Recognitions of Clement - Book IV
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Text edited by Rev. Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson and
first published by T&T Clark in Edinburgh in 1867. Additional
introductionary material and notes provided for the American
edition by A. Cleveland Coxe, 1886.
Chapter I.--Halt at Dora.
Having set out from Cęsarea on the way to Tripolis, we made our first
stoppage at a small town called Dora, because it was not far distant;
and almost all those who had believed through the preaching of Peter
could scarcely bear to be separated from him, but walked along with
us, again and again gazing upon him, again and again embracing him,
again and again conversing with him, until we came to the inn. On the
following day we came to Ptolemais, where we stayed ten days; and when
a considerable number had received the word of God, we signified to
some of them who seemed particularly attentive, and wished to detain
us longer for the sake of instruction, that they might, if so
disposed, follow us to Tripolis. We acted in the same way at Tyre,
and Sidon, and Berytus, and announced to those who desired to hear
further discourses, that we were to spend the winter at Tripolis.
[718]Therefore, as all those who were anxious followed Peter from
each city, we were a great multitude of elect ones when we entered
into Tripolis. On our arrival, the brethren who had been sent before
met us before the gates of the city; and taking us under their charge,
conducted us to the various lodgings which they had prepared. Then
there arose a commotion in the city, and a great assemblage of persons
desirous to see Peter. [719]
Footnotes
[718] [In books iv.-vi. the scene is laid at Tripolis. The same city
is the locality to which Homilies VIII.-XI. are assigned. The
intervening portion (Homilies IV.-VII.) gives the details of the
journey here alluded to, telling of various discourses at Tyre. Some
of the matter of these discourses occurs in the Recognitions, but
under different circumstances. The heathen disputants are not the
same. The parallelisms of the portions assigned to Tripolis are as
follows: book iv. has its counterpart in Homily VIII. and in much of
Homily IX.; book v. has a parallel in Homily X. and it, parts of XI.;
book vi. in its general outline resembles Homily XI. The discourses of
the Apostle as given in the Recognitions are more orderly and logical
than those in the Homilies. The views presented differ somewhat, in
accordance with the general character of the two works. Much of the
matter in the Recognitions occurs in a different order in the
Homilies, but the internal evidence seems to point to the priority of
the former. Both might be different manipulations of a common
documentary source, but that theory is not necessarily applicable to
these portions of the literature.--R.]
[719] ["Maroones," Homily VIII. 1.--R.]
Chapter II.--Reception in the House of Maro.
And when we had come to the house of Maro, in which preparation had
been made for Peter, he turned to the crowd, and told them that he
would address them the day after to-morrow. Therefore the brethren
who had been sent before assigned lodgings to all who had come with
us. Then, when Peter had entered into the house of Maro, and was
asked to partake of food, he answered that he would by no means do so,
until he had ascertained whether all those that had accompanied him
were provided with lodgings. Then he learned from the brethren who
had been sent before, that the citizens had received them not only
hospitably, but with all kindness, by reason of their love towards
Peter; so much so, that several were disappointed because there were
no guests for them; for that all had made such preparations, that even
if many more had come, there would still have been a deficiency of
guests for the hosts, not of hosts for the guests.
Chapter III.--Simon's Flight.
Thereupon Peter was greatly delighted, and praised the brethren, and
blessed them, and requested them to remain with him. Then, when he
had bathed in the sea, and had taken food, he went to sleep in the
evening; and rising, as usual, at cock-crow, while the evening light
was still burning, he found us all awake. Now there were in all
sixteen of us, viz. Peter and I, Clement, Niceta and Aquila, and those
twelve who had preceded us. [720]Saluting us, then, as was his
wont, Peter said: "Since we are not taken up with others to-day, let
us be taken up with ourselves. I shall tell you what took place at
Cęsarea after your departure, and you shall tell us of the doings of
Simon here." And while the conversation was going on on these
subjects, at daybreak some of the members of the family came in and
told Peter that Simon, when he heard of Peter's arrival, departed in
the night, on the way to Syria. They also stated that the crowds
thought that the day which he had said was to intervene was a very
long time for their affection, and that they were standing in
impatience before the gate, conversing among themselves about those
things which they wished to hear, and that they hoped that they should
by all means see him before the time appointed; and that as the day
became lighter the multitudes were increasing, and that they were
trusting confidently, whatever they might be presuming upon, that they
should hear a discourse from him. "Now then," said they, "instruct us
to tell them what seems good to you; for it is absurd that so great a
multitude should have come together, and should depart with sadness,
through no answer being returned to them. For they will not consider
that it is they that have not waited for the appointed day but rather
they will think that you are slighting them."
Footnotes
[720] [Comp. Homily VIII. 3.--R.]
Chapter IV.--The Harvest Plenteous.
Then Peter, filled with admiration, said: [721]"You see, brethren,
how every word of the Lord spoken prophetically is fulfilled. For I
remember that He said, `The harvest indeed is plenteous, but the
labourers are few; ask therefore the Lord of the harvest, that He
would send out labourers into His harvest.' [722]Behold, therefore,
the things which are foretold in a mystery are fulfilled. But whereas
He said also, `Many shall come from the east and the west, from the
north and the south, and shall recline in the bosom of Abraham, and
Isaac, and Jacob;' [723] this also is, as you see, in like manner
fulfilled. Wherefore I entreat you, my fellow-servants and helpers,
that you would learn diligently the order of preaching, and the ways
of absolutions, that ye may be able to save the souls of men, which by
the secret power of God acknowledge whom they ought to love, even
before they are taught. For you see that these men, like good
servants, long for him whom they expect to announce to them the coming
of their Lord, that they may be able to fulfil His will when they have
learned it. The desire, therefore, of hearing the word of God, and
inquiring into His will, they have from God; and this is the beginning
of the gift of God, which is given to the Gentiles, that by this they
may be able to receive the doctrine of truth.
Footnotes
[721] [With chaps. 4-11 compare Homily VIII. 4-11. The correspondence
is quite close.--R.]
[722] Matt. ix. 37, 38.
[723] Luke xiii. 29; Matt. viii. 11.
Chapter V.--Moses and Christ.
"For so also it was given to the people of the Hebrews from the
beginning, that they should love Moses, and believe his word; whence
also it is written: `The people believed God, and Moses His servant.'
[724]What, therefore, was of peculiar gift from God toward the
nation of the Hebrews, we see now to be given also to those who are
called from among the Gentiles to the faith. But the method of works
is put into the power and will of every one, and this is their own;
but to have an affection towards a teacher of truth, this is a gift of
the heavenly Father. But salvation is in this, that you do His will
of whom you have conceived a love and affection through the gift of
God; lest that saying of His be addressed to you which He spoke, `Why
call ye me Lord, Lord, and do not what I say?' [725]It is therefore
the peculiar gift bestowed by God upon the Hebrews, that they believe
Moses; and the peculiar gift bestowed upon the Gentiles is that they
love Jesus. For this also the Master intimated, when He said, `I will
confess to Thee, O Father, Lord of heaven and earth, because Thou hast
concealed these things from the wise and prudent, and hast revealed
them to babes.' [726]By which it is certainly declared, that the
people of the Hebrews, who were instructed out of the law, did not
know Him; but the people of the Gentiles have acknowledged Jesus, and
venerate Him; on which account also they shall be saved, not only
acknowledging Him, but also doing His will. But he who is of the
Gentiles, and who has it of God to believe Moses, ought also to have
it of his own purpose to love Jesus also. And again, the Hebrew, who
has it of God to believe Moses, ought to have it also of his own
purpose to believe in Jesus; so that each of them, having in himself
something of the divine gift, and something of his own exertion, may
be perfect by both. For concerning such an one our Lord spoke, as of
a rich man, `Who brings forth from his treasures things new and old.'
[727]
Footnotes
[724] Ex. xiv. 31.
[725] Luke vi. 46.
[726] Matt. xi. 25. [Luke x. 21; comp. Homily XVIII. 15-17.--R.]
[727] Matt. xiii. 52.
Chapter VI.--A Congregation.
"But enough has been said of these things for time presses, and the
religious devotion of the people invites us to address them." And
when he had thus spoken, he asked where there was a suitable place for
discussion. And Maro said: "I have a very spacious hall [728] which
can hold more than five hundred men, and there is also a garden within
the house; or if it please you to be in some public place, all would
prefer it, for there is nobody who does not desire at least to see
your face." Then Peter said: "Show me the hall, or the garden." And
when he had seen the hall, he went in to see the garden also; and
suddenly the whole multitude, as if some one had called them, rushed
into the house, and thence broke through into the garden, where Peter
was already standing, selecting a fit place for discussion.
Footnotes
[728] Ędes, in the singular, probably a temple.
Chapter VII.--The Sick Healed.
But when he saw that the crowds had, like the waters of a great river,
poured over the narrow passage, he mounted upon a pillar which
happened to stand near the wall of the garden, and first saluted the
people in a religious manner. But some of those who were present, and
who had been for a long time distressed by demons, threw themselves on
the ground, while the unclean spirits entreated that they might be
allowed but for one day to remain in the bodies that they had taken
possession of. But Peter rebuked them, and commanded them to depart;
and they went out without delay. After these, others who had been
afflicted with long-standing sicknesses asked Peter that they might
receive healing; and he promised that he would entreat the Lord for
them as soon as his discourse of instruction was completed. But as
soon as he promised, they were freed from their sicknesses; [729] and
he ordered them to sit down apart, with those who had been freed from
the demons, as after the fatigue of labour. Meantime, while this was
going on, a vast multitude assembled, attracted not only by the desire
of hearing Peter, but also by the report of the cures which had been
accomplished. But Peter, beckoning with his hand to the people to be
still, and settling the crowds in tranquillity, began to address them
as follows:--
Footnotes
[729] [In Homilies VIII. 8, 24, IX. 24, the healing takes place after
the discourses.--R.]
Chapter VIII.--Providence Vindicated.
"It seems to me necessary, at the outset of a discourse concerning the
true worship of God, first of all to instruct those who have not as
yet acquired any knowledge of the subject, that throughout the divine
providence must be maintained to be without blame, by which the world
is ruled and governed. Moreover, the reason of the present
undertaking, and the occasion offered by those whom the power of God
has healed, suggest this subject for a beginning, viz. to show that
for good reason very many persons are possessed of demons, that so the
justice of God may appear. For ignorance will be found to be the
mother of almost all evils. But now let us come to the reason.
Chapter IX.--State of Innocence a State of Enjoyment.
"When God had made man after His own image and likeness, He grafted
into His work a certain breathing and odour of His divinity, that so
men, being made partakers of His Only-begotten, might through Him be
also friends of God and sons of adoption. Whence also He Himself, as
the true Prophet, knowing with what actions the Father is pleased,
instructed them in what way they might obtain that privilege. At that
time, therefore, there was among men only one worship of God--a pure
mind and an uncorrupted spirit. And for this reason every creature
kept an inviolable covenant with the human race. For by reason of
their reverence of the Creator, no sickness, or bodily disorder, or
corruption of food, had power over them; whence it came to pass, that
a life of a thousand years did not fall into the frailty of old age.
Chapter X.--Sin the Cause of Suffering.
"But when men, leading a life void of distress, began to think that
the continuance of good things was granted them not by the divine
bounty, but by the chance of things, and to accept as a debt of
nature, not as a gift of God's goodness, their enjoyment without any
exertion of the delights of the divine complaisance,--men, being led
by these things into contrary and impious thoughts, came at last, at
the instigation of idleness, to think that the life of gods was theirs
by nature, without any labours or merits on their part. Hence they go
from bad to worse, to believe that neither is the world governed by
the providence of God, nor is there any place for virtues, since they
knew that they themselves possessed the fulness of ease and delights,
without the assignment of any works previously, and without any
labours were treated as the friends of God.
Chapter XI.--Suffering Salutary.
"By the most righteous judgment of God, therefore, labours and
afflictions are assigned as a remedy to men languishing in the vanity
of such thoughts. And when labour and tribulations came upon them,
they were excluded from the place of delights and amenity. Also the
earth began to produce nothing to them without labour; and then men's
thoughts being turned in them, they were warned to seek the aid of
their Creator, and by prayers and vows to ask for the divine
protection. And thus it came to pass, that the worship of God, which
they had neglected by reason of their prosperity, they recovered
through their adversity; and their thoughts towards God, which
indulgence had perverted, affliction corrected. So therefore the
divine providence, seeing that this was more profitable to man,
removed from them the ways of benignity and abundance, as being
hurtful, and introduced the way of vexation and tribulation. [730]
Footnotes
[730] [In Homily VIII. 12-16 there is inserted a curious account of
the fall of man and angels, and of a race of giants.--R.]
Chapter XII.--Translation of Enoch.
"But [731] that He might show that these things were done on account
of the ungrateful, He translated to immortality a certain one of the
first race of men, because He saw that he was not unmindful of His
grace, and because he hoped to call on the name of God; [732] while
the rest, who were so ungrateful that they could not be amended and
corrected even by labours and tribulations, were condemned to a
terrible death. Yet amongst them also He found a certain one, who was
righteous with his house, [733] whom He preserved, having enjoined him
to build an ark, in which he and those who were commanded to go with
him might escape, when all things should be destroyed by a deluge: in
order that, the wicked being cut off by the overflow of waters, the
world might receive a purification; and he who had been preserved for
the continuance of the race, being purified by water, might anew
repair the world.
Footnotes
[731] [Chap. 12 has no exact parallel in the Homilies, but Homily
VIII. 17 resembles it.--R.]
[732] There seems to be here a mixing up of the translation of Enoch
with the statement that in the days of Enos men began to call on the
name of the Lord; Gen. iv. 26.
[733] Gen. vi. 9.
Chapter XIII.--Origin of Idolatry.
"But when all these things were done, men turned again to impiety;
[734] and on this account a law was given by God to instruct them in
the manner of living. But in process of time, the worship of God and
righteousness were corrupted by the unbelieving and the wicked, as we
shall show more fully by and by. Moreover, perverse and erratic
religions were introduced, to which the greater part of men gave
themselves up, by occasion of holidays and solemnities, instituting
drinkings and banquets, following pipes, and flutes, and harps, and
diverse kinds of musical instruments, and indulging themselves in all
kinds of drunkenness and luxury. Hence every kind of error took rise;
hence they invented groves and altars, fillets and victims, and after
drunkenness they were agitated as if with mad emotions. By this means
power was given to the demons to enter into minds of this sort, so
that they seemed to lead insane dances and to rave like Bacchanalians;
hence were invented the gnashing of teeth, and bellowing from the
depth of their bowels; hence a terrible countenance and a fierce
aspect in men, so that he whom drunkenness had subverted and a demon
had instigated, was believed by the deceived and the erring to be
filled with the Deity.
Footnotes
[734] [There is a similar Chapter in Homily IX. 7, but in a discourse
on the following day.--R.]
Chapter XIV.--God Both Good and Righteous.
"Hence, since so many false and erratic religions have been introduced
into the world, [735] we have been sent, as good merchants, bringing
unto you the worship of the true God, handed down from the fathers,
and preserved; as the seeds of which we scatter these words amongst
you, and place it in your choice to choose what seems to you to be
right. For if you receive those things which we bring you, you shall
not only be able yourselves to escape the incursions of the demon, but
also to drive them away from others; and at the same time you shall
obtain the rewards of eternal good things. But those who shall refuse
to receive those things which are spoken by us, shall be subject in
the present life to diverse demons and disorders of sicknesses, and
their souls after their departure from the body shall be tormented for
ever. For God is not only good, but also just; for if He were always
good, and never just to render to every one according to his deeds,
goodness would be found to be injustice. For it were injustice if the
impious and the pious were treated by Him alike.
Footnotes
[735] [With chaps. 14-22 compare Homily IX. 8-18. The general outline
is the same, and the resemblances quite close in the larger part of
both passages.--R.]
Chapter XV.--How Demons Get Power Over Men.
"Therefore demons, as we have just said, when once they have been
able, by means of opportunities afforded them, to convey themselves
through base and evil actions into the bodies of men, if they remain
in them a long time through their own negligence, because they do not
seek after what is profitable to their souls, they necessarily compel
them for the future to fulfil the desires of the demons who dwell in
them. But what is worst of all, at the end of the world, when that
demon shall be consigned to eternal fire, of necessity the soul also
which obeyed him, shall with him be tortured in eternal fires,
together with its body which it hath polluted.
Chapter XVI.--Why They Wish to Possess Men.
"Now that the demons are desirous of occupying the bodies of men, this
is the reason. They are spirits having their purpose turned to
wickedness. Therefore by immoderate eating and drinking, and lust,
they urge men on to sin, but only those who entertain the purpose of
sinning, who, while they seem simply desirous of satisfying the
necessary cravings of nature, give opportunity to the demons to enter
into them, because through excess they do not maintain moderation.
For as long as the measure of nature is kept, and legitimate
moderation is preserved, the mercy of God does not give them liberty
to enter into men. But when either the mind falls into impiety, or
the body is filled with immoderate meat or drink, then, as if invited
by the will and purpose of those who thus neglect themselves, they
receive power as against those who have broken the law imposed by God.
Chapter XVII.--The Gospel Gives Power Over Demons.
"You see, then, how important is the acknowledgment of God, and the
observance of the divine religion, which not only protects those who
believe from the assaults of the demon, but also gives them command
over those who rule over others. And therefore it is necessary for
you, who are of the Gentiles, to betake yourselves to God, and to keep
yourselves from all uncleanness, that the demons may be expelled, and
God may dwell in you. And at the same time, by prayers, commit
yourselves to God, and call for His aid against the impudence of the
demons; for `whatever things ye ask, believing, ye shall receive.'
[736]But even the demons themselves, in proportion as they see
faith grow in a man, in that proportion they depart from him, residing
only in that part in which something of infidelity still remains; but
from those who believe with full faith, they depart without any
delay. For when a soul has come to the faith of God, it obtains the
virtue of heavenly water, by which it extinguishes the demon like a
spark of fire.
Footnotes
[736] Matt. xxi. 22.
Chapter XVIII.--This Power in Proportion to Faith.
"There is therefore a measure of faith, which, if it be perfect,
drives the demon perfectly from the soul; but if it has any defect,
something on the part of the demon still remains in the portion of
infidelity; and it is the greatest difficulty for the soul to
understand when or how, whether fully or less fully, the demon has
been expelled from it. For if he remains in any quarter, when he gets
an opportunity, he suggests thoughts to men's hearts; and they, not
knowing whence they come, believe the suggestions of the demons, as if
they were the perceptions of their own souls. Thus they suggest to
some to follow pleasure by occasion of bodily necessity; they excuse
the passionateness of others by excess of gall; they colour over the
madness of others by the vehemence of melancholy; and even extenuate
the folly of some as the result of abundance of phlegm. But even if
this were so, still none of these could be hurtful to the body, except
from the excess of meats and drinks; because, when these are taken in
excessive quantities, their abundance, which the natural warmth is not
sufficient to digest, curdles into a sort of poison, and it, flowing
through the bowels and all the veins like a common sewer, renders the
motions of the body unhealthy and base. Wherefore moderation is to be
attained in all things, that neither may place be given to demons, nor
the soul, being possessed by them, be delivered along with them to be
tormented in eternal fires.
Chapter XIX.--Demons Incite to Idolatry.
"There is also another error of the demons, which they suggest to the
senses of men, that they should think that those things which they
suffer, they suffer from such as are called gods, in order that
thereby, offering sacrifices and gifts, as if to propitiate them, they
may strengthen the worship of false religion, and avoid us who are
interested in their salvation, that they may be freed from error; but
this they do, as I have said, not knowing that these things are
suggested to them by demons, for fear they should be saved. It is
therefore in the power of every one, since man has been made possessed
of free-will, whether he shall hear us to life, or the demons to
destruction. Also to some, the demons, appearing visibly under
various figures, sometimes throw out threats, sometimes promise relief
from sufferings, that they may instil into those whom they deceive the
opinion of their being gods, and that it may not be known that they
are demons. But they are not concealed from us, who know the
mysteries of the creation, and for what reason it is permitted to the
demons to do those things in the present world; how it is allowed them
to transform themselves into what figures they please, and to suggest
evil thoughts, and to convey themselves, by means of meats and of
drink consecrated to them, into the minds or bodies of those who
partake of it, and to concoct vain dreams to further the worship of
some idol.
Chapter XX.--Folly of Idolatry.
"And yet who can be found so senseless as to be persuaded to worship
an idol, whether it be made of gold or of any other metal? To whom is
it not manifest that the metal is just that which the artificer
pleased? How then can the divinity be thought to be in that which
would not be at all unless the artificer had pleased? Or how can they
hope that future things should be declared to them by that in which
there is no perception of present things? For although they should
divine something, they should not straightway be held to be gods; for
divination is one thing, divinity is another. For the Pythons also
seem to divine, yet they are not gods; and, in short, they are driven
out of men by Christians. And how can that be God which is put to
flight by a man? But perhaps you will say, What as to their effecting
cures, and their showing how one can be cured? On this principle,
physicians ought also to be worshipped as gods, for they cure many;
and in proportion as any one is more skilful, the more he will cure.
Chapter XXI.--Heathen Oracles.
"Whence it is evident that they since they are demoniac spirits, know
some things both more quickly and more perfectly than men; for they
are not retarded in their learning by the heaviness of a body. And
therefore they, as being spirits, know without delay and without
difficulty what physicians attain after a long time and by much
labour. It is not wonderful, therefore, if they know somewhat more
than men do; but this is to be observed, that what they know they do
not employ for the salvation of souls, but for the deception of them,
that by means of it they may indoctrinate them in the worship of false
religion. But God, that the error of so great deception might not be
concealed, and that He Himself might not seem to be a cause of error
in permitting them so great licence to deceive men by divinations, and
cures, and dreams, has of His mercy furnished men with a remedy, and
has made the distinction of falsehood and truth patent to those who
desire to know. This, therefore, is that distinction: what is spoken
by the true God, whether by prophets or by diverse visions, is always
true; but what is foretold by demons is not always true. It is
therefore an evident sign that those things are not spoken by the true
God, in which at any time there is falsehood; for in truth there is
never falsehood. But in the case of those who speak falsehoods, there
may occasionally be a slight mixture of truth, to give as it were
seasoning to the falsehoods.
Chapter XXII.--Why They Sometimes Come True.
"But if any one say, What is the use of this, that they should be
permitted even sometimes to speak truth, and thereby so much error be
introduced amongst men? let him take this for answer: If they had
never been allowed to speak any truth, then they would not foretell
anything at all; while if they did not foretell, they would not be
known to be demons. But if demons were not known to be in this world,
the cause of our struggle and contest would be concealed from us, and
we should suffer openly what was done in secret, that is, if the power
were granted to them of only acting against us, and not of speaking.
But now, since they sometimes speak truth, and sometimes falsehood, we
ought to acknowledge, as I have said, that their responses are of
demons, and not of God, with whom there is never falsehood.
Chapter XXIII.--Evil Not in Substance.
"But if any one, proceeding more curiously, inquire: What then was
the use of God's making these evil things, which should have so great
a tendency to subvert the minds of men? [737]To one proposing such
a question, we answer that we must first of all inquire whether there
is any evil in substance. And although it would be sufficient to say
to him that it is not suitable that the creature judge the Creator,
but that to judge the work of another belongs to him who is either of
equal skill or equal power; yet, to come directly to the point, we say
absolutely that there is no evil in substance. But if this be so,
then the Creator of substance is vainly blamed.
Footnotes
[737] [Chaps. 23-26 have no exact parallel in the Homilies; comp. book
iii. 16-26. The questions of the origin of evil and of free-will are
more fully treated in the Recognitions.--R.]
Chapter XXIV.--Why God Permits Evil.
"But you will meet me by saying, Even if it has come to this through
freedom of will, was the Creator ignorant that those whom He created
would fall away into evil? He ought therefore not to have created
those who, He foresaw, would deviate from the path of righteousness.
Now we tell those who ask such questions, that the purpose of
assertions of the sort made by us is to show why the wickedness of
those who as yet were not, did not prevail over the goodness of the
Creator. [738]For if, wishing to fill up the number and measure of
His creation, He had been afraid of the wickedness of those who were
to be, and like one who could find no other way of remedy and cure,
except only this, that He should refrain from His purpose of creating,
lest the wickedness of those who were to be should be ascribed to Him;
what else would this show but unworthy suffering and unseemly
feebleness on the part of the Creator, who should so fear the actings
of those who as yet were not, that He refrained from His purposed
creation?
Footnotes
[738] There is considerable variety of reading in this sentence, and
the precise meaning is somewhat obscure. The general sense, however,
is sufficiently evident, that if God had refrained from creating those
who He foresaw, would fall into evil, this would have been to subject
His goodness to their evil.
Chapter XXV.--Evil Beings Turned to Good Account.
"But, setting aside these things, let us consider this earnestly, that
God the Creator of the universe, foreseeing the future differences of
His creation, foresaw and provided diverse ranks and different offices
to each of His creatures, according to the peculiar movements which
were produced from freedom of will; so that while all men are of one
substance in respect of the method of creation, there should yet be
diversity in ranks and offices, according to the peculiar movements of
minds, to be produced from liberty of will. Therefore He foresaw that
there would be faults in His creatures; and the method of His justice
demanded that punishment should follow faults, for the sake of
amendment. It behoved, therefore, that there should be ministers of
punishment, and yet that freedom of will should draw them into that
order. Moreover, those also must have enemies to conquer, who had
undertaken the contests for the heavenly rewards. Thus, therefore,
neither are those things destitute of utility which are thought to be
evil, since the conquered unwillingly acquire eternal rewards for
those by whom they are conquered. But let this suffice on these
points, for in process of time even more secret things shall be
disclosed.
Chapter XXVI.--Evil Angels Seducers.
"Now therefore, since you do not yet understand how great darkness of
ignorance surrounds you, meantime I wish to explain to you whence the
worship of idols began in this world. And by idols, I mean those
lifeless images which you worship, whether made of wood, or
earthenware, or stone, or brass, or any other metals: of these the
beginning was in this wise. Certain angels, having left the course of
their proper order, began to favour the vices of men, [739] and in
some measure to lend unworthy aid to their lust, in order that by
these means they might indulge their own pleasures the more; and then,
that they might not seem to be inclined of their own accord to
unworthy services, taught men that demons could, by certain arts--that
is, by magical invocations--be made to obey men; and so, as from a
furnace and workshop of wickedness, they filled the whole world with
the smoke of impiety, the light of piety being withdrawn.
Footnotes
[739] [Comp. Homily VIII. 13.--R.]
Chapter XXVII.--Ham the First Magician.
"For these and some other causes, a flood was brought upon the world,
[740] as we have said already, and shall say again; and all who were
upon the earth were destroyed, except the family of Noah, who
survived, with his three sons and their wives. One of these, by name
Ham, unhappily discovered the magical act, and handed down the
instruction of it to one of his sons, who was called Mesraim, from
whom the race of the Egyptians and Babylonians and Persians are
descended. Him the nations who then existed called Zoroaster, [741]
admiring him as the first author of the magic art; under whose name
also many books on this subject exist. He therefore, being much and
frequently intent upon the stars, and wishing to be esteemed a god
among them, began to draw forth, as it were, certain sparks from the
stars, and to show them to men, in order that the rude and ignorant
might be astonished, as with a miracle; and desiring to increase this
estimation of him, he attempted these things again and again, until he
was set on fire, and consumed by the demon himself, whom he accosted
with too great importunity.
Footnotes
[740] [With chaps. 27-31 compare Homily IX. 3-7. The resemblances are
quite close. See also book i. 30, 31.--R.]
[741] [With chaps. 27-31 compare Homily IX. 3-7. The resemblances are
quite close. See also book i. 30, 31.--R.]
Chapter XXVIII.--Tower of Babel.
"But the foolish men who were then, whereas they ought to have
abandoned the opinion which they had conceived of him, inasmuch as
they had seen it confuted by his mortal punishment, extolled him the
more. For raising a sepulchre to his honour, they went so far as to
adore him as a friend of God, and one who had been removed to heaven
in a chariot of lightning, and to worship him as if he were a living
star. Hence also his name was called Zoroaster after his death--that
is, living star--by those who, after one generation, had been taught
to speak the Greek language. In fine, by this example, even now many
worship those who have been struck with lightning, honouring them with
sepulchres, and worshipping them as friends of God. But this man was
born in the fourteenth generation, and died in the fifteenth, in which
the tower was built, and the languages of men were divided into many.
Chapter XXIX.--Fire-Worship of the Persians.
"First among whom is named a certain king Nimrod, the magic art having
been handed down to him as by a flash, whom the Greeks, also called
Ninus, and from whom the city of Nineveh took its name. Thus,
therefore, diverse and erratic superstitions took their beginning from
the magic art. For, because it was difficult to draw away the human
race from the love of God, and attach them to deaf and lifeless
images, the magicians made use of higher efforts, that men might be
turned to erratic worship, by signs among the stars, and motions
brought down as it were from heaven, and by the will of God. And
those who had been first deceived, collecting the ashes of
Zoroaster,--who, as we have said, was burnt up by the indignation of
the demon, to whom he had been too troublesome,--brought them to the
Persians, that they might be preserved by them with perpetual
watching, as divine fire fallen from heaven, and might be worshipped
as a heavenly God.
Chapter XXX.--Hero-Worship.
"By a like example, other men in other places built temples, set up
statues, instituted mysteries and ceremonies and sacrifices, to those
whom they had admired, either for some arts or for virtue, or at least
had held in very great affection; and rejoiced, by means of all things
belonging to gods, to hand down their fame to posterity; and that
especially, because, as we have already said, they seemed to be
supported by some phantasies of magic art, so that by invocation of
demons something seemed to be done and moved by them towards the
deception of men. To these they add also certain solemnities, and
drunken banquets, in which men might with all freedom indulge; and
demons, conveyed into them in the chariot of repletion, might be mixed
with their very bowels, and holding a place there, might bind the acts
and thoughts of men to their own will. Such errors, then, having been
introduced from the beginning, and having been aided by lust and
drunkenness, in which carnal men chiefly delight, the religion of God,
which consisted in continence and sobriety, began to become rare
amongst men, and to be well-nigh abolished.
Chapter XXXI.--Idolatry Led to All Immorality.
"For whereas at first, men worshipping a righteous and all-seeing God,
neither dared sin nor do injury to their neighbours, being persuaded
that God sees the actions and movements of every one; when religious
worship was directed to lifeless images, concerning which they were
certain that they were incapable of hearing, or sight, or motion, they
began to sin licentiously, and to go forward to every crime, because
they had no fear of suffering anything at the hands of those whom they
worshipped as gods. Hence the madness of wars burst out; hence
plunderings, rapines, captivities, and liberty reduced to slavery;
each one, as he could, satisfied his lust and his covetousness,
although no power can satisfy covetousness. For as fire, the more
fuel it gets, is the more extensively kindled and strengthened, so
also the madness of covetousness is made greater and more vehement by
means of those things which it acquires.
Chapter XXXII.--Invitation.
"Wherefore begin now with better understanding to resist yourselves in
those things which you do not rightly desire; [742] if so be that you
can in any way repair and restore in yourselves that purity of
religion and innocence of life which at first were bestowed upon man
by God, that thereby also the hope of immortal blessings may be
restored to you. And give thanks to the bountiful Father of all, by
Him whom He has constituted King of peace, and the treasury of
unspeakable honours, that even at the present time your sins may be
washed away with the water of the fountain, or river, or even sea:
the threefold name of blessedness being called over you, that by it
not only evil spirits may be driven out, if any dwell in you, but also
that, when you have forsaken your sins, and have with entire faith and
entire purity of mind believed in God, you may drive out wicked
spirits and demons from others also, and may be able to set others
free from sufferings and sicknesses. For the demons themselves know
and acknowledge those who have given themselves up to God, and
sometimes they are driven out by the mere presence of such, as you saw
a little while ago, how, when we had only addressed to you the word of
salutation, straightway the demons, on account of their respect for
our religion, began to cry out, and could not bear our presence even
for a little.
Footnotes
[742] [To chaps. 32, 33, a close parallel is found in Homily IX.
19-21.--R.]
Chapter XXXIII.--The Weakest Christian More Powerful Than the
Strongest Demon.
"Is it, then, that we are of another and a superior nature, and that
therefore the demons are afraid of us? Nay, we are of one and the
same nature with you, but we differ in religion. But if you will also
be like us, we do not grudge it, but rather we exhort you, and wish
you to be assured, that when the same faith and religion and innocence
of life shall be in you that is in us, you will have equal and the
same power and virtue against demons, through God rewarding your
faith. For as he who has soldiers under him, although he may be
inferior, and they superior to him in strength, yet `says to this one,
Go, and he goeth; and to another, Come, and he cometh; and to another,
Do this, and he doeth it;' [743] and this he is able to do, not by his
own power, but by the fear of Cęsar; so every faithful one commands
the demons, although they seem to be much stronger than men, and that
not by means of his own power, but by means of the power of God, who
has put them in subjection. For even that which we have just spoken
of, that Cęsar is held in awe by all soldiers, and in every camp, and
in his whole kingdom, though he is but one man, and perhaps feeble in
respect of bodily strength, this is not effected but by the power of
God, who inspires all with fear, that they may be subject to one.
Footnotes
[743] Matt. viii. 9. [Luke vii. 8.--R.]
Chapter XXXIV.--Temptation of Christ.
"This we would have you know assuredly, that a demon has no power
against a man, unless one voluntarily submit himself to his desires.
[744]Whence even that one who is the prince of wickedness,
approached Him who, as we have said, is appointed of God King of
peace, tempting Him, and began to promise Him all the glory of the
world; because he knew that when he had offered this to others, for
the sake of deceiving them, they had worshipped him. Therefore,
impious as he was, and unmindful of himself, which indeed is the
special peculiarity of wickedness, he presumed that he should be
worshipped by Him by whom he knew that he was to be destroyed.
Therefore our Lord, confirming the worship of one God, answered him:
`It is written, Thou shalt worship the Lord thy God, and Him only
shalt thou serve.' [745]And he, terrified by this answer, and
fearing lest the true religion of the one and true God should be
restored, hastened straightway to send forth into this world false
prophets, and false apostles, and false teachers, who should speak
indeed in the name of Christ, but should accomplish the will of the
demon.
Footnotes
[744] [The close of this discourse, chaps. 34-37, resembles that of
the first at Tripolis, in Homily VIII. 21, 24. As already indicated,
much of Homily IX. finds a parallel in this book.--R.]
[745] Matt. iv. 10. [Luke iv. 8.--R.]
Chapter XXXV.--False Apostles.
"Wherefore observe the greatest caution, that you believe no teacher,
unless he bring from Jerusalem the testimonial of James the Lord's
brother, or of whosoever may come after him. [746]For no one,
unless he has gone up thither, and there has been approved as a fit
and faithful teacher for preaching the word of Christ,--unless, I say,
he brings a testimonial thence, is by any means to be received. But
let neither prophet nor apostle be looked for by you at this time,
besides us. For there is one true Prophet, whose words we twelve
apostles preach; for He is the accepted year of God, having us
apostles as His twelve months. But for what reason the world itself
was made, or what diversities have occurred in it, and why our Lord,
coming for its restoration, has chosen and sent us twelve apostles,
shall be explained more at length at another time. Meantime He has
commanded us to go forth to preach, and to invite you to the supper of
the heavenly King, which the Father hath prepared for the marriage of
His Son, and that we should give you wedding garments, that is, the
grace of baptism; [747] which whosoever obtains, as a spotless robe
with which he is to enter to the supper of the King, ought to beware
that it be not in any part of it stained with sin, and so he be
rejected as unworthy and reprobate.
Footnotes
[746] [This is peculiar in this connection. There is, at least, a
suggestion of anti-Pauline spirit in its teaching.--R.]
[747] [Matt. xxii. 2-14.]
Chapter XXXVI.--The Garments Unspotted.
"But the ways in which this garment may be spotted are these: If any
one withdraw from God the Father and Creator of all, receiving another
teacher besides Christ, who alone is the faithful and true Prophet,
and who has sent us twelve apostles to preach the word; if any one
think otherwise than worthily of the substance of the Godhead, which
excels all things;--these are the things which even fatally pollute
the garment of baptism. But the things which pollute it in actions
are these: murders, adulteries, hatreds, avarice, evil ambition. And
the things which pollute at once the soul and the body are these: to
partake of the table of demons, that is, to taste things sacrificed,
or blood, or a carcase which is strangled, [748] and if there be aught
else which has been offered to demons. Be this therefore the first
step to you of three; which step brings forth thirty commands, and the
second sixty, and the third a hundred, [749] as we shall expound more
fully to you at another time."
Footnotes
[748] [In Homily VII. 8 a similar injunction is given, at Sidon. The
language in both places recalls Acts xv. 20 and 1 Cor. x. 21. But
most of the Chapter is peculiar to the Recognitions.--R.]
[749] Matt. xiii. 23. [Comp. Mark iv. 8, 20, where the order of the
numbers corresponds with that of the Recognitions. The interpretation
is a fanciful one, indicating not only Judaistic legalism, but the
notion of esoteric teaching. The passage shows Ebionitic
tendencies.--R.]
Chapter XXXVII.--The Congregation Dismissed.
When he had thus spoken, and had charged them to come to the same
place in good time on the following day, he dismissed the crowds; and
when they were unwilling to depart, Peter said to them: "Do me this
favour on account of the fatigue of yesterday's journey; and now go
away, and meet in good time to-morrow." And so they departed with
joy. But Peter, commanding me to withdraw a little for the purpose of
prayer, [750] afterwards ordered the couches to be spread in the part
of the garden which was covered with shade; and every one, according
to custom, recognising the place of his own rank, we took food. Then,
as there was still some portion of the day left, he conversed with us
concerning the Lord's miracles; and when evening was come, he entered
his bed-chamber and went to sleep.
Footnotes
[750] Clement, being not yet baptized, is represented as not permitted
to join with the disciples, even in prayer. [Comp. i. 19, ii. 70-72.
This separation is indicated in the Homilies, but more emphasis is
placed upon it in the Recognitions.--R.]
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