merit? It was he of whom God said: * I have found a man
CLEMENT OF RoME
deliver Him, let Him save Him, for He likes Him." 17 You see, beloved, what the example is that has been given us; for, if the Lord was so humble-minded, what ought we to do who have come under the influence of His grace through Him?
17. Let us imitate the example of those also who wandered about dressed in sheepskins and goatskins, °° heralding the advent of Christ. We mean the Prophets Elias and Eliseus, as well as Ezechiel; and in addition to these, the men of attested merit.
2 Abraham's merit was magnificently attested," and he was styled a friend of God; still, fixing his gaze upon the majesty of God, he said: But I am dust and ashes. 3 Furthermore, concerning Job the Scripture says:
Job was good and irreproachable, sincere, God-fearing, who refrained from all evil. 4 Still, for his part, he accused himself in these words: No man is clean from defilement, even should his life last but one day. 5 Moses was called faithful in all his house, and God made use of his services to chastize
Egypt with the shameful scourges inflicted on them; but even he, though magnificently honored, did not use boastful language; on the contrary, when granted a revelation from the bush, he said: °° Who am I that Thou sendest me? I am feeble of speech and slow of tongue. 6 And again: I am but steam from a pot.
18. And what shall we say of David and his attested merit? It was he of whom God said: * I have found a man after my own heart—David, the son of Jesse; in everlasting mercy have I anointed him. 2 But he, too, says to God: ®
Have mercy on me, O God, according to Thy great mercy; and according to the multitude of Thy compassions, blot out my iniquity. 3 Wash me more and more from my iniquity, and cleanse me from my sin; for I acknowledge my iniquity, and my sin is ever before my eyes. 4 Against Thee alone have