David, is there some place on the web where I can read more of this? Terry
David Miller wrote:
"Recognitions of Clement," Ante-Nicene Fathers Volume 8. It is an account attributed to Clement of Rome telling how he came to meet Peter by first hearing Barnabas preach in Rome. His description of the preaching of Barnabas sounds exactly like what us street preachers do. I offer it as evidence that the early preachers did utilize public preaching in the streets of the city, and that the crowds got rowdy for them just like it does for us.
Peace be with you. David Miller.
"Recognitions of Clement" Book 1, Chapters 7-10
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume 8
**************
CHAPTER 7
ARRIVAL OF BARNABAS AT ROME
At length meetings began to be held in various places in the city, and this
subject to be discussed in conversation, and to be a matter of wonder who
this might be who had appeared, and what message He had brought from
God to men; until, about the same year, a certain man, standing in a most
crowded place in the city, made proclamation to the people, saying: "Hear
me, O ye citizens of Rome. The Son of God is now in the regions of
Judaea, promising eternal life to ever), one who will hear Him, but upon
condition that he shall regulate his actions according to the will of Him by
whom He hath been sent, even of God the Father. Wherefore turn ye from
evil things to good, from things temporal to things eternal. Acknowledge
that there is one God, ruler of heaven and earth, in whose righteous sight
ye unrighteous inhabit His world. But if ye be converted, and act according
to His will, then, coming to the world to come, and being made immortal,
ye shall enjoy His unspeakable blessings and rewards." Now, the man who
spoke these things to the people was from the regions of the East, by
nation a Hebrew, by name Barnabas, who said that he himself was one of
His disciples, and that he was sent for this end, that he should declare
these things to those who would hear them. When I heard these things, I
began, with the rest of the multitude, to follow him, and to hear what he
had to say. Truly I perceived that there was nothing of dialectic artifice in
the man, but that he expounded with simplicity, and without any craft of
speech, such things as he had heard from the Son of God, or had seen. For
he did not confirm his assertions by the force of arguments, but produced,
from the people who stood round about him, many witnesses of the
sayings and marvels which he related.
CHAPTER 8 HIS PREACHING Now, inasmuch as the people began to assent willingly to the things which were sincerely spoken, and to embrace his simple discourse, those who thought themselves learned or philosophic began to laugh at the man, and to flout him, and to throw out for him the grappling-hooks of syllogisms, like strong arms. But he, unterrified, regarding their subtleties as mere ravings, did not even judge them worthy of an answer, but boldly pursued the subject which he had set before him. At length, some one having proposed this question to him as he was speaking, Why a gnat has been so formed, that though it is a small creature, and has six feet, yet it has got wings in addition; whereas an elephant, though it is an immense animal, and has no wings, yet has only four feet; he, paying no attention to the question, went on with his discourse, which had been interrupted by the unseasonable challenge, only adding this admonition at every interruption: "We have it in charge to declare to you the words and the wondrous works of Him who hath sent us, and to confirm the truth of what we speak, not by artfully devised arguments, but by witnesses produced from amongst yourselves. For I recognize many standing in the midst of you whom I remember to have heard along with us the things which we have heard, and to have seen what we have seen. But be it in your option to receive or to spurn the tidings which we bring to you. For we cannot keep back what we know to be for your advantage, because, if we be silent, woe is to us; but to you, if you receive not what we speak, destruction. I could indeed very easily answer your foolish challenges, if you asked for the sake of learning truth, - I mean as to the difference of a gnat and an elephant; but now it were absurd to speak to you of these creatures, when the very Creator and Framer of all things is unknown by you."
CHAPTER 9 CLEMENT'S INTERPOSITION ON BEHALF OF BARNABAS When he had thus spoken, all, as with one consent, with rude voice raised a shout of derision, to put him to shame, and to silence him, crying out that he was a barbarian and a madman. When I saw matters going on in this way, being filled, I know not whence, with a certain zeal, and inflamed with religious enthusiasm, I could not keep silence, but cried out with all boldness, "Most righteously does Almighty God hide His will from you, whom He foresaw to be unworthy of the knowledge of Himself, as is manifest to those who are really wise, from what you are now doing. For when you see that preachers of the will of God have come amongst you, because their speech makes no show of knowledge of the grammatical art, but in simple and unpolished language they set before you the divine commands, so that all who hear may be able to follow and to understand the things that are spoken, you deride the ministers and messengers of your salvation, not knowing that it is the condemnation of you who think yourselves skillful and eloquent, that rustic and barbarous men have the knowledge of the truth; whereas, when it has come to you, it is not even received as a guest, while, if your intemperance and lust did not oppose, it ought to have been a citizen and a native. Thus you are convicted of not being friends of truth and philosophers, but followers of boasting and vain speakers. Ye think that truth dwells not in simple, but in ingenious and subtle words, and produce countless thousands of words which are not to be rated at the worth of one word. What, then, do ye think will become of you, all ye crowd of Greeks, if there is to be, as he says, a judgment of God? But now give over laughing at this man to your own destruction, and let any one of you who pleases answer me; for, indeed, by your barking you annoy the ears even of those who desire to be saved, and by your clamor you turn aside to the fall of infidelity the minds that are prepared for faith. What pardon can there be for you who deride and do violence to the messenger of the truth when he offers to you the knowledge of God? whereas, even if he brought you nothing of truth, yet, even for the kindness of his intentions towards you, you ought to receive with gratitude and welcome."
CHAPTER 10
INTERCOURSE WITH BARNABAS
While I was urging these and similar arguments, a great excitement was
stirred up amongst the bystanders, some being moved with pity as
towards a stranger, and approving my speech as in accordance with that
feeling; others, petulant and stolid, rousing the anger of their undisciplined
minds as much against me as against Barnabas. But as the day was
declining to evening, I laid hold of Barnabas by the right hand, and led him
away, although reluctantly, to my house; and there I made him remain, lest
perchance any one of the rude rabble should lay hands upon him. While
we were thus placed in contact for a few days, I gladly heard him
discoursing the word of truth; yet he hastened his departure, saying that
he must by all means celebrate at Judaea a festal day of his religion which
was approaching, and that there he should remain in future with his
countrymen and his brethren
---------- "Let your speech be always with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer every man." (Colossians 4:6) http://www.InnGlory.org
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