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The Second Epistle of Clement

Chapter XVII.--Same Subject Continued.

Let us, then, repent with our whole heart, that no one of us may perish amiss. For if we have commands and engage in withdrawing from idols and instructing others, how much more ought a soul already knowing God not to perish. Rendering, therefore, mutual help, let us raise the weak also in that which is good, that all of us may be saved and convert one another and admonish. And not only now let us seem to believe and give heed, when we are admonished by the elders; ¹ but also when we take our departure home, let us remember the commandments of the Lord, and not be allured back by worldly lusts, but let us often and often draw near and try to make progress in the Lord's commands, that we all having the same mind may be gathered together for life. For the Lord said, "I come to gather all nations [kindreds] and tongues." ² This means the day of His appearing, when He will come and redeem us--each one according to his works. And the unbelievers will see His glory and might, and, when they see the empire of the world in Jesus, they will be surprised, saying, "Woe to us, because Thou wast, and we knew not and believed not and obeyed not the elders ³ who show us plainly of our salvation." And "their worm shall not die, neither shall their fire be quenched; and they shall be a spectacle unto all flesh." ⁴ It is of the great day of judgment He speaks, when they shall see those among us who were guilty of ungodliness and erred in their estimate of the commands of Jesus Christ. The righteous, having succeeded both in enduring the trials and hating the indulgences of the soul, whenever they witness how those who have swerved and denied Jesus by words or deeds are punished with grievous torments in fire unquenchable, will give glory to their God and say, "There will be hope for him who has served God with his whole heart."

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An ancient Homily, commonly styled the second epistle of Clement

Chap. xvii.--the danger of impenitence.

Let us therefore repent from the whole heart, that no one of us perish by the way. For if we have commandments that we should also practice this, ¹ to draw away men from idols and instruct them, how much more ought a soul already knowing God not to perish! Let us therefore assist one another that we may also lead up those weak as to what is good, ² in order that all may be saved; and let us convert and admonish one another. ^{3 4} And let us not think to give heed and believe now only, while we are admonished by the presbyters, but also when we have returned home, ^{5 6} remembering the commandments ⁷ of the Lord; and let us not be dragged away by worldly lusts, but coming ⁸ more frequently let us attempt to make advances in the commandments of the Lord, that all being of the same mind ⁹ we may be gathered together unto life. For the Lord said, "I come to gather together all the nations, tribes, and tongues." ¹⁰ This He speaketh of the day of His appearing, when He shall come and redeem us, each one according to his works. ¹¹ And the unbelievers "shall see His glory," and strength; and they shall think it strange when they see the sovereignty ¹² of the world in Jesus, saying, Woe unto us, Thou wast He, ¹³ and we did not know and did not believe, and we did not obey the presbyters when they declared unto us concerning our salvation. And "their worm dieth not, and their fire is not quenched, and they shall be for a spectacle unto all flesh." ¹⁴ He speaketh of that day of judgment, when they shall see those among us ¹⁵ that have been ungodly and acted deceitfully with the commandments of Jesus Christ. But the righteous who have done well and endured torments and hated the enjoyments of the soul, when they shall behold those that have gone astray and denied Jesus through their words or through their works, how that they are punished with grievous torments in unquenchable fire, shall be giving glory to God, saying, There will be hope for him that hath served God with his whole heart.