The writings of the Apostolic FathersClement I, Pope
General
The writings of the Apostolic Fathers
Clement I, Pope
Apostolic Fathers; Christian literature, Early
attentively to these commandments; for I know that I shall be saved, if
in future I sin no more.” And he said, “You will be saved, you and all
who keep these commandments.”
CHAP. IV.
And again I asked him, saying, “Sir, since you have been so patient in
listening to me, will you show me this also?” “Speak,” said he. And I
said, “If a wife or husband die, and the widower or widow marry, does he
or she commit sin?” “There is no sin in marrying again,” said he; “but
if they remain unmarried, they gain greater honour and glory with the
Lord; but if they marry, they do not sin. Guard, therefore, your
chastity and purity, and you will live to God. What commandments I now
give you, and what I am to give, keep from henceforth, yea, from the
very day when you were entrusted to me, and I will dwell in your house.
And your former sins will be forgiven, if you keep my commandments. And
all shall be forgiven who keep these my commandments, and walk in this
chastity.”
COMMANDMENT FIFTH.
_Of sadness of heart, and of patience._
CHAP. I.
“Be patient,” said he, “and of good understanding, and you will rule
over every wicked work, and you will work all righteousness. For if you
be patient, the Holy Spirit that dwells in you will be pure. He will not
be darkened by any evil spirit, but, dwelling in a broad region,[1647]
he will rejoice and be glad; and with the vessel in which he dwells he
will serve God in gladness, having great peace within himself.[1648] But
if any outburst of anger take place, forthwith the Holy Spirit, who is
tender, is straitened, not having a pure place, and He seeks to depart.
For he is choked by the vile spirit, and cannot attend on the Lord as he
wishes, for anger pollutes him. For the Lord dwells in long-suffering,
but the devil in anger.[1649] The two spirits, then, when dwelling in
the same habitation, are at discord with each other, and are troublesome
to that man in whom they dwell. For if an exceedingly small piece of
wormwood be taken and put into a jar of honey, is not the honey entirely
destroyed, and does not the exceedingly small piece of wormwood entirely
take away the sweetness of the honey, so that it no longer affords any
gratification to its owner, but has become bitter, and lost its use? But
if the wormwood be not put into the honey, then the honey remains sweet,
and is of use to its owner. You see, then, that patience is sweeter than
honey, and useful to God, and the Lord dwells in it. But anger is bitter
and useless. Now, if anger be mingled with patience, the patience is
polluted,[1650] and its prayer is not then useful to God.” “I should
like, sir,” said I, “to know the power of anger, that I may guard myself
against it.” And he said, “If you do not guard yourself against it, you
and your house lose all hope of salvation. Guard yourself, therefore,
against it.
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