Clement of Alexandria: STROMATA (MISCELLANIES), Part IV, Complete

Translated by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson.

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Page 6

And again in another place he says: "To the acknowledgment of the mystery of God in Christ, in whom are hid all the treasures of wisdom and knowledge." [3089] These things the Saviour Himself seals when He says: "To you it is given to know the mysteries of the kingdom of heaven." [3090] And again the Gospel says that the Saviour spake to the apostles the word in a mystery. For prophecy says of Him: "He will open His mouth in parables, and will utter things kept secret from the foundation of the world." [3091] And now, by the parable of the leaven, the Lord shows concealment; for He says, "The kingdom of heaven is like leaven, which a woman took and hid in three measures of meal, till the whole was leavened." [3092] For the tripartite soul is saved by obedience, through the spiritual power hidden in it by faith; or because the power of the word which is given to us, being strong [3093] and powerful, draws to itself secretly and invisibly every one who receives it, and keeps it within himself, and brings his whole system into unity.

Accordingly Solon has written most wisely respecting God thus:--

"It is most difficult to apprehend the mind's invisible measure

Which alone holds the boundaries of all things."

For "the divine," says the poet of Agrigenturn, [3094] --

"Is not capable of being approached with our eyes,

Or grasped with our hands; but the highway

Of persuasion, highest of all, leads to men's minds."

[3089] Col. ii. 2, 3.

[3090] Matt. xiii. 11; Mark iv. 11; Luke viii. 10.

[3091] Ps. lxxviii. 2.

[3092] Matt. xiii. 33.

[3093] According to the conjecture of Sylburgius, suntonos is adopted for suntomos.

[3094] Empedocles.

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