Numb. xvii. 3 And the Rods. To exercise the office of the priesthood, and to minister, &c. 5 That this should be so. About the name of the bishoprick. Left a list of other chosen and approved persons, who should succeed them in their ministry. See Dr. Arden's Disc. upon this passage. Dr. Hammond's Power of the Keys, c. iii. p. 413. & Bishoprick. Offer the gifts. 8 9 Exhorts to peace 1. CLEMENT. from holy orders. particularly from St. Paul's exhorta- | be glory for ever and ever, Amen. tion to them. 11 But they who with a full E are contentious, brethren, persuasion have endured these and zealous for things that things, are made partakers of pertain not unto salvation. glory and honour and are ex YE 2 Look into the Holy Scrip-alted and lifted up by God in their tures, which are the true words of memorial throughout all ages, the Holy Ghost. Ye know that Amen. there is nothing unjust or counterfeit written in them. 12 Wherefore it will behove us also, brethren, 10 to follow such examples as these; for it is written, Hold fast to such as are holy; for they that do so shall be sanctified. 13 And again in another place he saith, 11 With the pure thou shalt be pure, (12 and with the elect thou shalt be elect), but with the perverse man thou shalt be 1s per verse. 13 14 Let us therefore join ourselves to the innocent and righteous; for such are the elect of God. 15 Wherefore are there strifes, and anger, and divisions, and schisms, and wars, among us? 16 14 Have we not all one God, and one Christ? 15 Is not one spirit of grace poured out upon us all Have we not one calling in Christ? 17 Why then do we rent and tear in pieces the members of Christ; and raise seditions against our own body? And are come to such a height of madness, asto forget that we were members one of another? 16 10 What kind of persons then where they that did these things They were men abominable, full 18 Remember the words of our of all wickedness; who where in- Lord Jesus, "how he said, Wo to censed to so great a degree, as to that man, (by whom offencesbring those into sufferings, who come) 18 It were better for him with a holy and unblameable pur- that he had never been born, than pose of mind worshipped God: that he should have offended onenot knowing that the Most High of my elect. It were better for is the protector and defender of him, that a mill-stone should be all such as with a pure conscience tied about his neck, and he should serve his holy name: to whom | be cast into the sea, than that he Suffering these things they underwent them gloriously. Shut into. 5 Dan. iii. 20. Worshipping the worship. 8 Have inherited. Have been exalted. 10 To cleave to. 12 Omitted by Junius, and now restored from the MS. ph. iv. 4. 161 Cor. xii. 16 Rom. xii. 17 For he said. 18 Luke, 7 1 Just men. Dan. vi. 16. 7 Full of virtue. 11 Psalm xvii. 2. 13 Turn aside vii. 2. should offend one of my little ones. 19 Your schism has perverted many, has discouraged many it has caused diffidence in many, and grief in us all. And yet your sedition continues still. 1 20 ¶ Take the epistle of the blessed Paul the Apostle into your hands ; What was it that he wrote to you at his first preaching the Gospel among you? 21 Verily he did 2 by the spirit admonish you concerning himself, and Cephas, and Apollos, because that even then ye had begun to fall into 3 parties and factions among yourselves. 22 Nevertheless your partiality then led you into a much less sin: forasmuch as ye 4 placed your affections upon Apostles, men of 'eminent reputation in the church; and upon another, who was greatly tried and approved of by them. 23 But consider, we pray you, who are they that have now led you astray; and lessened the reputation of that brotherly love that was 7 so eminent among you? 24 It is a shame, my beloved, yea, a very great shame, and unworthy of your Christian profession, to hear that the most firm and ancient church of the Corinthians should, by one or two persons, be led into a sedition against its priests. 25 And this report is come not only to us, but to those also that differ from us. 26 Insomuch that the name of the Lord is blasphemed through your folly; and even ye yourselves are brought into danger by it. 27 Let us therefore with all haste 10 put an end to this sedition; to peace and union. and let us fall down before the Lord, and beseech Him with tears that He would be favourably reconciled to us, and restore us again to a "seemly and holy course of brotherly love. 28 For this is the gate of righteousness, opening unto life: as it is written, 13 Open unto me the gates of righteousness; I will go in unto them and will praise the Lord. This is the gate of the Lord, the righteous shall enter into it. 29 Although therefore many gates are opened, yet this gate of righteousness is that gate in Christ at which blessed are they that enter in, and direct their way in holiness and righteousness, doing all things without disorder. 30 Let a man be faithful, let him be powerful in the utterance of knowledge; let him be wise in making an exact judgment of words; let him be pure in all his actions. 1 See Dodwell's add. and Pearson, Dr. Grabe, &c. to you. Inclinations. Inclined. Witnessed of. poken of. Institution. See Dodwell. 10 Take away. able 12 Grave, venerable. 13 Psalm cxviii. 19, 20. 8 14 2 Spiritually send Gravity. So much "Becoming favourGreater. 16 Bond. |