We must approach Him in holiness of soul, for we are His 'elect,' His 'special portion '(xxix.); as such we must put away all lust, strife, contention, and pride. 'Boldness and arrogance and daring are for them that are accursed of God ; but forbear- ance and humility and gentleness are with them that are blessed of God ' (xxx.). This, then, is how the blessing of God is obtained. We see it in the case of Abraham, Isaac, and Jacob (xxxi.). They were blessed 'not through themselves, in their own works or righteous doing,' but because they accepted the will of God, i.e. through faith. So we are justified by faith (xxxii.).
Yet we must never be slack in works. Does not the Creator rejoice to work unceasingly? We must follow His example, for we are made in His image (xxxiii.). We must imitate the diligence of the angels, if we would win the promises of God (xxxiv.). How blessed and marvellous are the gifts which God prepares for them that patiently await Him ! If we would enjoy them, we must first have done with all bitterness and strife, vainglory and inhospitality, which are hateful to Him (xxxv.). Jesus Christ, ' the Guardian and Helper of our weakness,' will aid us in our efforts, and He is mightier than any angel (xxxvi.).
(3) Discipline is indispenf-able in a corporate society : provi- sion made for this in the Mosaic Law and in the Divinely ap- pointed ministry of the Church. — We are Christ's soldiers ((TTpaTev<Tu>iieda, xxxvii. 1) : soldiers must be under discipline, each in his own rank. Lonk at the soldiers in the Roman army ; think of the limbs in a human body ; ' all the members conspire and unite in subjection, that the whole body may be saved' (xxxvii.). So the members of the Christian body must perform each his own function for the common weal (xxxviii.). Only ' senseless and stupid and foolish and ignorant men ' seek power and exaltation, forgetting the utter nothingness of man, and the condemnation of the Scriptures for such as themselves (xxxbc.).
Regard for order and decency is Divinely taught in the Mosaic Law, which expressly prescribes how, when, and by whom each of its rites shall be performed, every man having his own appointed place, whether high priest, priest, Levite, or layman (xl.). So we, who are under the Christian Law, must be content to perform the ftmction which is appointed for us (xli.).
The Christian ministry is a Divinely appointed order. Jesus Christ was sent forth from God, and Himself sent forth the apostles. They, in turn, when they had preached in town and country, appointed such of their converts as were approved by the Spirit, to be ' bishops and deacons unto them that should believe' (xlii.). In this they followed the example of Moses, who appointed a succession of priests, and to prevent all future dispute, confirmed the appointment of Aaron's line by the miracle of the budding rod (xliii.). The apostles, too, were Divinely warned that strife would arise over the bishop's office. They therefore provided for a regular succession of the ministry from generation to generation (xli v. 1, 2).
(4) The Corinthians have disobeyed not only a specific ordin- ance of God, but also the fundamental Christian law of love. May they speedily repent. — You have sinned grievously in thrusting from their office men who were duly appointed according to the apostles' directions, and have faithfully dis- charged the duties of a bishop (xliv. 3-6). It is monstrous that God's orticers should be persecuted by those who profess to be God's servants. Read your Bible, and you will learn that when righteous men have suffered persecution — e.g. Daniel and the three Holy Children — they have suffered at the hands of the
218 CLEMENT OF EOME, EPISTLE OF CLEJklENT OF EOME, EPISTLE OF
ungodly (xlv.). Surely you ought to be found on the side of the righteous rather than of the persecutors. We worship one God. We are one body in Christ, we have one spirit of grace. How can you bear such strife if you remember that we are members one of another? Remember what Jesus our Lord said concern- incr those who cause offence as you have done (xlvi.). St. Paul rebuked you for the same fault, but things are worse now. Then at least you professed to follow apostles or apostolic men, but now ' the steadfast and ancient Church of the Corinthians, for the sake of one or two persons, maketh sedition against its presbyters' (xlvii.). Let us have done with such feuds, and in penitence pray God to restore our former harmony (xlviii.).
Love is all-powerful : love, His own attribute, is acceptable to God : seek love, and you shall be saved (xlix. 1). Love is tlie only ground on which we can hope for God's forgiveness. Let us therefore — and especially those who have caused strife — con- fess our offences and not harden our hearts as Pharaoh did, lest like Pharaoh we perish (li.).
God asks nothing of man but contrition, prayer, and praise (lii.). Kemember how Moses fasted and prayed forty davs on the mountain, offering his life for the life of his people (liii.). Let those of you who are the occasion of strife, copy his self- effacement (liv.), and follow the examples of those noble heathens — rulers and citizens, even women — who over and over again in the course of history have been willing to give up all for the good of their nation (Iv.).