PRAY

RAY also without ceasing for other men for there is hope of repentance in them, that they may attain unto God. Let them therefore at least be instructed by your works, if they will be no other way.

2 Be ye mild at their anger; humble at their boasting; to their blasphemies return your prayers: to their error, your 4 firmness in the faith when they are cruel, be ye gentle; not endeavouring to imitate their ways.

(3 Let us be their brethren in all kindness and moderation, but let us be followers of the Lord; for who was ever more unjustly used? More destitute? More despised ?)

4 That so no herb of the devil may be found in you: but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety both of body and spirit, in Christ Jesus.

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5 The last times upon us: let us therefore be very reverent, and fear the long-suffering of God, that it be not to us unto condemnation.

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6 For let us either fear the wrath that is to come, or let us love the grace that we at present enjoy that by the one, or other, of these we may be found in Christ Jesus, unto true life.

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7 10 Besides him, let nothing "be worthy of you; 12 for whom also I bear about these bonds, those spiritual jewels, in which I would to God that I might arise through your prayers.

8 Of which I entreat you to make me always partaker, that I may be found in the lot of the Christians of Ephesus, who have always 13 agreed with the Apostles, through the power of Jesus Christ.

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9 ¶ I know both who I am, and to whom I write; I, a person condemned: ye, such as have obtained mercy: I, exposed to danger; ye, confirmed against danger.

10 Ye are the passage of those that are killed for God; the companions of Paul in the mysteries of the Gospel; the Holy, the 15 martyr, the deservedly most happy Paul: at whose feet may I be found, when I shall have attained unto God; who 10 throughout all his epistle, makes mention of you in Christ Jesus.

11 Let it be your care therefore to come more fully together, to the praise and glory of God. For when ye meet fully together in the same place, the powers of

1+ In.

the devil are destroyed, and his I mischief is dissolved by the 8 unity of their faith.

12 And indeed, nothing is better than peace, by which all war both spiritual and earthly is abolished.

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13 Of all which nothing is hid from you, if ye have perfect faith and charity in Christ Jesus, which are the beginning and end of life.

14 For the beginning is faith; the end is charity. And these two *joined together, are of God: but all other things which concern a holy life are the consequences of these.

15 No man professing a true faith, sinneth; neither does he who has charity hate any.

16 The tree is made manifest by its fruit; so they who profess themselves to be christians known by what they do.

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17 For christianity is not the work of an outward profession; but shows itself in the power of faith, if a man be found faithful unto the end.

18 It is better for a man to hold his and be ; peace, 7than to say he is a christian, and not to be.

19 It is good to teach; what he says he does likewise.

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20 There is therefore one master who spake, and it was done; and even those things which he did without speaking, are worthy of the Father.

21 He that possesses the word of Jesus is truly able to hear his very silence, that he may be perfect; and both do according to what he speaks, and be known

love of the Gospel.

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GNATIUS who is also called Theophorus; to the blessed (church) by the grace of God the Father in Jesus Christ our Saviour: in whom I salute the church which is at Magnesia near the Mæander: and wish it all joy in God the Father and in Jesus Christ.

2 When I heard of your well ordered love and charity in God, being full of joy, I desired much to speak unto you in the faith of Jesus Christ.

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4 Seeing then I have been judged worthy to see you, by Damas your most excellent bishop; and by your very worthy presbyters, Bassus and Apollonius; and by my fellow-servant Sotio, the deacon;

5 In whom I rejoice, forasmuch as he is the subject unto his bishop as to the grace of God, and to the presbytery as to the law of Jesus Christ; 10 I determined to write unto you.

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6 Wherefore it will become you also not to use your bishop too familiarly upon the account of his youth; but to yield all reverence to him according to the power of God the Father; as also I perceive that your holy presbyters do: not considering his 12 age, which indeed to appearance is young; bu as becomes those who are prudent in God, submitting to him, or rather not to him, but to the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, the bishop of us all.

7 It will therefore 13 behove you with all sincerity, to obey your bishop; in honour of him 15 whose pleasure it is that ye should do so. 8 Because he that does not do so, deceives not the bishop whom 2 In. According to. 4 Been

he sees, but affronts him that is invisible. For whatsoever of this kind is done, it reflects not upon 'man, but upon God, who knows the secrets of our hearts.

9 It is therefore fitting, that we should not only be called christians, but be so.

10 As some call indeed their governor, bishop; but yet do all things without him.

11 But I can never think that such as these have a good con science, seeing that they are not gathered together thoroughly according to God's commandment.

CHAP. II.

1 That as all must die, 4 he exhorts them to live orderly and in unity.

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EEING then all things have an end, there are these two indifferently set before us, death and life: and every one shall depart unto his proper place.

2 For as there are two sorts of coins, the one of God, the other of the world; and each of these has its proper inscription engraven upon it; so also is it here.

3 The unbelievers are of this world; but the faithful, through charity, have the character of God the Father by Jesus Christ: by whom if we are not readily disposed to die after the likeness of his passion, his life is not in us.

4 Forasmuch, therefore, as I have in the persons before mentioned seen all of you in faith and charity; I exhort you that ye study to do all things in a divine concord:

5 Your bishop presiding in the place of God; your presbyters in the place of the council of the Apostles; and your deacons most

orderly and in unity.

dear to me being entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ; who was the Father before all ages, and appeared in the 10 end to us.

6 Wherefore taking the same "holy course, see that ye all reverence one another: and let no one look upon his neighbour after the flesh; but do ye all mutually love each other in Jesus Christ.

7 Let there be nothing that may be able to make a division among you; but be ye united to your bishop, and those who preside over you, to be your pattern and direction in the way to immortality.

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8 As therefore the Lord did nothing without the Father, being united to him; neither by himself nor yet by his Apostles, so neither do ye do anything without your bishop and presbyters:

9 Neither endeavour to let any thing appear rational to yourselves apart;

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10 But being come together into the same place have one common prayer; one supplication; one mind; one hope; one in charity, and in joy undefiled.

E not deceived with strange doctrines; nor with old fables which are unprofitable. For

Flesh. Firmly Together. 8The concord of God. Sweet.