to Him who is faithful in His promises * and just in His
CLEMENT OF ROME
gendered by honest faith, when He uses even a bird to illustrate the sublime nature of His promise? 2 For somewhere it is said: °° And Thou wilt raise me, and I will give
Thee praise: and, I lay down to sleep, and I slept; and I awoke again, for Thou art with me. 3 And, again, Job says: *
Thou wilt raise up this body of mine, which has patiently endured all these things.
27. Supported, therefore, by this hope, let our souls cling to Him who is faithful in His promises * and just in His judgments.
2 He who has enjoined us not to lie will for that reason be Himself all the less capable of lying; for nothing is impossible to God except being untrue to Himself.
3 Let, then, our faith in Him be fanned afresh in us, and let us understand that all things are within His reach. 4 By His majestic command He established the universe, and by a command He can destroy it.
5 Who shall say to Him:
"What hast Thou done?" Or who can resist His mighty strength? ** When He wills and as He wills, He can do all things, and nothing once decreed by Him can cease to exist.
6 All things are face to face with Him, and nothing is hidden from His counsel, 7 since the heavens declare the glory of God, and the firmament proclaims His handiwork; day speaks out to day, and night imparts knowledge to night; and there is not a word, there is not a speech, but its voice is heard.*
28. Since, then, all things are seen and heard, let us stand in awe of Him, and abandon accursed hankerings after evil deeds: thus shall we by His mercy find shelter from the judgment to come.
2 Indeed, whither can anyone of us flee from His mighty hand? What world is there to receive anyone deserting Him?
For somewhere the Writing says: *° 3 Whither shall I go, and where hide from His face? If I should mount to heaven, Thou art there; if I should depart