Ante-Nicene Fathers • VOLUME 8
The Twelve Patriarchs, Apocrypha, Clementine Homilies & More
SECTION 121
Chapter VIII.--Necessity of Baptism.
Chapter VIII.--Necessity of Baptism. "But now I lead you to understanding by the same paths. For you see that all things are produced from waters. But water was made at first by the Only-begotten; and the Almighty God is the head of the Only-begotten, by whom we come to the Father in such order as we have stated above. But when…
803 wordsSECTION 122Chapter XI.--Inward and Outward Cleansing.
Chapter XI.--Inward and Outward Cleansing. "Moreover, it is good, and tends to purity, also to wash the body with water. I call it good, not as if it were that prime good of the purifying of the mind, but because this of the washing of the body is the sequel of that good. For so also our Master rebuked some of the Pharisees and…
740 wordsSECTION 123Chapter XIV.--Knowledge Enhances Responsibility.
Chapter XIV.--Knowledge Enhances Responsibility. "And truly confusion is our worthy portion, if we have done no more than those who are inferior to us in knowledge. But if it be confusion to us, to be found equal to them in works, what shall become of us if the examination that is to take place find us inferior and worse than t…
823 wordsSECTION 124Chapter II.--Disciples Divided into Two Bands.
Chapter II.--Disciples Divided into Two Bands. "But I know that you think it sad to be separated from me for the space of at least two days. Believe me, that in whatever degree you love me, my affection towards you is tenfold greater. But if, by reason of our mutual affection, we will not do the things that are right and honour…
793 wordsSECTION 125Chapter VI.--Peter's Simplicity of Life.
Chapter VI.--Peter's Simplicity of Life. Then Peter, laughing, said: "And do you not think, Clement, that very necessity must make you my servant? For who else can spread my sheets, and arrange my beautiful coverlets? Who will be at hand to keep my rings, and prepare my robes, which I must be constantly changing? Who shall supe…
720 wordsSECTION 126Chapter IX.--Disappearance of His Mother and Brothers.
Chapter IX.--Disappearance of His Mother and Brothers. "Then my father, who tenderly loved his sons, put them on board a ship with their mother, and sent them to Athens to be educated, with slaves and maid-servants, and a sufficient supply of money; retaining me only to be a comfort to him, and thankful for this, that the visio…
795 wordsSECTION 127Chapter XIV.--The Woman's Grief.
Chapter XIV.--The Woman's Grief. Then Peter said: "Do you think, O woman, that those who destroy themselves are set free from torments, and not rather that the souls of those who lay violent hands upon themselves are subjected to greater punishments?" Then said she: "I wish I were sure that souls live in the infernal regions, f…
791 wordsSECTION 128Chapter XVIII.--The Woman's Story Continued.
Chapter XVIII.--The Woman's Story Continued. "And, not to detain you with a long and profitless story, I willingly dwelt with her on account of the faithful affection which she retained for her husband. But not long after, my hands (unhappy woman that I was!), long torn with gnawing, became powerless, and she who had taken me i…
714 wordsSECTION 129Chapter XXII.--A Happy Meeting.
Chapter XXII.--A Happy Meeting. Then Peter, holding her hand, led her to the ship. And when I saw him giving his hand to the woman, I began to laugh; yet, approaching to do him honour, I tried to substitute my hand for his, and to support the woman. But as soon as I touched her hand, she uttered a loud scream, and rushed into m…
848 wordsSECTION 130Chapter XXVI.--Recapitulation.
Chapter XXVI.--Recapitulation. And when I had said this, Peter began to relate the whole matter to them in order, [797] and said, "When we had come to Aradus, [798] and I had ordered you to go on before us, the same day after you had gone, Clement was led in the course of conversation to tell me of his extraction and his family…
864 wordsSECTION 131Chapter XXIX.--"Nothing Common or Unclean."
Chapter XXIX.--"Nothing Common or Unclean." Therefore, when our mother had risen from her sleep, Peter began to address her, saying: "I wish you to know, O woman, an observance of our religion. We worship one God, who made the world, and we keep His law, in which He commands us first of all to worship Him, and to reverence His …
894 wordsSECTION 132Chapter XXXIV.--Baptism Must Be Preceded by Fasting.
Chapter XXXIV.--Baptism Must Be Preceded by Fasting. When Niceta had spoken thus, our mother fell down at Peter's feet, entreating and beseeching him that both herself and her hostess might be baptized without delay; "that," said she, "I may not even for a single day suffer the loss of the company and society of my sons." In li…
1,065 wordsSECTION 133Chapter XXXVIII.--Reward of Chastity.
Chapter XXXVIII.--Reward of Chastity. Therefore, as the order and reason of the mystery demanded, on the following day she was baptized in the sea, [804] and returning to the lodging, was initiated in all the mysteries of religion in their order. And we her sons, Niceta and Aquila, and I Clement, were present. And after this we…
724 wordsSECTION 134Chapter II.--Genesis.
Chapter II.--Genesis. Then the old man proceeded to say: "I saw you bathe in the sea, and afterwards retire into a secret place; wherefore observing, without your noticing me, what you were doing, I saw you praying. Therefore, pitying your error, I waited till you came out, that I might speak to you, and instruct you not to err…
870 wordsSECTION 135Chapter V.--Freedom of Discussion Allowed.
Chapter V.--Freedom of Discussion Allowed. When Peter was about to reply to this, Niceta, anticipating him, said: [810] "Would my lord Peter allow me to answer to this; and let it not be thought forward that I, a young man, should have an encounter with an old man, but rather let me converse as a son with a father." Then said t…
929 wordsSECTION 136Chapter VIII--Instincts.
Chapter VIII--Instincts. When the old man had said this, I Clement said to him: "Hear, my father: if my brother Niceta bring you to acknowledge that the world is not governed without the providence of God, I shall be able to answer you in that part which remains concerning the genesis; for I am well acquainted with this doctrin…
795 wordsSECTION 137Chapter XI.--General or Special Providence.
Chapter XI.--General or Special Providence. "Now, if it be taught that there is a providence, and that the world was made by it, other questions meet us which must be discussed. For it will be asked, In what way providence acts, whether generally towards the whole, or specially towards the parts, or generally also towards the p…
816 wordsSECTION 138Chapter XV.--Theories of Creation.
Chapter XV.--Theories of Creation. "For the Greek philosophers, inquiring into the beginnings of the world, have gone, some in one way and some in another. In short, Pythagoras says that numbers are the elements of its beginnings; Callistratus, that qualities; Alcmæon, that contrarieties; Anaximander, that immensity; Anaxagoras…
947 wordsSECTION 139Chapter XIX.--More Difficulties of the Atomic Theory.
Chapter XIX.--More Difficulties of the Atomic Theory. "But if any one say that atoms of a fiery quality, being joined together, formed a body, and because the quality of fire does not tend downwards, but upwards, that the nature of fire, always pushing upwards, supports the mass of the world placed upon it; to this we answer: H…
757 wordsSECTION 140Chapter XXII.--Motions of the Stars.
Chapter XXII.--Motions of the Stars. "But lest the assertion may seem doubtful respecting things which are not manifest to all, let us come to those things of which nobody is ignorant. Who disposed the courses of the stars with so great reason, ordained their risings and settings, and appointed to each one to accomplish the cir…
904 wordsSECTION 141Chapter XXVI.--Germination of Seeds.
Chapter XXVI.--Germination of Seeds. "And what occasion is there to mention more instances in which divine providence has ordained the production of animals to be effected in various ways, that order being superseded which is thought to be assigned by nature, from which not an irrational course of things, but one arranged by hi…
932 wordsSECTION 142Chapter XXIX.--Symmetry of the Body.
Chapter XXIX.--Symmetry of the Body. "And mark in this the work of the Designer, how He has inserted the bones like pillars, on which the flesh might be sustained and carried. Then, again, how an equal measure is preserved on either side, that is, the right and the left, so that foot answers to foot, hand to hand, and even fing…
750 wordsSECTION 143Chapter XXXIII.--Correspondences in Creation.
Chapter XXXIII.--Correspondences in Creation. "With this agrees also the reasonable difference of other animals, and each one being suited to its own use and service. This also is testified by the variety of trees and the diversity of herbs, varying both in form and in juices. This also is asserted by the change of seasons, dis…
858 wordsSECTION 144Chapter XXXVI.--Arrangements for To-Morrow.
Chapter XXXVI.--Arrangements for To-Morrow. And when the old man had said this, Peter said to the chief man of the city: "Since you have shown your good-will in our presence, it is not right that you should go away sorrowful; but we will accept from you favour for favour. Show us your house, and make it ready, so that the discu…
941 wordsSECTION 145Chapter XL.--Genesis.
Chapter XL.--Genesis. "If, therefore, it can be shown that mind and reason created all things, it follows that those things which come after are also managed by reason and providence. But if unintelligent and blind nature produces all things, the reason of judgment is undoubtedly overthrown; and there is no ground to expect eit…
809 wordsSECTION 146Chapter XLIII.--Things Apparently Useless and Vile Made by God.
Chapter XLIII.--Things Apparently Useless and Vile Made by God. "If, then, it seems to you that this is so, and what has been said on this subject is enough, let us come to inquire into other matters; or if you think that something is still wanting, let us go over it again." And the old man said: "I wish you would go over this …
829 wordsSECTION 147Chapter XLVI.--Sun and Moon Ministers Both of Good and Evil.
Chapter XLVI.--Sun and Moon Ministers Both of Good and Evil. "But we shall discourse at greater length on these subjects at another time. Now, meantime, we remark that though he is that good servant for regulating the changes of the seasons, yet, when chastisement is inflicted upon men according to the will of God, he glows mor…
714 wordsSECTION 148Chapter XLIX.--God's Precepts Despised.
Chapter XLIX.--God's Precepts Despised. "If," said the old man, "even the righteous are tormented on account of the iniquities of others, God ought, as foreseeing this, to have commanded men not to do those things from which it should be necessary that the righteous be afflicted with the unrighteous; or if they did them, He oug…
839 wordsSECTION 149Chapter LIII.--Everything Has Its Corresponding Contrary.
Chapter LIII.--Everything Has Its Corresponding Contrary. "Therefore this division holds in all the things of the world; and as there are pious men, so there are also impious; as there are prophets, so also there are false prophets; and amongst the Gentiles there are philosophers and false philosophers. Also the Arabian nations…
945 wordsSECTION 150Chapter LVI.--Origin of Evil.
Chapter LVI.--Origin of Evil. Then the old man said: "You have stated it excellently, my son. It now remains only that you tell me whence is the substance of evil: for if it was made by God, the evil fruit shows that the root is in fault; for it appears that it also is of an evil nature. But if this substance was co-eternal wit…
847 wordsSECTION 151Chapter LIX.--The True Prophet.
Chapter LIX.--The True Prophet. But I would not have you think, that in saying this I take away the power of judging concerning things; but I give counsel that no one walk through devious places, and rush into errors without end. And therefore I advise not only wise men, but indeed all men who have a desire of knowing what is a…
830 wordsSECTION 152Chapter LXII.--End of the Conference.
Chapter LXII.--End of the Conference. "And, therefore, since amongst these philosophers are things uncertain, we must come to the true Prophet. Him God the Father wished to be loved by all, and accordingly He has been pleased wholly to extinguish those opinions which have originated with men, and in regard to which there is not…
905 wordsSECTION 153Chapter III.--Beginning of the Discussion.
Chapter III.--Beginning of the Discussion. When the old man had said this, I Clement began to speak as follows: "God by His Son created the world as a double house, separated by the interposition of this firmament, which is called heaven; and appointed angelic powers to dwell in the higher, and a multitude of men to be born in …
936 wordsSECTION 154Chapter VII.--The Old and the New Birth.
Chapter VII.--The Old and the New Birth. "There is therefore, as we have said, a certain necessary inequality in the dispensation of the world. Since indeed all men cannot know all things, and accomplish all works, yet all need the use and service of almost all. And on this account it is necessary that one work, and another pay…
822 wordsSECTION 155Chapter X.--Tow Smeared with Pitch.
Chapter X.--Tow Smeared with Pitch. "But what, it is said, of the fact that some who in their childhood are free from any bodily defect, yet in process of time fall into those evils, so that some are even violently hurried on to death? Concerning these also the account is at hand, and is almost the same: for those powers which …
833 wordsSECTION 156Chapter XIII.--Retribution Here or Hereafter.
Chapter XIII.--Retribution Here or Hereafter. "But some one will say, Many have committed even murder, and adultery, and other crimes, and have suffered no evil. This indeed rarely happens to men, but to those who know not the counsel of God it frequently seems to happen. But God, who knows all things, knows how and why he who …
837 wordsSECTION 157Chapter XVII.--Astrological Lore. [842]
Chapter XVII.--Astrological Lore. [842] "In short, when Mars, holding the centre in his house, regards Saturn quarterly, with Mercury towards the centre, the full moon coming upon him, in the daily Genesis, he produces murderers, and those who are to fall by the sword, [843] bloody, drunken, lustful, devilish men, inquirers int…
787 wordsSECTION 158Chapter XXI.--Districts of Heaven.
Chapter XXI.--Districts of Heaven. "And that those who study mathematics may not have it in their power to use that subterfuge by which they say that there are certain districts of heaven to which it is granted to have some things peculiar to themselves, some of that nation of Persians have gone to foreign countries, who are ca…
818 wordsSECTION 159Chapter XXV.--Not Genesis, But Free-Will.
Chapter XXV.--Not Genesis, But Free-Will. "The Medes alone in all the world, with the greatest care, throw men still breathing to be devoured by dogs; yet they have not Mars with the Moon placed in Cancer all through their daily Genesis. The Indians burn their dead, and the wives of the dead voluntarily offer themselves, and ar…
925 wordsSECTION 160Chapter XXIX.--The Gospel More Powerful Than "Genesis."
Chapter XXIX.--The Gospel More Powerful Than "Genesis." "But I shall give a still stronger proof of the matters in hand. For, behold, scarcely seven years have yet passed since the advent of the righteous and true Prophet; and in the course of these, men of all nations coming to Judæa, and moved both by the signs and miracles w…
905 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.