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The Clementine Homilies

Anonymous Pseudo-Clementine compiler

Chapter 36

About this work

Author: Anonymous Pseudo-Clementine compiler

Chapter XXXVI.—All for the Best.

But he (Peter) saw me disheartened, and asked the

‹ Chapter 35 Chapter 37 ›

reason

;

and

being

told

that

it

proceeded

from

no

cause

but

the

postponement

of

the

inquiry

,

he

said

:

“

He

who

has

apprehended

that

the

world

is

regulated

by

the

good

providence

of

God

,

O

beloved

Clement

,

is

not

vexed

by

things

howsoever

occurring

,

considering

that

things

take

their

course

advantageously

under

the

providence

of

the

Ruler

.

Whence

,

knowing

that

He

is

just

,

and

living

with

a

good

conscience

,

he

knows

how

by

right

reason

to

shake

off

from

his

soul

any

annoyance

that

befalls

him

,

because

,

when

complete

,

it

must

come

to

some

unknown

good

.

Now

then

,

let

not

Simon

the

magician’s

postponement

of

the

inquiry

grieve

you

;

for

perhaps

it

has

happened

from

the

providence

of

God

for

your

profit

.

Wherefore

I

shall

not

scruple

to

speak

to

you

as

being

my

special

friend

.

Chapter XXXVI.—Dominion Over the Creatures.

“Therefore, if any one shall accurately scan the whole with reason, he shall find that God has made them for the sake of man. For showers fall for the sake of fruits, that man may partake of them, and that animals may be fed, that they may be useful to men. And the sun shines, that he may turn the air into four seasons, and that each time may afford its peculiar service to man. And the fountains spring, that drink may be given to men. And, moreover, who is lord over the creatures, so far as is possible? Is it not man, who has received wisdom to till the earth, to sail the sea: to make fishes, birds, and beasts his prey; to investigate the course of the stars, to mine the earth, to sail the sea; to build cities, to define kingdoms, to ordain laws, to execute justice, to know the invisible God, to be cognizant of the names of angels, to drive away demons, to endeavour to cure diseases by medicines, to find charms against poison-darting serpents, to understand antipathies?

Chapter XXXVI.—Farewell to Tripolis.

Having spoken thus, he sent the harbingers into Antioch of Syria, bidding them expect him there forthwith. Then when they had gone, Peter having driven away diseases, sufferings, and demons from great multitudes who were persuaded, and having baptized them in the fountains which are near to the sea, and having celebrated the Eucharist, and having appointed Maroones, who had received him into his house, and was now perfected, as their bishop, and having set apart twelve elders, and having designated deacons, and arranged matters relating to widows, and having discoursed on the common good what was profitable for the ordering of the church, and having counselled them to obey the bishop Maroones, three months being now fulfilled; he bade those in Tripolis of Phœnicia farewell, and took his journey to Antioch of Syria, all the people accompanying us with due honour.

Notes

1
[Comp. Recognitions, i. 21.—R.]
1
Literally, “having broken.”