My LORD’s Bible1 Clement 23
1The all-merciful and beneficent Father has bowels [of compassion] towards those that fear Him, and kindly and lovingly bestows His favours upon those who come to Him with a simple mind. Wherefore let us not be double-minded; neither let our soul be lifted up on account of His exceedingly great and glorious gifts. Far from us be that which is written, “Wretched are they who are of a double mind, and of a doubting heart; who say, These things we have heard even in the times of our fathers; but, behold, we have grown old, and none of them has happened unto us.” Ye foolish ones! compare yourselves to a tree: take [for instance] the vine. First of all, it sheds its leaves, then it buds, next it puts forth leaves, and then it flowers; after that comes the sour grape, and then follows the ripened fruit. Ye perceive how in a little time the fruit of a tree comes to maturity. Of a truth, soon and suddenly shall His will be accomplished, as the Scripture also bears witness, saying, “Speedily will He come, and will not tarry;” and, “The Lord shall suddenly come to His temple, even the Holy One, for whom ye look.”
‘O οἰκτίρμων κατὰ πάντα καὶ εὐεργετικὸς πα- τὴρ ἔχει σπλάγχνα ἐπὶ τοὺς φοβουμένους αὐτόν, ἠπίως τε καὶ προσηνῶς τὰς χάριτας αὐτοῦ ἀποδιδοῖ τοῖς προσερχομέ- νοις αὐτῷ ἁπλῇ διανοίᾳ. διὸ μὴ διψυχώμεν, μηδὲ ivdar- λέσθω ἡ ψυχὴ ἡμῶν ἐπὶ ταῖς ὑπερβαλλούσαις καὶ ἐνδόξοις δωρεαῖς αὐτοῦ. πόρρω γενέσθω ἀφ᾽ ἡμῶν ἡ γραφὴ αὕτη, ὅπου λέγει Τολδίπωροί εἰειν οἱ δίψγχοι, οἱ διετάζοντες τὴν ψυχήν, οἱ λέγοντες, Ταῦτα HKOYCOMEN Kal ἐπὶ τῶν πάτέρων ἡμῶν, Kal IAOY γεγηράκδμεν καὶ οὐδὲν ἡμῖν τούτων CYNBEBHKEN. ὦ ἀνόητοι, CYMBAAETE EayTOYC ξύλῳ λάβετε ἄμπελον" πρῶτον μὲν φυλλοροεῖ, εἶτα BAactéc γίνετδι, εἶτα φύλλον, εἶτα ἄνθος, κλὶ μετὰ TayTa ὄμφαξ, εἶτδ στδφγλὴ mapectukyia. Ὁρᾶτε ὅτι ἐν καιρῷ ὀλύγῳ εἰς πέπειρον καταντᾷ ὃ καρπὸς τοῦ ξύλου. ἐπ᾽ ἀληθείας ταχὺ καὶ ἐξαίφνης τελειωθήσεται τὸ βούλημα αὐτοῦ, συνεπιμαρτυρούσης καὶ τῆς γραφῆς ὅτι τοχὴ ἡξει Kai OY χρονιεῖ, καὶ ἐξδίφνης ἥξει ὁ Κύριος εἰς τὸν NAON δύτοῦ, καὶ ὁ ἅγιος ὃν ὑμεῖς TIPOCAOKATE.