Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume IX/The Epistles of Clement/The First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians/Chapter 4

Chapter IV.&#8212;Many Evils Have Already Flowed from This Source in Ancient Times.

For thus it is written:&#160; &#8220;And it came to pass after certain days, that Cain brought of the fruits of the earth a sacrifice unto God; and Abel also brought of the firstlings of his sheep, and of the fat thereof.&#160; And God had respect to Abel and to his offerings, but Cain and his sacrifices He did not regard.&#160; And Cain was deeply grieved, and his countenance fell.&#160; And God said to Cain, Why art thou grieved, and why is thy countenance fallen?&#160; If thou offerest rightly, but dost not divide rightly, hast thou not sinned?&#160; Be at peace:&#160; thine offering returns to thyself, and thou shalt again possess it.&#160; And Cain said to Abel his brother, Let us go into the field.&#160; And it came to pass, while they were in the field, that Cain rose up against Abel his brother, and slew him.&#8221; &#160; Ye see, brethren, how envy and jealousy led to the murder of a brother.&#160; Through envy, also, our father Jacob fled from the face of Esau his brother. &#160; Envy made Joseph be persecuted unto death, and to come into bondage. &#160; Envy compelled Moses to flee from the face of Pharaoh king of Egypt, when he heard these words from his fellow-countryman, &#8220;Who made thee a judge or a ruler over us?&#160; Wilt thou kill me, as thou didst kill the Egyptian yesterday?&#8221; &#160; On account of envy, Aaron and Miriam had to make their abode without the camp. &#160; Envy brought down Dathan and Abiram alive to Hades, through the sedition which they excited against God&#8217;s servant Moses. &#160; Through envy, David not only underwent the hatred of foreigners, but was also persecuted by Saul king of Israel.