Early Church Writings — historically valuable Christian documents, presented as noncanonical writings rather than Scripture.
Epistle to the Magnesians
Chapter XII.—Ye are superior to me
May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to any of you that are at liberty. I know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus Christ in yourselves. And all the more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty 711 of spirit; as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser." 712
May I enjoy you in all respects, if indeed I be worthy! For though I am bound, I am not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at liberty. I know that ye are not puffed up, for ye have Jesus in yourselves. And all the more when I commend you, I know that ye cherish modesty 713 of spirit; as it is written, "The righteous man is his own accuser;" 714 and again, "Declare thou first thine iniquities, that thou mayest be justified;" 715 and again, "When ye shall have done all things that are commanded you, say, We are unprofitable servants;" 716 "for that which is highly esteemed among men is abomination in the sight of God." 717 For says [the Scripture], "God be merciful to me a sinner." 718 Therefore those great ones, Abraham and Job, 719 styled themselves "dust and ashes" 720 before God. And David says, "Who am I before Thee, O Lord, that Thou hast glorified me hitherto?" 721 And Moses, who was "the meekest of all men," 722 saith to God, "I am of a feeble voice, and of a slow tongue." 723 Be ye therefore also of a humble spirit, that ye may be exalted; for "he that abaseth himself shall be exalted, and he that exalteth himself shall be abased." 724
Notes
Ante-Nicene Fathers, Volume I, edited by Alexander Roberts and James Donaldson; revised by A. Cleveland Coxe. Public domain. Electronic text courtesy of CCEL.