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
Of these the one, in Greece, an Ionic;[826] the other in Magna Græcia:
the first of these from Cœle-Syria, the second from Egypt, and others
in the East. The one was born in the land of Assyria, and the other a
Hebrew in Palestine.
When I came upon the last[827] (he was the first in power), having
tracked him out concealed in Egypt, I found rest. He, the true, the
Sicilian bee, gathering the spoil of the flowers of the prophetic and
apostolic meadow, engendered in the souls of his hearers a deathless
element of knowledge.
Well, they preserving the tradition of the blessed doctrine derived
directly from the holy apostles, Peter, James, John, and Paul, the son
receiving it from the father (but few were like the fathers), came by
God’s will to us also to deposit those ancestral and apostolic seeds.
And well I know that they will exult; I do not mean delighted with
this tribute, but solely on account of the preservation of the truth,
according as they delivered it. For such a sketch as this, will, I
think, be agreeable to a soul desirous of preserving from escape the
blessed tradition. “In a man who loves wisdom the Father will be
glad.”[828] Wells, when pumped out, yield purer water; and that of
which no one partakes, turns to putrefaction. Use keeps steel brighter,
but disuse produces rust in it. For, in a word, exercise produces a
healthy condition both in souls and bodies. “No one lighteth a candle,
and putteth it under a bushel, but upon a candlestick, that it may give
light to those who are regarded worthy of the feast.”[829] For what is
the use of wisdom, if it makes not him who can hear it wise? For still
the Saviour saves, “and always works, as He sees the Father.”[830] For
by teaching, one learns more; and in speaking, one is often a hearer
along with his audience. For the teacher of him who speaks and of him
who hears is one--who waters both the mind and the word. Thus the Lord
did not hinder from doing good while keeping the Sabbath; but allowed
us to communicate of those divine mysteries, and of that holy light,
to those who are able to receive them. He did not certainly disclose
to the many what did not belong to the many; but to the few to whom
He knew that they belonged, who were capable of receiving and being
moulded according to them. But secret things are entrusted to speech,
not to writing, as is the case with God.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account