The Second 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.

For, if we are zealous to do good, peace will follow after us.

For this cause it is not possible for a man to find it,[*](i.e. peace.) when they bring in human fears, and prefer the pleasures

of the present to the promises of the future.

For they do not know how great torment the pleasures of the present entail, and what is the joy of the promised future.

And if they did these things by themselves it could be endured, but, as it is, they are continuing in teaching evil to innocent souls, and do not know that they will incur a double judgment, both themselves and their hearers.

Let us then serve God with a pure heart, and[*](Warning against doubt) we shall be righteous, but if we do not serve him, because we do not believe the promise of God, we shall be miserable.

For the prophetic word also says:—Miserable are the double-minded that doubt in their heart, who say. These things we heard long ago and in the time of our fathers, but we have waited from day to day, and have seen none of them.