Chapter IX.--We Shall Be Judged in the Flesh.
And let no one of you say that this very flesh shall not be judged, nor rise again. Consider ye in what [state] ye were saved, in what ye received sight, [4378] if not while ye were in this flesh. We must therefore preserve the flesh as the temple of God. For as ye were called in the flesh, ye shall also come [to be judged] in the flesh. As Christ [4379] the Lord who saved us, though He was first a Spirit [4380] became flesh, and thus called us, so shall we also receive the reward in this flesh. Let us therefore love one another, that we may all attain to the kingdom of God. While we have an opportunity of being healed, let us yield ourselves to God that healeth us, and give to Him a recompense. Of what sort? Repentance out of a sincere heart; for He knows all things beforehand, and is acquainted with what is in our hearts. Let us therefore give Him praise, not with the mouth only, but also with the heart, that He may accept us as sons. For the Lord has said, "Those are my brethren who do the will of my Father." [4381]
[4378] Literally, "looked up."
[4379] The ms. has heis, "one," which Wake follows, but it seems clearly a mistake for hos.
[4380] I. logos (word).
[4381] Matt. xii. 50.
Chapter X.--Vice is to Be Forsaken, and Virtue Followed.
Wherefore, my brethren, let us do the will of the Father who called us, that we may live; and let us earnestly [4382] follow after virtue, but forsake every wicked tendency [4383] which would lead us into transgression; and flee from ungodliness, lest evils overtake us. For if we are diligent in doing good, peace will follow us. On this account, such men cannot find it [i.e. peace] as are [4384] influenced by human terrors, and prefer rather present enjoyment [4385] to the promise which shall afterwards be fulfilled. For they know not what torment present enjoyment incurs, or what felicity is involved in the future promise. And if, indeed, they themselves only did such things, it would be [the more] tolerable; but now they persist in imbuing innocent souls with their pernicious doctrines, not knowing that they shall receive a double condemnation, both they and those that hear them.
[4382] Literally, "rather."
[4383] Literally, "malice, as it were, the precursor of our sins." Some deem the text corrupt.
[4384] Literally, according to the ms., "it is not possible that a man should find it who are"--the passage being evidently corrupt.
[4385] I. anapausin (rest).
Chapter XI.--We Ought to Serve God, Trusting in His Promises.
Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we shall be righteous; but if we do not serve Him, because we believe not the promise of God, we shall be miserable. For the prophetic word also declares, "Wretched are those of a double mind, and who doubt in their heart, who say, All these things [4386] have we heard even in the times of our fathers; but though we have waited day by day, we have seen none of them [accomplished]. Ye fools! compare yourselves to a tree; take, for instance, the vine. First of all it sheds its leaves, then the bud appears; after that the sour grape, and then the fully-ripened fruit. So, likewise, my people have borne disturbances and afflictions, but afterwards shall they receive their good things." [4387] Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be of a double mind, but let us hope and endure, that we also may obtain the reward. For He is faithful who has promised that He will bestow on every one a reward according to his works. If, therefore, we shall do righteousness in the sight of God, we shall enter into His kingdom, and shall receive the promises, which "ear hath not heard, nor eye seen, neither have entered into the heart of man." [4388]
[4386] I. palai (long ago).
[4387] The same words occur in Clement's first epistle, chap. xxiii.
[4388] 1 Cor. ii. 9.
Chapter XII.--We are Constantly to Look for the Kingdom of God.
Let us expect, therefore, hour by hour, the kingdom of God in love and righteousness, since we know not the day of the appearing of God. For the Lord Himself, being asked by one when His kingdom would come, replied, "When two shall be one, that which is without as that which is within, and the male with the female, neither male nor female." [4389] Now, two are one when we speak the truth one to another, and there is unfeignedly one soul in two bodies. And "that which is without as" that which is within meaneth this: He calls the soul "that which is within," and the body "that which is without." As, then, thy body is visible to sight, so also let thy soul be manifest by good works. And "the male, with the female, neither male nor female," this [4390] He saith, that brother seeing sister may have no thought concerning her as female, and that she may have no thought concerning him as male. "If ye do these things," saith He, "the kingdom of my Father shall come."
[4389] These words are quoted (Clem. Alex., Strom., iii. 9, 1.) from the Gospel according to the Egyptians, no longer extant.
[4390] Here the piece formerly broke off. From this point to the end the text of Gebhardt, Harnack, Zahn has been followed.
[4391] Comp. 1 Cor. vii. 29.