The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

Or were Ananias, Azarias, and Misael shut up in the fiery furnace by those who ministered to the great and glorious worship of the Most High? God forbid that this be so. Who then were they who did these things? Hateful men, full of all iniquity, were roused to such a pitch of fury, that they inflicted torture on those who served God with a holy and faultless purpose, not knowing that the Most High is the defender and protector of those who serve his excellent name with a pure conscience, to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.

But they who endured in confidence obtained the inheritance of glory and honour; they were exalted, and were enrolled by God in his memorial for ever and ever. Amen.

We also, brethren, must therefore cleave to such[*](Exhortation against schism) examples.

For it is written, Cleave to the holy, for they who cleave to them shall be made holy.[*](The source of this quotation is unknown.)

And again in another place it says, With the innocent man thou shalt be innocent, and with the elect man thou shalt be elect, and with the perverse man thou shalt do perversely.[*](Clement takes the word for with (μετά) to mean in the company of: in Ps. 17 (in Hebrew and English Ps. 18) it means in the case of, and the subject of the verbs is God.)

Let us then cleave to the innocent and righteous, for these are God’s elect.