mit to the presbyters,** and, bending the knees of your
CLEMENT OF RoME
deliver you from the grip of the sword; 10 and from the scourge of the tongue will He hide you, and you shall not fear when evils approach; 11 you will laugh at the wicked and lawless, and of wild beasts you shall not be afraid; 12 for wild beasts shall leave you in peace. 13 Then you will find that your house will be undisturbed, and the tent in which you dwell shall not fail; 14 you will find that your posterity will be numerous, and your children will be like the herbs of the field; 15 you will go down into the grave like ripened corn to be harvested at the right time, or like a heap on the threshing-floor that is garnered at the appointed time. 16 You see, beloved, what great protection awaits those who let themselves be disciplined by the Master; for, being a kind
Father, He disciplines us in order that we may obtain mercy through His holy discipline.
57. You, therefore, the prime movers of the schism, submit to the presbyters,** and, bending the knees of your hearts, accept correction and change your minds.
2 Learn submissiveness, and rid yourselves of your boastful and proud incorrigibility of tongue.
Surely, it is better for you to be little and honorable within the flock of Christ than to be esteemed above your deserts and forfeit the hope which He holds out. 3 For thus the excellent Wisdom says: *** Behold,
I will speak out the words of my spirit; I will teach you my message. 4 Since I called you and you did not listen, and since I put forth my message and you paid no attention, but set my counsels at naught and disobeyed my warnings: therefore will I in turn laugh at your destruction; and I will exult when ruin overtakes you, and when you are seized suddenly by dismay, and the catastrophe is at hand like a squall, or when distress and siege come upon you. 5 Yes, when you call upon me for help, I will not listen to you. Seek me the