for the word of God, as the deacons of Christ our God. Who also give thanks unto the Lord for you, forasmuch as ye have refreshed them in all things. Nor shall any thing that ye have done,(y) be lost to you. My soul be for yours, and my bonds which ye have not despised, nor been ashamed of. Wherefore neither shall Jesus Christ, our perfect faith, be ashamed of you.

11. Your prayer is come to the Church of Antioch which is in Syria. From whence being sent bound with chains becoming God, I salute the Churches ; being not worthy to be called from thence, as being the least among them.(b) Nevertheless by the will of God I have been thought worthy of this honour; not for that I think I have deserved it, but by the grace of God: which I wish may be perfectly given unto me, that through your prayers I may attain unto God. And therefore that your work may be fully accomplished both upon earth and in Heaven; it will be fitting, and for the honour of God, that your Church appoint some worthy delegate(c) who being come as far as Syria, may rejoice together with them that they are in peace; and that they are again restored to their former state, and have again received their proper body. Wherefore I should think it a worthy action, to send some one from you with an Epistle, to congratulate with them their peace in God; and that through your prayers they have now gotten to their harbour. For inasmuch as ye are perfect yourselves, you ought to think those things that are perfect. For when you are desirous to do well, God is ready to enable you thereunto.

12. The love of the brethren that are at Troas salute you; from whence I write to you by Burrhus whom ye sent with me, together with the Ephesians your brethren; and who has in all things refreshed

(y) Vid. Epist. Interpol.

(b) i. e. The Bisp of that Church.

(c) Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc.

And I would to God that all would imitate him, as being a pattern of the ministry of God. May his grace fully reward him. I salute your very wor thy Bishop, and your venerable presbytery; and your deacons, my fellow servants; and all of you in gen eral, and every one in particular, in the name of Jesus Christ, and in his flesh and blood; in his passion and resurrection both fleshly and spiritually; and in the unity of God with you.(f) Grace be with you, and mercy, and peace, and patience for ever more.

13. I salute the families of my brethren, with their wives and children; and the virgins that are called widows (h) Be strong in the power of the Holy Ghost. Philo, who is present with me, salutes you. I salute the house of Tavias, and pray that it may be strengthened in faith and charity, both of flesh and spirit. I salute Alce, my well beloved, together with the incomparable Daphnus, and Eutechnus, and all by name.) Farewell in the grace of God.

TO THE SMYRNEANS FROM TROAS.

(f) Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc.

(h) i. e. The Deaconesses. See for the reason of this name, Voss. Annot. in loc. Add. Coteler. ib.

(i) See Voss. Annot. ex. Epist. interpol.

THE

EPISTLE OF ST. IGNATIUS

ΤΟ

ST. POLYCARP.

0000000

Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church which is at Smyrna ;(a) their overseer, but rather himself overlooked by God the Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ; all happiness.

1. HAVING known that thy mind towards God is fixed as it were upon an immoveable rock, I exceedingly give thanks, that I have been thought wor thy to behold thy blessed face, in which may I always rejoice in God. Wherefore I beseech thee by the grace of God with which thou art clothed, to press forward in thy course, and to exhort all others that they may be saved. Maintain thy place with all care both of flesh and spirit ;(c) make it thy endeavour to preserve unity, than which nothing is better. Bear with all men, even as the Lord with thee. Support all in love, as also thou dost. (d)Pray without ceasing; ask more understanding than what thou already hast. Be watchful, having thy spirit always awake. Speak to every one according as God shall enable thee.(e) Bear the infirmities of all, as a perfect combatant: where the labour is great, the gain is the more.

2. If thou shalt love the good disciples, what thanks is it? but rather do thou subject to thee those that

(a) the Smyrneans.

(c) Vid. 1 Cor. vii. 34.

(d) Be at leisure to, &c.
(ej vid. Voss. in loc. aliter Vet. Lat. Interpr.

are mischievous, in meekness. Every wound is not healed with the same plaister if the accessions of the disease be vehement, mollify them with soft remedies be in all things, wise as a serpent, but harmless as a dove. For this cause thou art composed of flesh and spirit; that thou mayest mollify those things that appear before thy face: and as for those that are not seen, pray to God that he would reveal them unto thee, that so thou mayest be wanting in nothing, but mayest abound in every gift. The times demand thee, as the pilots the winds; and he that is tossed in a tempest, the haven where he would be; that thou mayest attain unto God. Be sober, as the combatant of God: the crown proposed to thee is immortality,) and eternal life; concerning which thou art also fully persuaded. I will be thy surety in all things, and my bonds, which thou hast loved.

3. Let not those that seem worthy of credit, but teach other doctrines, disturb thee. Stand firm and immoveable, as an anvil when it is beaten upon. It is the part of a brave combatant, to be wounded, and yet overcome But especially we ought to endure all things for God's sake, that he may bear with us. Be every day better than other: consider the times; and expect him who is above all time, eternal, invisible, though for our sakes made visible impalpable, and impassible, yet for us subjected to sufferings; enduring all manner of ways for our salvation.

4. Let not the widows be neglected: be thou, after God, their guardian. Let nothing be done without thy knowledge and consent: neither do thou any thing but according to the will of God; as also thou dost with all constancy. Let your assemblies be more full inquire into all by name. Overlook not the men and maid servants; neither let them be puffed up; but rather let them be the more subject to the glory

(i) Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc. Collat, cu a Coteler. ib.

of God, that they may obtain from him a better liberty. Let them not desire to be set free at the public cost, that they be not slaves to their own lusts.(o)

5. Flee evil arts, or rather make not any mention of them. Say to my sisters, that they love the Lord; and be satisfied with their own husbands, both in the flesh and spirit. In like manner, exhort my brethren in the name of Jesus Christ, that they love their wives, even as the Lord the Church. If any man can remain in a virgin state, to the honour of the flesh of Christ, let him remain without boasting :(q) but if he boast, he is undone. And if he desire to be more taken notice of than the Bishop, he is corrupted. But it becomes all such as are married, whether men or women, to come together with the consent of the Bishop, that so their marriage may be according to godliness, and not in lust. Let all things be done to the honour of God.

6. * Hearken unto the Bishop, that God also may hearken unto you. My soul be security for them that submit to their Bishop, with their presbyters and deacons. And may my portion be together with theirs in God. Labour with one another, contend together, run together, suffer together sleep together, and rise together, as the stewards, and assessors, and ministers of God. Please him under whom ye war; and from whom ye receive your wages. Let none of you be found a deserter; but let your baptism remain as your arms, your faith as your helmet, your charity as your spear, your patience as your whole armour. Let your works be your charge, that so you may receive a suitable reward.(r) Be long-suffering therefore towards each other in meekness, as God is towards you. Let me have joy of you in all things.

7. Now forasmuch as the Church of Antioch in

(0) Vid. Annot. Coteler. in loc.

7) Vid. Annot. Vossii & Coteler. in loc.

* Observe, from the foregoing section, that Ignatius here speaks not to Polycarp, but through him to the Church of Smyrna.

(r) That which is committed to your custody, to keep secure.