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Epistle of Clement to James

Pseudonymous letter writer

Chapter 7

About this work

Author: Pseudonymous letter writer

Chapter VII.—Duties of Presbyters.

“And with respect to the presbyters, take these instructions.

‹ Chapter 6 Chapter 8 ›

Above

all

things

,

let

them

join

the

young

betimes

in

marriage

,

anticipating

the

entanglements

of

youthful

lusts

.

But

neither

let

them

neglect

the

marriage

of

those

who

are

already

old

;

for

lust

is

vigorous

even

in

some

old

men

.

Lest

,

therefore

,

fornication

find

a

place

among

you

,

and

bring

upon

you

a

very

pestilence

,

take

precaution

,

and

search

,

lest

at

any

time

the

fire

of

adultery

be

secretly

kindled

among

you

.

For

adultery

is

a

very

terrible

thing

,

even

such

that

it

holds

the

second

place

in

respect

of

punishment

,

the

first

being

assigned

to

those

who

are

in

error

,

even

although

they

be

chaste

.

Wherefore

do

you

,

as

elders

of

the

Church

,

exercise

the

spouse

of

Christ

to

chastity

(

by

the

spouse

I

mean

the

body

of

the

Church

)

;

for

if

she

be

apprehended

to

be

chaste

by

her

royal

Bridegroom

,

she

shall

obtain

the

greatest

honour

;

and

you

,

as

wedding

guests

,

shall

receive

great

commendation

.

But

if

she

be

caught

having

sinned

,

she

herself

indeed

shall

be

cast

out

;

and

you

shall

suffer

punishment

,

if

at

any

time

her

sin

has

been

through

your

negligence

.