First Christian Voices: Practices of the Apostolic Fathers

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First Christian Voices

provided not only us, but also all the generations before us, something better. Even those who have received His prophecies in fear and truth are better. So, having as many great and glorious examples set before us, let us turn again to the practice of peace which was the goal set before us from the beginning. And let us look consistently to the Father and Creator of the universe, and hold on to His mighty and excellent gifts and benefits of peace. Let us think about Him with our minds, and look with the eyes of our soul to His patient will. Let us reflect how free from anger He is toward all His creation. F irst C lement 33 a : What will we do, then, friends? Will we become lazy in doing good, and cease from the practice of love? God forbid that any such path should be followed by us! But rather let us urgently, with all energy and passion, perform every good work. For the Creator and Lord of all rejoices in His own works. For by His infinitely great power He established the heavens, and by His incomprehensible wisdom He put them in order. He also divided the earth from the water which surrounds it, and fixed it upon the immovable foundation of His own will. By His command, He also called the animals which are upon the earth into existence. So likewise, when He had formed the sea and the creatures that are in it, He enclosed them by His own power. Creator of Humanity F irst C lement 33 b : Above all, with His holy and unblemished hands, He formed humankind, the most excellent and truly great work as the express likeness of His own image. For God says, “‘Let us make man in our image, after our likeness’ . . . So, God created man