Arrangements Approved by All the Brethren.
1531.
Having therefore separated me, Clement, and Niceta and Aquila, he said to those twelve:
1532.
I wish you the day after tomorrow to proceed to the Gentiles,
and to follow in the footsteps of Simon, that you may inform me of all his proceedings.
1533.
You will also inquire diligently the sentiments of every one, and announce to them that I shall come to them without delay; and, in short, in all places instruct the Gentiles to expect my coming.
1534.
When he had spoken these things, and others to the same effect, he said:
1535.
You also, my brethren, if you have anything to say to these things, say on,
lest haply it be not right which seems good to me alone.
1536.
Then all, with one voice applauding him, said:
We ask you rather to arrange everything according to your own judgment,
and to order what seems good to yourself;
for this we think to be the perfect work of piety, if we fulfil what you command.
Departure of the Twelve.
1537.
Therefore, on the day appointed, when they had ranged themselves before Peter, they said:
1538.
Do not think, O Peter,
that it is a small grief to us that we are to be deprived of the privilege of hearing you for three months;
yet since it is good for us to do what you order, we shall most readily obey.
1539.
We shall always retain in our hearts the remembrance of your face;
and so we set out actively, as you have commanded us.
1540.
Then he, having poured out a prayer to the Lord for them, dismissed them.
1541.
And when those twelve who had been sent forward had gone, Peter entered, according to custom,
and stood in the place of disputation.
1542.
And a multitude of people had come together, even a larger number than usual;
and all with tears gazed upon him, by reason of what they had heard from him the day before,
that he was about to go forth on account of Simon.
1543.
Then, seeing them weeping, he himself also was similarly affected,
although he endeavoured to conceal and to restrain his tears.
1544.
But the trembling of his voice, and the interruption of his discourse,
betrayed that he was distressed by similar emotion.
Peter Prepares the Cæsareans for His Departure.
1545.
However, rubbing his forehead with his hand, he said:
Be of good courage, my brethren, and comfort your sorrowful hearts by means of counsel,
referring all things to God, whose will alone is to be fulfilled and to be preferred in all things.
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1546.
For let us suppose for a moment, that by reason of the affection that we have towards you,
we should act against His will, and remain with you,
is He not able, by sending death upon me, to appoint to me a longer separation from you?
1547.
And therefore it is better for us to carry out this shorter separation with His will,
as those to whom it is prescribed to obey God in all things.
1548.
Hence you also ought to obey Him with like submission,
inasmuch as you love me from no other reason than on account of your love of Him.
1549.
As friends of God, therefore, acquiesce in His will;
yet also judge yourselves what is right.
1550.
Would it not have seemed wicked, if, when Simon was deceiving you,
I had been detained by the brethren in Jerusalem, and had not come to you,
and that although you had Zacchæus among you, a good and eloquent man?
1551.
So now also consider that it would be wicked, if, when Simon has gone forth to assail the Gentiles, who are wholly without a defender, I should be detained by you, and should not follow him.
1552.
Wherefore let us see to it, that we do not, by an unreasonable affection,
accomplish the will of the wicked one.
More Than Ten Thousand Baptized.
1553.
Meantime I shall remain with you three months, as I promised.
1554.
Be constant in hearing the word;
and at the end of that time, if any are able and willing to follow us,
they may do so, if duty will admit of it.
1555.
And when I say if duty will admit I mean that no one by his departure must sadden any one who ought not to be saddened, as by leaving parents who ought not to be left, or a faithful wife,
or any other person to whom he is bound to afford comfort for God's sake.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER FIFTY FOUR
Divisions 1556-1580
Book 3
RECOGNITIONS 3
1556.
Meantime, disputing and teaching day by day, he filled up the time appointed with the labour of teaching; and when the festival day arrived, upwards of ten thousand were baptized.
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Tidings of Simon.
1557.
Yet in those days a letter was received from the brethren who had gone before,
in which were detailed the crimes of Simon, how going from city to city he was deceiving multitudes,
and everywhere maligning Peter, so that, when he should come, no one might afford him a hearing.
1558.
For he asserted that Peter was a magician, a godless man,
injurious, cunning, ignorant, and professing impossible things.
1559.
For, says he, he asserts that the dead shall rise again, which is impossible.
1560.
Yet if any one attempts to confute him,
he is cut off by secret snares by him, through means of his attendants.
1561.
Wherefore, I also, says he, when I had vanquished him and triumphed over him,
fled for fear of his snares, lest he should destroy me by incantations, or compass my death by plots.
1562.
They intimated also that he mainly stayed at Tripolis.
Farewell to Cæsarea.
1563.
Peter therefore ordered the letter to be read to the people;
and after the reading of it, he addressed them and gave them full instructions about everything,
yet especially that they should obey Zacchæus, whom he had ordained bishop over them.
1564.
Also he commended the presbyters and the deacons to the people, and not less the people to them.
1565.
And then, announcing that he should spend the winter at Tripolis, he said:
I commend you to the grace of God, being about to depart tomorrow, with God's will.
1566.
Yet during the whole three months which he spent at Cæsarea,
for the sake of instruction, whatever he discoursed of in the presence of the people in the day-time,
he explained more fully and perfectly in the night,
in private to us, as more faithful and completely approved by him.
1567.
And at the same time he commanded me,
because he understood that I carefully stored in my memory what I heard,
to commit to writing whatever seemed worthy of record,
and to send it to you, my lord James, as also I did, in obedience to his command.
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Contents of Clement's Dispatches to James.
1568.
The first book, therefore, of those that I formerly sent to you,
contains an account of the true Prophet, and of the peculiarity of the understanding of the law,
according to what the tradition of Moses teaches.
1569
The second contains an account of the beginning, and whether there be one beginning or many,
and that the law of the Hebrews knows what immensity is.
1570.
The third, concerning God, and those things that have been ordained by Him.
1571.
The fourth, that though there are many that are called gods,
there is but one true God, according to the testimonies of the Scriptures.
1572.
The fifth, that there are two heavens,
one of which is that visible firmament which shall pass away, yet the other is eternal and invisible.
1573.
The sixth, concerning good and evil; and that all things are subjected to good by the Father;
and why, and how, and whence evil is, and that it co-operates with good, but not with a good purpose;
1574.
and what are the signs of good, and what those of evil;
and what is the difference between duality and conjunction.
1575.
The seventh, what are the things which the twelve apostles treated of in the presence of the people in the temple.
1576.
The eighth, concerning the words of the Lord which seem to be contradictory, but are not;
and what is the explanation of them.
1577.
The ninth, that the law which has been given by God is righteous and perfect,
and that it alone can make pure.
1578.
The tenth, concerning the carnal birth of men, and concerning the generation which is by baptism;
and what is the succession of carnal seed in man;
and what is the account of his soul, and how the freedom of the will is in it,
which, seeing it is not unbegotten, yet made, could not be immoveable from good.
1579.
Concerning these several subjects, therefore, whatever Peter discoursed at Cæsarea,
according to his command, as I have said, I have sent you written in ten volumes.
1580.
Yet on the next day, as had been determined,
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we set out from Cæsarea with some faithful men, who had resolved to accompany Peter.
The Book of Recognitions CHAPTER FIFTY FIVE
Divisions 1581-1620
Book 4
RECOGNITIONS 4
The Halt at Dora.
1581.
Having set out from Cæsarea on the way to Tripolis,
we made our first stoppage at a small town called Dora, because it was not far distant;
1582.
and almost all those who had believed through the preaching of Peter could scarcely bear to be separated from him, but walked along with us, again and again gazing upon him, again and again embracing him, again and again conversing with him, until we came to the inn.
1583.
On the following day we came to Ptolemais, where we stayed ten days;
and when a considerable number had received the word of God,
we signified to some of them who seemed particularly attentive, and wished to detain us longer for the sake of instruction, that they might, if so disposed, follow us to Tripolis.
1584.
We acted in the same way at Tyre, and Sidon, and Berytus, and announced to those who desired to hear further discourses, that we were to spend the winter at Tripolis.
1585.
Therefore, as all those who were anxious followed Peter from each city,
we were a great multitude of elect ones when we entered into Tripolis.
1586.
On our arrival, the brethren who had been sent before met us before the gates of the city;
and taking us under their charge, conducted us to the various lodgings which they had prepared.
1587.
Then there arose a commotion in the city,
and a great assemblage of persons desirous to see Peter.
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