{"collection":"scripture-revelation","full_text_available":true,"graph_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/api/page/gutenberg_6514/graph","html_url":"https://unchartedknowledge.5gfusion.net/v2/page/gutenberg_6514","id":"gutenberg_6514","license":"Public Domain (US)","rights_basis":"gutenberg_metadata_copyright_false","source":"gutenberg","source_url":"https://www.gutenberg.org/ebooks/6514","summary":null,"tags":["Apocryphal books (New Testament)","Category: Essays, Letters & Speeches","Category: History - Religious","Category: Religion/Spirituality"],"text":"This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>\nAdditional proofing was done by Curtis A. Weyant\n\n\n\n\n\n                                  THE\n                              SUPPRESSED\n                          GOSPELS AND EPISTLES\n                            OF THE ORIGINAL\n                             NEW TESTAMENT\n                                   OF\n                            JESUS THE CHRIST\n\n          AND OTHER PORTIONS OF THE ANCIENT HOLY SCRIPTURES.\n                       NOW EXTANT, ATTRIBUTED TO\n                  HIS APOSTLES, AND THEIR DISCIPLES,\n       AND VENERATED BY THE PRIMITIVE CHRISTIAN CHURCHES DURING\n                       THE FIRST FOUR CENTURIES,\n                 BUT SINCE, AFTER VIOLENT DISPUTATIONS\n                            FORBIDDEN BY THE\n                     BISHOPS OF THE NICENE COUNCIL,\n                IN THE REIGN OF THE EMPEROR CONSTANTINE\n             AND OMITTED FROM THE CATHOLICS AND PROTESTANT\n            EDITIONS OF THE NEW TESTAMENT, BY ITS COMPILERS\n\n         TRANSLATED FROM THE ORIGINAL TONGUES, WITH HISTORICAL\n                   REFERENCES TO THEIR AUTHENTICITY,\n\n                                  BY\n                            ARCHBISHOP WAKE\n                               AND OTHER\n                            LEARNED DIVINES\n\n\n\n\n\n                            THE EPISTLE OF\n                       IGNATIUS TO THE EPHESIANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     1 Ignatius commends the brethren for sending\n     Onesimus and other members of the church to him.\n     8 Exhorts them to unity;\n     13 by a due subjection to their bishop;\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the church which\nis at Ephesus in Asia; most\ndeservedly happy: being blessed\nthrough the greatness and fullness\nof God the Father, and predestinated\nbefore the world began; that it\nshould be always unto an enduring\nand unchangeable glory; united and\nchosen through his true passion,\naccording to the will of the Father,\nand Jesus Christ our God; all\nhappiness, by Jesus Christ,\nand his undefiled grace.\n\n2  I have heard of your name\nmuch beloved in God; which ye\nhave very justly attained by a\nhabit of righteousness, according\nto the faith and love which is in\nJesus Christ our Saviour.\n\n3  How that being followers of\nGod, and stirring up yourselves\nby the blood of Christ ye have\nperfectly accomplished the work\nthat was con-natural unto you.\n\n4  For hearing that I came bound\nfrom Syria, for the common name\nand hope, trusting through your\nprayers to fight with beasts at\nhome; so that by suffering I may\nbecome indeed the disciple of him\nwho gave himself to God, an offering\nand sacrifice for us; ye hastened\nto see me. I received, therefore,\nin the name of God, your whole\nmultitude in Onesimus;\n\n5  Who by: inexpressible love is\nours, but according to the flesh\nis our bishop; whom I beseech you,\npray Jesus Christ, to love: and that\nyou would all strive to be like unto\nhim. And blessed be God, who\nhas granted unto you, who are so\nworthy of him, to enjoy such an\nexcellent bishop.\n\n6  For what concerns my fellow\nservant Burrhus, and your most\nblessed deacon in things pertaining\nto God; I entreat you that he may\ntarry longer, both for yours, and\nyour bishop's honour.\n\n7  And Crocus also worthy of\nboth our God and you, whom I\nhave received as the pattern\nof your love, has in all things\nrefreshed me, as the Father of\nour Lord Jesus Christ shall also\nrefresh him; together with Onesimus,\nand Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto,\nin whom I have, as to your charity,\nseen all of you, And may always,\nhave joy of you, if I shall be\nworthy of it.\n\n8  It is therefore fitting that you\nshould by all means glorify Jesus\nChrist, who hath glorified you\nthat by a uniform obedience ye\nmay be perfectly joined together\nin the same mind, and in the same\njudgment; and may all speak the\nsame things concerning everything:\n\n9  And that being, subject to\nyour bishop, and the presbytery,\nye may be wholly and thoroughly\nsanctified.\n\n10  These things I prescribe to\nyou, not as if I were somebody\nextraordinary: for though I am\nbound for his name, I am not yet\nperfect in Christ Jesus. But now\nI begin to learn, and I speak to\nyou as fellow disciples together\nwith me.\n\n11  For I ought to have been\nstirred up by you, in faith: in\nadmonition; in patience; in long-\nsuffering; but forasmuch as\ncharity suffers me not to be\nsilent towards you, I have first\ntaken upon me to exhort you, that\nye would all run together,\naccording to the will of God.\n\n12  For even Jesus Christ, our\ninseparable life, is sent by the\nwill of the Father; as the bishops,\nappointed unto the utmost bounds of\nthe earth, are by the will of Jesus\nChrist.\n\n13  Wherefore it will become you\nto run together according to the\nwill of your bishop, as also ye do,\n\n14  For your famous presbytery,\nworthy of God, is fitted as exactly\nto the bishop, as the strings are\nto the harp.\n\n15  Therefore in your concord\nand agreeing charity, Jesus Christ\nis sung; and every single person\namong you makes up the chorus:\n\n16  That so being all consonant\nin love, and taking up the song\nof God, ye may in a perfect unity\nwith one voice, sing to the Father\nby Jesus Christ; to the end that\nhe may both hear you, and perceive\nby your works, that ye are indeed\nthe members of his son.\n\n17  Wherefore it is profitable for\nyou to live in an unblameable\nunity, that so ye may always have\na fellowship with God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n     1 The benefit of subjection.\n     4 The bishop not to be respected the less\n     because he is not forward in exacting it:\n     8 warns brethren against heretics; bidding\n     them cleave to Jesus, whose divine and human\n     mature is declared: commends them for their care\n     to keep themselves from false teachers:\n     and shews them the way to God.\n\nFOR if I in this little time have\nhad such a familiarity with\nyour bishop, I mean not a carnal,\nbut spiritual acquaintance with\nhim; how much more must I think\nyou happy who are so joined to him,\nas the church is to Jesus Christ,\nand Jesus Christ to the Father;\nso that all things may agree in\nthe same unity.\n\n2  Let no man deceive himself;\nif a man be not within the altar,\nhe is deprived of the bread of God.\nFor if the prayer of one or two\nbe of such force, as we are told;\nhow much more powerful shall\nthat of the bishop and the whole\nchurch be?\n\n3  He therefore that does not\ncome together in the same place\nwith it, is proud, and has already\ncondemned himself; for it is written,\nGod resisteth the proud. Let us take\nheed therefore, that we do not set\nourselves against the bishop,\nthat we may be subject to God.\n\n4  The more any one sees his\nbishop silent, the more let him\nrevere him.    For whomsoever the\nmaster of the house sends to be\nover his own household, we ought\nin like manner to receive him, as\nwe do him that sent him. It is\ntherefore evident that we ought\nto look upon the bishop, even as\nwe do upon the Lord himself.\n\n5  And indeed Onesimus himself\ndoes greatly commend your good\norder in God: that you all live\naccording to the truth, and that\nno heresy dwells among you. For\nneither do ye hearken to anyone\nmore than to Jesus Christ\nspeaking to you in truth.\n\n6  For some there are who\ncarry about the name of Christ\nin deceitfulness, but do things\nunworthy of God; whom ye must\nflee, as ye would do so many\nwild beasts. For they are raving\ndogs, who bite secretly; against\nwhom ye must guard yourselves,\nas men hardly to be cured.\n\n7  There is one Physician, both\nfleshy and spiritual; made and\nnot made; God incarnate; true\nlife in death; both of Mary and\nof God: first passible, then\nimpassible; even Jesus Christ our\nLord.\n\n8  Wherefore let no man deceive\nyou; as indeed neither are ye\ndeceived, being wholly the\nservants of God. For inasmuch as\nthere is no contention nor strife\namong you, to trouble you, ye\nmust needs live according to God's\nwill. My soul be for yours;\nand I myself, the expiatory\noffering for your church of Ephesus;\nso famous throughout the world.\n\n9  They that are of the flesh\ncannot do the works of the spirit;\nneither they that are of the spirit\nthe works of the flesh; as he\nthat has faith cannot be an infidel;\nnor he that is an infidel have\nfaith. But even those things\nwhich ye do according to the flesh\nare spiritual; forasmuch as ye do\nall things in Jesus Christ.\n\n10 Nevertheless I have heard\nof some who have passed by you,\nhaving perverse doctrine; whom\nye did not suffer to sow among\nyou; but stopped your ears, that\nye might not receive those things\nthat were sown by them: because\nbeing the stones of the temple of\nthe Father, prepared for his\nbuilding; and drawn up on high\nby the Cross of Christ,\nas by an engine;\n\n11.  Using the Holy Ghost as the\nrope: your faith being your support;\nand your charity the way that leads\nunto God.\n\n12  Ye are therefore, with all\nyour companions in the same\njourney full of God; his spiritual\ntemples, full of Christ, and of\nholiness: adorned in all things\nwith the commands of Christ.\n\n13  In whom also I rejoice that\nI have been thought worthy by\nthis present epistle to converse,\nand joy together with you; that\nwith respect to the other life, ye\nlove nothing but God only.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n     1 Exorts them to prayer; to be unblamable.\n     5 To be careful of salvation;\n     11 frequent in public devotion;\n     13 and to live in charity.\n\nPRAY also without ceasing for\nother men; for there is hope\nof repentance in them, that they\nmay attain unto God. Let them\ntherefore at least be instructed by\nyour works, if they will be no\nother way.\n\n2  Be ye mild at their anger;\nhumble at their boasting; to their\nblasphemies return your prayers\nto their error, your firmness in\nthe faith; when they are cruel,\nbe ye gentle; not endeavouring\nto imitate their ways.\n\n(3  Let us be their brethren in\nall kindness and moderation, but\nlet us be followers of the Lord;\nfor who was ever more unjustly\nused? More destitute? More\ndespised?).\n\n4  That so no herb of the devil\nmay be found in you: but ye may\nremain in all holiness and sobriety\nboth of body and spirit, in Christ\nJesus.\n\n5  The last times are come upon\nus: let us therefore be very\nreverent, and fear the long-\nsuffering of God, that it be\nnot to us unto condemnation.\n\n6  For let us either fear the\nwrath that is to come, or let us\nlove the grace that we at present\nenjoy; that by the one or other of\nthese, we may be found in Christ\nJesus, unto true life.\n\n7 Besides him, let nothing be\nworthy of you; for whom also I\nbear about these bonds; those\nspiritual jewels, in which I would\nto God that I might arise through\nyour prayers.\n\n8  Of which I entreat you to\nmake me always partaker, that I\nmay be found in the lot of the\nChristians of Ephesus, who have\nalways agreed with the Apostles,\nthrough the power of Jesus Christ.\n\n9 I know both who I am, and\nto whom I write: I, a person\ncondemned; ye, such as have\nobtained mercy; I, exposed\nto danger; ye confirmed\nagainst danger.\n\n10  Ye are the passage of\nthose that are killed for God;\nthe companions of Paul in the\nmysteries of the Gospel; the\nholy, the martyr, the deservedly\nmost happy Paul: at whose feet\nmay I be found, when I shall have\nattained unto God; who throughout\nall his epistles, makes mention\nof you in Christ Jesus.\n\n11  Let it be your care therefore\nto come more fully together, to\nthe praise and glory of God;\nfor when ye meet fully together\nin the same place, the powers of\nthe devil are destroyed, and his\nmischief is dissolved by the unity\nof your faith.\n\n12  And indeed, nothing is better\nthan peace, by which all war both\nspiritual and earthly is abolished.\n\n13  Of all which, nothing is hid\nfrom you, if ye have perfect faith\nand charity in Christ Jesus, which\nare the beginning and end of life.\n\n14  For the beginning is faith;\nthe end is charity. And these two\njoined together, are of God; but\nall other things which concern a\nholy life, are the consequences of\nthese.\n\n15  No man professing a true\nfaith, sinneth; neither does he\nwho has charity hate any.\n\n16  The tree is made manifest\nby its fruit; so they who profess\nthemselves to be Christians are\nknown by what they do.\n\n17  For Christianity is not the\nwork of an outward profession;\nbut shows itself in the power of\nfaith, if a man be found faithful\nunto the end.\n\n18  It is better for a man to hold\nhis peace, and be; than to say, he\nis a Christian, and not to be.\n\n19  It is good to teach; if what\nhe says he does likewise.\n\n20  There is therefore one master\nwho spake, and it was done; and\neven those things which he did\nwithout speaking, are worthy\nof the Father.\n\n21  He that possesses the word\nof Jesus, is truly able to bear his\nvery silence. That he may be perfect,\nbe will do according to what he\nspeaks, and be known by those\nthings of which he is silent.\n\n22  There is nothing hid from\nGod, but even our secrets are nigh\nunto him.\n\n23  Let us therefore do all\nthings, as becomes those who\nhave God dwelling in them;\nthat we maybe his temples;\nand he may be our God as also\nhe is, and will manifest himself\nbefore our faces, by those things\nfor which we justly love him,\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n     1 To have a care for the Gospel.\n     9 The virginity of Mary, the incarnation,\n     and the death of Christ, were hid from the Devil.\n     11 How the birth of Christ was revealed.\n     16 Exhorts to unity.\n\nBE not deceived, my brethren:\nthose that corrupt families\nby adultery, shall not inherit\nthe kingdom of God.\n\n2  If therefore they who do this\naccording to the flesh, have\nsuffered death; how much more shall\nhe die, who by his wicked doctrine\ncorrupts the faith of God, for which\nChrist was crucified?\n\n3  He that is thus defiled, shall\ndepart into unquenchable fire, and\nso also shall he that hearkens to\nhim.\n\n4  For this cause did the Lord\nsuffer the ointment to be poured\non his head; that he might breathe\nthe breath of immortality unto his\nchurch.\n\n5  Be not ye therefore anointed\nwith the evil savour of the doctrine\nof the prince of this world: let him\nnot take you captive from the life\nthat is set before you.\n\n6  And why are we not all\nwise, seeing we have received\nthe knowledge of God, which is\nJesus Christ? Why do we suffer\nourselves foolishly to perish;\nnot considering the gift which\nthe Lord has truly sent to us?\n\n7  Let my life be sacrificed\nfor the doctrine of the cross;\nwhich is indeed a scandal to the\nunbelievers, but to us is salvation\nand life eternal.\n\n8  Where is the wise man?\nWhere is the disputer? Where\nis the boasting of those who\nare called wise?\n\n9  For our Lord Jesus Christ was\naccording to the dispensation of\nGod, conceived in the womb of\nMary, of the seed of David,\nby the Holy Ghost. He was born\nand baptized, that through his\npassion he might purify water,\nto the washing away of sin.\n\n10  Now the Virginity of Mary,\nand he who was born of her, was\nkept in secret from the prince of\nthis world; as was also the death\nof our Lord: three of the mysteries\nthe most spoken of throughout the\nworld, yet done in secret by God.\n\n11  How then was our Saviour\nmanifested to the world? A star\nshone in heaven beyond all the\nother stars, and its light was\ninexpressible, and its novelty\nstruck terror into men's minds.\nAll the rest of the stars,\ntogether with the sun and moon,\nwere the chorus to this star;\nbut that sent out its light\nexceedingly above them all.\n\n12  And men began to be troubled\nto think whence this new star\ncame so unlike to all the others.\n\n13  Hence all the power of magic\nbecame dissolved; and every bond\nof wickedness was destroyed: men's\nignorance was taken away; and\nthe old kingdom abolished; God\nhimself appearing in the form\nof a man, for the renewal of\neternal life.\n\n14  From thence began what\nGod had prepared: from thence.\nforth things were disturbed;\nforasmuch as he designed to\nabolish death.\n\n15 But if Jesus Christ shall\ngive me grace through your prayers,\nand if it be his will, I purpose\nin a second epistle which I will\nsuddenly write unto you, to manifest\nto you more fully the dispensation\nof which I have now begun to speak,\nabout the new man, which is Jesus\nChrist; both in his faith, and\ncharity; in his suffering, and\nin his resurrection.\n\n16  Especially if the Lord shall\nmake known unto me, that ye all\nby name come together united in\none faith, and in Jesus Christ;\nwho was of the race of David\naccording to the flesh; the Son\nof man, and son of God; obeying\nyour bishop and the presbytery\nwith an entire affection; breaking\none and the same bread, which is\nthe medicine of immortality;\nour antidote that we should not\ndie, but live for ever in Christ\nJesus.\n\n17 My soul be for yours, and\ntheirs whom ye have sent, to the\nglory of God; even unto Smyrna,\nfrom whence also I write to you;\ngiving thanks unto the Lord and\nloving Polycarp even as I do you.\nRemember me, as Jesus Christ does\nremember you.\n\n18  Pray for the church which is\nin Syria from whence I am carried\nbound to Rome; being the least\nof all the faithful which are there,\nas I have been thought worthy to\nbe found, to the glory of God.\n\n19  Fare ye well in God the\nFather, and in Jesus Christ, our\ncommon hope. Amen.\n\n\n\n\n                            THE EPISTLE OF\n                       IGNATIUS TO THE MAGNESIANS\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     4 Ignatius mentions the arrival of Damas,\n     their bishop, and others,\n     6 whom he exhorts them to reverence\n     notwithstanding he was a young man.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the blessed\nchurch, by the grace of God the\nFather, in Jesus Christ our Saviour;\nthrough whom I salute the church\nwhich is at Magnesia, near the\nMaeander: and wish it all joy in\nGod the Father, and in Jesus\nChrist.\n\n2  When I heard of your well-\nordered love and charity in God,\nbeing full of joy, I desired much\nto speak unto you in the faith of\nJesus Christ.\n\n3  For having been thought\nworthy to obtain a most excellent\nname, in the bonds which I carry\nabout, I salute the churches;\nwishing in them a union both of\nthe body and spirit of Jesus Christ,\nour eternal life: as also of faith\nand charity, to which nothing is\npreferred: but especially of Jesus\nand the Father; in whom if we\nundergo all the injuries of the\nprince of this present world, and\nescape, we shall enjoy God,\n\n4  Seeing, then, I have been\njudged worthy to see you, by\nDamas your most excellent bishop;\nand by your worthy presbyters,\nBassus and Apollonius; and by my\nfellow-servant Sotio, the deacon;\n\n5  In whom I rejoice, forasmuch\nas he is subject unto his bishop as\nto the grace of God; and to the\npresbytery as to the law of Jesus\nChrist; I determined to write\nunto you.\n\n6  Wherefore it will become you\nalso not to use your bishop too\nfamiliarly upon the account of his\nyouth; but to yield all reverence\nto him according to the power of\nGod the Father; as also I perceive\nthat your holy presbyters do: not\nconsidering his age, which indeed\nto appearance is young; but as\nbecomes those who are prudent in\nGod, submitting to him, or rather\nnot to him but to the Father of our\nLord Jesus Christ, the bishop of\nus all.\n\n7  It will therefore behove you\nwith all sincerity, to obey your\nbishop; in honour of him whose\npleasure it is that ye should do so.\n\n8  Because he that does not do\nso, deceives not the bishop whom\nhe sees, but affronts him that is\ninvisible. For whatsoever of this\nkind is done, it reflects not upon\nman, but upon God, who knows\nthe secrets of our hearts.\n\n9  It is therefore fitting,\nthat we should not only be called\nchristians, but be so.\n\n10  As some call indeed their\ngovernor, bishop; but yet do all\nthings without him.\n\n11  But I can never think\nthat such as these have a good\nconscience, seeing that they are\nnot gathered together thoroughly\naccording to God's commandment.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n1 That as all must die,\n4 he exhorts them to live orderly and in unity.\n\n\nSEEING then all things have\nan end, there are these two\nindifferently set before us,\ndeath and life: and everyone\nshall depart unto his proper place.\n\n2  For as there are two sorts of\ncoins, the one of God, the other of\nthe world, and each of these has\nits proper inscription engraven\nupon it; so also is it here.\n\n3  The unbelievers are of this\nworld; but the faithful, through\ncharity have the character of God\nthe Father by Jesus Christ:\nby whom if we are not readily\ndisposed to die after the likeness\nof his passion, his life is not in us.\n\n4  Forasmuch, therefore, as I\nhave in the persons before mentioned,\nseen all of you in faith and charity;\nI exhort you that ye study to do all\nthings in a divine concord:\n\n5  Your bishop presiding in the\nplace of God; your presbyters in\nthe place of the council of the\nApostles; and your deacons most\ndear to me, being entrusted with\nthe ministry of Jesus Christ; who\nwas the Father before all ages,\nand appeared in the end to us.\n\n6  Wherefore taking the same\nholy course, see that ye all\nreverence one another, and let no\none look upon his neighbour after\nthe flesh; but do ye all mutually\nlove each other in Jesus Christ.\n\n7  Let there be nothing that may\nbe able to make a division among\nyou; but be ye united to your\nbishop, and those who preside\nover you, to be your pattern and\ndirection in the way to immortality.\n\n8  As therefore the Lord did\nnothing without the Father, being\nunited to him; neither by himself\nnor yet by his Apostles, so neither\ndo ye do anything without your\nbishop and presbyters:\n\n9  Neither endeavour to let\nanything appear rational to\nyourselves apart;\n\n10  But being come together into\nthe same place, have one common\nprayer; one supplication;\none mind; one hope; one in charity,\nand in joy undefiled.\n\n11  There is one Lord Jesus\nChrist, than whom nothing is better.\nWherefore come ye all together, as\nunto one temple of God; as to one\naltar; as to one: Jesus Christ,\nwho proceeded from one Father,\nand exists in one; and is\nreturned to one.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n     1 He cautions them against false opinions.\n     3 Especially those of Ebion and the Judaising Christians.\n\nBE not deceived with strange\ndoctrines; nor with old fables\nwhich are unprofitable.  For if\nwestill continue to live according\nto the Jewish law, we do confess\nourselves not to have received grace.\nFor even the most holy prophets\nlived according to Christ Jesus.\n\n2  And for this cause were they\npersecuted, being inspired by his\ngrace to convince the unbelievers\nand disobedient that there is one\nGod who has manifested himself\nby Jesus Christ his Son; who is\nhis eternal word, not coming forth\nfrom silence; who in all things\npleased him that sent him.\n\n3  Wherefore if they who were\nbrought up in these ancient laws,\ncame nevertheless to the newness\nof hope; no longer observing\nsabbaths, but keeping the Lord's\nday in which also our life is\nsprung up by him, and through\nhis death, whom yet some deny:\n\n4 (By which mystery we have\nbeen brought to believe and\ntherefore wait that we maybe\nfound the disciples of Jesus\nChrist, our only master:)\n\n5  How shall we be able to live\ndifferent from him; whose disciples\nthe very prophets themselves\nbeing, did by the spirit expect him\nas their master;\n\n6  And therefore he whom they\njustly waited for, being come,\nraised, them up from the dead.\n\n7  Let us not then be insensible\nof his goodness; for should he\nhave dealt with us according to\nour works, we had not now had a\nbeing.\n\n8  Wherefore being become his\ndisciples, let us learn to live\naccording to the rules of\nChristianity; for whosoever is\ncalled by any other name besides\nthis, he is not of God.\n\n9  Lay aside therefore the old and\nsour, and evil leaven; and be ye\nchanged into the new leaven, which\nis Jesus Christ.\n\n10  Be ye salted in him, lest any\none  among you should be corrupted;\nfor by your Savior ye shall\nbe judged.\n\n11  It is absurd to name Jesus\nChrist, and to Judaize. For the\nchristian religion did not embrace\nthe Jewish, but the Jewish the\nchristian; that so every tongue\nthat believed might be gathered\ntogether unto God.\n\n12  These things, my beloved, I\nwrite unto you; not that I know\nof any among you that lie under\nthis error: but as one of the least\namong you, I am desirous to forewarn\nyou, that ye fall not into the\nsnares of false doctrine.\n\n13  But that ye be fully instructed\nin the birth, and suffering, and\nresurrection of Jesus Christ,\nour hope; which was accomplished\nin the time of the government of\nPontius Pilate, and that most truly\nand certainly: and from which God\nforbid that any among you should\nbe turned aside.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n     1 Commends their faith and piety; exhorts them\n     to persevere;\n     10 desires their prayers for himself and the\n     church at Antioch.\n\nMAY I therefore have joy of\nyou in all things, if I shall\nbe worthy of it. For though I am\nbound, yet am I not worthy to be\ncompared to one of you that are at\nliberty.\n\n2  I know that ye are not puffed\nup; for ye have Jesus Christ in\nyour hearts.\n\n3  And especially when I commend\nyou, I know that ye are ashamed,\nas it is written,  The just man\ncondemneth himself.\n\n4  Study therefore to be confirmed\nin the doctrine of our Lord, and\nof his Apostles; that so whatever\nye do, ye may prosper both in body\nand spirit, in faith and charity,\nin the Son, and in the Father,\nand in the Holy Spirit; in the\nbeginning, and in the end:\n\n5  Together with your most worthy\nbishop, and the well-wrought\nspiritual crown of your presbytery,\nand your deacons, which are\naccording to God.\n\n6  Be subject to your bishop, and\nto one another, as Jesus Christ\nwas to the Father, according to the\nflesh; and the Apostles, both to\nChrist, and to the Father; and to\nthe Holy Ghost: that so ye may\nbe united both in body and spirit.\n\n7  Knowing you to be full of\nGod, I have the more briefly\nexhorted you.\n\n8  Be mindful of me in your\nprayers, that I may attain unto\nGod, and of the church that is in\nSyria, from which I am not worthy\nto be called.\n\n9  For I stand in need of your\njoint prayers in God, and of your\ncharity, that the church which is\nin Syria may he thought worthy\nto be nourished by your church.\n\n10  The Ephesians from Smyrna\nsalute you, from which place I\nwrite unto you; (being present\nhere to the glory of God, in like\nmanner as you are,) who have in\nall things refreshed me, together\nwith Polycarp, the bishop of the\nSmyrneans.\n\n11  The rest of the churches in\nthe honour of Jesus Christ salute\nyou.\n\n12  Farewell, and be ye strengthened\nin the concord of God; enjoying\nhis inseparable spirit, which\nis Christ Jesus.\n\n\n\n\n                            THE EPISTLE OF\n                       IGNATIUS TO THE TRALLIANS.\n\nCHAPTER 1.\n\n     1 Acknowledges the coming of their bishop.\n     5 Commends them for their subjection to their bishop,\n     priests, and deacons; and exhorts them to continue in it:\n     15 is afraid even of his over-great desire to suffer,\n     lest it should be prejudicial to him.\n\nIGNATTUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the holy church\nwhich is at Tralles in Asia:\nbeloved of God, the Father of Jesus\nChrist; elect and worthy of God,\nhaving peace through the flesh and\nblood, and passion of Jesus Christ\nour hope; in the resurrection which\nis by him: which also I salute in\nits fullness, continuing in the\napostolical character, wishing all\njoy and happiness unto it.\n\n2  I have heard of your blameless\nand constant disposition through\npatience, which not only appears\nin your outward conversation, but\nis naturally rooted and grounded\nin you.\n\n3  In like manner as Polybius\nyour bishop has declared unto me,\nwho came to me to Smyrna, by the\nwill of God and Jesus Christ, and\nso rejoiced together with me in my\nbonds for Jesus Christ, that in\neffect I saw your whole church in\nhim.\n\n4  Having therefore received\ntestimony of your good will towards\nme for God's sake, by him; I seemed\nto find you, as also I knew that ye\nwere the followers of God.\n\n5  For whereas ye are subject to\nyour bishop as to Jesus Christ, ye\nappear to one to live not after the\nmanner of men, but according to\nJesus Christ who died for us,\nthat so believing in his death,\nye might escape death.\n\n6  It is therefore necessary, that\nas ye do, so without your bishop\nyou should do nothing: also be\nye subject to your presbyters, as\nto the Apostles of Jesus Christ our\nhope; in whom if we walk, we\nshall be found in him.\n\n7  The deacons also, as being\nthe ministers of the mysteries of\nJesus Christ, must by all means\nplease ye. For they are not the\nministers of meat and drink,\nbut of the church of God. Wherefore\nthey must avoid all offences,\nas they would do fire.\n\n8  In like manner let us reverence\nthe deacons as Jesus Christ;\nand the bishop as the Father; and\nthe presbyters as the Sanctuary of\nGod, and college of the Apostles.\n\n9  Without these there is no\nchurch; concerning all which, I\nam persuaded that ye think after\nthe very same manner; for I have\nreceived, and even now have with\nme, the pattern of your love, in\nyour bishop.\n\n10  Whose very look is instructive;\nand whose mildness powerful: whom\nI am persuaded, the very Atheists\nthemselves cannot but reverence.\n\n11  But because I have a love\ntowards you, I will not write any\nmore sharply unto you about this\nmatter, though I very well might\nbut now I have done so, lest being\na condemned man, I should seem\nto prescribe to you as an Apostle.\n\n12  I have great knowledge in\nGod; but I refrain myself, lest\nI should perish in my boasting.\n\n13  For now I ought the more\nto fear, and not to hearken to\nthose that would puff me up.\n\n14  For they that speak to me,\nin my praise, chasten me.\n\n15  For I indeed desire to suffer,\nbut I cannot tell whether I am\nworthy so to do.\n\n16  And this desire, though to\nothers it does not appear, yet to\nmyself it is for that very reason\nthe more violent. I have, therefore,\nneed of moderation; by which the\nprince of this world is destroyed.\n\n17  Am I not able to write to\nyou of heavenly things?--But I\nfear lest I should harm you, who\nare yet but babes in Christ;\n(excuse me this care;) and lest\nperchance being not able to\nreceive them, ye should be\nchoken with them.\n\n18  For even I myself, although\nI am in bonds, yet am not therefore\nable to understand heavenly things;\n\n19  As the assembly of angels,\nand the several companies of them,\nunder their respective princes;\nthings visible and invisible: but\nin these I am yet a learner.\n\n20  For many things are wanting to\nus, that we come not short of God.\n\n\n\nCHAP. II.\n\n     1 Warns them against heretics,\n     4 exhorts them to humility and unity,\n     10 and briefly sets before them the true\n     doctrine concerning Christ.\n\nEXHORT you therefore, or\nrather not I, but the love of\nJesus Christ; that ye use none but\nchristian nourishment; abstaining\nfrom pasture which is of another\nkind, I mean heresy.\n\n2  For they that are heretics,\nconfound together the doctrine of\nJesus Christ, with their own poison:\nwhilst they seem worthy of belief:\n\n3  As men give a deadly potion\nmixed with sweet wine; which he\nwho drinks of, does with the\ntreacherous pleasure sweetly\ndrink in his own death.\n\n4  Wherefore guard yourself\nagainst such persons; and that\nyou will do, if you are not puffed\nup; but continue inseparable from\nJesus Christ our God, and from\nyour bishop, and from the\ncommands of the Apostles.\n\n5  He that is within the altar,\nis pure; but he that is without,\nnamely, does anything without the\nbishop, the presbyters, and deacons,\nis not pure in his conscience.\n\n6  Not that I know there is any\nthing of this nature among you;\nbut I fore-arm you, as being\ngreatly beloved by me, foreseeing\nthe snares of the devil.\n\n7  Wherefore putting on meekness,\nrenew yourselves in faith,\nwhich is the flesh of the Lord;\nand in charity, which is the blood\nof Jesus Christ.\n\n8  Let no man have any grudge\nagainst his neighbour. Give no\noccasion to the Gentiles; lest by\nmeans of a few foolish men, the\nwhole congregation of God be\nevil spoken of.\n\n9  For woe to that man through\nwhose vanity my name is\nblasphemed by any.\n\n10  Stop your ears therefore,\nas often as any one shall speak\ncontrary to Jesus Christ, who was\nof the race of David; by the Virgin\nMary.\n\n11  Who was truly born, and\ndid eat and drink; was truly\npersecuted under Pontius Pilate;\nwas truly crucified and dead; both\nthose in heaven and on earth, and\nunder the earth, being spectators\nof it:\n\n12  Who, was also truly raised\nfrom the dead by his Father, after\nthe same manner as HE will also\nraise up us who believe in him by\nChrist Jesus; without whom we\nhave no true life.\n\n13  But if, as some who are\nAtheists, that is to say infidels,\npretend, that he seemed to suffer,\n(they themselves only seeming to\nexist) why then am I bound?--\nWhy do I desire to fight with\nbeasts?--Therefore do I die in\nvain: therefore I will not speak\nfalsely against the Lord.\n\n14  Flee therefore these evil\nsprouts which bring forth deadly\nfruit; of which if any one taste,\nhe shall presently die.\n\n15  For these are not the plants\nof the Father; seeing if they were,\nthey would appear to be the\nbranches of the cross, and their\nfruit would be incorruptible; by\nwhich he invites you through his\npassion, who are members of him.\n\n16  For the head cannot be without\nits members, God having promised\na union with himself.\n\n\n\nCHAP. III.\n\n     He again exhorts to unity, and desires their\n     prayers for himself, and for his church at Antioch.\n\nI SALUTE you from Smyrna,\ntogether with the churches of\nGod that are present with me;\nwho have refreshed me in all\nthings, both in the flesh and\nin the spirit.\n\n2 My bonds, which I carry about\nme for the sake of Christ,\n(beseeching him that I may\nattain unto God) exhort you that\nyou continue in concord among\nyourselves, and in prayer with\none another.\n\n3  For it becomes everyone of\nyou, especially the presbyters, to\nrefresh the bishop, to the honour\nof the Father of Jesus Christ, and\nof the Apostles.\n\n4  I beseech you, that you hearken\nto me in love; that I may not by\nthose things which I write, rise up\nin witness against you.\n\n5  Pray also for me; who,\nthrough the mercy of God, stand\nin need of your prayers, that I\nmay be worthy of the portion which\nI am about to obtain, and that I\nbe not found a reprobate.\n\n6  The love of those who are at\nSmyrna and Ephesus salute you.\nRemember in your prayers the\nchurch of Syria, from which I am\nnot worthy to be called, being one\nof the least of it.\n\n7  Fare ye well in Jesus Christ;\nbeing subject to your bishop as to\nthe command of God; and so like.\nwise to the presbytery.\n\n8  Love every one his brother\nwith an unfeigned heart.  My soul\nbe your expiation, not only now,\nbut when I shall have attained\nunto God; for I am yet under\ndanger.\n\n9  But the Father is faithful in\nJesus Christ, to fulfil both mine\nand your petition; in whom may\nye be found unblamable.\n\n\n\n\n\n                             THE EPISTLE OF\n                        IGNATIUS TO THE ROMANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     Ignatius testifies his desire to see, and his\n     hopes of suffering for Christ\n     5 which he earnestly entreats them not to prevent,\n     10 but to pray for him, that God would strengthen\n     him to the combat.\n\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the church\nwhich has obtained mercy from\nthe majesty of the Most High\nFather, and his only begotten\nSon Jesus Christ; beloved, and\nilluminated through the will of him\nwho willeth all things which are\naccording to the love of Jesus\nChrist our God; which also presides\nin the place of the region\nof the Romans; and which I salute\nin the name of Jesus Christ, as\nbeing united both in flesh and\nspirit to all his commands, and\nfiled with the grace of God; with\nall joy in Jesus Christ our God.\n\n2  Forasmuch as I have at last\nobtained through my prayers to\nGod, permission to see your faces,\nwhich I much desired to do; being\nbound in Jesus Christ, I hope ere\nlong to salute you, if it shall be\nthe will of God to grant me to\nattain unto the end I long for.\n\n3  For the beginning is well\ndisposed, if I shall but have grace,\nwithout hindrance, to receive what\nis appointed for me.\n\n4  But I fear your love, lest it\ndo me an injury; for it is easy for\nyou to do what you please; but it\nwill be hard for me to attain unto\nGod, if you spare me.\n\n5  But I would not that ye\nshould please men, but God; whom\nalso ye do, please. For neither\nshall I hereafter have such an\nopportunity of going unto God; nor\nwill you, if ye shall now be silent,\never be entitled to a better work.\nFor if you, shall be silent in my\nbehalf, I shall be made partaker of\nGod.\n\n6  But if you shall love my body,\nI shall have my course again to\nrun. Wherefore ye cannot do me\na greater kindness, than to suffer\nme to be sacrificed unto God, now\nthat the altar is already prepared:\n\n7  That when ye shall be gathered\ntogether in love, ye nay give\nthanks to the Father through\nChrist Jesus, that he has\nvouchsafed to bring a bishop\nof Syria unto you, being called\nfrom the east unto the west.\n\n8  For it is good for me to turn\nfrom the world, unto God; that I\nmay rise again unto him.\n\n9  Ye have never envied any one;\nye have taught others. I would\ntherefore that ye should now do\nthose things yourselves, which\nin your instructions you have\nprescribed to others.\n\n10  Only pray for me, that God\nwould give me both inward and\noutward strength, that I may not\nonly say, but will; nor be only\ncalled a christian, but be found\none.\n\n11  For if I shall be found a\nchristian, I may then deservedly\nbe called one; and be thought\nfaithful, when I shall no longer\nappear to the world.\n\n12  Nothing is good, that is\nseen.\n\n13  For even our God, Jesus\nChrist, now that he is in the\nFather, does so much the more\nappear.\n\n14  A christian is not a work of\nopinion; but of greatness of mind,\nespecially when he is hated by the\nworld.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER. II.\n\n     Expresses his great desire and determination\n     to suffer martyrdom.\n\nI WRITE to the churches, and\nsignify to them all, that I am\nwilling to die for God, unless you\nhinder me.\n\n2  I beseech you that you show\nnot an unseasonable good will\ntowards me. Suffer me to be food\nto the wild beasts, by whom I shall\nattain unto God.\n\n3  For I am the wheat of God,\nand I shall be ground by the teeth\nof the wild-beasts, that I may be\nfound the pure bread of Christ.\nRather encourage the beasts,\nthat they may became my sepulchre,\nand may let live nothing of my\nbody; that being dead I may not\nbe troublesome to any.\n\n5  Then shall I be truly the\ndisciple of Jesus Christ, when the\nworld shall not see so much as my\nbody. Pray therefore unto Christ\nfor me, that by these instruments\nI may be made the sacrifice of\nGod.\n\n6  I do not, as Peter and Paul,\ncommand you. They were Apostles,\nI a condemned man; they were free,\nbut I am even to this day a servant:\n\n7  But if I shall suffer, I shall\nthen become the freeman of Jesus\nChrist, and shall rise free. And\nnow, being in bonds, I learn not\nto desire any thing.\n\n8  From Syria even unto Rome,\nI fight with beasts both by sea and\nland; both night and day: being\nbound to ten leopards, that is to\nsay, to such a band of soldiers,\nwho, though treated with all manner\nof kindness, are the worse for\nit.\n\n9  But I am the more instructed\nby their injuries; yet am I not\ntherefore justified.\n\n10  May I enjoy the wild beasts\nthat are prepared for me; which\nalso I wish may exercise all their\nfierceness upon me.\n\n11  And whom for that end I will\nencourage, that they may be sure\nto devour me, and not serve me as\nthey have done some, whom out of\nfear they have not touched. But\nif they will not do it willingly,\nI will provoke them to it.\n\n12  Pardon me in this matter; I\nknow what is profitable for me,\nnow I begin to be a disciple.\nNot shall any thing move me\nwhether visible or invisible,\nthat I may attain to Jesus Christ.\n\n13  Let fire and the cross; let\nthe companies of wild beasts;\nlet breakings of bones, and tearing\nof members; let the shattering in\npieces of the whole body, and all\nthe wicked torments of the devil\ncome upon me; only let me enjoy\nJesus Christ.\n\n14  All the ends of the world,\nand the kingdoms of it, will profit\nme nothing: I would rather die\nfor Jesus Christ, than rule to the\nutmost ends of the earth. Him\nI seek who died for us; him I\ndesire who rose again for us.\nThis is the gain that is laid up\nfor me.\n\n15  Pardon me, my brethren, ye\nshall not hinder me from living;\nnor seeing I desire to go to God,\nmay you separate me from him,\nfor the sake of this world;--nor\ninduce me by any of the desires of\nit. Suffer me to enter into pure\nlight, where being come, I shall\nbe indeed the servant of God.\n\n16  Permit me to imitate the\npassion of my God. If any one has\nGod within himself, let him consider\nwhat I desire; and let him have\ncompassion on me, as knowing how\nI am straightened.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n     Further expresses his desire to suffer.\n\nTHE prince of this world would\nfain carry me away, and corrupt\nmy resolution towards my God.\nLet none of you therefore help\nhim; rather do ye join with me,\nthat is, with God.\n\n2  Do not speak with Jesus\nChrist, and yet covet the world.\nLet not any envy dwell with you;\nno, not though I myself, when I\nshall be come unto you, should\nexhort you to it, yet do not ye\nhearken to me; but rather believe\nwhat I now write to you.\n\n3  For though I am alive at the\nwriting of this, yet my desire is\nto die. My love is crucified; and\nthe fire that is within me does\nnot desire any water; but being\nalive and springing within me,\nsays, Come to the Father.\n\n4  I take no pleasure in the food\nof corruption, nor in the pleasures\nof this life.\n\n5  I desire the bread of God\nwhich is the flesh of Jesus Christ,\nof the seed of David; and the\ndrink that I long for is his blood,\nwhich is incorruptible love.\n\n6  I have no desire to live any\nlonger after the manner of men;\nneither shall I, if you consent.\nBe ye therefore willing, that ye\nyourselves also maybe pleasing to\nGod. I exhort you in a few words;\nI pray you believe me.\n\n7  Jesus Christ will shew you\nthat I speak truly. My mouth is\nwithout deceit, and the Father\nhath truly spoken by it. Pray\ntherefore for me, that I may\naccomplish what I desire.\n\n8  I have not written to you after\nthe flesh, but according to the will\nof God. If I shall suffer, ye have\nloved me: but if I shall be rejected,\nye have hated me.\n\n9  Remember in your prayers\nthe church of Syria, which now\nenjoys God for its shepherd instead\nof me. Let Jesus Christ only  oversee\nit, and your charity.\n\n10  But I am even ashamed to\nbe reckoned as one of them; for\nneither am I worthy, being the\nleast among them, and as one\nborn out of due season. But\nthrough mercy I have risen to\nbe somebody, if I shall get unto\nGod.\n\n11  My spirit salutes you; and\nthe charity of the churches that\nhave received me in the name of\nJesus Christ; not as a passenger,\nfor even they that were not near\nto me in the way, have gone before\nme to the next city to meet me.\n\n12  These things I write to you\nfrom Smyrna, by the most worthy\nof the church of Ephesus.\n\n13  There is now with me, together\nwith many others, Crocus, most\nbeloved of me. As for those which\nare come from Syria, and are gone\nbefore me to Rome, to the glory\nof God, I suppose you are not\nignorant of them.\n\n14  Ye shall therefore signify to\nthem that I draw near, for they,\nare all worthy both of God and of\nyou: Whom it is fit that you\nrefresh in all things.\n\n15  This have I written to you,\nthe day before the ninth of the,\ncalends of September. Be strong\nunto the end, in the patience of\nJesus Christ.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                     IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS.\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     Commends their bishop, whom they had sent unto him,\n     warns them against division and schism.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to the church of\nGod the Father, and our Lord\nJesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia\nin Asia; which has obtained mercy,\nbeing fixed in the concord of God,\nand rejoicing evermore in the passion\nof our Lord, and being fulfilled in\nall mercy through his resurrection:\nWhich also I salute in the blood of\nJesus Christ, which is our eternal\nand undefiled joy; especially if\nthey are at unity with the bishop,\nand presbyters who are with him,\nand the deacons appointed according\nto the mind of Jesus Christ; whom\nhe has settled according to his own\nwill in all firmness by his Holy\nSpirit:\n\n2  Which bishop I know obtained\nthat great ministry among you,\nnot of himself, neither by men,\nnor out of vain glory; but by the\nlove of God the Father, and our\nLord Jesus Christ.\n\n3  Whose moderation I admire;\nwho by his silence is able to do\nmore than others with all their\nvain talk. For he is fitted to the\ncommands, as the harp to its strings.\n\n4  Wherefore my soul esteems\nhis mind towards God most happy,\nknowing it to be fruitful in all\nvirtue, and perfect; full of\nconstancy, free from passion,\nand according to all the\nmoderation of the living God.\n\n5  Wherefore as becomes the\nchildren both of the light and of\ntruth; flee divisions and false\ndoctrines; but where your shepherd\nis, there do ye, as sheep, follow\nafter.\n\n6  For there are many wolves\nwho seem worthy of belief, that\nwith a false pleasure lead captive\nthose that run in the course of\nGod; but in the concord they shall\nfind no place.\n\n7  Abstain therefore from those\nevil herbs which Jesus Christ does\nnot dress: because such are not\nthe plantation of the Father. Not\nthat I have found any division\namong you, but rather all manner\nof purity.\n\n8  For as many as are of God,\nand of Jesus Christ, are also with\ntheir bishop. And as many as\nshall with repentance return into\nthe unity of the church, even these\nshall also be the servants of God,\nthat they may live according to\nJesus Christ.\n\n9  Be not deceived brethren;\nif any one follows him that makes\na schism in the church, he shall\nnot inherit the kingdom of God.\nIf any one walks after any other\nopinion, he agrees not with the\npassion of Christ.\n\n10  Wherefore let it be your\nendeavour to partake all of the\nsame holy eucharist.\n\n11  For there is but one flesh of\nour Lord Jesus Christ; one cup\nin the unity of his blood; and one\naltar;\n\n12  As also there is one bishop,\ntogether with his presbytery, and\nthe deacons my fellow servants\nthat so whatsoever ye do, ye may\ndo it according to the will of God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\nDesires their prayers, and to be\nunited, but not to Judaize.\n\nMY brethren, the love I have\ntowards you makes me the\nmore large; and having a great\njoy in you, I endeavour to secure\nyou against danger; or rather not\nI, but Jesus Christ; in whom\nbeing bound, I the more fear,\nas being yet only on the way\nto suffering.\n\n2  But your prayer to God shall\nmake me perfect, that I may attain\nto that portion, which by God's\nmercy is allotted to me Fleeing\nto the Gospel as to the flesh of\nChrist; and to the Apostles as\nto the presbytery of the church.\n\n3  Let us also love the prophets,\nforasmuch as they have led us\nto the Gospel, and to hope in\nChrist, and to expect him.\n\n4  In whom also believing they\nwere saved in the unity of Jesus\nChrist; being holy men, worthy\nto be loved, and had in wonder;\n\n5  Who have received testimony\nfrom Jesus Christ, and are\nnumbered in the Gospel of our\ncommon hope.\n\n6  But if any one shall preach\nthe Jewish law unto you, hearken\nnot unto him; for it is better to\nreceive the doctrine of Christ from\none that has been circumcised, than\nJudaism from one that has not.\n\n7  But if either the one, or other,\ndo not speak concerning Christ\nJesus; they seem to me to be but\nas monuments and sepulchres of\nthe dead, upon which are written\nonly the names of men.\n\n8  Flee therefore the wicked arts\nand snares of the prince of this\nworld; lest at any time being\noppressed by his cunning, ye grow\ncold in your charity. But come\naltogether into the same place,\nwith an undivided heart.\n\n9  And I bless my God that I\nhave a good conscience towards\nyou, and that no one among you\nhas whereof to boast either openly\nor privately, that I have been\nburthensome to him in much or\nlittle.\n\n10  And I wish to all, among\nwhom I have conversed, that\nmay not turn to a witness again\nthem.\n\n11  For although some would\nhave deceived me according to\nthe flesh, yet the spirit, being\nfrom God, is not deceived: for it\nknows, both whence it comes and\nwhither it goes, and reproves the\nsecrets of the heart.\n\n12  I cried whilst I was among\nyou; I spake with a loud voice:\nattend to the bishop, and to the\npresbytery, and to the deacons.\n\n13  Now some supposed that I spake\nthis as foreseeing the division\nthat should come among you.\n\n14  But he is my witness for\nwhose sake I am in bonds that\nI know nothing from any man.\nBut the spirit spake, saying\non this wise: Do nothing without\nthe bishop:\n\n15  Keep your bodies as the\ntemples of God: Love unity;\nFlee divisions; Be the followers\nof Christ, as he was of his Father.\n\n16  I therefore did as became\nme, as a man composed to unity\nfor where there is division,\nand wrath, God dwelleth not.\n\n17  But the Lord forgives all\nthat repent, if they return to the\nunity of God, and to the council\nof the bishop.\n\n18  For I trust in the grace\nJesus Christ that he will free\nyou from every bond.\n\n19 Nevertheless I exhort you\nthat you do nothing out of strife\nbut according to the instruction\nof Christ.\n\n20 Because I have heard\nsome who say; unless I find\nwritten in the originals, I will\nnot believe it to be written in\nthe Gospel. And when I said,\nIt is written; they answered\nfrom what lay before them in the\ncorrupted copies.\n\n21  But to me Jesus Christ\ninstead of all the uncorrupted\nmonuments in the world; together\nwith those undefiled monuments,\nhis cross, and death, and\nresurrection, and the faith\nwhich is by him; by which I\ndesire, through your prayers,\nto be justified.\n\n22  The priests indeed are\ngood; but much better is the High\nPriest to whom the Holy of Holies\nhas been committed; and who\nalone has been intrusted with the\nsecrets of God.\n\n23  He is the door of the Father;\nby which Abraham, and Isaac,\nand Jacob, and all the prophets,\nenter in; as well as the Apostles,\nand the church.\n\n24  And all these things tend to\nthe unity which is of God. Howbeit\nthe Gospel has somewhat in it far\nabove all other dispensations;\nnamely, the appearance of our\nSaviour, the Lord Jesus Christ,\nhis passion and resurrection.\n\n25  For the beloved prophets\nreferred to him; but the Gospel\nis the perfection of incorruption.\nAll therefore together are good,\nif ye believe with charity.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n     Informs them he had heard that the persecution\n     was stopped at Antioch: and directs them to send\n     a messenger thither to congratulate with the church.\n\nNOW as concerning the church\nof Antioch which is in Syria,\nseeing I am told that through\nyour prayers and the bowels which\nye have towards it in Jesus Christ,\nit is in peace; it will become you,\nas the church of God, to ordain\nsome I deacon to go to them thither\nas the ambassador of God; that\nhe may rejoice with them when\nthey meet together, and glorify\nGod's name.\n\n2  Blessed be that man in Jesus,\nChrist, who shall be found worthy\nof such a ministry; and ye yourselves\nalso shall be glorified.\n\n3  Now if you be willing, it is\nnot impossible for you to do this\nfor the grace of God; as also the\nother neighbouring churches have\nsent them some bishops, some\npriests and some deacons.\n\n4  As concerning Philo the deacon\nof Cilicia, a most worthy  man,\nhe still ministers unto me in the\nword of God: together with Rheus\nof Agathopolis a singular good\nperson, who has followed me even\nfrom Syria, not regarding his life:\nThese also bear witness unto you.\n\n5  And I myself give thanks to\nGod for you, that you receive them\nas the Lord shall receive you.\nBut for those that dishonoured\nthem, may they be forgiven\nthrough the grace of Jesus Christ.\n\n6  The charity of the brethren\nthat are at Troas salutes you:\nfrom whence also I now write\nby Burrhurs, who was sent together\nwith me by those of Ephesus and\nSmyrna, for respect sake.\n\n7  May our Lord Jesus Christ\nhonour them; in whom they hope,\nboth in flesh, and soul, and spirit;\nin faith, in love, in unity.\nFare-well in Christ Jesus our\ncommon hope.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                        IGNATIUS TO THE SMYRNEANS.\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     1 Declares his joy for their firmness in the Gospel.\n     4 Enlarges on the person of Christ, against such\n     as pretend that Christ did not suffer.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheohorus, to the church of\nGod the Father, and of the beloved\nJesus Christ, which God hath\nmercifully blessed with every\ngood gift; being filled with faith\nand charity, so that it is wanting\nin no gift; most worthy of God,\nand fruitful in saints; the church\nwhich is at Smyrna in Asia; all\nthrough his immaculate spirit,\nthrough word of God.\n\n2  I glorify God, even Jesus\nChrist, who has given you such\nwisdom.\n\n3  For I have observed that you\nare settled in an immoveable faith,\nas if you were nailed to the cross\nof our Lord Jesus Christ, both in\nthe flesh and in the spirit; and\nare confirmed in love through the\nblood of Christ; being fully\npersuaded of those things which\nrelate unto our Lord.\n\n4  Who truly was of the race\nof David according to the flesh,\nbut the Son of God according to\nthe will and power of God;\ntruly born of the Virgin, and\nbaptised of John; that so all\nrighteousness might be fulfilled\nby him.\n\n5  He was also truly crucified\nby Pontius Pilate, and Herod the\nTetrarch, being nailed for us in\nthe flesh; by the fruits of which\nwe are, even by his most blessed\nPassion;\n\n6  That he might set up a token\nfor all ages through his resurrection,\nto all his holy and faithful servants,\nwhether they be Jews or Gentiles,\nin one body of his church.\n\n7  Now all these things he suffered\nfor us that we might be saved; and\nhe suffered truly, as he also truly\nraised up himself; and not, as some\nunbelievers say, that he only seemed\nto suffer; they themselves 'only\nseeming to be.'\n\n8  And as they believe so shall it\nhappen unto them, when being divested\nof the body they shall become mere\nspirits.\n\n9  But I know that even after his\nresurrection he was in the flesh;\nand I believe that he is still so.\n\n10  And when he came to those\nwho were with Peter, he said\nunto them, Take, handle me, and\nsee that I am not an incorporeal\ndaemon. And straightway they\nfelt and believed; being convinced\nboth by his flesh and spirit.\n\n11  For this cause they despised\ndeath, and were bound to be above\nit.\n\n12  But after his resurrection he\ndid eat and drink with them, as he\nwas flesh; although as to his\nSpirit he was united to the Father.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n     1 Exhorts them against heretics.\n     8 The danger of their doctrine.\n\nNOW these things, beloved, I put\nyou in mind of, not questioning\nbut that you yourselves also\nbelieve that they are so.\n\n2  But I arm you before-hand\nagainst certain beasts in the shape\nof men, whom you must not only\nnot receive, but if it be possible\nmust not meet with.\n\n3  Only you must pray for them,\nthat if it be the will of God they\nmay repent; which yet will be\nvery hard. But of this our Lord\nJesus Christ has the power, who\nis our true life.\n\n4  For if all these things were\ndone only in show by our Lord,\nthen do I also seem only to be\nbound:\n\n5  And why have I given up myself\nto death, to the fire, to the\nsword, to wild beasts?\n\n6  But now the nearer I am to\nthe sword, the nearer I am to\nGod: when I shall come among\nthe wild beasts, I shall come to\nGod.\n\n7  Only in the name of Jesus\nChrist, I undergo all, to suffer\ntogether with him; he who was\nmade a perfect man strengthening,\nme.\n\n8  Whom some not knowing, do\ndeny; or rather have been denied\nby him, being the advocates of\ndeath, rather than of the truth.\nWhom neither the prophecies, nor\nthe law of Moses have persuaded;\nnor the Gospel itself, even to this\nday; nor the sufferings of every\none of us.\n\n9  For they think also the same\nthings of us. For what does a\nman profit me, if he shall praise\nme, and blaspheme my Lord; not\nconfessing that he was truly made\nman?\n\n10  Now he that doth not say\nthis, does in effect deny him,\nand is in death. But for the names\nof such as do this, they being\nunbelievers, I thought it not\nfitting to write them unto you.\n\n11  Yea, God forbid that I should\nmake any mention of them, till\nthey shall repent to a true belief\nof Christ's passion, which is our\nresurrection.\n\n12  Let no man deceive himself;\nboth the things which are in heaven,\nand the glorious angels, and princes,\nwhether visible or invisible, if they\nbelieve not in the blood of Christ,\nit shall be to them, unto condemnation.\n\n13  He that is able to receive\nthis, let him receive it. Let no\nman's place or state in the world\npuff him up: that which is worth\nall his faith and charity, to it\nnothing is to be preferred.\n\n14  But consider those who are\nof a different opinion from us,\nas to what concerns the grace of\nJesus Christ which is come unto us,\nhow contrary they are to the\ndesign of God.\n\n15  They have no regard to charity,\nno care of the widow, the fatherless,\nand the oppressed; of the bond or\nfree, of the hungry or thirsty.\n\n16  They abstain from the eucharist,\nand from the public offices;\nbecause they confess not the eucharist\nto be the flesh of our Saviour Jesus\nChrist which suffered for our sins,\nand which the Father of his goodness\nraised again from the dead.\n\n17  And for this cause contradicting\nthe gift of God, they die in their\ndisputes; but much better would it\nbe for them to receive it, that they\nmight one day rise through it.\n\n18  It will therefore become you.\nto abstain from such persons, and\nnot to speak with them, neither in\npublic nor in private.\n\n19  But to hearken to the prophets,\nand especially to the Gospel, in\nwhich both Christ's passion is\nmanifested unto us, and his\nresurrection perfectly declared.\n\n20  But flee all divisions, as the\nbeginning of evils.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n     1 Exhorts them to follow their bishop and pastors;\n     but especially their bishop.\n     6 Thanks them for their kindness,\n     11 and acquaints them with the ceasing of the\n      persecution at Antioch.\n\nSEE that ye all follow your\nbishop, as Jesus Christ, the\nFather; and the presbytery, as\nthe Apostles; and reverence the\ndeacons, as the command of God.\n\n2  Let no man do any thing\nof what belongs to the church\nseparately from the bishop.\n\n3  Let that eucharist be looked\nupon as well established, which is\neither offered by the bishop, or by\nhim to whom the bishop has given.\nhis consent.\n\n4  Wheresoever the bishop shall\nappear, there let the people also\nbe: as where Jesus Christ is, there\nis the Catholic church.\n\n5  It is not lawful without the\nbishop; neither to baptize, nor to\ncelebrate the Holy Communion\nbut whatsoever he shall approve\nof, that is also pleasing unto God;\nthat so whatever is done, may be\nsure and well done.\n\n6  For what remains, it is very\nreasonable that we should repent\nwhilst there is yet time to return\nunto God.\n\n7  It is a good thin to have a\ndue regard both to God, and to\nthe bishop: he that honours the\nbishop, shall be honoured of God;\nbut he that does any thing without\nhis knowledge, ministers unto the\ndevil.\n\n8  Let all things therefore abound\nto you in charity; seeing that ye\nare worthy.\n\n9  Ye have refreshed me in all\nthings; so shall Jesus Christ you.\nYe have loved me both when I was\npresent with you, and now being\nabsent, ye cease not to do so.\n\n10  May God be your reward,\nfor whom whilst ye undergo all\nthings, ye shall attain unto\nhim.\n\n11  Ye have done well in that ye\nhave received Philo, and Rheus\nAgathopus, who followed me for\nthe word of God, as the deacons\nof Christ our God.\n\n12  Who also gave thanks unto\nthe Lord for you, forasmuch as ye\nhave refreshed them in all things.\nNor shall any thing that you have\ndone be lost to you.\n\n13  My soul be for yours, and\nmy bonds which ye have not despised,\nnor been ashamed of. Wherefore\nneither shall. Jesus Christ,\nour perfect faith, be ashamed\nof you.\n\n14  Your prayer is come to the\nchurch of Antioch, which is in\nSyria. From whence being sent\nbound with chains becoming God.\nI salute the churches; being not\nworthy to be called from thence,\nas being the least among them.\n\n15  Nevertheless by the will of\nGod I have been thought worthy\nof this honour; not for that I\nthink I have deserved it, but by\nthe grace of God;\n\n16  Which I wish may be perfectly\ngiven unto me, that through your\nprayers I may attain unto God.\n\n17  And therefore, that your\nwork may be fully accomplished,\nboth upon earth and in heaven;\nit will be fitting, and for the\nhonour of God, that your church\nappoint some worthy deldgate,\nwho being come as far as Syria,\nmay rejoice together with them\nthat they are in peace; and that\nthey are again restored to their\nformer state, and have again\nreceived their proper body.\n\n18  Wherefore I should think it\na worthy action, to send some\none from you with an epistle,\nto congratulate with them their\npeace in God; and that through\nyour prayers, they have now\ngotten to their harbour.\n\n19  For inasmuch as ye are perfect\nyourselves, you ought to think\nthose things that are perfect. For\nwhen you are desirous to do well,\nGod is ready to enable you there.\nunto.\n\n20  The love of the brethren that\nare at Troas salute you; from whence\nI write to you by Burrhus whom ye\nsent with me, together with the\nEphesians, your brethren; and who\nhas in all Things refreshed me.\n\n21  And I would to God that all\nwould imitate him, as being a pattern\nof the ministry of God. May his grace\nfully reward him.\n\n22  I salute your very worthy\nbishop, and your venerable presbytery;\nand your deacons, my fellow-servants;\nand all of you in general, and every\none in particular, in the name of\nJesus Christ, and in his flesh and\nblood; in his passion and resurrection\nboth fleshly and spiritually; and in\nthe unity of God with you.\n\n23  Grace be with you, and mercy,\nand peace, and patience, for evermore.\n\n24  I salute the families of my\nbrethren, with their wives and\nchildren; and the virgins that are\ncalled widows. Be strong in the\npower of the Holy Ghost. Philo,\nwho is present with me salutes\nyou.\n\n25  I salute the house of Tavias,\nand pray that it may be strengthened\nin faith and charity, both of flesh\nand spirit.\n\n26  I salute Alce my well-beloved,\ntogether with the incomparable\nDaphnus, and Eutechnus, and all\nby name.\n\n27 Farewell in the grace of God.\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                           IGNATIUS TO POLYCARP\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\nIgnatius blesses God for the firm,\nestablishment of Polycarp in the\nfaith, and gives him particular\ndirections for improving it.\n\nIGNATIUS, who is also called\nTheophorus, to Polycarp, bishop\nof the church which is at Smyrna;\ntheir overseer, but rather himself\noverlooked by God the Father,\nand the Lord Jesus Christ;\nall happiness.\n\n2  Having known that thy mind\ntowards God, is fixed as it were\nupon an immoveable rock;\nI exceedingly give thanks, that\nI have been thought worthy to\nbehold thy blessed face, in\nwhich may I always rejoice in God.\n\n3  Wherefore I beseech thee by\nthe grace of God with which thou\nart clothed, to press forward in\nthy course, and to exhort all\nothers that they may be saved.\n\n4  Maintain thy place with all\ncare both of flesh and spirit: Make\nit thy endeavour to preserve unity,\nthan which nothing is better.\nBear with all men even as the\nLord with thee.\n\n5  Support all in love, as also\nthou dost. Pray without ceasing\nask more understanding than what\nthou already hast. Be watchful,\nhaving thy spirit always awake.\n\n6  Speak to every one according\nas God shall enable thee. Bear\nthe infirmities of all, as a\nperfect combatant; where the\nlabour is great, the gain is\nthe more.\n\n7  If thou shalt love the good\ndisciples, what thank is it? But\nrather do thou subject to thee\nthose that are mischievous, in\nmeekness.\n\n8  Every wound is not healed\nwith the same plaister: if the\naccessions of the disease be\nvehement, modify them with soft\nremedies: be in all things wise\nas a serpent, but harmless as a\ndove.\n\n9  For this cause thou art\ncomposed of flesh and spirit;\nthat thou mayest modify those\nthings that appear before thy face.\n\n10  And as for those that are not\nseen, pray to God that he would\nreveal them into thee, that so\nthou mayest be wanting in nothing,\nbut mayest abound in every gift.\n\n11  The times demand thee, as\nthe pilots the winds; and be that\nis tossed in a tempest, the haven\nwhere he would be.\n\n12  That thou mayest attain unto\nGod, be sober as the combatant\nof God. The crown proposed to\nthee is immortality, and eternal\nlife: concerning which thou art\nalso fully persuaded. I will be\nthy surety in all things, by my\nbonds, which thou halt loved.\n\n13  Let not those that seem\nworthy of credit, but teach other\ndoctrines, disturb thee. Stand\nfirm and immoveable, as an anvil\nwhen it is beaten upon.\n\n14  It is the part of a brave\ncombatant to be wounded, and yet\novercome. But especially we ought\nto endure all things for God's\nsake, that he may bear with us.\n\n15  Be every day better than\nothers; consider the times, and\nexpect him, who is above all time,\neternal; invisible, though for our\nsakes made visible: impalpable,\nand impassible, yet for us\nsubjected to sufferings; enduring\nall manner of ways for our salvation.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n     1 Continues his advice,\n     6 and teaches him how to advise others.\n     12 Enforces unity and subjection to the bishop.\n\nLET not the widows be neglected:\nbe thou after God, their Guardian.\n\n2  Let nothing be done without thy\nknowledge and consent; neither do\nthou anything but according to the\nwill of God; as also thou dost,\nwith all constancy.\n\n3  Let your assemblies be more\nfull: inquire into all by name.\n\n4  Overlook not the men and\nmaid servants; neither let them\nbe puffed up: but rather let them\nbe the more subject to the glory\nof God, that they may obtain from\nhim a better liberty.\n\n5  Let them not desire to be\nset free at the public cost, that\nthey be not slaves to their own\nlusts.\n\n6  Flee evil arts; or rather make\nnot any mention of them.\n\n7  Say to my sisters, that they\nlove the Lord; and be satisfied\nwith their own husbands, both in\nthe flesh and spirit.\n\n8  In like manner, exhort my\nbrethren in the name of Jesus\nChrist, that they love their wives,\neven as the Lord the church.\n\n9  If any man can remain in a\nvirgin state, to the honour of the\nflesh of Christ, let him remain\nwithout boasting; but if he boast,\nhe is undone. And if he desire to\nbe more taken notice of than the\nbishop he is corrupted.\n\n10  But it becomes all such as\nare married, whether men or women,\nto come together with the consent\nof the bishop, that so their\nmarriage may be according to\ngodliness, and not in lust.\n\n11  Let all things be done to the\nhonour of God.\n\n12  Hearken unto the bishop,\nthat God also may hearken unto\nyou. My soul be security for\nthem that submit to their bishop,\nwith their presbyters and deacons.\nAnd may my portion be together\nwith theirs in God.\n\n13  Labour with one another;\ncontend together, run together,\nsuffer together; sleep together,\nand rise together; as the stewards,\nand assessors, and ministers of\nGod.\n\n14  Please him under whom ye\nwar; and from whom ye receive\nyour wages. Let none of you be\nfound a deserter; but let your\nbaptism remain, as your arms;\nyour faith, as your helmet; your\ncharity, as your spear; your\npatience, as your whole armour.\n\n15  Let your works be your\ncharge, that so you may receive\na suitable reward. Be long\nsuffering therefore towards each\nother in meekness; as God is\ntowards you.\n\n16  Let me have joy of you in\nall things.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n     1 Greets Polycarp on the peace of the church at Antioch:\n     2 and desires him to write to that and other churches.\n\nNOW forasmuch as the church\nof Antioch in Lyria is, as\nI am told, in peace through your\nprayers; I also have been the more\ncomforted, and without care in\nGod; if so be that by suffering, I\nshall attain unto God; and through\nyour prayers I may be found a\ndisciple of Christ.\n\n2  It will be very fit, O most\nworthy Polycarp, to call a select\ncouncil, and choose some one\nwhom ye particularly love, and\nwho is patient of labour: that he\nmay be the messenger of God;\nand that going unto Syria, he may\nglorify your incessant love, to the\npraise of Christ.\n\n3  A Christian has not the power\nof himself; but must be always\nat leisure for God's service.\nNow this work is both God's and\nour's; when ye shall have\nperfected it.\n\n4  For I trust through the grace\nof God that ye are ready to every\ngood work that is fitting for you\nin the Lord.\n\n5  Knowing therefore your\nearnest affection for the truth,\nI have exhorted you by these short\nletters.\n\n6  But forasmuch as I have not\nbeen able to write to all the\nchurches, because I must suddenly\nsail from Troas to Neapolis;\n(for so is the command of those\nto whose pleasure I am subject;)\ndo you write to the churches that\nare near you, as being instructed\nin the will of God, that they also\nmay do in like manner.\n\n7  Let those that are able send\nmessengers; and let the rest send\ntheir letters by those who shall be\nsent by you: that you may be\nglorified to all eternity,\nof which you are worthy.\n\n8  I salute all by name; particularly\nthe wife of Epitropus with all her\nhouse and children. I salute Attalus\nmy well-beloved.\n\n9  I salute him who shall be\nthought worthy to be sent by you\ninto Syria. Let grace be ever\nwith him, and with Polycarp who\nsends him.\n\n10  I wish you all happiness in\nour God, Jesus Christ; in whom\ncontinue, in the unity and\nprotection of God.\n\n11  I salute Alce my well-\nbeloved.  Farewell in the Lord.\n\n\n\n\n              REFERENCES TO THE SEVEN EPISTLES OF IGNATIUS,\n\n[The Epistles of Ignatius are translated by Archbishop Wake from the text\nof Vossius. He says that there were considerable difference in the\neditions; the  best for a long time extant containing fabrications, and\nthe genuine being altered and corrupted. Archbishop Usher printed old\nLatin translations of  them at Oxford, in 1644. At Amsterdam, two years\nafterwards, Vossius  printed six of them in their ancient and pure Greek;\nand the seventh, greatly  amended from the ancient Latin version, was\nPrinted at Paris, by Ruinart, in 1689, in the Acts and Martyrdom of\nIgnatius, from a Greek uninterpolated copy. These are supposed to form\nthe collection that Polycarp made of the Epistles of Ignatius, mentioned\nby Irenaes, Origen, Eusebius, Jerome, Athanasius, Theodoret, and other\nancients: but many learned men have  imagined all of them to be\napocryphal. This supposition, the piety of Arch-bishop Wake, and his\npersuasion of their utility to the faith of the church, will not permit\nhim to entertain: hence he has taken great pains to render the present\ntranslation acceptable, by adding numerous readings and references to the\nCanonical Books.]\n\n\n\n\n\n\n                             THE EPISTLE OF\n                      POLYCARP TO THE PHILIPPIANS.\n\n     [The genuineness of this Epistle is controverted, but implicitly\n     believed by Arch-bishop Wake, whose translation is below. There is\n     also a translation by Dr. Cave attached to his life of Polycarp.]\n\n\nCHAPTER I.\n\n     Polycarp commends the Philippians for their respect to\n     those who suffered for the Gospel; and for their own faith.\n\nPOLYCARP, and the presbyters\nthat are with him, to the\nchurch of God which is at Philippi;\nmercy unto you, and peace from\nGod Almighty, and the Lord Jesus\nChrist our Saviour, be multiplied.\n\n2  I rejoiced greatly with you\nin our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye\nreceived the images of a true love,\nand accompanied, as it behoved you,\nthose who were in bonds, becoming\nsaints; which are the crowns of\nsuch as are truly chosen by God\nand our Lord:\n\n3  As also that the root of the\nfaith which was preached from\nancient times, remains firm in you\nto this day; and brings forth fruit\nto our Lord Jesus Christ, who\nsuffered himself to be brought\neven to the death for our sins:\n\n4  Whom God hath raised up, having\nloosed the pains of death. Whom\nhaving not seen, ye love; in whom\nthough now ye see him not, yet\nbelieving, ye rejoice with joy\nunspeakable and full of glory.\n\n5  Into which many desire to\nenter; I knowing that by grace ye\nare saved; not by works, but by\nthe will of God through Jesus\nChrist.\n\n6  Wherefore girding up the\nloins of your minds; I serve\nthe Lord with fear, and in truth;\nlaying aside all empty and vain\nspeech, and the errors of many;\nbelieving in him that raised up\nour Lord Jesus Christ from the\ndead, and hath given him glory\nand a throne at his right hand.\n\n7  To whom all things are made\nsubject, both that are in heaven,\nand that are in earth; whom every\nliving creature shall worship;\nwho shall come to be the judge of\nthe quick and dead: whose blood\nGod shall require of them that\nbelieve not in him.\n\n8  But he that raised up Christ\nfrom the dead, shall also raise up\nus in like manner, if we do his\nwill, and walk according to his\ncommandments; and love those\nthings which he loved:\n\n9  Abstaining from all\nunrighteousness; inordinate affection,\nand love of money; from evil.\nspeaking; false witness; not\nrendering evil for evil, or\nrailing for railing, or striking\nfor striking, or cursing\nfor cursing:\n\n10 But remembering what the\nLord has taught us saying, Judge\nnot, and ye shall not be judged;\nforgive and ye shall be forgiven;\nbe ye merciful, and ye shall obtain\nmercy; for with the same measure\nthat ye meet withal, it shall be\nmeasured to you again.\n\n11  And again; Blessed are the\npoor, and they that are persecuted\nfor righteousness sake; for theirs\nis the kingdom of God.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER II.\n\n     2 Exhorts to Faith, Hope, and Charity.\n     5 Against covetousness, and as to the\n     duties of husbands, wives, widows,\n     9 deacons, young men, virgins, and presbyters.\n\nTHESE things, my brethren,\nI took not the liberty of myself\nto write unto you concerning\nrighteousness, but you yourselves\nbefore encouraged me to it.\n\n2  For neither can i, nor any\nother such as I am, come up to\nthe wisdom of the blessed and\nrenowned Paul; who being himself\nin person with those who then\nlived, did with all exactness and\nsoundness teach the word of truth;\nand being gone from you wrote an\nepistle to you.\n\n3  Into which if you look, you\nwill be able to edify yourselves in\nthe faith that has been delivered\nunto you, which is the mother of\nus all; being followed with hope,\nand led on by a general love, both\ntowards God and towards Christ,\nand towards our neighbour.\n\n4  For if any man has these\nthings, he has fulfilled the law\nof righteousness: for he that has\ncharity is far from all sin.\n\n5  But the love of money is the\nroot of all evil. Knowing therefore\nthat as we brought nothing into this\nworld, so neither may we carry any\nthing out; let us arm ourselves\nwith the armour of righteousness.\n\n6  And teach ourselves first to\nwalk according to the commandments\nof the Lord; and then your wives\nto walk likewise according to the\nfaith that is given to them; in\ncharity, and in purity; loving\ntheir own husbands, with all\nsincerity, and all others alike,\nwith all temperance; and to bring up\ntheir children in the instruction\nand fear of the Lord.\n\n7  The widows likewise teach\nthat they be sober as to what\nconcerns the faith of the Lord:\npraying always for all men; being far\nfrom all detraction, evil speaking,\nfalse witness; from covetousness,\nand from all evil.\n\n8  Knowing that they are the\naltars of God, who sees all blemishes,\nand from whom nothing is hid; who\nsearches out the very reasonings,\nand thoughts, and secrets of our\nhearts.\n\n9  Knowing therefore that God\nis not mocked, we ought to walk\nworthy both of his command and\nof his glory.\n\n10  Also the deacons must be\nblameless before him, as the\nministers of God in Christ, and\nnot of men. Not false mousers, not\ndouble tongued, not lovers of money;\nbut moderate in all things;\ncompassionate, careful; walking\naccording to the truth of the Lord,\nwho was the servant of all.\n\n11  Whom if we please in this\npresent world, we shall also be\nmade partakers of that which is\nto come, according as he has\npromised to us, that he will raise\nus from the dead; and that if we\nshall walk worthy of him, we shall\nalso reign together with him, if\nwe believe.\n\n12  In like manner the younger\nmen must be unblameable in all\nthings; above all, taking care of\ntheir purity, and to restrain\nthemselves from all evil. For it is\ngood to be cut off from the lusts that\nare in the world; because every\nsuch lust warreth against the\nspirit: and neither fornicators,\nnor effeminate, nor abusers of\nthemselves with mankind, shall\ninherit the kingdom of God; nor\nthey who do such things as are\nfoolish and unreasonable.\n\n13  Wherefore ye must needs\nabstain from all these things,\nbeing subject to the priests and\ndeacons, as unto God and Christ.\n\n14  The virgins admonish to\nwalk in a spotless and pure\nconscience.\n\n15  And let the elders be\ncompassionate and merciful towards\nall; turning them from their errors;\nseeking out those that are weak;\nnot forgetting the widows, the\nfatherless, and the poor; but\nalways providing what is good\nboth in the sight of God and man.\n\n16  Abstaining from all wrath,\nrespect of persons, and unrighteous\njudgment; and especially being\nfree from all covetousness.\n\n17  Not easy to believe anything\nagainst any; not severe in judgment;\nknowing that we are all debtors\nin point of sin.\n\n18 If therefore we pray to the\nLord that he would forgive us, we\nought also to forgive others; for\nwe are all in the sight of our Lord\nand God; a and must all stand before\nthe judgment-seat of Christ;\nand shall every one give an\naccount of himself.\n\n19  Let us therefore serve him in\nfear, and with all reverence as\nboth himself hath commanded;\nand as the Apostles who have\npreached the Gospel unto us, and\nthe prophets who have foretold\nthe coming of our Lord have\ntaught us:\n\n20  Being zealous of what is\ngood; abstaining from all offence,\nand from false brethren; and\nfrom those who bear the name of\nChrist in hypocrisy; who deceive\nvain men.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER III.\n\n     1 As to faith in our Saviour Christ;\n     his nature and sufferings, the resurrection and judgment.\n     3 Exhorts to prayer\n     5 and steadfastness in the faith, from the examples of Christ,\n     7 and Apostles and saints, and exhorts to carefulness\n     in all well-doing.\n\nFOR whosoever does not confess\nthat Jesus Christ is come in\nthe flesh, he is Antichrist: and\nwhoever does not confess his\nsuffering upon the cross, is\nfrom the devil.\n\n2  And whosoever perverts the\noracles of the Lord to his own\nlusts, and says that there shall.\nneither be any resurrection, nor\njudgment, he is the first-born of\nSatan.\n\n3  Wherefore leaving the vanity\nof many, and their false doctrines;\nlet us return to the word that was\ndelivered to us from the beginning:\nWatching unto prayer; and\npersevering in fasting;\n\n4  With supplication beseeching\nthe all seeing God not to lead us\ninto temptation; as the Lord hath\nsaid, The spirit is truly willing,\nbut the flesh is weak.\n\n5 Let us therefore without ceasing\nhold steadfastly to him who is our\nhope, and the earnest of our\nrighteousnes, even Jesus Christ;\nWho, his own self, bare our sins\nin his own body on the tree: who\ndid no sin, neither was guile found\nin his mouth; but suffered all for\nus that we might live through\nhim.\n\n6  Let us therefore imitate his\npatience; and if we suffer for his\nname, let us glorify him; for this\nexample he has given us by himself,\nand so have we believed.\n\n7  Wherefore I exhort all\nof you that ye obey the word of\nrighteousness, and exercise all\npatience; which ye have seen set\nforth before your eyes, not only\nin the blessed Ignatius, and Zozimus,\nand Rufus; but in others among\nyourselves; and in Paul himself,\nand the rest of the Apostles:\n\n8  Being confident of this, that\nall these have not run in vain, but\nin faith and righteousness; and\nare gone to the place that was due\nto them from the Lord; with\nwhom also they suffered.\n\n9  For they loved not this\npresent world; but him who died,\nand was raised again by God for\nus.\n\n10  Stand therefore in these\nthings, and follow the example of\nthe Lord; being firm and immutable\nin the faith, lovers of the\nbrotherhood, lovers of one\nanother: companions together\nin the truth, being kind and\ngentle towards each other,\ndespising none.\n\n11  When it is in your power to\ndo good defer it not, for charity\ndelivered from death.\n\n12  Be all of you subject one to\nanother, having your conversation\nhonest among the Gentiles; that\nby your good works, both ye\nyourselves may receive praise, and\nthe Lord may not be blasphemed\nthrough you.   But woe be to him\nby whom the name of the Lord is\nblasphemed.\n\n13  Therefore teach all men\nsobriety; in which do ye also\nexercise yourselves.\n\n\n\nCHAPTER IV.\n\n     Valens, a presbyter, having fallen into the sin\n     of covetousness, he exhorts them against it.\n\nI am greatly afflicted for Valens,\nwho was once a presbyter among you;\nthat he should so little understand\nthe place that was given to him in\nthe church, Wherefore I admonish you\nthat ye abstain from covetousness;\nand that ye be chaste, and true of\nspeech.\n\n2  Keep yourselves from all evil.\nFor he that in these things cannot\ngovern himself, how shall he be\nable to prescribe them to another?\n\n3  If a man does not keep himself\nfrom covetousness, he shall be\npolluted with idolatry, and be\njudged as if he were a Gentile.\n\n4  But who of you are ignorant\nof the judgment of God?  Do we\nnot know that the saints shall\njudge the world, as Paul teaches?\n\n5  But I have neither perceived\nnor heard anything of this kind\nin you, among whom the blessed\nPaul laboured; and who are\nnamed in the beginning of his\nEpistle.\n\n6  For he glories of you in all\nthe churches who then only knew\nGod; for we did not then know\nhim. Wherefore, my brethren, I\nam exceedingly sorry both for him\nand for his wife; to whom God\ngrant a true repentance.\n\n7  And be ye also moderate upon\nthis occasion; and look not upon\nsuch as enemies, but call them\nback as suffering and erring\nmembers, that ye may save your\nwhole body: for by so doing,\nye shall edify your own selves.\n\n8  For I trust that ye are well\nexercised in the Holy Scriptures,\nand that nothing is hid from you\nbut at present it is not granted\nunto me to practise that which is\nwritten, Be angry and sin not;\nand again, Let not the sun go\ndown upon your wrath.\n\n9  Blessed be he that believeth\nand remembereth these things;\nwhich also I trust you do.\n\n10  Now the God and Father of\nour Lord Jesus Christ, and he\nhimself who is our everlasting\nhigh-priest, the Son of God, even\nJesus Christ, build you up in faith\nand in truth, and in all meekness\nand lenity; in patience and long-\nsuffering, in forbearance and\nchastity:\n\n11  And grant unto you a lot and\nportion among his saints, and us\nwith you; and to all that are under\nthe heavens, who shall believe in\nour Lord Jesus Christ, and in his\nFather who raised him from the dead.\n\n12  Pray for all the saints:\npray also for kings, and all that\nare in authority; and for those who\npersecute you, and hate you, and for\nthe enemies of the cross; that your\nfruit may be manifest in all; and\nthat ye may be perfect in Christ.\n\n13  Ye wrote to me, both ye, and\nalso Ignatius, that if any one\nwent from hence into Syria, he\nshould bring your letters with\nhim; which also I will take care\nof, as soon as I shall have a\nconvenient opportunity; either\nby myself, or him whom I shall\nsend upon your account.\n\n14  The Epistle of Ignatius,\nwhich he wrote unto us, together\nwith what others of his have come\nto our hands, we have sent to you,\naccording to your order; which\nare subjoined to this Epistle:\n\n15  By which we may be greatly\nprofited; for they treat of faith\nand patience, and of all things that\npertain to edification in the Lord\nJesus.\n\n16  What you know certainly of\nIgnatius, and those that are\nwith him, signify to us.\n\n17  These things have I written\nunto you by Crescens, whom by\nthis present Epistle I have\nrecommended to you, and do now\nagain commend.\n\n18  For he has had his conversation\nwithout blame among us; and I suppose\nalso with you.\n\n19  Ye will also have regard unto\nhis sister when she shall come\nunto you.\n\n20 Be ye safe in the Lord Jesus\nChrist; and in favour with all\nyours. Amen.","title":"The suppressed Gospels and Epistles of the original New Testament of Jesus the Christ, Volume 8, Ignatius","tradition":"scripture-revelation","translated_text":null,"word_count":15450}