The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

He has himself fixed by his supreme will the places and persons whom he desires for these celebrations, in order that all things may be done piously according to his good pleasure, and be acceptable to his will.

So then those who offer their oblations at the appointed seasons are acceptable and blessed, for

For to the High Priest his proper ministrations are allotted, and to the priests the proper place has been appointed, and on Levites their proper services have been imposed. The layman is bound by the ordinances for the laity.

Let each one of us, brethren, be well[*](The necessity for a diversity of functions in the church) pleasing to God in his own rank, and have a good conscience, not transgressing the appointed rules of his ministration, with all reverence.

Not in every place, my brethren, are the daily sacrifices offered or the free-will offerings,[*](If the reading of C be adopted, Sacrifices of prayers.) or the sin-offerings and trespass-offerings, but only in Jerusalem; and there also the offering is not made in every place, but before the shrine, at the altar, and the offering is first inspected by the High Priest and the ministers already mentioned.

Those therefore who do anything contrary to that which is agreeable to his will suffer the penalty of death.