The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

Clemens Romanus (Clement of Rome)

Clement of Rome. The Apostolic Fathers, Volume 1. Lake, Kirsopp, editor. London: William Heinemann Ltd.; New York: The Macmillan Company, 1912.

And when the

king’s men came and said, The spies of our land came in to thee, bring them out, for the king orders thus, she answered The men whom ye seek did indeed come to me, but they went away forthwith, and are proceeding on their journey, and pointed in the wrong direction.

And she said to the men, I know assuredly that the Lord God is delivering to you this land; for the fear and dread of you has fallen on those who dwell in it. When therefore it shall come to pass, that ye take it, save me and my father’s house.

And they said to her, It shall be as thou hast spoken to us; when therefore thou knowest that we are at hand, thou shalt gather all thy folk under thy roof, and they shall be safe; for as many as shall be found outside the house shall perish.

And they proceeded to give her a sign, that she should hang out a scarlet thread from her house, foreshowing that all who believe and hope on God shall have redemption through the blood of the Lord.

You see, beloved, that the woman is an instance not only of faith but also of prophecy.

Let us, therefore, be humble-minded, brethren,[*](The need of humble-mindedness) putting aside all arrogance and conceit and foolishness and wrath, and let us do that which is written (for the Holy Spirit says, Let not the wise man boast himself in his wisdom, nor the strong man in his strength, nor the rich man in his riches, but he

that boasteth let him boast in the Lord, to seek him out and to do judgment and righteousness), especially remembering the words of the Lord Jesus which he spoke when he was teaching gentleness and longsuffering.

For lie spoke thus: Be merciful, that ye may obtain mercy. Forgive, that ye may be forgiven. As ye do, so shall it be done unto you. As ye give, so shall it be given unto you. As ye judge, so shall ye be judged. As ye are kind, so shall kindness be shewn you. With wliat measure ye mete, it shall be measured to you.