The Second Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians

Let us then remain righteous and holy in our faith, that we may pray with confidence to God, who says, While thou art speaking I will say. Behold here am I.

For this saying is the sign of a great promise; for the Lord says that he is more ready to give than we to ask.

Let us then accept such great goodness, and not grudge ourselves the gaining of such benefits,

Seeing therefore, brethren, that we have[*](The profit of repentance) received no small opportunity for repentance; let us, now that we have time, turn to the God who calls us, while we still have one who awaits us.

For if we bid farewell to these enjoyments, and conquer our soul, by giving up its wicked lusts, we shall share in the mercy of Jesus.

But you know that the day of judgment is already[*](The danger of the Judgment) approaching as a burning oven, and some[*](Possibly the text is corrupt: Lightfoot’s conjecture would be translated, the powers of heaven, but the text may be defended as a reference to the early Christian belief in seven concentric heavens surrounding the Earth.) of the heavens shall melt, and the whole earth shall be as lead melting in the fire, and then shall be made manifest the secret and open deeds of men.

Almsgiving is therefore good even as penitence[*](Almsgiving) for sin; fasting is better than prayer, but the giving of alms is better than both; and love covers a multitude of sins, but prayer from a good conscience rescues from death. Blessed is every man who is found full of these things; for almsgiving lightens sin.