The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2) — John Shaqi
The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Religion
The writings of Clement of Alexandria, Vol. 1 (of 2)
Clement, of Alexandria, Saint
Theology -- Early works to 1800; Theology -- History -- Early Church, ca. 30-600
Others he figuratively calls wolves, clothed in sheep-skins, meaning
thereby monsters of rapacity in human form. And so all such most
savage beasts, and all such blocks of stone, the celestial song has
transformed into tractable men. “For even we ourselves were sometime
foolish, disobedient, deceived, serving divers lusts and pleasures,
living in malice and envy, hateful, hating one another.” Thus speaks
the apostolic scripture: “But after that the kindness and love of
God our Saviour to man appeared, not by works of righteousness which
we have done, but according to His mercy, He saved us.”[13] Behold
the might of the new song! It has made men out of stones, men out of
beasts. Those, moreover, that were as dead, not being partakers of
the true life, have come to life again, simply by becoming listeners
to this song. It also composed the universe into melodious order, and
tuned the discord of the elements to harmonious arrangement, so that
the whole world might become harmony. It let loose the fluid ocean,
and yet has prevented it from encroaching on the land. The earth,
again, which had been in a state of commotion, it has established, and
fixed the sea as its boundary. The violence of fire it has softened
by the atmosphere, as the Dorian is blended with the Lydian strain;
and the harsh cold of the air it has moderated by the embrace of fire,
harmoniously arranging these the extreme tones of the universe. And
this deathless strain,--the support of the whole and the harmony of
all,--reaching from the centre to the circumference, and from the
extremities to the central part, has harmonized this universal frame
of things, not according to the Thracian music, which is like that
invented by Jubal, but according to the paternal counsel of God, which
fired the zeal of David. And He who is of David, and yet before him,
the Word of God, despising the lyre and harp, which are but lifeless
instruments, and having tuned by the Holy Spirit the universe, and
especially man,--who, composed of body and soul, is a universe in
miniature,--makes melody to God on this instrument of many tones; and
to this instrument--I mean man--he sings accordant: “For thou art my
harp, and pipe, and temple,”[14]--a harp for harmony--a pipe by reason
of the Spirit--a temple by reason of the word; so that the first may
sound, the second breathe, the third contain the Lord. And David the
king, the harper whom we mentioned a little above, who exhorted to the
truth and dissuaded from idols, was so far from celebrating demons
in song, that in reality they were driven away by his music. Thus,
when Saul was plagued with a demon, he cured him by merely playing. A
beautiful breathing instrument of music the Lord made man, after His
own image. And He Himself also, surely, who is the supramundane Wisdom,
the celestial Word, is the all-harmonious, melodious, holy instrument
of God. What, then, does this instrument--the Word of God, the Lord,
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