52 Pliny's Letter. Cent. 2. pastors in every church: so that in future we shall find the character of bishop or presbyter the subject of history, rather than that of apostle or evangelist. We have a fair specimen of the spirit of the times, in the correspondence between Pliny, governor of Bythinia, and his master Trajan. The date of these letters is a. D. 107. The design of Pliny's address is to ask the emperor how he is to conduct himself towards the Christians in his province, whom he states to have so increased, that they are widely spread over the cities and "villages, and have reached even the farm houses, so "that the temples are deserted, and the sacred solemni"ties suspended." He adds, "My method with the "Christians who have been impeached as such, has been "this: I interrogate them, Are you Christians? If they "avowed it, and persisted so to do, I ordered them to be executed on the spot, for whatever their profession of "religiou might be, I had not the least doubt that such "perverseness and inflexibility certainly ought to be "punished. From their affirmations I learned that the " sum of all their offence, call it fault or error, was, that " on a fixed day they used to assemble before sun-rise, "and sing together hymns to Christ, as a deity; binding "themselves, by the most solemn engagements, not to "commit any manner of wickedness. This service be"ing concluded, it was their custom to separate, and "meet together again for a repast, promiscuous indeed, "but perfectly harmless. For farther information, I put "two damsels, called deaconesses, to the torture; but I "could extort nothing from them, but the acknowledg"ment of a superstition, depraved as immoderate; and "therefore, desisting from farther investigation, I hast❝ed to consult you." The emperor, in his reply, applauds Pliny's eonduct, and agrees with him that Chap. 1. Ignatius. 53 "They are not to be hunted up by informers, but if im"peached and convicted, they should be executed, only "with this restriction, that if any person deny that he " is a Christian, and demonstrate it by supplicating the "gods, however suspicious his conduct may have been "before, his penitence shall secure his pardon." Upon the face of this correspondence, two things are evident. First, that the Christians were not engaged to commit wickedness, but were perfectly harmless; and that no manner of accusation was established against them, except concerning their God. And this, in the Second place, is their crime, for which they are to be executed. Their religion is considered a depraved and immoderate superstition, and as such its professors ought to be punished with torture and death. Thus we see philosophy, both moral and political, up in arms against Christianity. And what do they thus persecute? A system harmless, and persons innocent, themselves being judges. What the effect of this imperial edict in By. thinia was, is easy to conjecture. IGNATIUS, Bishop of Antioch, is the first character of distinction presented to our view in this century. It is said he had presided over the church in that city nearly forty years, and had received his appointment under the sanction of the apostles. Trajan, in his expedition against the Parthians, A. D. 107, halted at Antioch. Ignatius, hitherto protected, now voluntarily presented himself before the emperor. In this act it is evident he was influenced by a false zeal for martyrdom. Christ commanded his disciples, when persecuted in one city, to flee to another; but this good man, through some mistake in judgement, adopted an opposite course. It seems, by this surrender 54 Ignatius. Cent. 2. of himself, he moped to appease the wrath of the prince, kindled against the church, and thereby secure to himself that crown, which he ought to have considered as the sovereign gift of God, and not the reward of a voluntary humility. But, notwithstanding this, Ignatius ranks high; the purity of his life, the devotedness of his ministry, the warmth of his affections, all go to prove him a good soldier of Jesus Christ. What must have been the feelings of this holy man's flock under these circumstances? For the event deprived them of their venerable and truly excellent pastor. Trajan gave commandment that "he should be carried, bound by soldiers, to great Rome, there to be thrown to the beasts for the entertainment of the people." The martyrdom of this primitive bishop affords scenes truly interesting. Being condemned to suffer at the capital, he was taken immediately by his guards to Selueia, from whence, by ship, after a troublesome voyage, he arrived at Smyrna. Here he was allowed to stay some little time, and to visit Polycarp bishop of the church there. Polycarp was well known to the illustrious captive: it is said they had been fellow disciples of the apostle John. Affecting must have been the interview! Here he was met by elders and deacons from the Asiatic churches, deputed to attend, and sympathize with him, and to receive some spiritual instruction from him. This journey, though it were the journey of death, proved no small blessing to the followers of Christ, for while he rested by the way, he wrote letters to the ehurches, to comfort and confirm them in the faith. These epistles are seven in number, and well authenticated. Four of them were addressed from Smyrna, to the churches of Ephesus, Magnesia, Tralles, and Rome. In his letter to the Ephesians, the character of that Chap. 1. Ignatius. 55 church is distinguished in a manner nearly similar to the delineation given in the Apocalypse. He speaks bighly of their bishop Onesimus; probably he was the same person noticed in the writings of Paul. These letters add something to our stock of information; they introduce two Asiatic churches, Magnesia and Tralles, which otherwise had been unknown to us, together with some then eminent servants of the Lord. "The time which he was allowed to spend at Smyrna, in company with his beloved Polycarp and other friends, must have been highly agreeable to him. But his keepers were impatient: the season for the public spectacles at Rome was advancing. They now set sail for Troas, where, at his arrival, he was cheered with the news of the persecution having ceased at Antioch. Here also several churches sent their messengers to visit and salute him, and Providence so far restrained the inhumanity of his guards, that he was allowed to have intercourse with them." From hence he dated the three last epistles of the seven. They were addressed severally to Philadelphia, Smyrna, and Polycarp. The epistles to Philadelphia and Smyrna, like that to Ephesus, correspond with the scripture character of those churches. One sentence we cannot forbear introducing. Speaking of the judaizing spirit still in existence both among Jews and Gentiles, he observes, "But if both speak not of Jesus Christ, they are to me pillars and sepulchres of the dead, on which are written only the names of men." The last, to Polycarp, breathes the holy fervour of a soul devoted to God, and urges upon that pastor the continuation of that conduct important in every minister of Christ. It runs thus: "I exhort thee, by the grace with which thou art “clothed, to apply thyself to thy course, and to exhort 50 Ignatius. Cent. 2. “all, that they may be saved. Do justice to thy sta❝tion in all diligence both temporal and spiritual. Be "studious of that best of blessings, unity. Bear with "all, as also the Lord doth with thee. Bear with all "in charity, as thou also dost. Find time for prayer "without eeasing. Ask for more understanding than "thou hast at present. Watch, possessing a spirit ever "attentive. Speak to each separately, according to "the help of God. Bear with the diseases of all, as a "perfect combatant. The more labour the more re"ward. If thou love only the obedient disciples, thou ❝evidencest no grace. Rather bring into orderly sub. "jecting the turbulent in meekness. Every wound is "not cured by the same method of application. Watch "as a divine wrestler, thy theme is immortality and "eternal life. Let not those who seem experienced "Christians, and are yet unsound in the faith, stagger thee. Stand firm as an anvil continually struck. It "is the character of a great wrestler to be mangled and "yet to conquer. Be more studious than thou art. Con"sider the times, and expect him who is above all time, "who is unconnected with time, the invisible One made visible for us, the impassable but passable for us; "who bore all sorts of sufferings for us. Let not "widows be neglected. Next to the Lord do thou take "care of them. Let nothing be done without thy cog"nizance. Do thou nothing without the mind of God. "Let assemblies be more frequently held. Seek out "all by name. Despise not slaves of either sex; yet "let them not be puffed up, but serve more faithfully to "the glory of God, that they may obtain a better liber❝ty from God. Let them not desire to be set at liberty at the charge of the church, lest they be found slaves of lust. If any can remain in chastity for the honour 1 |