And you have forgotten the exhortation which speaks unto you as unto children, My son, despise not the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of him:
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Clement Of Alexandria
AD 215
It has therefore been well said, "My son, despise not thou the correction of God; nor faint when thou art rebuked of Him. For whom the Lord loveth He chasteneth, and scourgeth every son whom He receiveth."
You have forgotten the consolation He puts them in mind, that it ought to be a subject of great comfort to them, that God calls them his children, his sons, and treats them as his true and legitimate children, when he admonished them to live under discipline and obedience to him, when, to correct their disobedient and sinful ways, he sends the afflictions and persecutions in this world, which they ought to look upon as marks of his fatherly tenderness; for this is what a prudent kind father does to his legitimate children, of whom he takes the greatest care: and not to use these corrections, is to neglect them, as if they were illegitimate children. We reverence the father of our flesh, (ver. 10.) our parents in this world, when they instruct and correct us, how much more ought we to obey the Father and Creator of spirits, (i.e. of our souls) that being truly sanctified by him, we may live and obtain life everlasting. (Witham)
And you have forgotten the exhortation. That is, And you have slackened your hands, you have become faint. You have not yet, he said, resisted unto blood, striving against sin. Here he indicates that sin is both very vigorous, and is itself armed. For the [expression] You have resisted [stood firm against], is used with reference to those who stand firm.
Which (he says) speaks unto you as unto sons, My son, despise not thou the chastening of the Lord, nor faint when you are rebuked of Him. He has drawn his encouragement from the facts themselves; over and above he adds also that which is drawn from arguments, from this testimony.
Faint not (he says) when you are rebuked of Him. It follows that these things are of God. For this too is no small matter of consolation, when we learn that it is God's work that such things have power, He allowing [them]; even as also Paul says; He said unto me, My grace is sufficient for you: for My strength is made perfect in weakness. 2 Corinthians 1...
