Ante-Nicene Fathers/Volume VIII/Pseudo-Clementine Literature/The Clementine Homilies/Homily XIII/Chapter 8

Chapter VIII.&#8212;Nicetas Like to Be Deceived by Simon Magus.

&#8220;We were brought up along with one Simon, a magician; and in consequence of our friendly intercourse with him, we were in danger of being led astray.&#160; Now there is a report in regard to some man, that, when he appears, the mass of those who have been pious are to live free from death and pain in his kingdom.&#160; This matter, however, mother, will be explained more fully at the proper time.&#160; But when we were going to be led astray by Simon, a friend of our lord Peter, by name Zacch&#230;us, came to us and warned us not to be led astray by the magician; and when Peter came, he brought us to him that he might give us full information, and convince us in regard to those matters that related to piety.&#160; Wherefore we beseech you, mother, to partake of those blessings which have been vouchsafed to us, that we may unite around the same table! &#160; This, then, is the reason, mother, why you thought we were dead.&#160; On that disastrous night we had been taken up in the sea by pirates, but you supposed that we had perished.&#8221;