THE SECOND EPISTLE OF CLEMENT TO THE CORINTHIANS CHAPTER I. That we ought to value our salvation; and to show that we do by a sincere obedience. BRETHREN, we ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of God: as of the judge of the living, and the dead; nor should we think any less of our salvation. 2 For if we think meanly of him, we shall hope only to receive some small things from him. 3 And if we do so, we shall sin; not considering from whence we have been called, and by whom, and to what place; and how much Jesus Christ vouchsafed to suffer for our sakes. 4 What recompense then shall we render unto him? Or what fruit that may be worthy of what he has given to us? 5 For indeed how great are those advantages which we owe to him in relation to our holiness? He has illuminated us; as a father, he has called us his children; he has saved us who were lost and undone. 6 What praise shall we give to him? Or what reward that may be answerable to those things which we have received. 7 We were defective in our understandings; worshipping stones, and wood; gold, and silver, and brass, the work of men's hands; and our whole life was nothing else but death. 8 Wherefore being encompassed with darkness, and having such a mist before our eyes, we have looked up, and through his will have laid aside the cloud wherewith we were surrounded. 9 For he had compassion upon us, and being moved in his bowels towards us, he saved us; having beheld in us much error, and destruction; and seeing that we had no hope of salvation, but only through him. 10 For he called us, who were not; and was pleased from nothing to give us being. CHAPTER II. 1 That God had before prophesied by Isaiah, that the Gentiles should be saved; 8 And that this ought to engage, such especially to live well; without which they will still miscarry. REJOICE, thou barren, that bearest not, break forth and cry thou that travailest not; for she that is desolate hath many more children than she that hath a husband. 2 In that saying, Rejoice thou barren that bearest not, he spake of us: for our church was barren before children were given unto it. 3 And again; when he said, Cry thou that travailest not: he implied thus much: That after the manner of a woman in travail, we should not cease to put up our prayers unto God abundantly. 4 And for what follows, because she that is desolate hath more children than she that hath a husband; it was therefore added, because our people which seemed to have been forsaken by God, now believing in him, are become more than they who seemed to have God. 5 And another Scripture saith, I came not to call the righteous but sinners (to repentance). The meaning of which is this; that those who were lost must be saved: 6 For that is, indeed, truly great and wonderful, not to confirm those things that are yet standing, but those which are falling,