Ante-Nicene Fathers • VOLUME 8
The Twelve Patriarchs, Apocrypha, Clementine Homilies & More
SECTION 241
Chapter XXII.--Their Contemporaries, Therefore, Did Not Look on Them as Gods.
Chapter XXII.--Their Contemporaries, Therefore, Did Not Look on Them as Gods. "Thus, to right-thinking men, it is clear that they were admitted to be mortals. And their contemporaries, knowing that they were mortal, when they died paid them no more heed; and it was length of time which clothed them with the glory of gods. Nor n…
711 wordsSECTION 242Chapter XXVI.--Peter Arrives from Cæsarea.
Chapter XXVI.--Peter Arrives from Cæsarea. While I was saying these things to Appion, Peter drew near from Cæsarea, and in Tyre the people were flocking together, hurrying to meet him and unite in an expression of gratification at his visit. And Appion withdrew, accompanied by Anubion and Athenodorus only; but the rest of us hu…
733 wordsSECTION 243Chapter IV.--The Golden Rule.
Chapter IV.--The Golden Rule. "Wherefore, as then ye were deceived by the forerunner Simon, and so became dead in your souls to God, and were smitten in your bodies; so now, if you repent, as I said, and submit to those things which are well-pleasing to God, you may get new strength to your bodies, and recover your soul's healt…
911 wordsSECTION 244Chapter VIII.--The Service of God's Appointment.
Chapter VIII.--The Service of God's Appointment. "And this is the service He has appointed: To worship Him only, and trust only in the Prophet of truth, and to be baptized for the remission of sins, and thus by this pure baptism to be born again unto God by saving water; to abstain from the table of devils, that is, from food o…
818 wordsSECTION 245Homily VIII.
Homily VIII. Chapter I.--Peter's Arrival at Tripolis. Now, as Peter was entering Tripolis, [1085] the people from Tyre and Sidon, Berytus and Byblus, who were eager [1086] to get instruction, and many from the neighbourhood, entered along with him; and not least were there gatherings of the multitudes from the city itself wish…
758 wordsSECTION 246Chapter V.--Faith the Gift of God.
Chapter V.--Faith the Gift of God. "For even the Hebrews who believe Moses, and do not observe the things spoken by him, are not saved, unless they observe the things that were spoken to them. For their believing Moses was not of their own will, but of God, who said to Moses, Behold, I come to thee in a pillar of cloud, that th…
818 wordsSECTION 247Chapter X.--The Original Law.
Chapter X.--The Original Law. "But thus the matter stands. The only good God having made all things well, and having handed them over to man, who was made after His image, he who had been made breathing of the divinity of Him who made him, being a true prophet and knowing all things, for the honour of the Father who had given a…
774 wordsSECTION 248Chapter XIV.--Their Discoveries.
Chapter XIV.--Their Discoveries. "For after the intercourse, being asked to show what they were before, and being no longer able to do so, on account of their being unable to do aught else after their defilement, yet wishing to please their mistresses, instead of themselves, they showed the bowels [1100] of the earth; I mean, t…
704 wordsSECTION 249Chapter XIX.--The Law to the Giants or Demons.
Chapter XIX.--The Law to the Giants or Demons. "These things seem good to the all-seeing God, that you lord it over no man; that you trouble no one, unless any one of his own accord subject himself to you, worshipping you, and sacrificing and pouring libations, and partaking of your table, or accomplishing aught else that they …
877 wordsSECTION 250Chapter XXIII.--The Assembly Dismissed.
Chapter XXIII.--The Assembly Dismissed. "If, therefore, ye wish to be the vesture of the Divine Spirit, hasten first to put off your base presumption, which is an unclean spirit and a foul garment. And this you cannot otherwise put off, than by being first baptized in good works. And thus being pure in body and in soul, you sha…
709 wordsSECTION 251Chapter IV.--Zoroaster.
Chapter IV.--Zoroaster. "Of this family there was born in due time a certain one, who took up with magical practices, by name Nebrod, who chose, giant-like, to devise things in opposition to God. Him the Greeks have called Zoroaster. He, after the deluge, being ambitious of sovereignty, and being a great magician, by magical ar…
724 wordsSECTION 252Chapter IX.--How Demons Get Power Over Men.
Chapter IX.--How Demons Get Power Over Men. "Since, on the other hand, you are oppressed by strange sufferings inflicted by demons, on your removal from the body you shall have your souls also punished for ever; not indeed by God's inflicting vengeance, but because such is the judgment of evil deeds. For the demons, having powe…
814 wordsSECTION 253Chapter XIII.--Deceits of the Demons.
Chapter XIII.--Deceits of the Demons. "But some of the maleficent demons deceive in another way. For at first they do not even show their existence, in order that care may not be taken against them; but in due time, by means of anger, love, or some other affection, they suddenly injure the body, by sword, or halter, or precipic…
845 wordsSECTION 254Chapter XVII.--Reasons Why Their Deceits are Not Detected.
Chapter XVII.--Reasons Why Their Deceits are Not Detected. "For why do they oracularly foretell cures after a long time? And why, if they are almighty, do they not effect cures without administering any medicine? And for what reason do they prescribe remedies to some of those who pray to them, while to some, and it may be more …
887 wordsSECTION 255Chapter XXII.--"Rather Rejoice."
Chapter XXII.--"Rather Rejoice." "But still, though all demons, with all diseases, flee before you, you are not to rejoice in this only, but in that, through grace, your names, as of the ever-living, are written in heaven. Thus also the Divine Holy Spirit rejoices because man hath overcome death; for the putting of the demons t…
868 wordsSECTION 256Chapter IV.--Faith and Duty.
Chapter IV.--Faith and Duty. "While, therefore, he was righteous, he was also superior to all sufferings, as being unable by his immortal body to have any experience of pain; but when he sinned, as I showed you yesterday and the day before, becoming as it were the servant of sin, he became subject to all sufferings, being by a …
832 wordsSECTION 257Chapter IX.--"Eyes Have They, But They See Not."
Chapter IX.--"Eyes Have They, But They See Not." "Oh the minds of wretched men, who fear things deader than dead men! For I cannot call them even dead, which have never lived, unless they are the tombs of ancient men. For sometimes a person, visiting unknown places, does not know whether the temples which he sees are monuments …
768 wordsSECTION 258Chapter XIV.--Polytheistic Illustration.
Chapter XIV.--Polytheistic Illustration. "Again, the terrible serpent suggests this supposition to you, to think and to say that very thing which most of you do say; viz., We know that there is one Lord of all, but there also are gods. For in like manner as there is one Cæsar, but he has under him procurators, proconsuls, prefe…
863 wordsSECTION 259Chapter XIX.--God's Peculiar Attribute.
Chapter XIX.--God's Peculiar Attribute. "He who would worship God ought before all things to know what alone is peculiar to the nature of God, which cannot pertain to another, that, looking at His peculiarity, and not finding it in any other, he may not be seduced into ascribing godhead to another. But this is peculiar to God, …
825 wordsSECTION 260Chapter XXIV.--Impotence of Idols.
Chapter XXIV.--Impotence of Idols. "Nor yet is that in harmony with the illustration of Cæsar, and of the powers under him, to call them administrators; whereas you take all care of them, as I said, tending your images in every respect. For they, having no power, do nothing. Wherefore tell us what do they administer? what do th…
763 wordsSECTION 261Chapter III.--"Behold What Indignation."
Chapter III.--"Behold What Indignation." "But not otherwise will you endure to undertake much care for your purification unless you be angry with yourselves, and chastise yourselves for those things with which, as unprofitable servants, you have been ensnared, consenting to your evil lusts, that you may be able to let in your r…
757 wordsSECTION 262Chapter VII.--"Let Both Grow Together Till the Harvest."
Chapter VII.--"Let Both Grow Together Till the Harvest." "But it will be said that the worshippers themselves ought to be taken away by the true God, that others may not do it. But you are not wiser than God, that you should give Him counsel as one more prudent than He. He knows what He does; for He is long-suffering to all who…
864 wordsSECTION 263Chapter XI.--Immortality of the Soul.
Chapter XI.--Immortality of the Soul. "And though by the dissolution of the body you should escape punishment, how shall you be able by corruption to flee from your soul, which is incorruptible? For the soul even of the wicked is immortal, for whom it were better not to have it incorruptible. For, being punished with endless to…
784 wordsSECTION 264Chapter XV.--Heathen Worshippers Under the Power of the Demon.
Chapter XV.--Heathen Worshippers Under the Power of the Demon. "And why do ye take pleasure in these doings? Since the serpent which lurks in you, which has sown in you fruitless lust, will not tell you, I shall speak and put it on record. Thus the case stands. According to the worship of God, the proclamation is made to be sob…
833 wordsSECTION 265Chapter XVIII.--Charming of the Serpent.
Chapter XVIII.--Charming of the Serpent. "Wherefore, as to the matter in hand, although in ten thousand ways the serpent that lurks in you suggesting evil reasonings and hindrances, wishes to ensnare you, therefore so much the more ought ye to resist him, and to listen to us assiduously. For it behoves you, consulting, as havin…
731 wordsSECTION 266Chapter XXII.--"The Gods that Have Not Made the Heavens."
Chapter XXII.--"The Gods that Have Not Made the Heavens." "For are not they graven with iron? And has not the graying iron been softened by fire? And is not the fire itself extinguished with water? And has not the water its motion from the spirit? And has not the spirit the beginning of its course from the God who hath made all…
750 wordsSECTION 267Chapter XXVII.--All Need Baptism.
Chapter XXVII.--All Need Baptism. "Therefore approach, be ye righteous or unrighteous. For if you are righteous, baptism alone is lacking in order to salvation. But if you are unrighteous, come to be baptized for the remission of the sins formerly committed in ignorance. And to the unrighteous man it remains that his well-doing…
778 wordsSECTION 268Chapter XXXII.--"To Whom Much is Given."
Chapter XXXII.--"To Whom Much is Given." "No; but rather, if those who are in error do not kill, let us not be angry; if he who is in error do not commit adultery, let us not lust even in the smallest degree; if he who is in error loves him who loves him, let us love even those who hate us; if he who is in error lends to those …
891 wordsSECTION 269Chapter XXXVI.--Farewell to Tripolis.
Chapter XXXVI.--Farewell to Tripolis. Having spoken thus, he sent the harbingers into Antioch of Syria, bidding them expect him there forthwith. Then when they had gone, Peter having driven away diseases, sufferings, and demons from great multitudes who were persuaded, and having baptized them in the fountains which are near to…
721 wordsSECTION 270Chapter IV.--Clement's Joy.
Chapter IV.--Clement's Joy. When, therefore, they had gone, I, Clement, rejoiced greatly that he had ordered me to remain with himself. Then I answered and said, "I thank God that you have not sent me away as you have done the others, as I should have died of grief." But he said, "But what? If there shall ever be any necessity …
704 wordsSECTION 271Chapter VII.--"Not to Be Ministered Unto, But to Minister."
Chapter VII.--"Not to Be Ministered Unto, But to Minister." But I, when I heard this, fell a-trembling and weeping, that such a word should be spoken by a man to whom all the men of this generation are inferior in point of knowledge and piety. But he, seeing me weeping, asked the cause of my tears. Then I said, "In what have I …
834 wordsSECTION 272Chapter XI.--The Afflictions of the Righteous.
Chapter XI.--The Afflictions of the Righteous. But Peter, hearing this, wept through sympathy, and immediately said to the gentlemen who were present: "If any worshipper of God had suffered these things, such as this man's father hath suffered, he would immediately have assigned the cause of it to be his worship of God, ascribi…
820 wordsSECTION 273Chapter XVI.--The Shipwreck.
Chapter XVI.--The Shipwreck. "However, that matters might be thus arranged, I resolved to fabricate a dream, to the effect that some one stood by me by night, and thus spoke: O woman, straightway leave the city with your twin children for some time, until I shall charge you to return hither again; otherwise you forthwith shall …
816 wordsSECTION 274Chapter XX.--Peter's Account of the Matter.
Chapter XX.--Peter's Account of the Matter. Then Peter, not knowing that she had spoken falsely, through pity towards her, began to tell her the truth: "There is a certain young man in attendance upon me, thirsting after the discourses on religion, a Roman citizen, who told me how that, having a father and two twin brothers, he…
737 wordsSECTION 275Chapter XXIV.--All Well Arranged.
Chapter XXIV.--All Well Arranged. And then Peter having discoursed concerning God and the service accorded to Him, he concluded as follows: "If any one wishes to learn these things accurately, let him come to Antioch, where I have resolved to remain some length of time, and learn the things that pertain to his salvation. For if…
884 wordsSECTION 276Chapter XXVII.--Who Can Judge.
Chapter XXVII.--Who Can Judge. Then I said, "Then even God, who, as you teach us, is at some time to judge, is not philanthropic." Then said Peter, "You assert a contradiction; for because He shall judge, on that very account He is philanthropic. For he who loves and compassionates those who have been wronged, avenges those who…
901 wordsSECTION 277Chapter XXXI.--"Howbeit, They Meant It Not."
Chapter XXXI.--"Howbeit, They Meant It Not." To this I answered, "Those, therefore, who do wrong are not guilty, because they wrong the just by the judgment of God." Then Peter said, "They indeed sin greatly, for they have given themselves to sin. Wherefore knowing this, God chooses from among them some to punish those who righ…
742 wordsSECTION 278Homily XIII.
Homily XIII. Chapter I.--Journey to Laodicea. Now at break of day Peter entered, and said: [1157] "Clement, and his mother Mattidia, and my wife, must take their seats immediately on the waggon." And so they did straightway. And as we were hastening along the road to Balanæae, my mother asked me how my father was; and I said: …
934 wordsSECTION 279Chapter V.--Mattidia Wishes to Be Baptized.
Chapter V.--Mattidia Wishes to Be Baptized. When she heard this, she said: "What, then, prevents me from being baptized this day? for before I saw you I turned away from the so-called gods, induced by the thought that, though I sacrificed much to them almost every day, they did not aid me in my necessities. And with regard to a…
898 wordsSECTION 280Chapter VIII.--Nicetas Like to Be Deceived by Simon Magus.
Chapter VIII.--Nicetas Like to Be Deceived by Simon Magus. "We were brought up along with one Simon, a magician; and in consequence of our friendly intercourse with him, we were in danger of being led astray. Now there is a report in regard to some man, that, when he appears, the mass of those who have been pious are to live fr…
929 wordsSource & rights
Historical text source: Christian Classics Ethereal Library. The downloaded text itself records Public Domain.