Clement of Rome, 1 Clement 46

Brothers, we must cling to examples like these. Scripture says, "Cling to the holy ones, because those who cling to them will be sanctified." In another place it says, "With an innocent person you will be innocent, and with an elect person you will be elect, but with a crooked person you will be twisted." So let us cling to the innocent and righteous, for these are God's elect. Why do strife, anger, divisions, schisms, and war exist among you? Do we not have one God, one Christ, and one Spirit of grace poured out upon us? And one calling in Christ? Why do we tear apart and scatter the members of Christ and rebel against our own body? Why have we sunk into such mindlessness that we forget we are members of one another? Remember the words of the Lord Jesus. He said, "Woe to that person. It would have been better for them not to have been born than to scandalize one of my elect. It would be better to have a millstone hung around their neck and be thrown into the sea than to pervert one of my elect." Your schism has perverted many, driven many to despair, thrown many into doubt, and brought grief to all of us. Your rebellion is a persistent affliction.