« I Clem. 22 | I Clem. 23 | I Clem. 24 | About This Work »
23The all-merciful and beneficent Father has compassion on those that fear him, and kindly and lovingly bestows his favours on those that draw near to him with a simple mind. 2Wherefore let us not be double-minded, nor let our soul be fanciful concerning his excellent and glorious gifts. 3Let this Scripture be far from us in which he says “Wretched are the double-minded, who doubt in their soul and say We have heard these things even in the days of our fathers, and behold we have grown old, and none of these things has happened to us. 4Oh, foolish men, compare yourself to a tree: take a vine, first it sheds its leaves, then there comes a bud, then a leaf, then a flower, and after this the unripe grape, then the full bunch.”[13] See how in a little time the fruit of the tree comes to ripeness. 5Truly his will shall be quickly and suddenly accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness that “he shall come quickly and shall not tarry; and the Lord shall suddenly come to his temple, and the Holy One for whom ye look.”
« I Clem. 22 | I Clem. 23 | I Clem. 24 | About This Work »
Notes
[13] This quotation which is also found in II. Clem. 11, 2, cannot be identified. Some think it is from the lost apocalypse of Eldad and Modad. Cf. Hermas, Vis. 2, 3.