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.
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.
With this commandment and with these injunctions let us strengthen ourselves to walk in obedience to his hallowed words and let us be humble-minded, for the holy word says,
On whom shall I look, but on the meek and gentle and him who trembles at my oracles.
Therefore it is right and holy, my brethren,[*](Obedience to God, and abstinence from sedition.) for us to obey God rather than to follow those who in pride and unruliness are the instigators of an abominable jealousy.
For we shall incur no common harm, but great danger, if we rashly yield ourselves to the purposes of men who rush into strife and sedition, to estrange us from what is right.
Let us be kind to one another, according to the compassion and sweetness of our Maker.
For it is written, The kind shall inhabit the land, and the guiltless shall be left on it, but they who transgress shall be destroyed from off it.
And again he says: I saw the ungodly lifted high, and exalted as the cedars of Lebanon. And I went by, and behold he was not; and I sought his place, and I found it not. Keep innocence, and look on uprightness; for there is a remnant for a peaceable man.
Moreover let us cleave to those whose[*](Cleaving to the peaceable) peacefulness is based on piety and not to those whose wish for peace is hypocrisy.
For it says in one place: This people honoureth me with their lips, but their heart is far from me.