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Epistle of Clement to James

Pseudonymous letter writer

Chapter 3

About this work

Author: Pseudonymous letter writer

Chapter III.—Nolo Episcopari.

While he thus spoke, I knelt to him, and entreated

‹ Chapter 2 Chapter 4 ›

him

,

declining

the

honour

and

the

authority

of

the

chair

.

But

he

answered

:

“

Concerning

this

matter

do

not

ask

me

;

for

it

has

seemed

to

me

to

be

good

that

thus

it

be

,

and

all

the

more

if

you

decline

it

.

For

this

chair

has

not

need

of

a

presumptuous

man

,

ambitious

of

occupying

it

,

but

of

one

pious

in

conduct

and

deeply

skilled

in

the

word

of

God

.

But

show

me

a

better

than

yourself

,

who

has

travelled

more

with

me

,

and

has

heard

more

of

my

discourses

,

and

has

learned

better

the

regulations

of

the

Church

,

and

I

shall

not

force

you

to

do

well

against

your

will

.

But

it

will

not

be

in

your

power

to

show

me

your

superior

;

for

you

are

the

choice

first

-

fruits

of

the

multitudes

saved

through

me

.

However

,

consider

this

further

,

that

if

you

do

not

undertake

the

administration

of

the

Church

,

through

fear

of

the

danger

of

sin

,

you

may

be

sure

that

you

sin

more

,

when

you

have

it

in

your

power

to

help

the

godly

,

who

are

,

as

it

were

,

at

sea

and

in

danger

,

and

will

not

do

so

,

providing

only

for

your

own

interest

,

and

not

for

the

common

advantage

of

all

.

But

that

it

behoves

you

altogether

to

undertake

the

danger

,

while

I

do

not

cease

to

ask

it

of

you

for

the

help

of

all

,

you

well

understand

.

The

sooner

,

therefore

,

you

consent

,

so

much

the

sooner

will

you

relieve

me

from

anxiety

.