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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 college of the Apostles. Without these there is no 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 choked 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 potion 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, foreseeing 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.

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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 ofhim. For the head cannot be without its members, God having promised a union, that is himself.

12. I salute you from 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, (beseeching 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 Bishop,to the honour of the Father, of Jesus Christ, 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 God 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 subject 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 unblamable.

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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 ifI 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 I am willing to die for God, unless you hinder me. J. 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 may leave nothing of my body; that being dead, I may not be troublesome to any. Then shall I be truly the disciple of Jesus Christ, when the world shall not see so much as my body. Pray therefore unto Christ for me, that by these instruments I may be made the sacrifice of God. I do not, as Peter and Paul command you. They were apostles ; I, a condemned man; they were free; but I am even to this day a servant but if I suffer, I shall then become the freeman of Jesus Christ, and shall rise free. And now, being in bonds, I learn not to desire any thing.

5. From Syria even unto Rome, I fight with beasts both by sea and land; both night and day; being bound to ten leopards, that is to say, to such a band of soldiers; who,though treated with all manner of kindness, are the worse for it. But I am the more instructed by their injuries; "yet am I therefore not justified,”—[1. Cor. iv, 4.1 May I enjoy the wild beasts that are prepared for me; which also I wish may exercise all their fierceness upon me and whom, for that end, I will encourage, that they may be sure to devour me, and not serve me as they have done some, whom, out of fear, they have not

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