Clement of Alexandria · a new plain-English translation from the original language
Imagine the matter as a trial at law. Let your father seem to stand beside you and say, 'I begot you and reared you; follow me and join me in wrongdoing, and do not obey the law of Christ' — and whatever else a blasphemous man, dead in his nature, might say. But from the other side, hear the Savior: 'I begot you anew, when you had been born badly by the world unto death; I have set you free, healed you, ransomed you. I will provide for you life unceasing, eternal, above the world. I will show you the face of God the good Father. "Call no man on earth your father." "Let the dead bury their dead, but you, follow me" — for I will lead you up into the rest and enjoyment of good things unspeakable and indescribable, "which eye has not seen nor ear heard, nor have entered into the heart of man — things into which angels long to stoop and look, which God has prepared for the saints, for the children who love him." I am your nourisher, giving myself as bread, of which whoever has tasted no longer suffers the trial of death; and daily giving a drink of immortality. I am the teacher of teachings above the heavens. For your sake I contended against death, and I paid your death, which you owed on account of your former sins and your unbelief toward God.' Having heard these words from each side, judge on your own behalf, and cast your vote for your own salvation — even if a brother should say the like, or a child, or a wife, or anyone whatsoever. Before all else let Christ the victor be within you, for he contends on your behalf.
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