Second Clement The Second Epistle Of Clement

 Chap. I.--We Ought To Think Highly Of Christ. Brethren, it is fitting that you should think of Jesus Christ as of God,--as the Judge of the living and

 Chap. II.--The Church, Formerly Barren, Is Now Fruitful. Rejoice, thou barren that bearest not break forth and cry, thou that travailest not for sh

 Chap. III.--The Duty Of Confessing Christ. Since, then, He has displayed so great mercy towards us, and especially in this respect, that we who are li

 Chap. IV.--True Confession Of Christ. Let us, then, not only call Him Lord, for that will not save us. For He saith, Not every one that saith to me,

 Chap. V.--This World Should Be Despised. Wherefore, brethren, leaving [willingly] our sojourn in this present world, let us do the will of Him that ca

 Chap. VI.--The Present And Future Worlds Are Enemies To Each Other. Now the Lord declares, No servant can serve two masters. If we desire, then, to

 Chap. VII.--We Must Strive In Order To Be Crowned. Wherefore, then, my brethren, let us struggle with all earnestness, knowing that the contest is [in

 Chap. VIII.--The Necessity Of Repentance While We Are On Earth. As long, therefore, as we are upon earth, let us practise repentance, for we are as cl

 Chap. 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 [s

 Chap. 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 l

 Chap. 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

 Chap. 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, si

 Chap. XIII.--God'S Name Not To Be Blasphemed. Brethren, then, let us now at length repent, let us soberly turn to that which is good for we are full

 Chap. XIV.--The Church Spiritual. So, then, brethren, if we do the will of our Father God, we shall be members of the first church, the spiritual,--th

 Chap. XV.--He Who Saves And He Who Is Saved. I think not that I counted trivial counsel concerning continence following it, a man will not repent the

 For in proportion to the pleasure with which these words are fraught to those who shall follow them, in that proportion is the condemnation with which

 Chap. XVI--Preparation For The Day Of Judgment. So, then, brethren, having received no small occasion to repent, while we have opportunity, let us tur

 Chap. 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

 Chap. XVIII.--The Author Sinful, Yet Pursuing. And let us, then, be of the number of those who give thanks, who have served God, and not of the ungodl

 Chap. XIX.--Reward Of The Righteous, Although They May Suffer. So then, brothers and sisters, after the God of truth I address to you an appeal that y

 Chap. XX.--Godliness, Not Gain, The True Riches. But let it not even trouble your mind, that we see the unrighteous possessed of riches and the servan

Chap. 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 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." 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."

XI 1. Ἡμεῖς οὖν ἐν καθαρᾷ καρδίᾳ δουλεύσωμεν τῷ θεῷ, καὶ ἐσόμεθα δίκαιοι· ἐὰν δὲ μὴ δουλεύσωμεν διὰ τὸ μὴ πιστεύειν ἡμᾶς τῇ ἐπαγγελίᾳ τοῦ θεοῦ, ταλαίπωροι ἐσόμεθα. 2. λέγει γὰρ καὶ ὁ προφητικὸς λόγος· Ταλαίπωροί εἰσιν οἱ δίψυχοι, οἱ διστάζοντες τῇ καρδίᾳ, οἱ λέγοντες· Ταῦτα πάλαι ἠκούσαμεν καὶ ἐπὶ τῶν πατέρων ἡμῶν, ἡμεῖς δὲ ἡμέραν ἐξ ἡμέρας προσδεχόμενοι οὐδὲν τούτων ἑωράκαμεν. 3. ἀνόητοι, συμβάλετε ἑαυτοὺς ξύλῳ· λάβετε ἄμπελον· πρῶτον μὲν φυλλοροεῖ, εἶτα βλαστὸς γίνεται, μετὰ ταῦτα ὄμφαξ, εἶτα σταφυλὴ παρεστηκυῖα. 4. οὕτως καὶ ὁ λαός μου ἀκαταστασίας καὶ θλίψεις ἔσχεν· ἔπειτα ἀπολήψεται τὰ ἀγαθά. 5. ὥστε, ἀδελφοί μου, μὴ διψυχῶμεν, ἀλλὰ ἐλπίσαντες ὑπομείνωμεν, ἵνα καὶ τὸν μισθὸν κομισώμεθα. 6. πιστὸς γάρ ἐστιν ὁ ἐπαγγειλάμενος τὰς ἀντιμισθιας ἀποδιδόναι ἑκάστῳ τῶν ἔργων αὐτοῦ. 7. ἐὰν οὖν ποιήσωμεν τὴν δικαιοσύνην ἐναντίον τοῦ θεοῦ, εἰσήξομεν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν αὐτοῦ καὶ ληψόμεθα τὰς ἐπαγγελίας, ἃς οὖς οὐκ ἤκουσεν οὐδὲ ὀφθαλμὸς εἶδεν, οὐδὲ ἐπὶ καρδίαν ἀνθρώπου ἀνέβη.