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so shalt thou know who is the good rewarder of thy gifts. * Keep what thou hast received; thou shalt neither add to it, nor take from it. * Let the wicked be always thy aversion. *Thou shalt judge righteous judgment. Thou shalt never cause divisions: but shalt make peace between those that are at variance, and bring them together. *Thou shalt confess thy sins; and not come to thy prayer with an evil conscience. This is the way of light.

XX. But the way of darkness is crooked, and full of cursing, For it is the way of eternal death, with punishment, in which they that walk meet those things that destroy their own souls. Such are idolatry, confidence, pride of power, hypocrisy, double-mindedness, adultery, murder, rapine, pride, transgression, deceit, malice, arrogance, witchcraft, covetousness, and the want of the fear of God. In this walk those who are the persecutors of them that are good-haters of truth, lovers of lies; who know not the reward of righteousness, nor cleave to any thing that is good; who administer not righteous. judgment to the widow and orphan; who watch for wickedness, and not for the fear of the Lord: from whom gentleness and patience are far off; who love vanity, and follow after rewards; having no compassion upon the poor: nor take any pains for such as are heavy laden and oppressed ready to evil-speaking, not knowing Him that made them; murderers of children, corrupters of the creature of God, that turn away from the needy, oppress the afflicted; are the advocates of the rich, but unjust judges of the poor; being altogether sinners.

XXI. It is therefore fitting, that, learning the just commands of the Lord, which we have before mentioned, we should walk in them. For he who does such things shall be glorified in the kingdom of God. But he that chooses the other part shall be destroyed together with his works. For this cause, there shall be both a resurrection, and a retribution. I beseech those that are in high estate among you (if so be you will take the counsel which with a good intention I offer to you:) you have those with you towards whom you may do good; do not forsake them. For the day is at hand in which all things shall be destroyed, together with the wicked one. The Lord is near, and His reward is with Him. I beseech you, therefore, again and again, be as good lawgivers to one another: con

tinue faithful counsellors to each other: remove from among you all hypocrisy. And may God, the Lord of all the world, give you wisdom, knowledge, counsel, and understanding of His judgments in patience! Be ye taught of God; seeking what it is the Lord requires of you, and doing it; that ye may be saved in the day of judgment. And if there be among you any remembrance of what is good, think of Me; meditating upon these things, that both my desire and my watching for you may turn to a good account. I beseech you, I ask it as a favour of you, whilst you are in this beautiful tabernacle of the body, be wanting in none of these things; but without ceasing seek them, and fulfil every command: for these things are fitting and worthy to be done. Wherefore I have given the more diligence to write unto you, according to my ability, that you might rejoice. Farewell, children of love and peace. The Lord of glory, and of all grace, be with your spirit.

Amen.

The end of the epistle of Barnabas, the apostle and fellow-traveller of St Paul the apostle.

THE EPISTLES OF CLEMENT

OF ROME.

INTRODUCTION

with Love I

ΤΟ

THE EPISTLES OF CLEMENT OF

CL

ROME.

LEMENT is named by St Paul in Phil. iv. 3. Church history records that Clement was the third Bishop of Rome. Are they the same person? There are two Epistles said to be written by Clement, Bishop of Rome. Are they genuine works of his? Here are distinct questions which we will shortly discuss.

St Paul wrote his Epistle to the Philippians at Rome about the year 63. But Eusebius in his chronicle places the death of Clement in A.D. 95. It is possible, certainly, though not probable, that one who was holding high office in the Church of Philippi when St Paul wrote, was presiding over the Church of Rome more than thirty years later. There is no evidence forthcoming for or against the identity. And the Episcopate of Clement is not without difficulties. One very ancient catalogue (the Liberian) makes the order of Roman Bishops to be St Peter, Linus, Clement, Cletus. Tertullian says that St Peter appointed Clement. Some have supposed that Linus was appointed by St Paul president over a Roman body of Gentile Christians, while Clement was over a Church of Jewish believers; and others again have thought that all those we have named were leading elders of the Church, acting under the two great apostles. But when all is duly weighed, it must be taken as certain that the universal traditions that St Clement was Bishop of Rome can only be accounted for by its truth. And it is remarkable that the ancient liturgy of the

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