Beloved brethren! That a man should build up and establish the brethren on the faith in one God, this also is manifest and well-known. This too, again, is comely, that a man should not be envious of his neighbour. And moreover, again, it is suitable and comely that all those who work the works of the Lord should work the works of the Lord in the fear of God. Thus is it required of them to conduct themselves.
That the harvest is great, but the workmen are few, this also is well-known and manifest. Let us, therefore, ask of the Lord of the harvestthat He would send forth workmen into the harvest; such workmen as shall skilfully dispense the word of truth; workmenwho shall not be ashamed; faithful workmen; workmen who shall be the light of the world; workmen who work not for the food that perishes, but for that food which abides unto life eternal; workmen who shall be such as the apostles; workmen who imitate the Father, and the Son, and the Holy Spirit; who are concerned for the salvation of men; not hireling workmen; not workmen to whom the fear of God and righteousness appear to be gain; not workmen who serve their belly; not workmen who with fair speeches and pleasant words mislead the hearts of the innocent; not workmen who imitate the children of light, while they are not light but darkness— men whose end is destruction; not workmen who practise iniquity and wickedness and fraud; not crafty workmen; not workmen drunken and faithless; nor workmen who traffic in Christ;not misleaders; not lovers of money; not malevolent.
Let us, therefore, contemplate and imitate the faithful who have conducted themselves well in the Lord, as is becoming and suitable to our calling and profession. Thus let us do service before God in justice and righteousness, and without blemish, occupying ourselves with things good and comely before God and also before men. For this is comely, that God be glorified in us in all things.
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St. Clement of Rome ( - )
St. Clement was the bishop of Rome and third in succession from St. Peter. Around the year 95 AD, a letter was written by the Church of Rome to the Church at Corinth that is attributed to Saint Clement. This document is the earliest Christian writing besides the New Testament documents. In fact, the Gospel of John is likely written around the same time as this document. This "first letter of Clement" (a second letter was falsely attributed to him) was copied by the Corinthian Church and circulated all over the empire, rendering the very first papal "encyclical." It was so highly regarded by the universal church that for several centuries the Church in Egypt and elsewhere regarded it as one of the New Testatment scriptures.The Church of St. Clement is one of the most fascinating places in Rome. Excavations revealed that the medieval Church, built in the 12th century, actually was built on top of a 4th century Church which was in turn built over a house church going back to the first century. It is very possible that this was the house of St. Clement himself.