Chapter LIV.—He who is full of love...

Chapter LIV.—He who is full of love will incur every loss, that peace may be restored to the Church.

Who then among you is noble-minded? who compassionate? who full of love? Let him declare, “If on my account sedition and disagreement and schisms have arisen, I will depart, I will go away whithersoever ye desire, and I will do whatever the majority ²⁴¹ commands; only let the flock of Christ live on terms of peace with the presbyters set over it.” He that acts thus shall procure to himself great glory in the Lord; and every place will welcome ²⁴² him. For “the earth is the Lord’s, and the fulness thereof.” ²⁴³ These things they who live a godly life, that is never to be repented of, both have done and always will do.

Footnotes

19:241

Literally, “the multitude.” [Clement here puts words into the mouth of the Corinthian presbyters. It has been strangely quoted to strengthen a conjecture that he had humbly preferred Linus and Cletus when first called to preside.]

19:242

Or, “receive.”

19:243

Ps. xxiv. 1; 1 Cor. 10:26, 28.