Chapter XI.—We Ought
to Serve God, Trusting in His Promises.
Let us therefore serve God with a pure heart, and we
shall be righteous; but if we do not serve Him, because we believe not
the promise of God, we shall be miserable. For the prophetic word
also declares, “Wretched are those of a double mind, and who
doubt in their heart, who say, All these things
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have we heard even in the times of our fathers; but though we have
waited day by day, we have seen none of them [accomplished]. Ye
fools! compare yourselves to a tree; take, for instance, the
vine. First of all it sheds its leaves, then the bud appears;
after that the sour grape, and then the fully-ripened fruit. So,
likewise, my people have borne disturbances and afflictions, but
afterwards shall they receive their good things.”
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Wherefore, my brethren, let us not be
of a double mind, but let us hope and endure, that we also may obtain
the reward. For He is faithful who has promised that He will
bestow on every one a reward according to his works. If,
therefore, we shall do righteousness in the sight of God, we shall
enter into His kingdom, and shall receive the promises, which
“ear hath not heard, nor eye seen, neither have entered into the
heart of man.”
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I.
πάλαι
(long ago).
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The same words occur
in Clement’s first epistle, chap. xxiii.
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1 Cor. ii. 9
.