Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IX/The Epistles of Clement/The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians/Chapter 38

Chapter XXXVIII.&#8212;Let the Members of the Church Submit Themselves, and No One Exalt Himself Above Another.

Let our whole body, then, be preserved in Christ Jesus; and let every one be subject to his neighbour, according to the special gift bestowed upon him.&#160; Let the strong not despise the weak, and let the weak show respect unto the strong.&#160; Let the rich man provide for the wants of the poor; and let the poor man bless God, because He hath given him one by whom his need may be supplied.&#160; Let the wise man display his wisdom, not by [mere] words, but through good deeds.&#160; Let the humble not bear testimony to himself, but leave witness to be borne to him by another. &#160; Let him that is pure in the flesh not grow proud of it, and boast, knowing that it was another who bestowed on him the gift of continence.&#160; Let us consider, then, brethren, of what matter we were made,&#8212;who and what manner of beings we came into the world, as it were out of a sepulchre, and from utter darkness. &#160; He who made us and fashioned us, having prepared His bountiful gifts for us before we were born, introduced us into His world.&#160; Since, therefore, we receive all these things from Him, we ought for everything to give Him thanks; to whom be glory for ever and ever.&#160; Amen.