The writings of the Apostolic FathersClement I, Pope
General
The writings of the Apostolic Fathers
Clement I, Pope
Apostolic Fathers; Christian literature, Early
“But listen,” says he, “to the things in regard to which you have not to
exercise self-restraint, but which you ought to do. Restrain not
yourself in regard to that which is good, but do it.” “And tell me,
sir,” say I, “the nature of the good deeds, that I may walk in them and
wait on them, so that doing them I can be saved.” “Listen,” says he, “to
the good deeds which you ought to do, and in regard to which there is no
self-restraint requisite. First of all there is faith, then fear of the
Lord, love, concord, words of righteousness, truth, patience. Than
these, nothing is better in the life of men. If any one attend to these,
and restrain himself not from them, blessed is he in his life. Then
there are the following attendant on these: helping widows, looking
after orphans and the needy, rescuing the servants of God from
necessities, the being hospitable—for in hospitality good-doing finds a
field—never opposing any one, the being quiet, having fewer needs than
all men, reverencing the aged, practising righteousness, watching the
brotherhood, bearing insolence, being long-suffering, encouraging those
who are sick in soul, not casting those who have fallen into sin from
the faith, but turning them back and restoring them to peace of mind,
admonishing sinners, not oppressing debtors and the needy, and if there
are any other actions like these. Do these seem to you good?” says he.
“For what, sir,” say I, “is better than these?” “Walk then in them,”
says he, “and restrain not yourself from them, and you will live to
God.[1665] Keep, therefore, this commandment. If you do good, and
restrain not yourself from it, you will live to God. All who act thus
will live to God. And, again, if you refuse to do evil, and restrain
yourself from it, you will live to God. And all will live to God who
keep these commandments, and walk in them.”
COMMANDMENT NINTH.
_Prayer must be made to God without ceasing, and with unwavering
confidence._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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