away and corrupt my Resolution towards my God Let none of you therefore Help him Rather do ye joyn with me that is with God Do not speak with Jesus Christ and yet Cover the World Let not any Envy dwell with you No not though even I my self when I shall be come unto you should exhort you to it yet do not ye hearken to me but rather believe what I now write to you For though I am alive at the Writing this yet my Desire is to Die My Love is Crucified And the Fire that is within me does not desire any Water But being Alive and speaking within me says Come to the Father I take no Pleasure in the Food of Corruption nor in the Pleasures of this Life I desire the Bread of God which is the Flesh of Jesus Christ of the Seed of David and the Drink that I long for is his Blood which is Uncorruptible Love VIII I HAVE no desire to live any longer after the manner of Men neither shall I if you consent Be ye therefore willing that ye your selves also may be pleasing to God I exhort you in a few Words I pray you believe me Jesus Christ will shew you that I speak truly My Mouth is without Deceit and the Father hath truly spoken by it Pray therefore for me that I may accomplish what I desire I have not written to you after the Flesh but according to the Will of God If I shall Suffer ye have loved me But if I shall be rejected ye have hated me IX REMEMBER in your Prayers the Church of Syria which now enjoys God for its Shepherd instead of me Let Jesus Christ only Oversee it and your Charity But I am even ashamed to be reckon'd as one of Them For neither am I Worthy being the least among them and as one Born out of due Season But through Mercy I have obtain'd to be Somebody if I shall get unto God My Spirit salutes you and the Charity of the Churches that have received me in the Name of Jesus Christ not as a Stranger For even they that have not accompanied me in my Journy have yet been ready in every City to receive me X. THESE things I write to you from Smyrna by the most Worthy of the Church of Ephesus There is now with me together with many others Crocus most Beloved of me As for those which came with Me from Syria and are gone before me to Rome to the Glory of God I suppose you are not Ignorant of them Ye shall therefore signifie to them that I draw near for they are all Worthy both of God and of you Whom it is fit that you Refresh in all things This have I written to you the day before the Ninth of the Calends of September Be Strong unto the End in the Patience of Jesus Christ. To the ROMANS THE EPISTLE OF St. IGNATIVS TO THE Philadelphians THE CONTENTS The Salutation Chap. I. HE begins with a very Great Commendation of their Bishop whom they had sent unto Him II. He warns them against Divisions and to stick close to their Bishop as the best means to avoid falling into Errors and False Doctrines III.IV. Which Exhortation he again enforces and shews them the Danger of following Any Persons to the making of a Schism in the Church V. He excuses the length of this Advice which proceeded from his Love towards Them Desires their Prayers And shews how the Holy Men under the Law as well as since under the Gospel were all United in Christ. VI. Yet this must not prompt them to receive their Doctrine who would tempt them to Judaize VII He declares what his own Conduct had been whilst he was amongst Them VIII IX And exhorts them after his Example to maintain a Pure Doctrine in Unity with one Another X. He accounts to them how he had heard that the Persecution was stopp'd in his Church at Antioch And directs them to send some Messenger thither to Congratulate with Them thereupon XI He tells them what Persons were still with Him and thanks them for the kind Entertainment they gave to some of Them And so concludes with the common Salutation of those who were present at his Writing of this Epistle to Them THE EPISTLE OF St. IGNATIVS TO THE Philadelphians IGNATIUS who is also called THEOPHORUS to the Church of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ which is at PHILADELPHIA in Asia which has obtained Mercy being fix'd in the Concord of God and rejoycing evermore in the Passion of our Lord and being fulfilled in all Mercy through his Resurrection Which also I salute in the Bloud of Jesus Christ who is our Eternal and undefiled Joy Especially if they are at Unity with the Bishop and Presbyters who are with Him and the Deacons appointed according to the Mind of Jesus Christ whom he has setled according to his own Will in all Firmness by His Holy Spirit I. WHICH Bishop I know obtain'd that Great Ministry among you not of Himself neither by Men nor out of Vain Glory but in the Love of God the Father and our Lord Jesus Christ Whose Mildness I admire who by his silence is able to do more than others with all their Vain Talk For he is fitted to the Commands as the Harp to its Strings Wherefore my Soul esteems his Mind towards God most Happy knowing it to be Fruitful in all Vertue and perfect full of Constancy free from Passion and according to all the Moderation of the Living God II. WHEREFORE as becomes the Children both of the Light and of Truth flee Divisions and False Doctrines But where your Shepherd is there do ye as Sheep follow after For there are many Wolves who seem worthy of Belief that with a false Pleasure lead Captive those that run in the Course of God But in your Concord They shall find no place III. ABSTAIN therefore from those Evil Herbs which Jesus Christ does not dress because such are not the Plantation of the Father Not that I have found any Division among you but rather all manner of Purity For as many as are of Jesus Christ are also with their Bishop And as many as shall with Repentance return into the Unity of the Church even these shall also be the Servants of God that they may live according to Jesus Christ. Be not deceived Brethren If any one follows him that makes a Schism in the Church he shall not inherit the Kingdom of God If any one walks after any other's Opinion he agrees not with the Passion of Christ. IV. WHEREFORE let it be your Endeavour to partake All of the same Holy Eucharist For there is but one Flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ And One Cup unto the Unity of his Bloud One Altar As also there is One Bishop together with his Presbytery and the Deacons my Fellow-Servants That so whatsoever
these Holy Apostles we may add a very great number of others who having through Envy undergone in like manner many Pains and Torments have left a Glorious Example to us For this not only Men but even Women have been Persecuted And having suffer'd very grievous and cruel Punishments have finish'd the Course of their Faith with Firmness and though weak in Body yet received a Glorious Reward This has alienated the Minds even of Women from their Husbands and changed what was once said by our Father Adam This is now Bone of my Bone and Flesh of my Flesh. In a word Envy and Strife have overturn'd whole Cities and rooted out Great Nations from off the Earth VII THESE Things Beloved we write unto you not only for your Instruction but also for our own Remembrance For we are all in the same Field and the same Combat is prepared for us all Wherefore let Us lay aside all Vain and Empty Cares and let us come up to the Glorious and Venerable Rule of our Holy Calling Let us consider what is Good and Acceptable and Well-pleasing in the Sight of Him that made Us. Let us look stedfastly to the Bloud of Christ and see how Precious his Bloud is in the sight of God Which being shed for our Salvation has obtain'd the Grace of Repentance for all the World Let us search into the Ages that have gone before us and let us learn that our Lord has in every one of them still given place for Repentance to all such as would turn to him Noah preach'd Repentance and as many as hearkened to him were Saved Jonah denounced Destruction against the Ninivites Howbeit they repenting of their Sins appeased God by their Prayers and were saved tho' they were Strangers to the Covenant of God VIII HENCE we find how All the Ministers of the Grace of God have spoken by the Holy Spirit of Repentance And even the Lord of All has himself declared with an Oath concerning it As I live saith the LORD I desire not the death of a Sinner but that He should repent Adding this farther Assurance Turn from your Iniquity O House of Israel Say unto the Children of my People Tho' your sins should reach from Earth to Heaven and tho' they should be redder than Scarlet and blacker than Sackcloth Yet if ye shall turn to me with all your Heart and shall call me Father I will hearken to you as to a Holy People And in another place He saith on this wise Wash ye make you clean put away the Evil of your doings from before mine Eyes Cease to do Evil Learn to do well Seek Judgment relieve the Oppressed judge the Fatherless plead for the Widow Come now and let us reason together saith the LORD Tho' your sins be as Scarlet they shall be as white as Snow tho' they be red as Crimson they shall be as Wooll If ye be willing and Obedient ye shall eat the Good of the Land But if ye refuse and rebell ye shall be devoured with the Sword for the mouth of the LORD hath spoken it These things has God establish'd by his Almighty Will desiring that all his Beloved should come to Repentance IX WHEREFORE let us obey his Excellent and Glorious Will and imploring his Mercy and Goodness let us fall down upon Our faces before him and Cast our selves upon his Mercy Laying aside all Vanity and Contention and Envy which leads unto Death Let us look up to those who have the most perfectly ministred to his Excellent Glory Let us take Enoch for our Example who being found Righteous in Obedience was translated and his Death was not known Noah being proved to be Faithful did by his Ministry preach Regeneration to the World and the LORD saved by Him all the Living Creatures that went with one Accord together into the Ark. X. SO also Abraham who was called Gods Friend was in like manner found Faithful in as much as he obeyed the Commands of God By Obedience he went out of his own Country and from his own Kindred and from his Fathers House that so forsaking a small Country and a weak Affinity and a little House he might inherit the Promises of God For thus God said unto Him Get Thee out of thy Country and from thy Kindred and from thy Fathers House unto a Land that I will shew thee And I will make thee a Great Nation and I will bless Thee and make thy Name Great and thou shalt be blessed And I will bless them that bless Thee and Curse them that Curse Thee And in Thee shall all Families of the Earth be Blessed And again when he separated Himself from Lot God said unto him Lift up now thine Eyes and look from the place where thou art Northward and Southward and Eastward and Westward For all the Land which Thou seest to thee will I give it and to thy Seed for ever And I will make thy Seed as the dust of the Earth so that if a Man can number the Dust of the Earth then shall thy Seed also be numbred And again He saith And God brought forth Abraham and said unto Him look now towards Heaven and tell the Stars if thou be able to number them So shall thy Seed be And Abraham believed God and it was counted to Him for Righteousness Through Faith and Hospitality he had a Son given him in his Old Age and through Obedience he offer'd him up in Sacrifice to God upon One of the Mountains which God shew'd unto Him XI BY Hospitality and Godliness was Lot saved out of Sodom when all the Country round about was destroy'd by Fire and Brimstone The LORD thereby making it manifest that he will not forsake Those that trust in Him but will bring the Disobedient to Punishment and Correction For his Wife who went out with Him being of a different Mind and not continuing in the same Obedience was for that very reason set forth for an Example being turn'd into a Pillar of Salt unto this day That so all Men may know that those who are double minded and distrustful of the Power of God are prepared for Condemnation and to be a sign to all succeeding Ages XII BY Faith and Hospitality was Rahab the Harlot Saved For when the Spies were sent by Joshua the Son of Nun to search out Jericho and the King of Jericho knew that they were come to spy out his Country He order'd them to be taken that so they might be put to death Rahab therefore being Hospitable received them and hid them under the Stalks of Flax on the Top of her House And when the Messengers that were sent by the King came unto Her and asked Her saying There came
longer observing Sabbaths but living according to the Commands of the LORD in which also our Life is sprung up by Him and through his Death whom yet some deny By which Mystery we have been brought to Believe and therefore wait that we may be found the Disciples of Jesus Christ our only Master How shall we be able to live Different from Him whose Disciples the very Prophets themselves being did by the Spirit expect Him as their Master And therefore He whom they justly waited for being come raised them up from the Dead X. LET us not then be Insensible of his Goodness for should he have dealt with us according to our Works we had not now had a Being Wherefore being become his Disciples let us learn to live according to the Rules of Christianity For whosoever is called by any other name besides this He is not of God Lay aside therefore the Old and Sower and Evil Leaven and be ye changed into the New Leaven which is Jesus Christ. Be ye salted in Him lest any one among you should be Corrupted for by your smell ye shall be Judged It is Absurd to call your selves by the Name of Jesus Christ and to Judaize For the Christian Religion did not embrace the Jewish but the Jewish the Christian that so every Tongue that Believed might be gathered together unto God XI THESE things my Beloved I write unto you not that I know of any among you that lye under this Error But as one of the least among you I am desirous to forewarn you that ye fall not into the Snares of Vain Doctrine But that ye be fully instructed in the Birth and Suffering and Resurrection of Jesus Christ our Hope which was done in the Time of the Government of Pontius Pilate and that most truly and certainly and from which God forbid that any among you should be turn'd aside XII MAY I therefore have Joy of you in all things if I shall be worthy of it For though I am Bound yet am I not worthy to be compared to one of you that are at Liberty I know that ye are not puffed up for ye have Jesus Christ in your Hearts And especially when I commend you I know that ye are Ashamed as it is written The Just Man condemneth himself XIII STUDY therefore to be confirm'd in the Doctrine of our LORD and of his Apostles that so whatsoever ye do ye may prosper both in Body and Spirit in Faith and Charity in the Son and in the Father and in the Holy Spirit in the Beginning and in the End Together with your most worthy Bishop and the well-wrought Spiritual Crown of your Presbytery and your Deacons which are according to God Be subject to your Bishop and to one another as Jesus Christ to the Father according to the Flesh and the Apostles both to Christ and to the Father and to the Holy Ghost that so ye may be united both in Body and Spirit XIV KNOWING you to be full of God I have the more briefly exhorted you Be mindful of me in your Prayers that I may attain unto God And forget not the Church that is in Syria from which I am not worthy to be called For I stand in need of your Joynt-Prayers in God and of your Charity that the Church which is in Syria may be thought worthy to be nourish'd by your Church XV. THE Ephesians from Smyrna salute you from which place I write unto you Being present here to the Glory of God in like manner as you are who have in all things refresh'd me together with Polycarp the Bishop of the Smyrnaeans The rest of the Churches in the Honour of Jesus Christ salute you Farewel and be ye strengthned in the Concord of God enjoying his Inseparable Spirit which is Jesus Christ. To the MAGNESIANS THE EPISTLE OF St. IGNATIVS TO THE Trallians THE CONTENTS The Salutation Chap. I. HE acknowledges the Coming of their Bishop and his receit of their Charity by Him II. He commends them for their Orderly Subjection to their Bishop Priests and Deacons and exhorts them to continue in it III. He inforces the same Exhortation Commends their Bishop and excuses his not writing more fully to them of this Matter IV. Which he does not least he should seem to take too much upon Him And be too much exalted in his own Conceit which would be very Dangerous to Him Who is afraid even of his Over-great Desire to Suffer least it should be prejudicial to Him V. Another Reason why he did not write more largely to them is that at present they are not able to bear it VI. He warns them against Hereticks who poison the sound Word of Christ And VII Exhorts them by Humility of Mind and Unity with the Church to guard Themselves against Them VIII And this he does not that he knows of any present need they had of this Advice but to prevent any Mischief from falling upon them IX To which End he briefly sets before them the true Doctrine concerning Christ. X. And particularly exposes the Error of some who taught that he seemed only to Die but did not really Suffer XI From these he would have Them flee XII He returns again to his Exhortation of them to Unity And desires their Prayers of which he was much in need XIII Which also he begs for his Church at Antioch And having given them the Salutations of Those who were with Him and once more exhorted them to due Submission to their Bishop c. He Concludes THE EPISTLE OF St. IGNATIVS TO THE Trallians IGNATIUS who is also called THEOPHORUS to the Beloved of God the Father of JESUS CHRIST the Holy Church which is at TRALLES in Asia Elect and Worthy of God Having Peace through the Flesh and Bloud and Passion of Jesus Christ our Hope in the Resurrection which is by him Which also I salute in the Fullness of the Apostolical Character Wishing all Joy and Happiness unto it I. I HAVE heard of your Blameless and Constant Disposition through Patience which not only appears in your Outward Conversation but is habitually rooted and grounded in you In like manner as Polybius your Bishop has declared unto me Who came to me to Smyrna by the Will of God and Jesus Christ and so rejoyced together with me in my Bonds for Jesus Christ that in effect I saw your whole Church in Him Having therefore received the Testimony of your Good Will towards me for Gods sake by Him I rejoyced to find you as also I knew that ye were the Followers of God II. FOR whereas ye are subject to your Bishop as to Jesus Christ ye appear to me to live not after the manner of Men but according to Jesus Christ who died for us that so believing in his Death we might
of what a mighty Concern it is to us in the business of our Salvation And for the Other Sacrament Here we are taught that the Elements of Bread and Wine are the same as to their Substance after Consecration that they were before and are only in a Spiritual Sense the Flesh and Blood of our Saviour Christ. 12. AND Lastly For that great comprehensive Point of our Religion the Foundation of our Faith the Holy Scriptures Here we may see what Opinion these Holy Men had of the Divine Inspiration of them what Deferences they paid to them and how they looked upon them to contain the true Words of the Holy Ghost 13. SUCH is the Doctrine of Faith that is here delivered to us If from thence we pass 2 dly to what concerns the Publick Order and Government of the Church in the first Establishment of it Here we may see by what Persons it was directed and how exactly our own Church do's in this particular resemble the Primitive perhaps beyond any other at this day in the World in the Apostolical Orders of Bishops Priests and Deacons 14. HOW necessarily they esteem'd it their Duty to keep up a strict Communion with these Governours and how little they thought the very Name of a Church could belong to those who separated from them we are here likewise taught And how light soever some may make of the Business of Schism now yet it is plain these Holy Men had a very different Apprehension of it and hardly thought that such could be saved as continued in it 15. AND the same or rather much worse was their Opinion of Hereticks and Apostates To the latter of which as they seem even to have deny'd Repentance so 't is manifest that without it they thought the Others must perish And in the mean time they declare that we ought not to have any Communication with them Only we must pray for them that they may be converted which yet they supposed would be very hard 16. AS for those who continued in the Doctrine and Communion of the Church here we may see how zealous they were in attending all the publick Offices of it How constantly they assembled together for the Worship of God notwithstanding all the Malice and Fury of their Enemies against them upon the Account of it Here we may see how from the beginning they had their set Times and Places of Worship And how they look'd upon such Offertories both as more acceptable unto God and more prevalent with him than any Private Addresses that they could make to him 17. IN these Assemblies they not only put up their Prayers to God but received also the Holy Sacrament of the Lords Supper And in that part of their Service none officiated but either the Bishop himself or he who was appointed or allow'd by him 18. FOR this purpose they had in every such place of their Assembling One Table or Altar at which they perform'd this Service And they communicated after the same manner that our Saviour Christ had set them the Example of one common Loaf which was broken and distributed to them not of little separate and unbroken Wafers as some now do 19. NOR was this yet all In these Assemblies the Holy Scriptures were read to them and as I have before shewn some of the very Treatises I have here subjoyn'd together with them And the Bishop besides himself instructed the People and expounded the Doctrine of Christ to them 20. BY the Bishop were the Christians blessed and joyn'd together in the Holy State of Matrimony And indeed without him was nothing done of all that pertain'd unto Religion 21. IN those Times the Clergy were marry'd as well as Laity nor do we find it esteem'd the least Scandal for them so to be 22. HERE we may see what the ancient manner of Fasting was and what was thought requisite to render such Exercises acceptable to God and profitable to our own Souls 23. IN short Here we may perceive what their Opinion was of Repentance for Sins and how hardly they thought of those who were still Repenting and yet still continuing to sin on notwithstanding their frequent Repentance But especially here we are told that we must finish our Repentance before we die for that there is no place for Repentance after 24. AND tho' they prescribe Confession as one Act of Repentance and necessary to be perform'd in order to our Forgiveness yet we find them advising it to be done to God only and intimate to us that that alone was sufficient 25. BUT the Care of their Bishops in those first times was not confin'd within the narrow Bounds of their own Churches but extended to All the Faithful wheresoever they were And they were still ready to look to those who were at the greatest distance from them whenever they thought their Advice or Authority might be either useful to them or for the Honour and Benefit of their Religion 26. FROM this and from the general Piety and Excellence of their Lives joyn'd to the Greatness of their Character in the Church came that mighty Respect that was shewn to the Bishops in those days And which how great it was the following Treatises abundantly shew 27. BUT much greater was their Veneration for those who not only Govern'd well and adorn'd their Holy Profession by an Exemplary Life but confirm'd the Truth of it with their Blood They were indeed of Opinion that no Man ought causelesly to expose himself unto Suffering But if God called a Man to it they doubted not but that our Saviour Christ would both support him in his Conflicts and most gloriously reward him for the enduring of them Hence was it their Opinion that Martyrdom blotted out all Sins That they who suffer'd for the Faith should have a Degree of Glory peculiar to themselves above all Other Saints in God's Kingdom And when God shew'd such regard for them they concluded that they could never almost do enough to testifie their Respect to them 28. TO this we must ascribe the Care they took to gather up their Remains the Honour which they gave to them and the Solemnities with which they deposited them into the Earth Hence came their Custom which we here find of writing down the particulars of their Conflicts and sending them abroad to the Churches round about Hence their Anniversary Meetings at their Tombs and Monuments Where they recited the Acts of their Martyrdoms and sometimes made express Discourses in Praise of their Martyrs and to exhort One Another to the like Constancy 29. BUT not to insist any longer on these Particulars There is yet a 3 d. sort of Matters contain'd in these Discourses and those of no less Use to us than either of the foregoing and that is the Practical Rules of Life that are here deliver'd to us 30. HERE we may see what Care we are to take not only not to Sin our selves but as far as in us lies not to let any that
Men unto Thee to Spy out the Land bring them forth for so hath the King Commanded She answered The two Men whom ye seek came unto Me but presently they departed and are gone Shewing them withall a Contrary way Then she said to the Spies I know that the LORD your God has given this City into your hands for the fear of you is fallen upon All that dwell therein When therefore ye shall have taken it ye shall save Me and my Fathers House And they answered her saying It shall be as Thou hast spoken unto Vs. Therefore when Thou shalt know that we are near thou shalt Gather all thy Family together upon the House top and they shall be saved But all that shall be found without thy House shall be destroyed And they gave her moreover a Sign that she should Hang out of her House a Scarlet Rope Shewing thereby that by the Blood of our Lord there should be Redemption to all that Believe and Hope in God Ye see Beloved How there was not only Faith but Prophesie too in this Woman XIII LET us therefore Humble our selves Brethren laying aside all Pride and Boasting and Foolishness and Anger And let us do as it is written for thus saith the Holy Spirit Let not the Wise Man Glory in his Wisdom nor the Strong Man in his Strength nor the Rich Man in his Riches But let him that Glorieth Glory in the LORD to seek Him and to do Judgment and Justice Above All remembring the words of the Lord Jesus which he spake concerning Equity and Long-suffering saying Be ye Merciful and ye shall obtain Mercy Forgive and ye shall be Forgiven As ye do so shall it be done unto you As ye give so shall it be given unto you As ye judge so shall ye be judged As ye are kind to Others so shall God be kind to you With what Measure ye Meet with the same shall it be measured to you Again By this Command and by these Rules let us establish our selves that so we may always walk obediently to his Holy Words being humble minded For so says the Holy Scripture Vpon Whom shall I look even upon him that is poor and of a Contrite Spirit and that trembles at my Word XIV IT is therefore Just and Righteous Men and Brethren that we should become Obedient unto God rather than follow such as through Pride and Disorder have made themselves the Ring-leaders of a detestable Emulation For it is not an Ordinary Harm that we shall do our selves but rather a very great Danger that we shall run if we shall rashly give up our selves to the Wills of Men who promote Strife and Seditions to turn us aside from what is fitting But let us be kind to One Another according to the Compassion and Sweetness of him that made us For it is written The Merciful shall inherit the Earth and they that are without Evil shall be left upon it But the Transgressors shall perish from off the face of it And again He saith I have seen the Wicked in great Power and spreading himself like the Cedars of Libanus I passed by and Lo he was not I sought his place but it could not be found Keep Innocency and do the thing that is right for there shall be a Remnant to the Peaceable Man XV. LET us therefore hold fast to Those who religiously follow Peace and not to such as only pretend to desire it For He saith in a certain place This People honoureth me with their lips but their heart is far from me And again They Bless with their Mouth but Curse in their Heart And again He saith They loved him with their Mouth and with their Tongue they lied to Him For their heart was not right with Him neither were they faithful in his Covenant The Lord shall cut off all flattering lips And the tongue that speaketh proud things Who have said with our tongue will we prevail Our lips are our own who is LORD over us For the Oppression of the Poor for the Sighing of the Needy now will I arise saith the LORD I will set him in safety I will deal confidently with him XVI FOR Christ is theirs who are Humble and not who exalt themselves over his Flock The Scepter of the Majesty of God our Lord Jesus Christ came not in the shew of Pride and Arrogance tho' he could have done so But with Humility as the Holy Ghost had before spoken concerning him For thus he saith LORD who hath believed our Report and to whom is the Arm of the LORD revealed For He shall grow up before him as a tender Plant and as a root out of a dry Ground He hath no Form nor Comeliness and when we shall see Him there is no Beauty that we should desire Him He is despised and rejected of Men A man of Sorrows and acquainted with Grief And we hid as it were our faces from Him He was despised and we esteemed Him not Surely He hath borne our Griefs and carried our Sorrows yet we did Esteem him stricken smitten of God and afflicted But he was wounded for our Transgressions He was bruised for our Iniquities The Chastisement of our Peace was upon Him and with his Stripes we are healed All we like sheep have gone astray we have turned every One to his own way and the LORD hath laid on Him the Iniquity of Vs all He was Oppressed and he was Afflicted yet he Opened not his mouth He is brought as a Lamb to the Slaughter and as a Sheep before her Shearers is Dumb so He openeth not his Mouth He was taken from Prison and from Judgment And who shall declare his Generation For he was cut off out of the Land of the Living For the Transgression of my People was he stricken And he made his Grave with the Wicked and with the Rich in his Death because he had done no Violence neither was any deceit in his Mouth Yet it pleased the LORD to bruise him he hath put him to grief When thou shalt make his Soul an Offering for sin He shall see his Seed he shall prolong his days And the pleasure of the LORD shall prosper in his hand He shall see of the travail of his Soul and shall be satisfied by his Knowledge shall my righteous Servant justifie many For He shall bear their Iniquities Therefore will I divide him a portion with the Great and he shall divide the Spoil with the Strong because He hath poured out his Soul unto death And he was numbred with the Transgressors and he bare the sin of many and made Intercession for the Transgressors And again he Himself saith I am a Worm and no Man a reproach of men and despised of the People All they that see me laugh me to scorn they shout out their lips they shake their head
saying He trusted in the LORD that he would deliver Him let him deliver him seeing he delighted in Him Ye see Beloved what the Pattern is that has been given to Us. For if the Lord thus humbled himself what should we do who are come under the Yoak of his Grace XVII LET us be Followers of those who went about in Goat-skins and Sheep-skins preaching the Coming of Christ. Such were Elias and Elisaeus and Ezekiel the Prophets And let us add to these such others as have received the like Testimony Abraham has been greatly witnessed of having been called the Friend of God And yet He stedfastly beholding the Glory of God says with all Humility I am Dust and Ashes Again of Job it is thus written That he was Just and without Blame True One that served God and abstained from all Evil. Yet he despising himself says No man is free from Pollution no not tho' He should live but one day Moses was called Faithful in all Gods House and by his Conduct God determined to deliver the Israelites from their Stripes and Pains And yet even this Man tho' thus Greatly Honoured spake not greatly of Himself but when the Oracle of God was delivered to him out of the Bush he said Who am I that thou dost send me I am of a slender Voice and a slow Tongue And again He saith I am as the smoak of the Pot. XVIII AND what shall we say of David so highly testified of in the Holy Scriptures To whom God said I have found a Man after my own heart David the Son of Jesse with my Holy Oil have I anointed Him But yet he Himself saith unto God Have mercy upon me O God according to thy loving kindness According unto the multitude of thy tender Mercies blot out my Transgressions Wash me throughly from mine Iniquity and cleanse me from my Sin For I acknowledge my Transgressions and my Sin is ever before Me. Against Thee only have I sinned and done this Evil in thy sight that Thou mightest be justified when Thou speakest and be clear when Thou judgest Behold I was shapen in Iniquity and in Sin did my Mother Conceive me Behold Thou desirest Truth in the Inward parts and in the hidden part Thou shalt make me to know Wisdom Purge me with Hysop and I shall be Clean wash me and I shall be whiter than Snow Make me to hear Joy and Gladness that the Bones which Thou hast broken may rejoyce Hide thy face from my sins and blot out All mine Iniquities Create in me a clean Heart O God and renew a right Spirit within Me. Cast me not away from thy presence and take not thy Holy Spirit from Me. Restore unto me the Joy of thy Salvation and uphold me with thy free Spirit Then will I teach Transgressors thy ways and Sinners shall be converted unto Thee Deliver me from Blood-guiltiness O God thou God of my Salvation and my Tongue shall sing aloud of thy Righteousness O LORD open thou my Lips and my Mouth shall shew forth thy Praise For thou desirest not Sacrifice else would I give it thou delightest not in Burnt-offerings The Sacrifices of God are a broken Spirit a broken and a Contrite Heart O God thou wilt not despise XIX THUS has the Humility and Godly Fear of these great and excellent Men recorded in the Scriptures through Obedience made not only Us but also the Generations before us Better even as many as have received his Holy Oracles with Fear and Truth Having therefore so many and such Great and Glorious Examples let us return to that Peace which was the Mark that from the Beginning was set before Us Let us look up to the Father and Creator of the whole World and let us hold fast to his Glorious and Exceeding Gifts and Benefits which are of Peace Let us consider and behold with the Eyes of our Understandings his Long-suffering Will and think how Gentle and Patient he is towards his whole Creation XX. THE Heavens holding fast to his Appointment are subject to Him in Peace Day and Night accomplish the Courses that he has allotted unto them not disturbing one another The Sun and Moon and all the several Companies and Constellations of the Stars run the Courses that he has appointed to them in Concord without departing in the least from them The Fruitful Earth yields its Food plentifully in due Season both to Man and Beast and to all that is upon it according to His Will not disputing nor altering any thing of what was order'd by Him So also the untrodden and unsearchable Floods of the Deep are kept in by his Command And the Conflux of the vast Sea being brought together at the Creation into its several Collections passes not the Bounds that He has set to it but as he then appointed it so it remains For he said Hitherto shalt thou come and thy Flouds shall be broken within Thee The Ocean unpassable to Mankind and the Worlds that are beyond it are govern'd by the same Commands of their great Master Spring and Summer Autumn and Winter give place peaceably to Each other The several Quarters of the Winds fulfil their work in their Seasons without offending one Another The Ever-flowing Fountains made both for Pleasure and Health never fail to reach out their Breasts to support the Life of Men. Even the smallest Creatures live together in Peace and Concord with Each other All these has the Great Creator and Lord of all commanded to observe Peace and Concord being Good to all But especially to Us who flee to his Mercy through our Lord Jesus Christ to whom be Glory and Majesty for Ever and Ever Amen XXI TAKE heed Beloved that his many Blessings be not to us to Condemnation except we shall walk worthy of Him doing with One Consent what is Good and Pleasing in his Sight The Spirit of the LORD is a Candle searching all the inward parts of the Belly Let us therefore consider how near he is to us and how that none of our Thoughts are hid from him nor any of our Conversation which we have with one Another It is therefore Just that we should not forsake our Rank by doing contrary to his Will Let us chuse to offend a few foolish and inconsiderate Men lifted up and Glorying in their own Pride rather than God Let us Reverence our Lord Jesus Christ whose Bloud was Given for us Let us Honour Those who are set over us let us respect the Aged that are amongst us and let us instruct the younger Men in the Discipline and Fear of the LORD Our Wives let us direct in Doing that which is Good Let them shew forth a lovely Habit of Purity in all their Conversation with a sincere Affection of Meekness Let the government of their
therefore become them to Guard themselves against such Persons VIII To this end He Exhorts them to follow their Bishop and Pastors But especially their Bishop IX He thanks them for their Kindness to Himself X. And to those that were with Him which God will reward XI He acquaints them with the Ceasing of the Persecution at Antioch And exhorts them to send a Messenger unto them to congratulate with them on this Occasion XII He concludes with his own Salutation and the Remembrances of those that were with Him to them all in General and to several in Particular THE EPISTLE OF St. IGNATIVS TO THE Smyrneans IGNATIUS who is also called THEOPHORUS to the Church of God the Father and of the Beloved Jesus Christ which God hath Blessed with every Good Gift being filled with Faith and Charity so that it is wanting in no Gift To the most Worthy of God and Fruitful in Saints the Church which is at SMYRNA in Asia All Joy through his Immaculate Spirit and through the Word of God I. I GLORIFIE God even Jesus Christ who has thus filled you with all Wisdom For I have understood how that you are settled in an Immoveable Faith as if you were Nailed to the Cross of our Lord Jesus Christ both in the Flesh and in the Spirit and are confirm'd in Love through the Bloud of Christ being fully perswaded of those things which relate unto our LORD Who truly was of the Race of David according to the Flesh but the Son of God according to the Will and Power of God Truly Born of the Virgin and Baptized of John that so all Righteousness might be fulfilled by him He was also truly Crucified by Pontius Pilate and Herod the Tetrarch for us in the Flesh by the Fruits of which we are saved even by his most Blessed Passion that he might set up a sure Token and Earnest of Hope for all following Ages through his Resurrection to all his Holy and Faithful Servants whether they be Jews or Gentiles in one Body of his Church II. NOW all these things he suffer'd for us that we might be saved And he suffer'd truly as He also truly Raised up himself And not as some Unbelievers say that he only seemed to suffer they themselves only seeming to be And as they Believe so shall it happen unto them when they shall become Spiritual and Incorporeal III. BUT I know that even after his Resurrection he was in the Flesh and I believe that he was so And when he came to those who were with Peter he said unto them Take Handle me and see that I am not an Incorporeal Daemon And straightway they felt Him and Believed being convinced both by his Flesh and Spirit For this cause they despised Death and were found to be above it But after his Resurrection he did Eat and Drink with them as he was Flesh although as to his Spirit he was united to the Father IV. NOW these things Beloved I put you in mind of not questioning but that you your selves also believe that they are so But I arm you before-hand against certain Beasts in the shape of Men whom you must not only not receive but if it be possible must not meet with Only you must pray for them that if it be the Will of God they may repent which yet will be very hard But of this our Lord Jesus Christ has the Power who is our true Life For if all these things were done only in shew by our LORD then do I also only seem to be Bound And why have I given up my self to Death to the Fire to the Sword to Wild Beasts But now the nearer I am to the Sword the nearer am I to God What is between me and the Beasts is between me and God Only in the Name of Jesus Christ who was a Perfect Man and by his Assistance am I ready to suffer All things together with Him V. WHOM some not knowing do deny or rather have been denied by him being the Advocates of Death rather than of the Truth Whom neither the Prophecies nor the Law of Moses have perswaded nor the Gospel it self even to this day nor all our Sufferings For they think also the same things of us For what does a Man profit me if he shall Praise me and Blaspheme my LORD not confessing that he was truly made Man Now he that says this does in effect deny him and is in Death But for the Names of such as do this they being Unbelievers I thought it not fitting to write them unto you Nay God forbid that I should make any mention of them till they shall repent to a true Belief of Christ's Passion which is our Resurrection VI. LET no Man deceive himself Both the things which are in Heaven and the Glory of Angels and Principalities whether Visible or Invisible if they believe not in the Bloud of Christ it shall be to them to Condemnation He that is able to receive this Let him receive it Let no Man's Place or State in the World puff him up That which is worth All is Faith and Charity to which nothing is to be preferred But then consider those who defend a different Opinion from us as to what concerns the Grace of God which is come unto us how contrary they are to the Mind of God They have no regard to Charity No Care of the Widow the Fatherless and the Oppressed Of the Bound or Free of the Hungry or Thirsty VII THEY abstain from the Publick Offices and from the Holy Eucharist because they confess it not to be the Flesh of our Saviour Jesus Christ which suffered for our Sins and which the Father of his Goodness raised again from the Dead And for this cause contradicting the Gift of God they die in their Disputes But much better would it be for them to love it that they might one day rise through it It will therefore become you to abstain from such Persons and not to speak with them neither in Private nor in Publick But to hearken to the Prophets and especially to the Gospel in which both Christ's Passion is manifested unto us and his Resurrection perfectly declared But flee all Divisions as the beginning of Evils VIII FOLLOW your Bishop as Jesus Christ the Father And the Presbytery as the Apostles As for the Deacons reverence them as the Command of God Let no Man do any thing of what belongs to the Church without the Bishop Let that Eucharist be look'd upon as Firm and Just which is either offer'd by the Bishop or by Him to whom the Bishop has given his Consent Wheresoever the Bishop shall appear there let the People also be As where Jesus Christ is there is the Catholick Church It is not lawful without the Bishop neither to Baptise nor to celebrate the Holy Communion But whatsoever he shall approve of that is also
all that he is in great Honour and Renown with God and is a Prince of great Authority and Powerful in his Office To him only is the Power of Repentance committed throughout the whole World Do's he not seem to thee to be of great Authority But ye despise his Goodness and the Modesty which he shews towards you II. I SAID unto him Sir Ask him since the time that he came into my House whether I have done any thing disorderly or have offended him in any thing I know said he that thou hast done nothing disorderly neither wilt thou hereafter do any thing and therefore I speak these things with thee that thou mayst persevere for he has given me a good Account concerning thee But thou shalt speak these things to others that they who either have repented or shall repent may be of the same opinion with thee and he may give me as good an Account of them also and I may do the same unto the LORD I answer'd Sir I declare to all Men the wonderful Works of God And I hope that all who love them and have before sinned when they shall hear these things will willingly repent and so recover Life Continue therefore said he in this Ministry and perfect it And whosoever shall fulfil the Commands of this Shepherd shall live and shall have great Honour both here and with the LORD But they that shall not keep his Commands flee from their Life and are Adversaries unto it And they that follow not his Commands shall deliver themselves unto Death and every one shall be guilty of his own Bloud But I say unto thee keep these Commandments and thou shalt find a Cure for all thy Sins III. MOREOVER I have sent these Virgins to dwell with thee for I have seen that they are very kind to thee Thou shalt therefore have them for thy Helpers that thou mayst the better keep the Commands which have been given thee for these Commands cannot be kept without these Virgins And thou seest how they are willing to be with thee and I will also command them that they shall not at all depart from thy House Only do thou purifie thy House for they will readily dwell in a clean House For they are Clean and Chast and Industrious and all of them have Grace with the LORD If therefore thou shalt have thy House pure they will abide with thee But if it shall be never so little polluted they will immediately depart from thy House for these Virgins cannot endure any manner of Pollution I said unto him Sir I hope that I shall so please them that they shall always delight to dwell in my House And as he to whom you have committed me makes no Complaint of me so neither shall they complain Then he said to that Shepherd I see that the Servant of God will live and keep these Commandments and place these Virgins in a pure Habitation When he had said this he delivered me again to that Shepherd and called the Virgins and said unto them Forasmuch as I see that ye will readily dwell in this Mans House I commend him and his House to you that ye may not at all depart from his House And they willingly heard these Words IV. THEN he said unto me Go on Manfully in thy Ministry Declare to all Men the great things of God and thou shalt find Grace in this Ministry And whosoever shall walk in these Commands shall live and be happy in his Life But he that shall neglect them shall not live and shall be unhappy in his Life Say unto all that whosoever can do what is right cease not to exercise themselves in good Works For I would that all Men should be delivered from the Inconveniences they lie under For he that wants and suffers Inconveniences in his daily Life is in great Torment and Necessity Whosoever therefore delivers such a Soul from Necessity gets great Joy unto himself For he that is grieved with such Inconveniences is equally tormented as if he were in Chains And many upon the Account of such Calamities being not able to bear them have chosen even to destroy themselves He therefore that knows the Calamity of such a Man and do's not free him from it commits a great Sin and is guilty of his Bloud Wherefore exercise your selves in Good Works as many as have received Ability from the LORD least whilst ye delay to do them the Building of the Tower be finish'd because for your sakes the Building is stopp'd Except therefore ye shall make haste to do well the Tower shall be finish'd and ye shall have no place in it And after he had thus spoken with me he rose up from the Bed and departed taking the Shepherd and Virgins with him Howbeit he said unto me that he would send back the Shepherd and Virgins unto my House Amen The Second EPISTLE OF St. CLEMENT TO THE Corinthians THE CONTENTS Chap. I. THAT we ought to entertain a Worthy Opinion of our Salvation And to do the utmost of what in us lies to express the Value we put upon it by a sincere Obedience to our Saviour Christ and his Gospel II. That God had before prophecy'd by Isaiah that the Gentiles should be saved III IV. That this ought to engage such especially to be very careful to live well without which they will still miscarry V. That whilst we secure to our selves the Favour of God and the Reward of the other World we need not fear what can befal us in this VI. That we cannot serve God and Mammon Nor if we follow the Interests of this present World is it possible for us to escape the Punishment of the Other VII The Consideration of which ought to bring us to Repentance and Holiness VIII And that presently knowing that now whilst we are in this World is the only time for Repentance IX We shall rise and be Judged in those Bodies in which we now are therefore we must live well in them X. That we ought as we value our own Interests to live well however few seem to mind what really is for their Advantage XI And not deceive our selves with any vain Imaginations as if no Punishment should remain for us if we do Evil or Good happen to us hereafter if we behave our selves as we ought to do Seeing God will certainly judge us and render to all of us according to our Works and how soon this may be we can none of us tell The Second EPISTLE OF St. CLEMENT TO THE Corinthians I. BRETRHEN we ought so to think of Jesus Christ as of GOD as of the Judge of the Living and the Dead Nor should we think any less of our Salvation For if we think meanly of it we shall hope only to receive some small Benefit by it And if we shall do so we shall sin not considering from whence we have been called and by whom and to what place and how
He was raised from the dead by the Father 151 198. By himself 195. He shall judge the World 272. Christian. A Christian is not to be judg'd by his outward Profession but by his true Piety 116. Commands God's Commands possible to be observed 409. Confession To be made to God 69 70. Contentment Recommended 52 53. D. Death While we do well we need not be afraid to die Vid. Angels 540. Devil We ought not to fear him 388. He cannot overcome us if we strive against him 411 412. Devotion The benefit of frequent publick Devotion 115 116. Differ How we ought to behave our selves towards those that differ from us 114. We must not give Scandal to them 150 151. E. Envy The Mischiefs of it 13 c. Evil. We must abstain from Evil as well as do good Eucharist Vid. Sacrament 390. Example That we should imitate the Examples of Christ and his Saints 93 c. F. Fast. What a true Fast is And how we may render our Fasting acceptable unto God 426 431. Fear We must fear God and not be afraid of the Devil 388. Future Happiness The Greatness of it 48 49 540 541. Future Iudgment There shall be a final Judgment 213 314. Christ shall be the Judg. Vid. Christ. G. God His Attributes 438. Omniscient 41 117. Almighty 376. There is but One God 222. There is no flying from him 41 42. The Nature of God and our Duty to him 368. His Praescience 545. He searcheth the Heart Ibid. Good What Good we must do 391. H. Happiness Vid. Future Hereticks Heresie We must avoid Hereticks 111 112 118 179 199 197 118. The danger of them 117 196. Yet we must pray for them 196. We must arm our selves against falling into Heresie 149 150 151 152. I. Image Wherein the Image of God consists 46. Iudge Iudgment Vid. Future Christ the Judge of the World 272 539. Iustification By Faith 45. We are justified by the same Faith that Holy Men were from the beginning 45. L. Lying Against Lying 371. M. Marriage Not to be made without the Bishop's Knowledg and Consent Vid. Bishop and Priest Martyr Martyrdom The Anniversaries of the Martyrs wont to be observed in the Primitive Church 229 249. The Respect which the Christians had for them 248. Martyrs shall have a more than ordinary degree of Glory hereafter 336 338 458. Martyrdom blots out all Sins 516 517 518. It is therefore to be esteem'd a Happiness to suffer 517. Mind Against Trouble and Anxiety of Mind 380. Ministers Anciently chosen by the Church 60. O. Obedience Recommended 33. The Necessity of it 539. P. Peace Exhortations to Peace and Unity 63 71 131 132 152 180 214. Prayer We must pray with Faith not Doubting 393. Publick Prayer Vid. Devotion and Worship Priests Married in the Primitive Church 96. Promise God is faithful in his Promises therefore we ought not to doubt of them 546 547. Prophets The ancient Prophets inspir'd by Christ. 271. Providence God's Providence is over all things 233. Punishment The Punishment of Sinners in the other World shall be Eternal 242. R. Reliques What Respect the ancient Christians paid to the Remains of their Martyrs 228 248. Repentance God allows Repentance to Sinners 17 443 444 464 469 524. Apostates only excepted Vid. Apostates No Repentance after Death 442 543 544. The Benefit of Repentance purchas'd for us by Christ. 17. Men are not presently pardon'd as soon as they begin to Repent till it appears that their Repentance is sincere 450. Resurrection That there shall be a future Resurrection 38 to 40 87 151. We shall rise in the same Bodies 544. Riches The Danger of Riches What Use we ought to make of them 228 248. Rule Particular Rules of Life 35 43 49 87 308. S. Sacrament The Holy Sacrament of the Lord's Supper not to be administred but by the Bishop or by him whom the Bishop appoints 199. Sadness The Mischief of it 396. Salvation We are saved by the Bloud of Christ. 23. God desires that all Christians should be saved 457. No Man can be saved without Piety 541 542. Exhortation to strive after our Salvation 542. Scandal We must take heed that we do not give Scandal to the Enemies of our Religion 150 151. Schism The danger of it 110 180. Scriptures The Holy Scriptures written by Divine Inspiration 61 64. Sin We must answer to God for the Sins of those who belong unto us 326 449. We must take care that we do not partake in Other Mens Sins 369 374. Speech Against Evil-Speaking 369. Suffer Christ supports all such as suffer for him Vid. Christ. 233. T. Transubstantiation Against it 110 121 166. Compare 198. Trinity See for it 229 246. V. Uirginity Recommended 213. Unity Vid. Peace Unity with the Bishop the best means to secure our selves against falling into Heresie 179. W. World We live in this World as in a Pilgrimage 415. We cannot serve this World and the next 541. Worship Appointed Times of publick Worship 55. Appointed Persons for the performing of it 56. Setled by the Apostles 58 60. FINIS Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. III. cap. 16. Idem lib. III. cap. 12. Canon Apostol Can. ult MS. Alexan. Grot. Annot. in Phil. iv 3 Euseb. Hist. Eccles. lib. III. cap. 12 Epiph. lib. I. Adv. Carpoâ—r Hieronim de Script Eccles. Et Comment in loc Item lib. I. adv Jovin Photii Cod. â—mem 113 c. Vid. Eucher Lugd. de Contempt Mundi Chron. Alâ—ert Stad inter Testimonia à â—unio Citatâ— Clem. Alex. Strom. lib. IV. Hieron in Isaiam c. 52. De Adulterat lib. Originis Pearson Dissert de Success prim RR. PP cum Append. Hen. Dodwelâ—i Pearson dissert Posthum Cap. V. Num. 7. Dodwelli Dissert singul Cap. XV. pag. 220. Dodwell Dissert singul Cap. XI p. 151. Clem. Epistle to the Corinth Num. vii p. 16. De Adulterat Lib. Orig. Hist. Eccles. Lib. III. c. 34. Dodwel Addit ad Cap. VI. Dissert Posthum Pearson Num. 22. pag. 215. Vid. Euseb. Chron. An o 97. Et in Euseb. Annot. Scalig. p. 205. b. Euseb. Hist. Eccles. Lib III. cap. 18. Euseb. Hist. Eccles. Lib III. cap. 34. Apud Coteler Patr. Apostol Tom. I. Vid. in Annot in Epist. Clem. in princip Annot. 2. p. 41. Baron Annal. ad Ann. XCV Num. 1. Coteler Noâ— in Clem. Epist. pag. 8â— Dodwell Append. ad Cap. VI. Dissert 2. Pearson pag 219. Num. 24. Epistle c I. p. 9. Ibid. c. V. p. 15. Chap. XLI p. 56 57. Dodwel loc supr cit Epist. chap. lix pag 78. Dodwel loc supr cit Add. Cave Hist. Literar in Clement pag. 18. Callovius Bibl. illustr N. T. To. 2. Exam. praeâ— Grot. in 1 Cor. p. 250. Voetius Paralip p. 1167 c. Vid. Tentzel Exercit select Exerc. 2. de Phoenice Vid. Callov Oper. Socin To. 2 pag. 487. Vid. Jun. Praefat. in Epist Clem. Vid. Baron Annal. Anno· 95. Num. iii. â— Tenâ—zelius Dissert select de Phoeniâ—e p. 3â— Et Num. xvi pag 45. Photii Biblioth Tmem
ye do ye may do it according to the Will of God V. MY Brethren the Love I have towards you makes me the more large and having a great Joy in you I endeavour to secure you against Danger Or rather not I but Jesus Christ in whom being Bound I the more fear as being yet only on the way to Suffering But your Prayer to God shall make me Perfect that I may attain to that Portion which by God's Mercy is allotted to me Fleeing to the Gospel as to the Flesh of Christ and to the Apostles as to the Great Presbytery of the Church Let us also love the Prophets for as much as they also have by their Doctrine led us to the Gospel and to Hope in Christ and to expect Him In whom also Believing they were saved in the Unity of Jesus Christ being Holy Men Worthy to be loved and had in Wonder who have received Testimony from Jesus Christ and are reckon'd in the Gospel of our Common Hope VI. BUT if any one shall preach the Jewish Law unto you hearken not unto Him For it is better to receive the Doctrine of Christ from one that has been Circumcised than Judaism from One that has not But if either the One or Other do not speak concerning Christ Jesus they seem to me to be but as Monuments and Sepulchres of the Dead upon which are written only the Names of Men. Flee therefore the wicked Arts and Snares of the Prince of this World lest at any time being Oppressed by his Cunning ye grow cold in your Charity But come All-together into the same Place with an undivided Heart And I Bless my God that I have a good Conscience towards you and that no One among you has whereof to boast either Openly or Privately that I have been Burthensome to Him in much or little And I beseech All among whom I have conversed that they make not use of that for a Testimony of it VII FOR although some would have deceived me according to the Flesh yet the Spirit being from God is not deceived For it knows both whence it comes and whither it goes and reproves the Secrets of the Heart I cried whilst I was among you I spake with a loud Voice Attend to the Bishop and to the Presbytery and to the Deacons Now some supposed that I spake this as foreseeing the Division that should come among you But He is my Witness for whose sake I am in Bonds that I knew nothing from any Man But the Spirit spake saying on this wise Do nothing without the Bishop Keep your Bodies as the Temples of God Love Unity Flee Divisions Be the Followers of Christ as he was of his Father VIII I THEREFORE did as became me as a Man composed to Unity For where there is Division and Wrath God dwelleth not But the Lord forgives all that Repent if they Return to the Unity of God and to the Council of the Bishop For I trust in the Grace of Jesus Christ that he will free you from every Bond. Nevertheless I exhort you that you do nothing out of Strife but according to the Instruction of Christ. Because I have heard of some who say Unless I find it written in some other antient Monuments I will not believe the Gospel And when I answer'd them It is Written They replied That it does not appear But to me Jesus Christ is instead of all the Antient Monuments in the World Together with those undefiled Monuments His Cross and Death and Resurrection and the Faith which is by Him By which I desire through your Prayers to be Justified IX THE Priests indeed are Good But much better is the High Priest to whom the Holy of Holies has been committed and who alone has been intrusted with the Secrets of God He is the Door of the Father by which Abraham and Isaac and Jacob and all the Prophets enter in as well as the Apostles and the Church And all these things tend to the Unity which is of God Howbeit the Gospel has somewhat in it far above all other Dispensations Namely the Appearance of our Saviour the Lord Jesus Christ his Passion and Resurrection For the Beloved Prophets refer'd to Him But the Gospel is the Perfection of Incorruption All therefore together are Good if ye believe with Charity X. NOW as concerning the Church of Antioch which is in Syria seeing I am told that through your Prayers and the Bowels which ye have towards it in Jesus Christ it is in Peace it will become you as the Church of God to ordain some Deacon to go to them thither as the Embassador of God that He may rejoyce with Them when they meet together and Glorifie Gods Name Blessed be that Man in Jesus Christ who shall be found worthy of such a Ministry and ye your selves also shall be Glorified Now if ye be willing it is not Impossible for you to do this for the sake of God as also the other Neighbouring Churches have sent them some Bishops some Priests and Deacons XI AS concerning Philo the Deacon of Cilicia a most worthy Man He still Ministers unto me in the Word of God together with Rheus of Agathopolis a singular good Person who has follow'd me even from Syria not regarding his Life These also bear witness unto you And I my self give Thanks to God for you that ye received them as the Lord shall receive you But for those that dishonour'd them may they be forgiven through the Grace of Jesus Christ. The Charity of the Brethren that are at Troas salutes you From whence also I now write by Burrhus who was sent together with me by those of Ephesus and Smyrna for respect sake May Our Lord Jesus Christ Honour them in whom they Hope both in Flesh and Soul and Spirit in Faith in Love in Unity Farewel in Christ Jesus our Common Hope THE EPISTLE OF St. IGNATIVS TO THE Smyrneans THE CONTENTS The Salutation Chap. I. HE declares the Joy he had to hear of their Firmness in the Gospel The Substance of which as to what concerns the Person of Christ he briefly repeats to Them II. And this against such as pretended that Christ suffer'd only in Shew and not Really Against these III. He assures them that he knew Christ was a True Man even after his Resurrection And did give manifest Proofs to his Disciples of his Being such IV. He Exhorts them therefore to have nothing to do with those Hereticks whom he here Opposes Nor believe that He would Suffer so so much for the Faith of Christ unless he were very sure of the Truth of it V. He shews them farther the Danger of the Doctrine before mentioned And how they who held it did in Effect Deny Christ. VI. How Dangerous this is And how different those who maintain this Doctrine are in All other respects from the Church of Christ VII That it will