,this e,book was produced by ,david ,widger widgercecomet4net ,additional proofing was done by ,curtis ,a4 ,weyant ,,the ,,suppressed ,,gospels ,,and ,,epistles ,,of ,,the ,,original ,,new ,,testament ,,of ,,jesus ,,the ,,christ ,,and ,,other ,,portions ,,of ,,the ,,ancient ,,holy ,,scriptures4 ,,now ,,extant1 ,,attributed ,,to ,,his ,,apostles1 ,,and ,,their ,,disciples1 ,,and ,,venerated ,,by ,,the ,,primitive ,,christian ,,churches ,,during ,,the ,,first ,,four ,,centuries1 ,,but ,,since1 ,,after ,,violent ,,disputations ,,forbidden ,,by ,,the ,,bishops ,,of ,,the ,,nicene ,,council1 ,,in ,,the ,,reign ,,of ,,the ,,emperor ,,constantine ,,and ,,omitted ,,from ,,the ,,catholics ,,and ,,protestant ,,editions ,,of ,,the ,,new ,,testament1 ,,by ,,its ,,compilers ,,translated ,,from ,,the ,,original ,,tongues1 ,,with ,,historical ,,references ,,to ,,their ,,authenticity1 ,,by ,,archbishop ,,wake ,,and ,,other ,,learned ,,divines ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,ephesians4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,ignatius commends the brethren for sending ,onesimus and other members of the church to him4 #h ,exhorts them to unity2 #ac by a due subjection to their bishop2 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the church which is at ,ephesus in ,asia2 most deservedly happy3 being blessed through the greatness and fullness of ,god the ,father1 and predestinated before the world began2 that it should be always unto an enduring and unchangeable glory2 united and chosen through his true passion1 according to the will of the ,father1 and ,jesus ,christ our ,god2 all happiness1 by ,jesus ,christ1 and his undefiled grace4 #b ,i have heard of your name much beloved in ,god2 which ye have very justly attained by a habit of righteousness1 according to the faith and love which is in ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour4 #c ,how that being followers of ,god1 and stirring up yourselves by the blood of ,christ ye have perfectly accomplished the work that was con-natural unto you4 #d ,for hearing that ,i came bound from ,syria1 for the common name and hope1 trusting through your prayers to fight with beasts at home2 so that by suffering ,i may become indeed the disciple of him who gave himself to ,god1 an offering and sacrifice for us2 ye hastened to see me4 ,i received1 therefore1 in the name of ,god1 your whole multitude in ,onesimus2 #e ,who by3 inexpressible love is ours1 but according to the flesh is our bishop2 whom ,i beseech you1 pray ,jesus ,christ1 to love3 and that you would all strive to be like unto him4 ,and blessed be ,god1 who has granted unto you1 who are so worthy of him1 to enjoy such an excellent bishop4 #f ,for what concerns my fellow servant ,burrhus1 and your most blessed deacon in things pertaining to ,god2 ,i entreat you that he may tarry longer1 both for yours1 and your bishop's honour4 #g ,and ,crocus also worthy of both our ,god and you1 whom ,i have received as the pattern of your love1 has in all things refreshed me1 as the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ shall also refresh him2 together with ,onesimus1 and ,burrhus1 and ,euplus1 and ,fronto1 in whom ,i have1 as to your charity1 seen all of you1 ,and may always1 have joy of you1 if ,i shall be worthy of it4 #h ,it is therefore fitting that you should by all means glorify ,jesus ,christ1 who hath glorified you that by a uniform obedience ye may be perfectly joined together in the same mind1 and in the same judgment2 and may all speak the same things concerning everything3 #i ,and that being1 subject to your bishop1 and the presbytery1 ye may be wholly and thoroughly sanctified4 #aj ,these things ,i prescribe to you1 not as if ,i were somebody extraordinary3 for though ,i am bound for his name1 ,i am not yet perfect in ,christ ,jesus4 ,but now ,i begin to learn1 and ,i speak to you as fellow disciples together with me4 #aa ,for ,i ought to have been stirred up by you1 in faith3 in admonition2 in patience2 in long- suffering2 but forasmuch as charity suffers me not to be silent towards you1 ,i have first taken upon me to exhort you1 that ye would all run together1 according to the will of ,god4 #ab ,for even ,jesus ,christ1 our inseparable life1 is sent by the will of the ,father2 as the bishops1 appointed unto the utmost bounds of the earth1 are by the will of ,jesus ,christ4 #ac ,wherefore it will become you to run together according to the will of your bishop1 as also ye do1 #ad ,for your famous presbytery1 worthy of ,god1 is fitted as exactly to the bishop1 as the strings are to the harp4 #ae ,therefore in your concord and agreeing charity1 ,jesus ,christ is sung2 and every single person among you makes up the chorus3 #af ,that so being all consonant in love1 and taking up the song of ,god1 ye may in a perfect unity with one voice1 sing to the ,father by ,jesus ,christ2 to the end that he may both hear you1 and perceive by your works1 that ye are indeed the members of his son4 #ag ,wherefore it is profitable for you to live in an unblameable unity1 that so ye may always have a fellowship with ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,the benefit of subjection4 #d ,the bishop not to be respected the less because he is not forward in exacting it3 #h warns brethren against heretics2 bidding them cleave to ,jesus1 whose divine and human mature is declared3 commends them for their care to keep themselves from false teachers3 and shews them the way to ,god4 ,,for if ,i in this little time have had such a familiarity with your bishop1 ,i mean not a carnal1 but spiritual acquaintance with him2 how much more must ,i think you happy who are so joined to him1 as the church is to ,jesus ,christ1 and ,jesus ,christ to the ,father2 so that all things may agree in the same unity4 #b ,let no man deceive himself2 if a man be not within the altar1 he is deprived of the bread of ,god4 ,for if the prayer of one or two be of such force1 as we are told2 how much more powerful shall that of the bishop and the whole church be8 #c ,he therefore that does not come together in the same place with it1 is proud1 and has already condemned himself2 for it is written1 ,god resisteth the proud4 ,let us take heed therefore1 that we do not set ourselves against the bishop1 that we may be subject to ,god4 #d ,the more any one sees his bishop silent1 the more let him revere him4 ,for whomsoever the master of the house sends to be over his own household1 we ought in like manner to receive him1 as we do him that sent him4 ,it is therefore evident that we ought to look upon the bishop1 even as we do upon the ,lord himself4 #e ,and indeed ,onesimus himself does greatly commend your good order in ,god3 that you all live according to the truth1 and that no heresy dwells among you4 ,for neither do ye hearken to anyone more than to ,jesus ,christ speaking to you in truth4 #f ,for some there are who carry about the name of ,christ in deceitfulness1 but do things unworthy of ,god2 whom ye must flee1 as ye would do so many wild beasts4 ,for they are raving dogs1 who bite secretly2 against whom ye must guard yourselves1 as men hardly to be cured4 #g ,there is one ,physician1 both fleshy and spiritual2 made and not made2 ,god incarnate2 true life in death2 both of ,mary and of ,god3 first passible1 then impassible2 even ,jesus ,christ our ,lord4 #h ,wherefore let no man deceive you2 as indeed neither are ye deceived1 being wholly the servants of ,god4 ,for inasmuch as there is no contention nor strife among you1 to trouble you1 ye must needs live according to ,god's will4 ,my soul be for yours2 and ,i myself1 the expiatory offering for your church of ,ephesus2 so famous throughout the world4 #i ,they that are of the flesh cannot do the works of the spirit2 neither they that are of the spirit the works of the flesh2 as he that has faith cannot be an infidel2 nor he that is an infidel have faith4 ,but even those things which ye do according to the flesh are spiritual2 forasmuch as ye do all things in ,jesus ,christ4 #aj ,nevertheless ,i have heard of some who have passed by you1 having perverse doctrine2 whom ye did not suffer to sow among you2 but stopped your ears1 that ye might not receive those things that were sown by them3 because being the stones of the temple of the ,father1 prepared for his building2 and drawn up on high by the ,cross of ,christ1 as by an engine2 #aa4 ,using the ,holy ,ghost as the rope3 your faith being your support2 and your charity the way that leads unto ,god4 #ab ,ye are therefore1 with all your companions in the same journey full of ,god2 his spiritual temples1 full of ,christ1 and of holiness3 adorned in all things with the commands of ,christ4 #ac ,in whom also ,i rejoice that ,i have been thought worthy by this present epistle to converse1 and joy together with you2 that with respect to the other life1 ye love nothing but ,god only4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,exorts them to prayer2 to be unblamable4 #e ,to be careful of salvation2 #aa frequent in public devotion2 #ac and to live in charity4 ,,pray also without ceasing for other men2 for there is hope of repentance in them1 that they may attain unto ,god4 ,let them therefore at least be instructed by your works1 if they will be no other way4 #b ,be ye mild at their anger2 humble at their boasting2 to their blasphemies return your prayers to their error1 your firmness in the faith2 when they are cruel1 be ye gentle2 not endeavouring to imitate their ways4 7#c ,let us be their brethren in all kindness and moderation1 but let us be followers of the ,lord2 for who was ever more unjustly used8 ,more destitute8 ,more despised874 #d ,that so no herb of the devil may be found in you3 but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety both of body and spirit1 in ,christ ,jesus4 #e ,the last times are come upon us3 let us therefore be very reverent1 and fear the long- suffering of ,god1 that it be not to us unto condemnation4 #f ,for let us either fear the wrath that is to come1 or let us love the grace that we at present enjoy2 that by the one or other of these1 we may be found in ,christ ,jesus1 unto true life4 #g ,besides him1 let nothing be worthy of you2 for whom also ,i bear about these bonds2 those spiritual jewels1 in which ,i would to ,god that ,i might arise through your prayers4 #h ,of which ,i entreat you to make me always partaker1 that ,i may be found in the lot of the ,christians of ,ephesus1 who have always agreed with the ,apostles1 through the power of ,jesus ,christ4 #i ,i know both who ,i am1 and to whom ,i write3 ,i1 a person condemned2 ye1 such as have obtained mercy2 ,i1 exposed to danger2 ye confirmed against danger4 #aj ,ye are the passage of those that are killed for ,god2 the companions of ,paul in the mysteries of the ,gospel2 the holy1 the martyr1 the deservedly most happy ,paul3 at whose feet may ,i be found1 when ,i shall have attained unto ,god2 who throughout all his epistles1 makes mention of you in ,christ ,jesus4 #aa ,let it be your care therefore to come more fully together1 to the praise and glory of ,god2 for when ye meet fully together in the same place1 the powers of the devil are destroyed1 and his mischief is dissolved by the unity of your faith4 #ab ,and indeed1 nothing is better than peace1 by which all war both spiritual and earthly is abolished4 #ac ,of all which1 nothing is hid from you1 if ye have perfect faith and charity in ,christ ,jesus1 which are the beginning and end of life4 #ad ,for the beginning is faith2 the end is charity4 ,and these two joined together1 are of ,god2 but all other things which concern a holy life1 are the consequences of these4 #ae ,no man professing a true faith1 sinneth2 neither does he who has charity hate any4 #af ,the tree is made manifest by its fruit2 so they who profess themselves to be ,christians are known by what they do4 #ag ,for ,christianity is not the work of an outward profession2 but shows itself in the power of faith1 if a man be found faithful unto the end4 #ah ,it is better for a man to hold his peace1 and be2 than to say1 he is a ,christian1 and not to be4 #ai ,it is good to teach2 if what he says he does likewise4 #bj ,there is therefore one master who spake1 and it was done2 and even those things which he did without speaking1 are worthy of the ,father4 #ba ,he that possesses the word of ,jesus1 is truly able to bear his very silence4 ,that he may be perfect1 be will do according to what he speaks1 and be known by those things of which he is silent4 #bb ,there is nothing hid from ,god1 but even our secrets are nigh unto him4 #bc ,let us therefore do all things1 as becomes those who have ,god dwelling in them2 that we maybe his temples2 and he may be our ,god as also he is1 and will manifest himself before our faces1 by those things for which we justly love him1 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,to have a care for the ,gospel4 #i ,the virginity of ,mary1 the incarnation1 and the death of ,christ1 were hid from the ,devil4 #aa ,how the birth of ,christ was revealed4 #af ,exhorts to unity4 ,,be not deceived1 my brethren3 those that corrupt families by adultery1 shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 #b ,if therefore they who do this according to the flesh1 have suffered death2 how much more shall he die1 who by his wicked doctrine corrupts the faith of ,god1 for which ,christ was crucified8 #c ,he that is thus defiled1 shall depart into unquenchable fire1 and so also shall he that hearkens to him4 #d ,for this cause did the ,lord suffer the ointment to be poured on his head2 that he might breathe the breath of immortality unto his church4 #e ,be not ye therefore anointed with the evil savour of the doctrine of the prince of this world3 let him not take you captive from the life that is set before you4 #f ,and why are we not all wise1 seeing we have received the knowledge of ,god1 which is ,jesus ,christ8 ,why do we suffer ourselves foolishly to perish2 not considering the gift which the ,lord has truly sent to us8 #g ,let my life be sacrificed for the doctrine of the cross2 which is indeed a scandal to the unbelievers1 but to us is salvation and life eternal4 #h ,where is the wise man8 ,where is the disputer8 ,where is the boasting of those who are called wise8 #i ,for our ,lord ,jesus ,christ was according to the dispensation of ,god1 conceived in the womb of ,mary1 of the seed of ,david1 by the ,holy ,ghost4 ,he was born and baptized1 that through his passion he might purify water1 to the washing away of sin4 #aj ,now the ,virginity of ,mary1 and he who was born of her1 was kept in secret from the prince of this world2 as was also the death of our ,lord3 three of the mysteries the most spoken of throughout the world1 yet done in secret by ,god4 #aa ,how then was our ,saviour manifested to the world8 ,a star shone in heaven beyond all the other stars1 and its light was inexpressible1 and its novelty struck terror into men's minds4 ,all the rest of the stars1 together with the sun and moon1 were the chorus to this star2 but that sent out its light exceedingly above them all4 #ab ,and men began to be troubled to think whence this new star came so unlike to all the others4 #ac ,hence all the power of magic became dissolved2 and every bond of wickedness was destroyed3 men's ignorance was taken away2 and the old kingdom abolished2 ,god himself appearing in the form of a man1 for the renewal of eternal life4 #ad ,from thence began what ,god had prepared3 from thence4 forth things were disturbed2 forasmuch as he designed to abolish death4 #ae ,but if ,jesus ,christ shall give me grace through your prayers1 and if it be his will1 ,i purpose in a second epistle which ,i will suddenly write unto you1 to manifest to you more fully the dispensation of which ,i have now begun to speak1 about the new man1 which is ,jesus ,christ2 both in his faith1 and charity2 in his suffering1 and in his resurrection4 #af ,especially if the ,lord shall make known unto me1 that ye all by name come together united in one faith1 and in ,jesus ,christ2 who was of the race of ,david according to the flesh2 the ,son of man1 and son of ,god2 obeying your bishop and the presbytery with an entire affection2 breaking one and the same bread1 which is the medicine of immortality2 our antidote that we should not die1 but live for ever in ,christ ,jesus4 #ag ,my soul be for yours1 and theirs whom ye have sent1 to the glory of ,god2 even unto ,smyrna1 from whence also ,i write to you2 giving thanks unto the ,lord and loving ,polycarp even as ,i do you4 ,remember me1 as ,jesus ,christ does remember you4 #ah ,pray for the church which is in ,syria from whence ,i am carried bound to ,rome2 being the least of all the faithful which are there1 as ,i have been thought worthy to be found1 to the glory of ,god4 #ai ,fare ye well in ,god the ,father1 and in ,jesus ,christ1 our common hope4 ,amen4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,magnesians ,,chapter ,i4 #d ,ignatius mentions the arrival of ,damas1 their bishop1 and others1 #f whom he exhorts them to reverence notwithstanding he was a young man4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the blessed church1 by the grace of ,god the ,father1 in ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour2 through whom ,i salute the church which is at ,magnesia1 near the ,maeander3 and wish it all joy in ,god the ,father1 and in ,jesus ,christ4 #b ,when ,i heard of your well- ordered love and charity in ,god1 being full of joy1 ,i desired much to speak unto you in the faith of ,jesus ,christ4 #c ,for having been thought worthy to obtain a most excellent name1 in the bonds which ,i carry about1 ,i salute the churches2 wishing in them a union both of the body and spirit of ,jesus ,christ1 our eternal life3 as also of faith and charity1 to which nothing is preferred3 but especially of ,jesus and the ,father2 in whom if we undergo all the injuries of the prince of this present world1 and escape1 we shall enjoy ,god1 #d ,seeing1 then1 ,i have been judged worthy to see you1 by ,damas your most excellent bishop2 and by your worthy presbyters1 ,bassus and ,apollonius2 and by my fellow-servant ,sotio1 the deacon2 #e ,in whom ,i rejoice1 forasmuch as he is subject unto his bishop as to the grace of ,god2 and to the presbytery as to the law of ,jesus ,christ2 ,i determined to write unto you4 #f ,wherefore it will become you also not to use your bishop too familiarly upon the account of his youth2 but to yield all reverence to him according to the power of ,god the ,father2 as also ,i perceive that your holy presbyters do3 not considering his age1 which indeed to appearance is young2 but as becomes those who are prudent in ,god1 submitting to him1 or rather not to him but to the ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 the bishop of us all4 #g ,it will therefore behove you with all sincerity1 to obey your bishop2 in honour of him whose pleasure it is that ye should do so4 #h ,because he that does not do so1 deceives not the bishop whom he sees1 but affronts him that is invisible4 ,for whatsoever of this kind is done1 it reflects not upon man1 but upon ,god1 who knows the secrets of our hearts4 #i ,it is therefore fitting1 that we should not only be called christians1 but be so4 #aj ,as some call indeed their governor1 bishop2 but yet do all things without him4 #aa ,but ,i can never think that such as these have a good conscience1 seeing that they are not gathered together thoroughly according to ,god's commandment4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,that as all must die1 #d he exhorts them to live orderly and in unity4 ,,seeing then all things have an end1 there are these two indifferently set before us1 death and life3 and everyone shall depart unto his proper place4 #b ,for as there are two sorts of coins1 the one of ,god1 the other of the world1 and each of these has its proper inscription engraven upon it2 so also is it here4 #c ,the unbelievers are of this world2 but the faithful1 through charity have the character of ,god the ,father by ,jesus ,christ3 by whom if we are not readily disposed to die after the likeness of his passion1 his life is not in us4 #d ,forasmuch1 therefore1 as ,i have in the persons before mentioned1 seen all of you in faith and charity2 ,i exhort you that ye study to do all things in a divine concord3 #e ,your bishop presiding in the place of ,god2 your presbyters in the place of the council of the ,apostles2 and your deacons most dear to me1 being entrusted with the ministry of ,jesus ,christ2 who was the ,father before all ages1 and appeared in the end to us4 #f ,wherefore taking the same holy course1 see that ye all reverence one another1 and let no one look upon his neighbour after the flesh2 but do ye all mutually love each other in ,jesus ,christ4 #g ,let there be nothing that may be able to make a division among you2 but be ye united to your bishop1 and those who preside over you1 to be your pattern and direction in the way to immortality4 #h ,as therefore the ,lord did nothing without the ,father1 being united to him2 neither by himself nor yet by his ,apostles1 so neither do ye do anything without your bishop and presbyters3 #i ,neither endeavour to let anything appear rational to yourselves apart2 #aj ,but being come together into the same place1 have one common prayer2 one supplication2 one mind2 one hope2 one in charity1 and in joy undefiled4 #aa ,there is one ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 than whom nothing is better4 ,wherefore come ye all together1 as unto one temple of ,god2 as to one altar2 as to one3 ,jesus ,christ1 who proceeded from one ,father1 and exists in one2 and is returned to one4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,he cautions them against false opinions4 #c ,especially those of ,ebion and the ,judaising ,christians4 ,,be not deceived with strange doctrines2 nor with old fables which are unprofitable4 ,for if westill continue to live according to the ,jewish law1 we do confess ourselves not to have received grace4 ,for even the most holy prophets lived according to ,christ ,jesus4 #b ,and for this cause were they persecuted1 being inspired by his grace to convince the unbelievers and disobedient that there is one ,god who has manifested himself by ,jesus ,christ his ,son2 who is his eternal word1 not coming forth from silence2 who in all things pleased him that sent him4 #c ,wherefore if they who were brought up in these ancient laws1 came nevertheless to the newness of hope2 no longer observing sabbaths1 but keeping the ,lord's day in which also our life is sprung up by him1 and through his death1 whom yet some deny3 #d 7,by which mystery we have been brought to believe and therefore wait that we maybe found the disciples of ,jesus ,christ1 our only master37 #e ,how shall we be able to live different from him2 whose disciples the very prophets themselves being1 did by the spirit expect him as their master2 #f ,and therefore he whom they justly waited for1 being come1 raised1 them up from the dead4 #g ,let us not then be insensible of his goodness2 for should he have dealt with us according to our works1 we had not now had a being4 #h ,wherefore being become his disciples1 let us learn to live according to the rules of ,christianity2 for whosoever is called by any other name besides this1 he is not of ,god4 #i ,lay aside therefore the old and sour1 and evil leaven2 and be ye changed into the new leaven1 which is ,jesus ,christ4 #aj ,be ye salted in him1 lest any one among you should be corrupted2 for by your ,savior ye shall be judged4 #aa ,it is absurd to name ,jesus ,christ1 and to ,judaize4 ,for the christian religion did not embrace the ,jewish1 but the ,jewish the christian2 that so every tongue that believed might be gathered together unto ,god4 #ab ,these things1 my beloved1 ,i write unto you2 not that ,i know of any among you that lie under this error3 but as one of the least among you1 ,i am desirous to forewarn you1 that ye fall not into the snares of false doctrine4 #ac ,but that ye be fully instructed in the birth1 and suffering1 and resurrection of ,jesus ,christ1 our hope2 which was accomplished in the time of the government of ,pontius ,pilate1 and that most truly and certainly3 and from which ,god forbid that any among you should be turned aside4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 #a ,commends their faith and piety2 exhorts them to persevere2 #aj desires their prayers for himself and the church at ,antioch4 ,,may ,i therefore have joy of you in all things1 if ,i shall be worthy of it4 ,for though ,i am bound1 yet am ,i not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at liberty4 #b ,i know that ye are not puffed up2 for ye have ,jesus ,christ in your hearts4 #c ,and especially when ,i commend you1 ,i know that ye are ashamed1 as it is written1 ,the just man condemneth himself4 #d ,study therefore to be confirmed in the doctrine of our ,lord1 and of his ,apostles2 that so whatever ye do1 ye may prosper both in body and spirit1 in faith and charity1 in the ,son1 and in the ,father1 and in the ,holy ,spirit2 in the beginning1 and in the end3 #e ,together with your most worthy bishop1 and the well-wrought spiritual crown of your presbytery1 and your deacons1 which are according to ,god4 #f ,be subject to your bishop1 and to one another1 as ,jesus ,christ was to the ,father1 according to the flesh2 and the ,apostles1 both to ,christ1 and to the ,father2 and to the ,holy ,ghost3 that so ye may be united both in body and spirit4 #g ,knowing you to be full of ,god1 ,i have the more briefly exhorted you4 #h ,be mindful of me in your prayers1 that ,i may attain unto ,god1 and of the church that is in ,syria1 from which ,i am not worthy to be called4 #i ,for ,i stand in need of your joint prayers in ,god1 and of your charity1 that the church which is in ,syria may he thought worthy to be nourished by your church4 #aj ,the ,ephesians from ,smyrna salute you1 from which place ,i write unto you2 7being present here to the glory of ,god1 in like manner as you are17 who have in all things refreshed me1 together with ,polycarp1 the bishop of the ,smyrneans4 #aa ,the rest of the churches in the honour of ,jesus ,christ salute you4 #ab ,farewell1 and be ye strengthened in the concord of ,god2 enjoying his inseparable spirit1 which is ,christ ,jesus4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,trallians4 ,,chapter #a4 #a ,acknowledges the coming of their bishop4 #e ,commends them for their subjection to their bishop1 priests1 and deacons2 and exhorts them to continue in it3 #ae is afraid even of his over-great desire to suffer1 lest it should be prejudicial to him4 ,,ignattus1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the holy church which is at ,tralles in ,asia3 beloved of ,god1 the ,father of ,jesus ,christ2 elect and worthy of ,god1 having peace through the flesh and blood1 and passion of ,jesus ,christ our hope2 in the resurrection which is by him3 which also ,i salute in its fullness1 continuing in the apostolical character1 wishing all joy and happiness unto it4 #b ,i have heard of your blameless and constant disposition through patience1 which not only appears in your outward conversation1 but is naturally rooted and grounded in you4 #c ,in like manner as ,polybius your bishop has declared unto me1 who came to me to ,smyrna1 by the will of ,god and ,jesus ,christ1 and so rejoiced together with me in my bonds for ,jesus ,christ1 that in effect ,i saw your whole church in him4 #d ,having therefore received testimony of your good will towards me for ,god's sake1 by him2 ,i seemed to find you1 as also ,i knew that ye were the followers of ,god4 #e ,for whereas ye are subject to your bishop as to ,jesus ,christ1 ye appear to one to live not after the manner of men1 but according to ,jesus ,christ who died for us1 that so believing in his death1 ye might escape death4 #f ,it is therefore necessary1 that as ye do1 so without your bishop you should do nothing3 also be ye subject to your presbyters1 as to the ,apostles of ,jesus ,christ our hope2 in whom if we walk1 we shall be found in him4 #g ,the deacons also1 as being the ministers of the mysteries of ,jesus ,christ1 must by all means please ye4 ,for they are not the ministers of meat and drink1 but of the church of ,god4 ,wherefore they must avoid all offences1 as they would do fire4 #h ,in like manner let us reverence the deacons as ,jesus ,christ2 and the bishop as the ,father2 and the presbyters as the ,sanctuary of ,god1 and college of the ,apostles4 #i ,without these there is no church2 concerning all which1 ,i am persuaded that ye think after the very same manner2 for ,i have received1 and even now have with me1 the pattern of your love1 in your bishop4 #aj ,whose very look is instructive2 and whose mildness powerful3 whom ,i am persuaded1 the very ,atheists themselves cannot but reverence4 #aa ,but because ,i have a love towards you1 ,i will not write any more sharply unto you about this matter1 though ,i very well might but now ,i have done so1 lest being a condemned man1 ,i should seem to prescribe to you as an ,apostle4 #ab ,i have great knowledge in ,god2 but ,i refrain myself1 lest ,i should perish in my boasting4 #ac ,for now ,i ought the more to fear1 and not to hearken to those that would puff me up4 #ad ,for they that speak to me1 in my praise1 chasten me4 #ae ,for ,i indeed desire to suffer1 but ,i cannot tell whether ,i am worthy so to do4 #af ,and this desire1 though to others it does not appear1 yet to myself it is for that very reason the more violent4 ,i have1 therefore1 need of moderation2 by which the prince of this world is destroyed4 #ag ,am ,i not able to write to you of heavenly things8--,but ,i fear lest ,i should harm you1 who are yet but babes in ,christ2 7excuse me this care27 and lest perchance being not able to receive them1 ye should be choken with them4 #ah ,for even ,i myself1 although ,i am in bonds1 yet am not therefore able to understand heavenly things2 #ai ,as the assembly of angels1 and the several companies of them1 under their respective princes2 things visible and invisible3 but in these ,i am yet a learner4 #bj ,for many things are wanting to us1 that we come not short of ,god4 ,,chap4 ,,ii4 #a ,warns them against heretics1 #d exhorts them to humility and unity1 #aj and briefly sets before them the true doctrine concerning ,christ4 ,,exhort you therefore1 or rather not ,i1 but the love of ,jesus ,christ2 that ye use none but christian nourishment2 abstaining from pasture which is of another kind1 ,i mean heresy4 #b ,for they that are heretics1 confound together the doctrine of ,jesus ,christ1 with their own poison3 whilst they seem worthy of belief3 #c ,as men give a deadly potion mixed with sweet wine2 which he who drinks of1 does with the treacherous pleasure sweetly drink in his own death4 #d ,wherefore guard yourself against such persons2 and that you will do1 if you are not puffed up2 but continue inseparable from ,jesus ,christ our ,god1 and from your bishop1 and from the commands of the ,apostles4 #e ,he that is within the altar1 is pure2 but he that is without1 namely1 does anything without the bishop1 the presbyters1 and deacons1 is not pure in his conscience4 #f ,not that ,i know there is any thing of this nature among you2 but ,i fore-arm you1 as being greatly beloved by me1 foreseeing the snares of the devil4 #g ,wherefore putting on meekness1 renew yourselves in faith1 which is the flesh of the ,lord2 and in charity1 which is the blood of ,jesus ,christ4 #h ,let no man have any grudge against his neighbour4 ,give no occasion to the ,gentiles2 lest by means of a few foolish men1 the whole congregation of ,god be evil spoken of4 #i ,for woe to that man through whose vanity my name is blasphemed by any4 #aj ,stop your ears therefore1 as often as any one shall speak contrary to ,jesus ,christ1 who was of the race of ,david2 by the ,virgin ,mary4 #aa ,who was truly born1 and did eat and drink2 was truly persecuted under ,pontius ,pilate2 was truly crucified and dead2 both those in heaven and on earth1 and under the earth1 being spectators of it3 #ab ,who1 was also truly raised from the dead by his ,father1 after the same manner as ,,he will also raise up us who believe in him by ,christ ,jesus2 without whom we have no true life4 #ac ,but if1 as some who are ,atheists1 that is to say infidels1 pretend1 that he seemed to suffer1 7they themselves only seeming to exist7 why then am ,i bound8-- ,why do ,i desire to fight with beasts8--,therefore do ,i die in vain3 therefore ,i will not speak falsely against the ,lord4 #ad ,flee therefore these evil sprouts which bring forth deadly fruit2 of which if any one taste1 he shall presently die4 #ae ,for these are not the plants of the ,father2 seeing if they were1 they would appear to be the branches of the cross1 and their fruit would be incorruptible2 by which he invites you through his passion1 who are members of him4 #af ,for the head cannot be without its members1 ,god having promised a union with himself4 ,,chap4 ,,iii4 ,he again exhorts to unity1 and desires their prayers for himself1 and for his church at ,antioch4 ,i ,,salute you from ,smyrna1 together with the churches of ,god that are present with me2 who have refreshed me in all things1 both in the flesh and in the spirit4 #b ,my bonds1 which ,i carry about me for the sake of ,christ1 7beseeching him that ,i may attain unto ,god7 exhort you that you continue in concord among yourselves1 and in prayer with one another4 #c ,for it becomes everyone of you1 especially the presbyters1 to refresh the bishop1 to the honour of the ,father of ,jesus ,christ1 and of the ,apostles4 #d ,i beseech you1 that you hearken to me in love2 that ,i may not by those things which ,i write1 rise up in witness against you4 #e ,pray also for me2 who1 through the mercy of ,god1 stand in need of your prayers1 that ,i may be worthy of the portion which ,i am about to obtain1 and that ,i be not found a reprobate4 #f ,the love of those who are at ,smyrna and ,ephesus salute you4 ,remember in your prayers the church of ,syria1 from which ,i am not worthy to be called1 being one of the least of it4 #g ,fare ye well in ,jesus ,christ2 being subject to your bishop as to the command of ,god2 and so like4 wise to the presbytery4 #h ,love every one his brother with an unfeigned heart4 ,my soul be your expiation1 not only now1 but when ,i shall have attained unto ,god2 for ,i am yet under danger4 #i ,but the ,father is faithful in ,jesus ,christ1 to fulfil both mine and your petition2 in whom may ye be found unblamable4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,romans4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,ignatius testifies his desire to see1 and his hopes of suffering for ,christ #e which he earnestly entreats them not to prevent1 #aj but to pray for him1 that ,god would strengthen him to the combat4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the church which has obtained mercy from the majesty of the ,most ,high ,father1 and his only begotten ,son ,jesus ,christ2 beloved1 and illuminated through the will of him who willeth all things which are according to the love of ,jesus ,christ our ,god2 which also presides in the place of the region of the ,romans2 and which ,i salute in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 as being united both in flesh and spirit to all his commands1 and filed with the grace of ,god2 with all joy in ,jesus ,christ our ,god4 #b ,forasmuch as ,i have at last obtained through my prayers to ,god1 permission to see your faces1 which ,i much desired to do2 being bound in ,jesus ,christ1 ,i hope ere long to salute you1 if it shall be the will of ,god to grant me to attain unto the end ,i long for4 #c ,for the beginning is well disposed1 if ,i shall but have grace1 without hindrance1 to receive what is appointed for me4 #d ,but ,i fear your love1 lest it do me an injury2 for it is easy for you to do what you please2 but it will be hard for me to attain unto ,god1 if you spare me4 #e ,but ,i would not that ye should please men1 but ,god2 whom also ye do1 please4 ,for neither shall ,i hereafter have such an opportunity of going unto ,god2 nor will you1 if ye shall now be silent1 ever be entitled to a better work4 ,for if you1 shall be silent in my behalf1 ,i shall be made partaker of ,god4 #f ,but if you shall love my body1 ,i shall have my course again to run4 ,wherefore ye cannot do me a greater kindness1 than to suffer me to be sacrificed unto ,god1 now that the altar is already prepared3 #g ,that when ye shall be gathered together in love1 ye nay give thanks to the ,father through ,christ ,jesus1 that he has vouchsafed to bring a bishop of ,syria unto you1 being called from the east unto the west4 #h ,for it is good for me to turn from the world1 unto ,god2 that ,i may rise again unto him4 #i ,ye have never envied any one2 ye have taught others4 ,i would therefore that ye should now do those things yourselves1 which in your instructions you have prescribed to others4 #aj ,only pray for me1 that ,god would give me both inward and outward strength1 that ,i may not only say1 but will2 nor be only called a christian1 but be found one4 #aa ,for if ,i shall be found a christian1 ,i may then deservedly be called one2 and be thought faithful1 when ,i shall no longer appear to the world4 #ab ,nothing is good1 that is seen4 #ac ,for even our ,god1 ,jesus ,christ1 now that he is in the ,father1 does so much the more appear4 #ad ,a christian is not a work of opinion2 but of greatness of mind1 especially when he is hated by the world4 ,,chapter4 ,,ii4 ,expresses his great desire and determination to suffer martyrdom4 ,i ,,write to the churches1 and signify to them all1 that ,i am willing to die for ,god1 unless you hinder me4 #b ,i beseech you that you show not an unseasonable good will towards me4 ,suffer me to be food to the wild beasts1 by whom ,i shall attain unto ,god4 #c ,for ,i am the wheat of ,god1 and ,i shall be ground by the teeth of the wild-beasts1 that ,i may be found the pure bread of ,christ4 ,rather encourage the beasts1 that they may became my sepulchre1 and may let live nothing of my body2 that being dead ,i may not be troublesome to any4 #e ,then shall ,i be truly the disciple of ,jesus ,christ1 when the world shall not see so much as my body4 ,pray therefore unto ,christ for me1 that by these instruments ,i may be made the sacrifice of ,god4 #f ,i do not1 as ,peter and ,paul1 command you4 ,they were ,apostles1 ,i a condemned man2 they were free1 but ,i am even to this day a servant3 #g ,but if ,i shall suffer1 ,i shall then become the freeman of ,jesus ,christ1 and shall rise free4 ,and now1 being in bonds1 ,i learn not to desire any thing4 #h ,from ,syria even unto ,rome1 ,i fight with beasts both by sea and land2 both night and day3 being bound to ten leopards1 that is to say1 to such a band of soldiers1 who1 though treated with all manner of kindness1 are the worse for it4 #i ,but ,i am the more instructed by their injuries2 yet am ,i not therefore justified4 #aj ,may ,i enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me2 which also ,i wish may exercise all their fierceness upon me4 #aa ,and whom for that end ,i will encourage1 that they may be sure to devour me1 and not serve me as they have done some1 whom out of fear they have not touched4 ,but if they will not do it willingly1 ,i will provoke them to it4 #ab ,pardon me in this matter2 ,i know what is profitable for me1 now ,i begin to be a disciple4 ,not shall any thing move me whether visible or invisible1 that ,i may attain to ,jesus ,christ4 #ac ,let fire and the cross2 let the companies of wild beasts2 let breakings of bones1 and tearing of members2 let the shattering in pieces of the whole body1 and all the wicked torments of the devil come upon me2 only let me enjoy ,jesus ,christ4 #ad ,all the ends of the world1 and the kingdoms of it1 will profit me nothing3 ,i would rather die for ,jesus ,christ1 than rule to the utmost ends of the earth4 ,him ,i seek who died for us2 him ,i desire who rose again for us4 ,this is the gain that is laid up for me4 #ae ,pardon me1 my brethren1 ye shall not hinder me from living2 nor seeing ,i desire to go to ,god1 may you separate me from him1 for the sake of this world2--nor induce me by any of the desires of it4 ,suffer me to enter into pure light1 where being come1 ,i shall be indeed the servant of ,god4 #af ,permit me to imitate the passion of my ,god4 ,if any one has ,god within himself1 let him consider what ,i desire2 and let him have compassion on me1 as knowing how ,i am straightened4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,further expresses his desire to suffer4 ,,the prince of this world would fain carry me away1 and corrupt my resolution towards my ,god4 ,let none of you therefore help him2 rather do ye join with me1 that is1 with ,god4 #b ,do not speak with ,jesus ,christ1 and yet covet the world4 ,let not any envy dwell with you2 no1 not though ,i myself1 when ,i shall be come unto you1 should exhort you to it1 yet do not ye hearken to me2 but rather believe what ,i now write to you4 #c ,for though ,i am alive at the writing of this1 yet my desire is to die4 ,my love is crucified2 and the fire that is within me does not desire any water2 but being alive and springing within me1 says1 ,come to the ,father4 #d ,i take no pleasure in the food of corruption1 nor in the pleasures of this life4 #e ,i desire the bread of ,god which is the flesh of ,jesus ,christ1 of the seed of ,david2 and the drink that ,i long for is his blood1 which is incorruptible love4 #f ,i have no desire to live any longer after the manner of men2 neither shall ,i1 if you consent4 ,be ye therefore willing1 that ye yourselves also maybe pleasing to ,god4 ,i exhort you in a few words2 ,i pray you believe me4 #g ,jesus ,christ will shew you that ,i speak truly4 ,my mouth is without deceit1 and the ,father hath truly spoken by it4 ,pray therefore for me1 that ,i may accomplish what ,i desire4 #h ,i have not written to you after the flesh1 but according to the will of ,god4 ,if ,i shall suffer1 ye have loved me3 but if ,i shall be rejected1 ye have hated me4 #i ,remember in your prayers the church of ,syria1 which now enjoys ,god for its shepherd instead of me4 ,let ,jesus ,christ only oversee it1 and your charity4 #aj ,but ,i am even ashamed to be reckoned as one of them2 for neither am ,i worthy1 being the least among them1 and as one born out of due season4 ,but through mercy ,i have risen to be somebody1 if ,i shall get unto ,god4 #aa ,my spirit salutes you2 and the charity of the churches that have received me in the name of ,jesus ,christ2 not as a passenger1 for even they that were not near to me in the way1 have gone before me to the next city to meet me4 #ab ,these things ,i write to you from ,smyrna1 by the most worthy of the church of ,ephesus4 #ac ,there is now with me1 together with many others1 ,crocus1 most beloved of me4 ,as for those which are come from ,syria1 and are gone before me to ,rome1 to the glory of ,god1 ,i suppose you are not ignorant of them4 #ad ,ye shall therefore signify to them that ,i draw near1 for they1 are all worthy both of ,god and of you3 ,whom it is fit that you refresh in all things4 #ae ,this have ,i written to you1 the day before the ninth of the1 calends of ,september4 ,be strong unto the end1 in the patience of ,jesus ,christ4 ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,philadelphians4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,commends their bishop1 whom they had sent unto him1 warns them against division and schism4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to the church of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 which is at ,philadelphia in ,asia2 which has obtained mercy1 being fixed in the concord of ,god1 and rejoicing evermore in the passion of our ,lord1 and being fulfilled in all mercy through his resurrection3 ,which also ,i salute in the blood of ,jesus ,christ1 which is our eternal and undefiled joy2 especially if they are at unity with the bishop1 and presbyters who are with him1 and the deacons appointed according to the mind of ,jesus ,christ2 whom he has settled according to his own will in all firmness by his ,holy ,spirit3 #b ,which bishop ,i know obtained that great ministry among you1 not of himself1 neither by men1 nor out of vain glory2 but by the love of ,god the ,father1 and our ,lord ,jesus ,christ4 #c ,whose moderation ,i admire2 who by his silence is able to do more than others with all their vain talk4 ,for he is fitted to the commands1 as the harp to its strings4 #d ,wherefore my soul esteems his mind towards ,god most happy1 knowing it to be fruitful in all virtue1 and perfect2 full of constancy1 free from passion1 and according to all the moderation of the living ,god4 #e ,wherefore as becomes the children both of the light and of truth2 flee divisions and false doctrines2 but where your shepherd is1 there do ye1 as sheep1 follow after4 #f ,for there are many wolves who seem worthy of belief1 that with a false pleasure lead captive those that run in the course of ,god2 but in the concord they shall find no place4 #g ,abstain therefore from those evil herbs which ,jesus ,christ does not dress3 because such are not the plantation of the ,father4 ,not that ,i have found any division among you1 but rather all manner of purity4 #h ,for as many as are of ,god1 and of ,jesus ,christ1 are also with their bishop4 ,and as many as shall with repentance return into the unity of the church1 even these shall also be the servants of ,god1 that they may live according to ,jesus ,christ4 #i ,be not deceived brethren2 if any one follows him that makes a schism in the church1 he shall not inherit the kingdom of ,god4 ,if any one walks after any other opinion1 he agrees not with the passion of ,christ4 #aj ,wherefore let it be your endeavour to partake all of the same holy eucharist4 #aa ,for there is but one flesh of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 one cup in the unity of his blood2 and one altar2 #ab ,as also there is one bishop1 together with his presbytery1 and the deacons my fellow servants that so whatsoever ye do1 ye may do it according to the will of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 ,desires their prayers1 and to be united1 but not to ,judaize4 ,,my brethren1 the love ,i have towards you makes me the more large2 and having a great joy in you1 ,i endeavour to secure you against danger2 or rather not ,i1 but ,jesus ,christ2 in whom being bound1 ,i the more fear1 as being yet only on the way to suffering4 #b ,but your prayer to ,god shall make me perfect1 that ,i may attain to that portion1 which by ,god's mercy is allotted to me ,fleeing to the ,gospel as to the flesh of ,christ2 and to the ,apostles as to the presbytery of the church4 #c ,let us also love the prophets1 forasmuch as they have led us to the ,gospel1 and to hope in ,christ1 and to expect him4 #d ,in whom also believing they were saved in the unity of ,jesus ,christ2 being holy men1 worthy to be loved1 and had in wonder2 #e ,who have received testimony from ,jesus ,christ1 and are numbered in the ,gospel of our common hope4 #f ,but if any one shall preach the ,jewish law unto you1 hearken not unto him2 for it is better to receive the doctrine of ,christ from one that has been circumcised1 than ,judaism from one that has not4 #g ,but if either the one1 or other1 do not speak concerning ,christ ,jesus2 they seem to me to be but as monuments and sepulchres of the dead1 upon which are written only the names of men4 #h ,flee therefore the wicked arts and snares of the prince of this world2 lest at any time being oppressed by his cunning1 ye grow cold in your charity4 ,but come altogether into the same place1 with an undivided heart4 #i ,and ,i bless my ,god that ,i have a good conscience towards you1 and that no one among you has whereof to boast either openly or privately1 that ,i have been burthensome to him in much or little4 #aj ,and ,i wish to all1 among whom ,i have conversed1 that may not turn to a witness again them4 #aa ,for although some would have deceived me according to the flesh1 yet the spirit1 being from ,god1 is not deceived3 for it knows1 both whence it comes and whither it goes1 and reproves the secrets of the heart4 #ab ,i cried whilst ,i was among you2 ,i spake with a loud voice3 attend to the bishop1 and to the presbytery1 and to the deacons4 #ac ,now some supposed that ,i spake this as foreseeing the division that should come among you4 #ad ,but he is my witness for whose sake ,i am in bonds that ,i know nothing from any man4 ,but the spirit spake1 saying on this wise3 ,do nothing without the bishop3 #ae ,keep your bodies as the temples of ,god3 ,love unity2 ,flee divisions2 ,be the followers of ,christ1 as he was of his ,father4 #af ,i therefore did as became me1 as a man composed to unity for where there is division1 and wrath1 ,god dwelleth not4 #ag ,but the ,lord forgives all that repent1 if they return to the unity of ,god1 and to the council of the bishop4 #ah ,for ,i trust in the grace ,jesus ,christ that he will free you from every bond4 #ai ,nevertheless ,i exhort you that you do nothing out of strife but according to the instruction of ,christ4 #bj ,because ,i have heard some who say2 unless ,i find written in the originals1 ,i will not believe it to be written in the ,gospel4 ,and when ,i said1 ,it is written2 they answered from what lay before them in the corrupted copies4 #ba ,but to me ,jesus ,christ instead of all the uncorrupted monuments in the world2 together with those undefiled monuments1 his cross1 and death1 and resurrection1 and the faith which is by him2 by which ,i desire1 through your prayers1 to be justified4 #bb ,the priests indeed are good2 but much better is the ,high ,priest to whom the ,holy of ,holies has been committed2 and who alone has been intrusted with the secrets of ,god4 #bc ,he is the door of the ,father2 by which ,abraham1 and ,isaac1 and ,jacob1 and all the prophets1 enter in2 as well as the ,apostles1 and the church4 #bd ,and all these things tend to the unity which is of ,god4 ,howbeit the ,gospel has somewhat in it far above all other dispensations2 namely1 the appearance of our ,saviour1 the ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 his passion and resurrection4 #be ,for the beloved prophets referred to him2 but the ,gospel is the perfection of incorruption4 ,all therefore together are good1 if ye believe with charity4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 ,informs them he had heard that the persecution was stopped at ,antioch3 and directs them to send a messenger thither to congratulate with the church4 ,,now as concerning the church of ,antioch which is in ,syria1 seeing ,i am told that through your prayers and the bowels which ye have towards it in ,jesus ,christ1 it is in peace2 it will become you1 as the church of ,god1 to ordain some ,i deacon to go to them thither as the ambassador of ,god2 that he may rejoice with them when they meet together1 and glorify ,god's name4 #b ,blessed be that man in ,jesus1 ,christ1 who shall be found worthy of such a ministry2 and ye yourselves also shall be glorified4 #c ,now if you be willing1 it is not impossible for you to do this for the grace of ,god2 as also the other neighbouring churches have sent them some bishops1 some priests and some deacons4 #d ,as concerning ,philo the deacon of ,cilicia1 a most worthy man1 he still ministers unto me in the word of ,god3 together with ,rheus of ,agathopolis a singular good person1 who has followed me even from ,syria1 not regarding his life3 ,these also bear witness unto you4 #e ,and ,i myself give thanks to ,god for you1 that you receive them as the ,lord shall receive you4 ,but for those that dishonoured them1 may they be forgiven through the grace of ,jesus ,christ4 #f ,the charity of the brethren that are at ,troas salutes you3 from whence also ,i now write by ,burrhurs1 who was sent together with me by those of ,ephesus and ,smyrna1 for respect sake4 #g ,may our ,lord ,jesus ,christ honour them2 in whom they hope1 both in flesh1 and soul1 and spirit2 in faith1 in love1 in unity4 ,fare-well in ,christ ,jesus our common hope4 ,,ignatius ,,to ,,the ,,smyrneans4 ,,chapter ,i4 #a ,declares his joy for their firmness in the ,gospel4 #d ,enlarges on the person of ,christ1 against such as pretend that ,christ did not suffer4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theohorus1 to the church of ,god the ,father1 and of the beloved ,jesus ,christ1 which ,god hath mercifully blessed with every good gift2 being filled with faith and charity1 so that it is wanting in no gift2 most worthy of ,god1 and fruitful in saints2 the church which is at ,smyrna in ,asia2 all through his immaculate spirit1 through word of ,god4 #b ,i glorify ,god1 even ,jesus ,christ1 who has given you such wisdom4 #c ,for ,i have observed that you are settled in an immoveable faith1 as if you were nailed to the cross of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 both in the flesh and in the spirit2 and are confirmed in love through the blood of ,christ2 being fully persuaded of those things which relate unto our ,lord4 #d ,who truly was of the race of ,david according to the flesh1 but the ,son of ,god according to the will and power of ,god2 truly born of the ,virgin1 and baptised of ,john2 that so all righteousness might be fulfilled by him4 #e ,he was also truly crucified by ,pontius ,pilate1 and ,herod the ,tetrarch1 being nailed for us in the flesh2 by the fruits of which we are1 even by his most blessed ,passion2 #f ,that he might set up a token for all ages through his resurrection1 to all his holy and faithful servants1 whether they be ,jews or ,gentiles1 in one body of his church4 #g ,now all these things he suffered for us that we might be saved2 and he suffered truly1 as he also truly raised up himself2 and not1 as some unbelievers say1 that he only seemed to suffer2 they themselves 'only seeming to be4' #h ,and as they believe so shall it happen unto them1 when being divested of the body they shall become mere spirits4 #i ,but ,i know that even after his resurrection he was in the flesh2 and ,i believe that he is still so4 #aj ,and when he came to those who were with ,peter1 he said unto them1 ,take1 handle me1 and see that ,i am not an incorporeal daemon4 ,and straightway they felt and believed2 being convinced both by his flesh and spirit4 #aa ,for this cause they despised death1 and were bound to be above it4 #ab ,but after his resurrection he did eat and drink with them1 as he was flesh2 although as to his ,spirit he was united to the ,father4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,exhorts them against heretics4 #h ,the danger of their doctrine4 ,,now these things1 beloved1 ,i put you in mind of1 not questioning but that you yourselves also believe that they are so4 #b ,but ,i arm you before-hand against certain beasts in the shape of men1 whom you must not only not receive1 but if it be possible must not meet with4 #c ,only you must pray for them1 that if it be the will of ,god they may repent2 which yet will be very hard4 ,but of this our ,lord ,jesus ,christ has the power1 who is our true life4 #d ,for if all these things were done only in show by our ,lord1 then do ,i also seem only to be bound3 #e ,and why have ,i given up myself to death1 to the fire1 to the sword1 to wild beasts8 #f ,but now the nearer ,i am to the sword1 the nearer ,i am to ,god3 when ,i shall come among the wild beasts1 ,i shall come to ,god4 #g ,only in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 ,i undergo all1 to suffer together with him2 he who was made a perfect man strengthening1 me4 #h ,whom some not knowing1 do deny2 or rather have been denied by him1 being the advocates of death1 rather than of the truth4 ,whom neither the prophecies1 nor the law of ,moses have persuaded2 nor the ,gospel itself1 even to this day2 nor the sufferings of every one of us4 #i ,for they think also the same things of us4 ,for what does a man profit me1 if he shall praise me1 and blaspheme my ,lord2 not confessing that he was truly made man8 #aj ,now he that doth not say this1 does in effect deny him1 and is in death4 ,but for the names of such as do this1 they being unbelievers1 ,i thought it not fitting to write them unto you4 #aa ,yea1 ,god forbid that ,i should make any mention of them1 till they shall repent to a true belief of ,christ's passion1 which is our resurrection4 #ab ,let no man deceive himself2 both the things which are in heaven1 and the glorious angels1 and princes1 whether visible or invisible1 if they believe not in the blood of ,christ1 it shall be to them1 unto condemnation4 #ac ,he that is able to receive this1 let him receive it4 ,let no man's place or state in the world puff him up3 that which is worth all his faith and charity1 to it nothing is to be preferred4 #ad ,but consider those who are of a different opinion from us1 as to what concerns the grace of ,jesus ,christ which is come unto us1 how contrary they are to the design of ,god4 #ae ,they have no regard to charity1 no care of the widow1 the fatherless1 and the oppressed2 of the bond or free1 of the hungry or thirsty4 #af ,they abstain from the eucharist1 and from the public offices2 because they confess not the eucharist to be the flesh of our ,saviour ,jesus ,christ which suffered for our sins1 and which the ,father of his goodness raised again from the dead4 #ag ,and for this cause contradicting the gift of ,god1 they die in their disputes2 but much better would it be for them to receive it1 that they might one day rise through it4 #ah ,it will therefore become you4 to abstain from such persons1 and not to speak with them1 neither in public nor in private4 #ai ,but to hearken to the prophets1 and especially to the ,gospel1 in which both ,christ's passion is manifested unto us1 and his resurrection perfectly declared4 #bj ,but flee all divisions1 as the beginning of evils4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,exhorts them to follow their bishop and pastors2 but especially their bishop4 #f ,thanks them for their kindness1 #aa and acquaints them with the ceasing of the persecution at ,antioch4 ,,see that ye all follow your bishop1 as ,jesus ,christ1 the ,father2 and the presbytery1 as the ,apostles2 and reverence the deacons1 as the command of ,god4 #b ,let no man do any thing of what belongs to the church separately from the bishop4 #c ,let that eucharist be looked upon as well established1 which is either offered by the bishop1 or by him to whom the bishop has given4 his consent4 #d ,wheresoever the bishop shall appear1 there let the people also be3 as where ,jesus ,christ is1 there is the ,catholic church4 #e ,it is not lawful without the bishop2 neither to baptize1 nor to celebrate the ,holy ,communion but whatsoever he shall approve of1 that is also pleasing unto ,god2 that so whatever is done1 may be sure and well done4 #f ,for what remains1 it is very reasonable that we should repent whilst there is yet time to return unto ,god4 #g ,it is a good thin to have a due regard both to ,god1 and to the bishop3 he that honours the bishop1 shall be honoured of ,god2 but he that does any thing without his knowledge1 ministers unto the devil4 #h ,let all things therefore abound to you in charity2 seeing that ye are worthy4 #i ,ye have refreshed me in all things2 so shall ,jesus ,christ you4 ,ye have loved me both when ,i was present with you1 and now being absent1 ye cease not to do so4 #aj ,may ,god be your reward1 for whom whilst ye undergo all things1 ye shall attain unto him4 #aa ,ye have done well in that ye have received ,philo1 and ,rheus ,agathopus1 who followed me for the word of ,god1 as the deacons of ,christ our ,god4 #ab ,who also gave thanks unto the ,lord for you1 forasmuch as ye have refreshed them in all things4 ,nor shall any thing that you have done be lost to you4 #ac ,my soul be for yours1 and my bonds which ye have not despised1 nor been ashamed of4 ,wherefore neither shall4 ,jesus ,christ1 our perfect faith1 be ashamed of you4 #ad ,your prayer is come to the church of ,antioch1 which is in ,syria4 ,from whence being sent bound with chains becoming ,god4 ,i salute the churches2 being not worthy to be called from thence1 as being the least among them4 #ae ,nevertheless by the will of ,god ,i have been thought worthy of this honour2 not for that ,i think ,i have deserved it1 but by the grace of ,god2 #af ,which ,i wish may be perfectly given unto me1 that through your prayers ,i may attain unto ,god4 #ag ,and therefore1 that your work may be fully accomplished1 both upon earth and in heaven2 it will be fitting1 and for the honour of ,god1 that your church appoint some worthy deldgate1 who being come as far as ,syria1 may rejoice together with them that they are in peace2 and that they are again restored to their former state1 and have again received their proper body4 #ah ,wherefore ,i should think it a worthy action1 to send some one from you with an epistle1 to congratulate with them their peace in ,god2 and that through your prayers1 they have now gotten to their harbour4 #ai ,for inasmuch as ye are perfect yourselves1 you ought to think those things that are perfect4 ,for when you are desirous to do well1 ,god is ready to enable you there4 unto4 #bj ,the love of the brethren that are at ,troas salute you2 from whence ,i write to you by ,burrhus whom ye sent with me1 together with the ,ephesians1 your brethren2 and who has in all ,things refreshed me4 #ba ,and ,i would to ,god that all would imitate him1 as being a pattern of the ministry of ,god4 ,may his grace fully reward him4 #bb ,i salute your very worthy bishop1 and your venerable presbytery2 and your deacons1 my fellow-servants2 and all of you in general1 and every one in particular1 in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 and in his flesh and blood2 in his passion and resurrection both fleshly and spiritually2 and in the unity of ,god with you4 #bc ,grace be with you1 and mercy1 and peace1 and patience1 for evermore4 #bd ,i salute the families of my brethren1 with their wives and children2 and the virgins that are called widows4 ,be strong in the power of the ,holy ,ghost4 ,philo1 who is present with me salutes you4 #be ,i salute the house of ,tavias1 and pray that it may be strengthened in faith and charity1 both of flesh and spirit4 #bf ,i salute ,alce my well-beloved1 together with the incomparable ,daphnus1 and ,eutechnus1 and all by name4 #bg ,farewell in the grace of ,god4 ,,ignatius ,,to ,,polycarp ,,chapter ,i4 ,ignatius blesses ,god for the firm1 establishment of ,polycarp in the faith1 and gives him particular directions for improving it4 ,,ignatius1 who is also called ,theophorus1 to ,polycarp1 bishop of the church which is at ,smyrna2 their overseer1 but rather himself overlooked by ,god the ,father1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 all happiness4 #b ,having known that thy mind towards ,god1 is fixed as it were upon an immoveable rock2 ,i exceedingly give thanks1 that ,i have been thought worthy to behold thy blessed face1 in which may ,i always rejoice in ,god4 #c ,wherefore ,i beseech thee by the grace of ,god with which thou art clothed1 to press forward in thy course1 and to exhort all others that they may be saved4 #d ,maintain thy place with all care both of flesh and spirit3 ,make it thy endeavour to preserve unity1 than which nothing is better4 ,bear with all men even as the ,lord with thee4 #e ,support all in love1 as also thou dost4 ,pray without ceasing ask more understanding than what thou already hast4 ,be watchful1 having thy spirit always awake4 #f ,speak to every one according as ,god shall enable thee4 ,bear the infirmities of all1 as a perfect combatant2 where the labour is great1 the gain is the more4 #g ,if thou shalt love the good disciples1 what thank is it8 ,but rather do thou subject to thee those that are mischievous1 in meekness4 #h ,every wound is not healed with the same plaister3 if the accessions of the disease be vehement1 modify them with soft remedies3 be in all things wise as a serpent1 but harmless as a dove4 #i ,for this cause thou art composed of flesh and spirit2 that thou mayest modify those things that appear before thy face4 #aj ,and as for those that are not seen1 pray to ,god that he would reveal them into thee1 that so thou mayest be wanting in nothing1 but mayest abound in every gift4 #aa ,the times demand thee1 as the pilots the winds2 and be that is tossed in a tempest1 the haven where he would be4 #ab ,that thou mayest attain unto ,god1 be sober as the combatant of ,god4 ,the crown proposed to thee is immortality1 and eternal life3 concerning which thou art also fully persuaded4 ,i will be thy surety in all things1 by my bonds1 which thou halt loved4 #ac ,let not those that seem worthy of credit1 but teach other doctrines1 disturb thee4 ,stand firm and immoveable1 as an anvil when it is beaten upon4 #ad ,it is the part of a brave combatant to be wounded1 and yet overcome4 ,but especially we ought to endure all things for ,god's sake1 that he may bear with us4 #ae ,be every day better than others2 consider the times1 and expect him1 who is above all time1 eternal2 invisible1 though for our sakes made visible3 impalpable1 and impassible1 yet for us subjected to sufferings2 enduring all manner of ways for our salvation4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #a ,continues his advice1 #f and teaches him how to advise others4 #ab ,enforces unity and subjection to the bishop4 ,,let not the widows be neglected3 be thou after ,god1 their ,guardian4 #b ,let nothing be done without thy knowledge and consent2 neither do thou anything but according to the will of ,god2 as also thou dost1 with all constancy4 #c ,let your assemblies be more full3 inquire into all by name4 #d ,overlook not the men and maid servants2 neither let them be puffed up3 but rather let them be the more subject to the glory of ,god1 that they may obtain from him a better liberty4 #e ,let them not desire to be set free at the public cost1 that they be not slaves to their own lusts4 #f ,flee evil arts2 or rather make not any mention of them4 #g ,say to my sisters1 that they love the ,lord2 and be satisfied with their own husbands1 both in the flesh and spirit4 #h ,in like manner1 exhort my brethren in the name of ,jesus ,christ1 that they love their wives1 even as the ,lord the church4 #i ,if any man can remain in a virgin state1 to the honour of the flesh of ,christ1 let him remain without boasting2 but if he boast1 he is undone4 ,and if he desire to be more taken notice of than the bishop he is corrupted4 #aj ,but it becomes all such as are married1 whether men or women1 to come together with the consent of the bishop1 that so their marriage may be according to godliness1 and not in lust4 #aa ,let all things be done to the honour of ,god4 #ab ,hearken unto the bishop1 that ,god also may hearken unto you4 ,my soul be security for them that submit to their bishop1 with their presbyters and deacons4 ,and may my portion be together with theirs in ,god4 #ac ,labour with one another2 contend together1 run together1 suffer together2 sleep together1 and rise together2 as the stewards1 and assessors1 and ministers of ,god4 #ad ,please him under whom ye war2 and from whom ye receive your wages4 ,let none of you be found a deserter2 but let your baptism remain1 as your arms2 your faith1 as your helmet2 your charity1 as your spear2 your patience1 as your whole armour4 #ae ,let your works be your charge1 that so you may receive a suitable reward4 ,be long suffering therefore towards each other in meekness2 as ,god is towards you4 #af ,let me have joy of you in all things4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,greets ,polycarp on the peace of the church at ,antioch3 #b and desires him to write to that and other churches4 ,,now forasmuch as the church of ,antioch in ,lyria is1 as ,i am told1 in peace through your prayers2 ,i also have been the more comforted1 and without care in ,god2 if so be that by suffering1 ,i shall attain unto ,god2 and through your prayers ,i may be found a disciple of ,christ4 #b ,it will be very fit1 ,o most worthy ,polycarp1 to call a select council1 and choose some one whom ye particularly love1 and who is patient of labour3 that he may be the messenger of ,god2 and that going unto ,syria1 he may glorify your incessant love1 to the praise of ,christ4 #c ,a ,christian has not the power of himself2 but must be always at leisure for ,god's service4 ,now this work is both ,god's and our's2 when ye shall have perfected it4 #d ,for ,i trust through the grace of ,god that ye are ready to every good work that is fitting for you in the ,lord4 #e ,knowing therefore your earnest affection for the truth1 ,i have exhorted you by these short letters4 #f ,but forasmuch as ,i have not been able to write to all the churches1 because ,i must suddenly sail from ,troas to ,neapolis2 7for so is the command of those to whose pleasure ,i am subject27 do you write to the churches that are near you1 as being instructed in the will of ,god1 that they also may do in like manner4 #g ,let those that are able send messengers2 and let the rest send their letters by those who shall be sent by you3 that you may be glorified to all eternity1 of which you are worthy4 #h ,i salute all by name2 particularly the wife of ,epitropus with all her house and children4 ,i salute ,attalus my well-beloved4 #i ,i salute him who shall be thought worthy to be sent by you into ,syria4 ,let grace be ever with him1 and with ,polycarp who sends him4 #aj ,i wish you all happiness in our ,god1 ,jesus ,christ2 in whom continue1 in the unity and protection of ,god4 #aa ,i salute ,alce my well- beloved4 ,farewell in the ,lord4 ,,references ,,to ,,the ,,seven ,,epistles ,,of ,,ignatius1 ,the ,epistles of ,ignatius are translated by ,archbishop ,wake from the text of ,vossius4 ,he says that there were considerable difference in the editions2 the best for a long time extant containing fabrications1 and the genuine being altered and corrupted4 ,archbishop ,usher printed old ,latin translations of them at ,oxford1 in #afdd4 ,at ,amsterdam1 two years afterwards1 ,vossius printed six of them in their ancient and pure ,greek2 and the seventh1 greatly amended from the ancient ,latin version1 was ,printed at ,paris1 by ,ruinart1 in #afhi1 in the ,acts and ,martyrdom of ,ignatius1 from a ,greek uninterpolated copy4 ,these are supposed to form the collection that ,polycarp made of the ,epistles of ,ignatius1 mentioned by ,irenaes1 ,origen1 ,eusebius1 ,jerome1 ,athanasius1 ,theodoret1 and other ancients3 but many learned men have imagined all of them to be apocryphal4 ,this supposition1 the piety of ,arch-bishop ,wake1 and his persuasion of their utility to the faith of the church1 will not permit him to entertain3 hence he has taken great pains to render the present translation acceptable1 by adding numerous readings and references to the ,canonical ,books4 ,,the ,,epistle ,,of ,,polycarp ,,to ,,the ,,philippians4 ,the genuineness of this ,epistle is controverted1 but implicitly believed by ,arch-bishop ,wake1 whose translation is below4 ,there is also a translation by ,dr4 ,cave attached to his life of ,polycarp4 ,,chapter ,i4 ,polycarp commends the ,philippians for their respect to those who suffered for the ,gospel2 and for their own faith4 ,,polycarp1 and the presbyters that are with him1 to the church of ,god which is at ,philippi2 mercy unto you1 and peace from ,god ,almighty1 and the ,lord ,jesus ,christ our ,saviour1 be multiplied4 #b ,i rejoiced greatly with you in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 that ye received the images of a true love1 and accompanied1 as it behoved you1 those who were in bonds1 becoming saints2 which are the crowns of such as are truly chosen by ,god and our ,lord3 #c ,as also that the root of the faith which was preached from ancient times1 remains firm in you to this day2 and brings forth fruit to our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 who suffered himself to be brought even to the death for our sins3 #d ,whom ,god hath raised up1 having loosed the pains of death4 ,whom having not seen1 ye love2 in whom though now ye see him not1 yet believing1 ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory4 #e ,into which many desire to enter2 ,i knowing that by grace ye are saved2 not by works1 but by the will of ,god through ,jesus ,christ4 #f ,wherefore girding up the loins of your minds2 ,i serve the ,lord with fear1 and in truth2 laying aside all empty and vain speech1 and the errors of many2 believing in him that raised up our ,lord ,jesus ,christ from the dead1 and hath given him glory and a throne at his right hand4 #g ,to whom all things are made subject1 both that are in heaven1 and that are in earth2 whom every living creature shall worship2 who shall come to be the judge of the quick and dead3 whose blood ,god shall require of them that believe not in him4 #h ,but he that raised up ,christ from the dead1 shall also raise up us in like manner1 if we do his will1 and walk according to his commandments2 and love those things which he loved3 #i ,abstaining from all unrighteousness2 inordinate affection1 and love of money2 from evil4 speaking2 false witness2 not rendering evil for evil1 or railing for railing1 or striking for striking1 or cursing for cursing3 #aj ,but remembering what the ,lord has taught us saying1 ,judge not1 and ye shall not be judged2 forgive and ye shall be forgiven2 be ye merciful1 and ye shall obtain mercy2 for with the same measure that ye meet withal1 it shall be measured to you again4 #aa ,and again2 ,blessed are the poor1 and they that are persecuted for righteousness sake2 for theirs is the kingdom of ,god4 ,,chapter ,,ii4 #b ,exhorts to ,faith1 ,hope1 and ,charity4 #e ,against covetousness1 and as to the duties of husbands1 wives1 widows1 #i deacons1 young men1 virgins1 and presbyters4 ,,these things1 my brethren1 ,i took not the liberty of myself to write unto you concerning righteousness1 but you yourselves before encouraged me to it4 #b ,for neither can i1 nor any other such as ,i am1 come up to the wisdom of the blessed and renowned ,paul2 who being himself in person with those who then lived1 did with all exactness and soundness teach the word of truth2 and being gone from you wrote an epistle to you4 #c ,into which if you look1 you will be able to edify yourselves in the faith that has been delivered unto you1 which is the mother of us all2 being followed with hope1 and led on by a general love1 both towards ,god and towards ,christ1 and towards our neighbour4 #d ,for if any man has these things1 he has fulfilled the law of righteousness3 for he that has charity is far from all sin4 #e ,but the love of money is the root of all evil4 ,knowing therefore that as we brought nothing into this world1 so neither may we carry any thing out2 let us arm ourselves with the armour of righteousness4 #f ,and teach ourselves first to walk according to the commandments of the ,lord2 and then your wives to walk likewise according to the faith that is given to them2 in charity1 and in purity2 loving their own husbands1 with all sincerity1 and all others alike1 with all temperance2 and to bring up their children in the instruction and fear of the ,lord4 #g ,the widows likewise teach that they be sober as to what concerns the faith of the ,lord3 praying always for all men2 being far from all detraction1 evil speaking1 false witness2 from covetousness1 and from all evil4 #h ,knowing that they are the altars of ,god1 who sees all blemishes1 and from whom nothing is hid2 who searches out the very reasonings1 and thoughts1 and secrets of our hearts4 #i ,knowing therefore that ,god is not mocked1 we ought to walk worthy both of his command and of his glory4 #aj ,also the deacons must be blameless before him1 as the ministers of ,god in ,christ1 and not of men4 ,not false mousers1 not double tongued1 not lovers of money2 but moderate in all things2 compassionate1 careful2 walking according to the truth of the ,lord1 who was the servant of all4 #aa ,whom if we please in this present world1 we shall also be made partakers of that which is to come1 according as he has promised to us1 that he will raise us from the dead2 and that if we shall walk worthy of him1 we shall also reign together with him1 if we believe4 #ab ,in like manner the younger men must be unblameable in all things2 above all1 taking care of their purity1 and to restrain themselves from all evil4 ,for it is good to be cut off from the lusts that are in the world2 because every such lust warreth against the spirit3 and neither fornicators1 nor effeminate1 nor abusers of themselves with mankind1 shall inherit the kingdom of ,god2 nor they who do such things as are foolish and unreasonable4 #ac ,wherefore ye must needs abstain from all these things1 being subject to the priests and deacons1 as unto ,god and ,christ4 #ad ,the virgins admonish to walk in a spotless and pure conscience4 #ae ,and let the elders be compassionate and merciful towards all2 turning them from their errors2 seeking out those that are weak2 not forgetting the widows1 the fatherless1 and the poor2 but always providing what is good both in the sight of ,god and man4 #af ,abstaining from all wrath1 respect of persons1 and unrighteous judgment2 and especially being free from all covetousness4 #ag ,not easy to believe anything against any2 not severe in judgment2 knowing that we are all debtors in point of sin4 #ah ,if therefore we pray to the ,lord that he would forgive us1 we ought also to forgive others2 for we are all in the sight of our ,lord and ,god2 a and must all stand before the judgment-seat of ,christ2 and shall every one give an account of himself4 #ai ,let us therefore serve him in fear1 and with all reverence as both himself hath commanded2 and as the ,apostles who have preached the ,gospel unto us1 and the prophets who have foretold the coming of our ,lord have taught us3 #bj ,being zealous of what is good2 abstaining from all offence1 and from false brethren2 and from those who bear the name of ,christ in hypocrisy2 who deceive vain men4 ,,chapter ,,iii4 #a ,as to faith in our ,saviour ,christ2 his nature and sufferings1 the resurrection and judgment4 #c ,exhorts to prayer #e and steadfastness in the faith1 from the examples of ,christ1 #g and ,apostles and saints1 and exhorts to carefulness in all well-doing4 ,,for whosoever does not confess that ,jesus ,christ is come in the flesh1 he is ,antichrist3 and whoever does not confess his suffering upon the cross1 is from the devil4 #b ,and whosoever perverts the oracles of the ,lord to his own lusts1 and says that there shall4 neither be any resurrection1 nor judgment1 he is the first-born of ,satan4 #c ,wherefore leaving the vanity of many1 and their false doctrines2 let us return to the word that was delivered to us from the beginning3 ,watching unto prayer2 and persevering in fasting2 #d ,with supplication beseeching the all seeing ,god not to lead us into temptation2 as the ,lord hath said1 ,the spirit is truly willing1 but the flesh is weak4 #e ,let us therefore without ceasing hold steadfastly to him who is our hope1 and the earnest of our righteousnes1 even ,jesus ,christ2 ,who1 his own self1 bare our sins in his own body on the tree3 who did no sin1 neither was guile found in his mouth2 but suffered all for us that we might live through him4 #f ,let us therefore imitate his patience2 and if we suffer for his name1 let us glorify him2 for this example he has given us by himself1 and so have we believed4 #g ,wherefore ,i exhort all of you that ye obey the word of righteousness1 and exercise all patience2 which ye have seen set forth before your eyes1 not only in the blessed ,ignatius1 and ,zozimus1 and ,rufus2 but in others among yourselves2 and in ,paul himself1 and the rest of the ,apostles3 #h ,being confident of this1 that all these have not run in vain1 but in faith and righteousness2 and are gone to the place that was due to them from the ,lord2 with whom also they suffered4 #i ,for they loved not this present world2 but him who died1 and was raised again by ,god for us4 #aj ,stand therefore in these things1 and follow the example of the ,lord2 being firm and immutable in the faith1 lovers of the brotherhood1 lovers of one another3 companions together in the truth1 being kind and gentle towards each other1 despising none4 #aa ,when it is in your power to do good defer it not1 for charity delivered from death4 #ab ,be all of you subject one to another1 having your conversation honest among the ,gentiles2 that by your good works1 both ye yourselves may receive praise1 and the ,lord may not be blasphemed through you4 ,but woe be to him by whom the name of the ,lord is blasphemed4 #ac ,therefore teach all men sobriety2 in which do ye also exercise yourselves4 ,,chapter ,,iv4 ,valens1 a presbyter1 having fallen into the sin of covetousness1 he exhorts them against it4 ,i am greatly afflicted for ,valens1 who was once a presbyter among you2 that he should so little understand the place that was given to him in the church1 ,wherefore ,i admonish you that ye abstain from covetousness2 and that ye be chaste1 and true of speech4 #b ,keep yourselves from all evil4 ,for he that in these things cannot govern himself1 how shall he be able to prescribe them to another8 #c ,if a man does not keep himself from covetousness1 he shall be polluted with idolatry1 and be judged as if he were a ,gentile4 #d ,but who of you are ignorant of the judgment of ,god8 ,do we not know that the saints shall judge the world1 as ,paul teaches8 #e ,but ,i have neither perceived nor heard anything of this kind in you1 among whom the blessed ,paul laboured2 and who are named in the beginning of his ,epistle4 #f ,for he glories of you in all the churches who then only knew ,god2 for we did not then know him4 ,wherefore1 my brethren1 ,i am exceedingly sorry both for him and for his wife2 to whom ,god grant a true repentance4 #g ,and be ye also moderate upon this occasion2 and look not upon such as enemies1 but call them back as suffering and erring members1 that ye may save your whole body3 for by so doing1 ye shall edify your own selves4 #h ,for ,i trust that ye are well exercised in the ,holy ,scriptures1 and that nothing is hid from you but at present it is not granted unto me to practise that which is written1 ,be angry and sin not2 and again1 ,let not the sun go down upon your wrath4 #i ,blessed be he that believeth and remembereth these things2 which also ,i trust you do4 #aj ,now the ,god and ,father of our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and he himself who is our everlasting high-priest1 the ,son of ,god1 even ,jesus ,christ1 build you up in faith and in truth1 and in all meekness and lenity2 in patience and long- suffering1 in forbearance and chastity3 #aa ,and grant unto you a lot and portion among his saints1 and us with you2 and to all that are under the heavens1 who shall believe in our ,lord ,jesus ,christ1 and in his ,father who raised him from the dead4 #ab ,pray for all the saints3 pray also for kings1 and all that are in authority2 and for those who persecute you1 and hate you1 and for the enemies of the cross2 that your fruit may be manifest in all2 and that ye may be perfect in ,christ4 #ac ,ye wrote to me1 both ye1 and also ,ignatius1 that if any one went from hence into ,syria1 he should bring your letters with him2 which also ,i will take care of1 as soon as ,i shall have a convenient opportunity2 either by myself1 or him whom ,i shall send upon your account4 #ad ,the ,epistle of ,ignatius1 which he wrote unto us1 together with what others of his have come to our hands1 we have sent to you1 according to your order2 which are subjoined to this ,epistle3 #ae ,by which we may be greatly profited2 for they treat of faith and patience1 and of all things that pertain to edification in the ,lord ,jesus4 #af ,what you know certainly of ,ignatius1 and those that are with him1 signify to us4 #ag ,these things have ,i written unto you by ,crescens1 whom by this present ,epistle ,i have recommended to you1 and do now again commend4 #ah ,for he has had his conversation without blame among us2 and ,i suppose also with you4 #ai ,ye will also have regard unto his sister when she shall come unto you4 #bj ,be ye safe in the ,lord ,jesus ,christ2 and in favour with all yours4 ,amen4