spiritually; and in the unity of God with you. Grace more. 13. I salute the families of my brethren, with their wives and children; and the virgins that are called widOWS. 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. EPISTLE OF ST. IGNATIUS TO ST. POLYCARP. Ignatius, who is also called Theophorus, to Polycarp, Bishop of the Church which is at Smyrna; 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 worthy 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; 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. 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. Bear the infirmities of all, as a perfect combatant; where the labour is great, the gain is the more. 2. Ifthou shalt love the good disciples, what thanks is it? but rather do thou subject to thee those, that 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 may est 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 impassable, yet for us subjected to sufferings, endured 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 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. 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 iu 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; 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 you war; and from whom you 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. 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 Syria is, as I am told, in peace through your prayers; I also have been the more comforted and without care in God; if so be, that by suffering, I shall attain unto God; that through your prayers I may be found a disciple of Christ. It will be very fit, O most worthy Polycarp, to call a select council, and choose some one, whom ye particularly love, and who is patient of labour, that he may be the messenger of God; and that going unto Syria, he may glorify your incessant love, to the praise of Christ. A Christian has not the power of himself; but must be always at leisure for God's service. Now this work is both God's and yours, when ye shall have perfected it. For I trust through the grace of God, that ye are ready to every good work that is fitting for you in the Lord. Knowing therefore your earnest affection to the truth, I have exhorted you by these short letters. 8. But forasmuch as I have not been able to write to all the Churches, because I must suddenly sail from Troas to Neapolis (for so is the command of those to whose pleasure I am subject ;) do you write to the Churches, that are near you, as being instructed in the will of God, that they also may do in like manner. Let those, that are able send messengers; and let the rest send their letters by those, who shall be sent by you; that you may be glorified to all eternity, of which you are worthy. I salute all by name; particularly the wife of Epitropus, with all her house, and children. I salute Attalus my well beloved. I salute him, who shall be thought worthy to be sent by you into Syria. Let grace be ever with him, and with Polycarp who sends him. I wish you all happiness in our God, Jesus Christ; in whom continue in the unity, and protection of God. I salute Alce my well beloved. Farewell in the Lord. MARTYRDOM OF ST. IGNATIUS. Translated from the original Greek, and published by Dr. Grabe, in his Specileg. Patrum, t. 2. 1. WHEN Trajan not long since came to the Roman empire, Ignatius, the disciple of St. John the Apostle [and Evangelist]a man in all things like unto the Apostles, governed the Church of Antioch with all care. Who being scarcely able to escape the storms of the many persecutions before under Domitian, as a good governor, by the helm of prayer and fasting, by the constancy of his doctrine and spiritual labour, withstood the raging floods; fearing lest they should sink those, who either wanted courage, or were not well grounded in the faith. 2. Wherefore the persecution being at present somewhat abated, he rejoiced greatly at the tranquillity of his Church; yet was troubled as to himself, that he had not attained to a true love of Christ, nor was come up to the pitch of a perfect disciple. For he thought, that the confession which is made by martyrdom, would bring him to a yet more close and intimate union with the Lord. Wherefore continuing a few years longer with the Church, and after the manner of a divine lamp, illuminating the hearts of the faithful by the exposition of holy Scriptures,he attained to what he had desired. 3. For Trajan, in the nineteenth year of his empire,being lifted up with his victory over the Scythians and Dacians, and many other nations; and thinking that the religious company of Christians was yet wanting to his absolute and universal dominion; and thereupon threatening them, that they should be persecuted, unless they would choose to worship the devil, with all other nations; fear obliged all such as lived religiously, either to sacrifice or to die. Wherefore our brave soldier of Christ, being in fear for the Church of Antioch, was voluntarily brought before Trajan; who was at that time there on his way to Armenia, and the Parthians, against whom he was hastening. 4. Being come into the presence of the emperor Trajan; the emperor asked him, saying: "What a wicked wretch art thou, thus to endeavour to transgress our commands, and to persuade others also to do likewise to their destruction?" Ignatius answered, "No one ought to call Theophorus after such a manner; forasmuch as all wicked spirits are departed far from the servants of God. But if because I am a trouble to those evil spirits, you call me wicked, with reference to them, I confess the charge for having within me Christ the heavenly King, I dissolve all the snares of the devils." 5. Trajan replied; "And who is Theophorus ?" Ignat. "He who has Christ in his breast." Trajan, And do not we then seem to thee to have the Gods within us, who fight for us against our enemies?" Ignat. "You err, in that you call the evil spirits of the heathens, Gods. For there is but one God, who made heaven and earth, and the sea, and all that are in them; and one Jesus Christ his only begotten son; whose kingdom may I enjoy." 6. Trajan, "His kingdom you say, who was crucified under Pontius Pilate ?" Ignat. "His who crucified my sin, with the inventor of it; and has put all the deceit and malice of the devil under the feet of those who carry him in their heart." Trajan, "Doest thou then carry him who was crucified within thee?" Ignat. "I do; for it is written, I will dwell in them and walk in them," [2 Cor. vi. 16.] Then Trajan pronounced this sentence against him; forasmuch as Ignatius has confessed, that he carries about within himself him, that was crucified, we command that he be carried bound by soldiers to the great Rome, there to be thrown to the beasts, for the entertainment of the people. 7. When the holy martyr heard this sentence, he cried out with joy, "I thank thee, O Lord, that thou hast vouchsafed to honour me with a perfect love towards thee; and hast made me to be put into iron bonds with thy apostle Paul." Having said this he with joy put his bonds about him; and having first prayed for the Church, and commended it with tears unto the Lord, he was hurried away, like a choice ram, the leader of a good flock, by the brutish soldiers, in order to his being carried to Rome, there to be devoured by the blood-thirsty beasts. 8. Wherefore with much readiness and joy, out of his desire to suffer, he left Antioch, and came to Seleucia; from whence he was to sail. And after a great deal of toil, being come to Smyrna, he left the ship with great gladness, and hastened to see the holy Polycarp, his fellow-scholar, who was Bishop there; for they had both of them been formerly the disciples of St. John. 9. Being brought to him, and communicating to him some spiritual gifts, and glorying in his bonds; he entreated first of all the whole Church (for the Churches and cities of Asia attend |