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is one God who has manifested himself by Jesus Christ his Son; who is his eternal Word, not coming forth from silence, who in all things pleased him that sent him. [John i. 1.]

9. Wherefore if they who were brought up in these ancient laws came nevertheless to the newness of hope; no longer observing Sabbaths, but keeping the Lord's day, in which also our life is sprung up by him, and through his death, whom yet some deny (by which mystery we have been brought to believe, and therefore wait that we may be found the disciples of Jesus Christ, our only master:) how shall we be able to live different from him; whose disciples the very prophets themselves being, did by the Spirit expect him as their master. And therefore he whom they justly waited for, being come, raised them up from the dead. [Mat. xxvii. 52.]

10. Let us not then be insensible of his goodness; for should he have dealt with us according to our works, we had not now had a being. Wherefore being become his disciples, let us learn to live according to the rules of Christianity: for whosoever is called by any other name besides this, he is not of God. Lay aside therefore the old, and sour, and evil leaven; and be changed into the new leaven, which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in him, lest any one among you should be corrupted; for by your Saviour ye shall be judged. It is absurd to name Jesus Christ, and to Judaize.For the Christian religion did not embrace the Jewish, but the Jewish the Christian; that so every tongue that believed might be gathered together unto God.

11. These things, my beloved, I write unto you; not that I know of any among you that lie under this error: but as one of the least among you, I am desirous to forwarn you that ye fall not into the snares of vain doctrine. but that ye be fully instructed in the birth and suffering, and resurrection of Jesus Christ our hope; which was accomplished in the time of the government of Pontius Pilate, and that most truly and certainly; and from which God forbid that any among you should be turned aside.

12. May I therefore have joy of you in all things, if I shall be worthy of it. For though I am bound, yet am I 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 Christ in your hearts. And especially when I commend you, I know that ye are ashamed, as it is written, the just man condemneth himself. [Prov. xviii. 17. Sept.]

13. Study therefore to be confirmed in the doctrine of our Lord, and of his Apostles; that so whatsoever ye do, ye may prosper both in body and spirit; in faith and charity; in the Son, and in the Father, and in the Holy Spirit; in the beginning, and in the end: together with your most worthy Bishop, and the wellwrought spiritual crown of your Presbytery; and your deacons which are according to God. Be subject to your Bishop, and to one another, as Jesus Christ to the Father according to the flesh: and the Apostles both to Christ, and to the Father, and to the Holy Ghost; that so ye may be united both in body and Spirit.

14. Knowing you to be full of God, I have the more briefly ex

horted you. Be mindful of me in your prayers, that I may attain unto God; and of the Church that is in Syria, from which I am not worthy to be called. For I stand in need of your joint prayers in God, and of your charity, that the Church which is in Syria may be thought worthy to be nourished by your Church.

15. The Ephesians from Smyrna salute you, from which place I write unto you; (being present here to the glory of God, in like manner as you are,) who have in all things refreshed me: together with Polycarp the Bishop of the Smyrneans. The rest of the Churches, in the honour of Jesus Christ, salute you. Farewell, and be ye strengthened in the concord of God; enjoying his inseparable Spirit, which is Jesus Christ.

TO THE MAGNESIANS.

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EPISTLE OF ST. IGNATIUS

TO THE TRALLIANS.

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to the holy Church which is at Tralles in Asia; beloved of God, the Father of Jesus Christ; elect, and worthy of God, having peace through the flesh, and blood, and passion of Jesus Christ our hope; in the resurrection which is by him: which also I salute in its fulness, continuing in the Apostolical character; wishing all joy and happiness unto it.

1. I HAVE heard of your blameless and constant disposition through patience, which not only appears in your outward conversation, but is naturally rooted, and grounded in you: in like manner as Polybius your Bishop has declared unto me; who came to me to Smyrna, by the will of God and Jesus Christ; and so rejoiced together with me in my bonds for Jesus Christ, that in effect I saw your whole Church in him. Having therefore received the testimony of your good will towards me for God's sake, by him; I seemed to find you, as also I knew that ye were, the followers of God.

2. For whereas ye are subject to your Bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye appear to me to live not after the manner of men, but according to Jesus Christ; who died for us, that so believing in his death, ye might escape death. It is therefore necessary, that as ye do, so without your Bishop you should do nothing: also be yz subject to your Presbyters, as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our hope; in whom if we walk, we shall be found in him. The deacons also, as being the ministers of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, must by all means please all. For they are not the ministers of meat and drink, but of the Church of God. Wherefore they must avoid all offences, as they would do fire.

3. In like manner let all reverence the deacons as Jesus Christ; and the Bishop as the Father, and the Presbyters as the Sanhedrim.

of God and

Church. Concerning all which I am persuaded that ye think after the very same manner: for I have received, and even now have with me the pattern of your love, in your Bishop. Whose very look is instructive; and whose mildness powerful; whom I am persuaded the very atheists themselves cannot but reverence. But because I have a love towards you, I will not write any more sharply unto you about this matter, though I very well might; but now I have done so; lest being a condemned man, I should seem to prescribe to you as an Apostle.

4. I have great knowledge in God; but I refrain myself, lest I should perish in my boasting. For now I ought the more to fear, and not hearken to those that would puff me up. For they that speak to me, in my praise, chasten me. For I indeed desire to

suffer, but I cannot tell whether I am worthy so to do. And this desire, though to others it does not appear, yet to myself it is for that very reason the more violent. I have therefore need of moderation; by which the prince of this world is destroyed.

5. Am I not able to write to you of heavenly things? but I fear lest I should harm you, who are yet but babes in Christ: (excuse me this care,) and lest perchance being not able to receive them, ye should be choaked with them. For even I myself, although I am in bonds, yet am not therefore able to understand heavenly things: as the places of the Angels, and the several companies of them, under their respective princes; things visible and invisible; but in these I am yet a learner; for many things are wanting to us, that we come not short of God.

6. I exhort you therefore, or rather not I, but the love of Jesus Christ, that ye use none but Christian nourishment; abstaining from pasture which is of another kind, I mean heresy. For they that are heretics, confound together the doctrine of Jesus Christ, with their own poison; whilst they seem worthy of belief: as men give a deadly portion mixed with sweet wine; which he who is ignorant of, does with the treacherous pleasure sweetly drink in his own death.

7. Wherefore guard yourselves against such persons. And that you will do if you are not puffed up; but continue inseparable from Jesus Christ our God, and from your Bishop, and from the commands of the Apostles. He that is within the altar is pure; but he that is without, that is, that does any thing without the Bishop, and Presbyters, and Deacons, is not pure in his conscience.

8. Not that I know there is any thing of this nature among you; but I fore-arm you, as being greatly beloved by me, forseeing the snares of the Devil. Wherefore putting on meekness, renew yourselves in faith, that is the flesh of the Lord; and in charity, that is the blood of Jesus Christ. Let no man have any grudge against his neighbour. Give no occasion to the Gentiles; lest by means of a few foolish men, the whole congregation of God be evil spoken of. For woe to that man through whose vanity my name is blasphemed by any.

9. Stop your ears, therefore, as often as any one shall speak contrary to Jesus Christ; who was of the race of David, of the

Virgin Mary. Who was truly born, and did eat and drink; was truly persecuted under Pontius Pilate; was truly crucified and dead; both those in Heaven, and on earth, and under the earth being spectators of it. Who was also truly raised from the dead by his Father, after the same manner as he will also raise up us who believe in him, by Christ Jesus; without whom we have no true life.

10. But if as some who are atheists, that is to say infidels, pretend, that he only seemed to suffer: (they themselves only seeming to exist) why then am I bound? why do I desire to fight with beasts? therefore do I die in vain: therefore I will not speak falsely against the Lord.

11. Flee therefore these evil sprouts which bring forth deadly fruit; of which if any one taste, he shall presently die. For these are not the plants of the Father; seeing if they were, they would appear to be the branches of the cross, and their fruit would be incorruptible: by which he invites you through his passion, who are members of him. For the head cannot be without its members, God having promised a union, that is himself.

12. I salute you om Smyrna, together with the Churches of God that are present with me; who have refreshed me in all things, both in the flesh and in the spirit. My bonds which I carry about me for the sake of Christ, (besseching him that I may attain unto God) exhort you, that you continue in concord among yourselves, and in prayer with one another. For it becomes every one of you, ESPECIALLY THE PRESBYTERS, to refresh the Biskop, to the honour of the Father, of Jesus Chrisi and of the Apostles. I beseech you that ye hearken to me in love, that I may not by those things which I write, rise up in witness against you. Pray also for me; who through the mercy of Cod stand in need of your prayers, that I may be worthy of the portion which I am about to obtain, that I be not found a reprobate.

13. The love of those who are at Smyrna and Ephesus salute you. Remember in your prayers the Church of Syria, from which I am not worthy to be called, being one of the least of it. Fare ye well in Jesus Christ; being subiect to your Bishop as to the command of God; and so likewise to the Presbytery. Love every one his brother with an unfeigned heart. My soul be your expiation, not only now, but when I shall have attained unto God: for I am yet under danger. But the Father is faithful in Jesus Christ, to fulfil both mine and your petition: in whom may ye be found unblameable,

TO THE TRALLIANS,

EPISTLE OF ST. IGNATIUS

TO THE ROMANS.

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus; to the Church which has obtained mercy from the majesty of the Most High Father, and his only begotten Son Jesus Christ; beloved, and illuminated through the will of Him who willeth all things which are according to the love of Jesus Christ our God, which also presides in the place of the region of the Romans; and which I salute in the name of Jesus Christ, [as being] united both in flesh and spirit to all his commands, and filled with the grace of God; [all joy] in Jesus Christ our God.

1. FORASMUCH as I have at last obtained through my prayers to God, to see your faces, which I much desired to do; being bound in Christ Jesus, I hope ere long to salute you, if it shall be the will of God to grant me to attain unto the end I long for. For the beginning is well disposed, if I shall but have grace, without hindrance, to receive what is appointed for me. But I fear your love lest it do me an injury. For it is easy for you to do what you please; but it will be hard for me to attain unto God if you spare me.

2. But I would not that ye should please men, but God; whom also ye do please. For neither shall I ever hereafter have such an opportunity of going unto God; nor will you, if ye shall now be silent, ever be entitled to a better work. For if you shall be silent in my behalf, I shall be made partaker of God. But if you shall love my body, I shall have my course again to run. Wherefore ye cannot do me a greater kindness, than to suffer me to be sacrificed unto God, now that the altar is already prepared: that when ye shall be gathered together in love, ye may give thanks to the Father through Christ Jesus, that he has vouchsafed to bring a Bishop of Syria unto you, being called from the east unto the west. For it is good for me to set from the world, unto God; that I may rise again unto him.

3. Ye have never envied any one; ye have taught others. I would therefore that ye should now do those things yourselves, which in your instructions you have prescribed to others. Only pray for me, that God would give me both inward and outward strength, that I may not only say, but will; nor only called a Christian, but be found one. For if I shall be found a Christian, I may then deservedly be called one: and be thought faithful, when I shall no longer appear to the world. Nothing is good, that is seen. For even our God, Jesus Christ, now that he is in the Father, does so much the more appear. A Christian is not a work of opinion; but of greatness of mind [especially when he is hated by the world.]

4. I write to the Churches, and signify to them all, that 1 am willing to die for God, unless you hinder me. I beseech you that you show not an unseasonable good will towards me.

Suffer me to

be food to the wild beasts by whom I shall attain unto God. For I am the wheat of God; and I shall be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found the pure bread of Christ. Rather encourage the beasts, that they may become my sepulchre; and

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