This Epistle is the only genuine writing of Clement. Eusebius" mentions indeed another Epistle of his, which was not so generally received as the first, and was not quoted by the ancients. The fragment of a second Epistle, now extant and attributed to Clement, is generally believed to be spurious. And other writings which bear his name, The Recognitions and Homilies, as well as the Constitutions and Canons of the Apostles, which have been ascribed to him, are certainly productions of a later age.

Little is known respecting the latter days of Clement. That his mind was made up to suffer martyrdom for the faith, is manifest from the determined but quiet spirit of resignation which he expresses. But there is no sufficient evidence for the story that he was banished into the Crimea by Trajan, and there suffered martyrdom by drowning. He is with more reason believed to have died in possession of his Episcopal office, about the third year of Trajan, A. D. 100. He was succeeded in the Sce of Rome by Evarestus.

The Epistle of Clement having been written for a particular purpose, affords only occasional in

n H. E. iii. 38.

。 c. 7.

P See Cave's Life, c. 7. 8.

q

formation respecting the state of the Church at the period when it was written. We find in it however proof that, within a few years after the death of the Apostles Peter and Paul, Christian Churches were established by their order, and governed according to directions received from them. We have an appeal made to the acknowledged purity of life and peaceableness of deportment, which characterized the primitive Christians; although the Corinthian Church, in which divisions had taken place at a very early period,' had much degenerated. And we have testimony, direct and indirect, to the persecutions to which the infant Church of Christ was so soon exposed.

Only one book of the New Testament is expressly quoted by Clement; and there is no mention of the Gospels by name, nor of their being collected into a volume. Words of our Lord, however, are quoted with respect, which are now found in the Gospels of St. Matthew, St. Mark, and St. Luke." There are probable allusions to the Acts of the Apostles, to the Epistle of St.

X

s1 Cor. xi. 18. t 1 Cor. i. 12 c. 47. Luke vi. 36-38. c. 13. Matt. xxvi. Luke xvii. 2. c. 46. See Lardner,

Acts xiii. 22. c. 18.

Paul to the Romans,' to both his Epistles to the Corinthians, to his Epistles to the Galatians," Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, the first

b

e

d

Epistle to the Thessalonians, both the Epistles to Timothy, and the Epistle to Titus." There are also, as Eusebius noticed," many coincidences of expression between the Epistle of Clement and the Epistle to the Hebrews, and allusions to the Epistles of James, and to the first and second Epistles of Peter.'

Lardner is of opinion, that the references and allusions to some of these books are manifest, and

Rom. ix. 4. c. 33.

Rom. xii. 5. c. 46. Rom. xiv. 1. c. 38. 1 Cor. x. 24. c. 48. 1 Cor. xii. 12. c. 37. 1 Cor. xiii. 4. 2 Cor. iii. 18. c. 36.

c. 49. 1 Cor. xv. 20. 36. 38. c. 24.

2 Cor. viii. 5. c. 56. 2 Cor. x. 17. c. 30.

Gal. i. 4. c. 49. e Phil. i. 10.

Phil. ii. 5-7. c. 16.

2 Cor. xi. 24. c. 5.

b Eph. iv. 4.

Ye were sincere and without offence, c. 2.

d Col. i. 10. c. 21.

e 1 Thes. v. 18. 23. c. 38.

f 1 Tim. i. 9. v. 4. c. 7. 1 Tim. ii. 8. c. 29. 1 Tim. iii. 13

c. 54.

Tit. iii. 1. Ye were ready to every good work, c. 2.

b H. E. iii. 34.

i Heb. i. 3-13. c. 36. Heb. iii. 2. 5. c. 43.

Heb. iv. 14.

James iii. 13. c. 38. James iv. 3. c. 30.

11 Pet. iv. 8. c. 49. 1 Pet. v. 5. c. 2. 30. 38. 2 Pet. ii.

5. 6. c. 7. 11. 2 Pet. iii. 4. c. 23.

as he thinks, undeniable; as those to the Epistle to the Romans, and the first to the Corinthians. To these he would add the Epistle to the Hebrews, except that some might "think it not impossible for a man, who had been conversant with the Apostles, who was fully instructed in their doctrine and manner of reasoning, and also well acquainted with the Old Testament, to write with that great resemblance of the Epistle to the Hebrews, both in thought and expression, without borrowing from it, or imitating it;"" and also because at a later period, in the time of Eusebius and Jerome, the Church of Rome did not receive the Epistle to the Hebrews.

Others however," are satisfied from this Epistle that Clement possessed our three first Gospels, the Acts of the Apostles, the Epistle to the Romans, both the Epistles to the Corinthians, and the Epistle to the Hebrews.

This valuable testimony must also be taken as expressing the sentiments, not of Clement only, but of the Church of Rome, in whose name the Epistle is written, and as implying the high authority which the books had with the Corinthians themselves.

The Epistle of Clement contains, I believe, no allusion to existing miraculous powers.

The doctrines of this Epistle are worthy of its high character. It is shewn elsewhere that there is no foundation for the charge advanced by Photius and others, that Clement does not express himself in terms sufficiently elevated and distinct respecting the Divine nature of our Lord. Clement speaks of the necessity of spiritual aid to enlighten our understanding;' says that we "are not justified by ourselves, neither by our own wisdom, or knowledge, or piety, in the works which we have done in holiness of heart; but by that faith, by which Almighty God hath justified all men from the beginning."" He speaks plainly of the Atonement by the blood of Christ, which was given for us," and is "precious in the sight of God; which being shed for our salvation, hath obtained the grace of repentance to the whole world." He is careful also to shew the necessity of repentance and holiness,' of peace and humility," after the example of our Lord; and that they who have the love of Christ should keep his commandments, and endeavour to advance in