The Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

We were maimed in our understanding, worshipping[*](The state of the unconverted) stone, and wood, and gold, and silver, and copper, the works of men, and our whole life was nothing else than death. We were covered with darkness, and our eyes were full of mist; but we

For he had pity on us, and saved us in his mercy, and regarded the great error and destruction which was in us, and our hopelessness of salvation save from him;

for he called us when we were not, and it was his will that out of nothing we should come to being.

Rejoice thou barren that barest not; break[*](Prophecies of the church, and their interpretation) forth and cry thou that travailest not; for the children of the deserted are many more than hers that hath a husband. In saying, Rejoice thou barren that barest not, he meant us, for our church was barren before children were given her.

And in saying, Cry thou that travailest not, he means this,—that we should offer our prayers in sincerity to God, and not grow wreary as women that give birth.

And in saying, For the children of the deserted are many more than hers that hath a husband, he meant that our people seemed to be deserted by God, but that now we who have believed have become many more than those who seemed to have God.

And another Scripture also says, I came not to call righteous, but sinners;

He means that those who are perishing must be saved,

for it is great and wonderful to give strength, not to the things which are standing, but to those which are falling.