“From Clemens Romanus, the alleged “Pope” you mention, on Sola Fide, Predestination, and the immutability of God’s will:”
Nowhere in the passage did Clement say we are justified by faith alone.
In fact:
St. Clement of Rome:
“Let us clothe ourselves with concord and humility, ever exercising self-control, standing far off from all whispering and evil-speaking, being justified by our works, and not our words.”
First Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians, Chapter 30.
http://taylormarshall.com/2009/09/did-clement-of-rome-teach-justification.html
In fact, the negation of works in justification is in the chapter title even provided by Newadvent.org, followed up with the explicit statement in the text “And we... are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith”:
“Chapter 32. We are Justified Not by Our Own Works, But by Faith.”
“Whosoever will candidly consider each particular, will recognise the greatness of the gifts which were given by him. For from him have sprung the priests and all the Levites who minister at the altar of God. From him also [was descended] our Lord Jesus Christ according to the flesh. Romans 9:5 From him [arose] kings, princes, and rulers of the race of Judah. Nor are his other tribes in small glory, inasmuch as God had promised, Your seed shall be as the stars of heaven. All these, therefore, were highly honoured, and made great, not for their own sake, or for their own works, or for the righteousness which they wrought, but through the operation of His will. And we, too, being called by His will in Christ Jesus, are not justified by ourselves, nor by our own wisdom, or understanding, or godliness, or works which we have wrought in holiness of heart; but by that faith through which, from the beginning, Almighty God has justified all men; to whom be glory for ever and ever.”
It is either a palpable contradiction, though doubtful, considering these two quotes take place from each other just 2 paragraphs apart. But, more than likely, he speaks of a faith shown forth in works, as James taught, as he places the distinction between “works” and “words”, but does not say “not by faith” or “not by faith only”: “being justified by our works, and not our words.” As living faith is that which produces works, and is dead without them, though we are justified by our faith, and not our works.
As Chrysostom observes, if we were justified by our works, “not even a spot” should be found:
“For this is [the righteousness] of God when we are justified not by works, (in which case it were necessary that not a spot even should be found,) but by grace, in which case all sin is done away. And this at the same time that it suffers us not to be lifted up, (seeing the whole is the free gift of God,) teaches us also the greatness of that which is given. For that which was before was a righteousness of the Law and of works, but this is the righteousness of God.” (John Chrysostom, Homily 11 on Second Corinthians, 2 Cor 5:21)
And again:
“By what law? Of works? Nay, but by the law of faith. See he calls the faith also a law delighting to keep to the names, and so allay the seeming novelty. But what is the law of faith? It is, being saved by grace. Here he shows God’s power, in that He has not only saved, but has even justified, and led them to boasting, and this too without needing works, but looking for faith only.” (Homily 7 on Romans III)