15 But if Jesus Christ shall give me grace through your prayers, and it be his will, I purpose in a second epistle, which I will suddenly write unto you, to manifest to you more fully the dispensation of which I have now begun to speak, unto the new man, which is Jesus Christ; both in his faith, and charity; in his suffering, and in his resurrection.

16 Especially if the Lord shall "make" R veal. known unto me, that ye all by name come together in common in one faith, and in one Jesus Christ; who was of the race of David, according to the flesh; the Son of man, and Son of God; obeying your bishop and the pres-That ye bytery with an entire affection; breaking Mind. one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality; our antidote that we should not die, but live forever in Christ Jesus.

P

17 My soul be for yours, and theirs whom. ye have sent, to the glory of God; even unto Smyrna, from whence also I write to you; giving thanks unto the Lord, and loving Polycarp even as I do you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ does remember you.

18 Pray for the church which is in Syria, from whence I am carried bound to Rome; being the least of all the faithful which are there, as I have been thought worthy to be found to the glory of God.

19 Fare ye well in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, our common hope. Amen. To the Ephesians.

may obey.

THE EPISTLE OF IGNATIUS

TO THE

MAGNESIANS.

c Vid.Interp.

Lat. Epist.
Interpol.
In.

to.

CHAP. I.

4 Mentions the arrival of Damas their bishop, and others, 6 whom he exhorts them to reverence, notwithstanding he was a young

man.

IGNATIUS, 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 According and charity in God, being full of joy, I desired much to speak unto you in the faith of Jesus Christ.

`d Been

Vouchsafed a

name carry

ing a great

ity in it.

Pearson,

Vind. Ign.

par. ii. cap.

12, p. 146.

3 For having been thought worthy to obdeal of divin- tain a most excellent name, in the bonds See B shop which I carry about, I salute the churches; Wishing in them a union both of the body and spirit of Jesus Christ, our eternal life; as also of faith and charity, to which nothing is preferred; but especially of Jesus and the Father; Under in whom if we undergo all the injuries of the prince of this present world, and escape, we shall enjoy God.

Sing, commend.

ing,escaping.

4 Seeing then I have been judged worthy

h

h

God.

to see you, by Damas your most excellent Worthy of bishop; and by your very worthy presbyters, Bassus and Apollonius; and by my fellowservant Sotio, the deacon;

i Whom may

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

Apud Ved.

Lat Interpr.
Glorificato
Deum Pa-

Jesu Christi.

k

Vid Voss.
Pearson

Annot. in

th

Præf. ad
Vind. Ignat.

6 Wherefore it will become you also not rem D.nostri to use your bishop too familiarly upon the account of his youth; but to yield all rever-foc. ence to him according to the power of God the Father; as also I perceive that your holy presbyters do; not considering his age, which seeming indeed to appearance is young; but as becomes state. 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.

'

of

7 It will therefore behove you, "with all sincerity, to obey your bishop; in honour him whose pleasure it is that you should

So.

0

P

do

8 Because he that does not so, deceives not the bishop whom he sees, but affronts ? Deludes. him that is invisible. For whatsoever of this? Vid. Epist kind is done, it reflects not upon man, but of 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.

Interp. ad loc

r Flesh.

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

CHAP. II.

1 That as all must die, 3 he exhorts them to live orderly, and in unity.

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

set.

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

"Your

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 whole multi-persons before mentioned, seen all of you in faith and charity; I exhort you that ye study cord of God. to do all things in a "divine concord;

tude.

5 Your bishop presiding in the place of God; your presbyters in the place of the council of the Apostles; and your deacons most * Sweet. dear to me, being entrusted with the ministry of Jesus Christ; who was the Father before all ages, and appeared in the end to us.

Was made manifest. Heb. ix. 26.

* Habit of God.

I

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.

a

8 As therefore the Lord did nothing with- xiv. 11, 12. out the Father, being united to him; neither xvii. 21, 22. by himself, nor yet by his apostles; so neither do ye do any thing without your bishop and presbyters:

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

10 But being come together into the same

b

place, have one common prayer; one suppli-,. iv. 3. cation; one mind; one hope; in charity, and in joy undefiled.

11 There is one Lord Jesus Christ, than whom nothing is better. Wherefore come Run. ye all together as unto one temple of God; as to one altar, as to one Jesus Christ; who pro-d John xv ceeded from one Father, and exists in one, and is returned to one.

CHAP. III.

1 He cautions them against false opinions. 3 Especially those of Ebion and the Judaizing Christians.

• Pearson, Vind. Ign. par. 2, cap. 4.

BE not deceived with strange doctrines; Heterodox. nor with old fables which are unprofitable. For if we still continue to live according to the Jewish law, we do confess ourselves not to have received grace. For even the most holy prophets lived according to Christ Je-Most di

sus.

satisfy.

2 And for this cause were they persecuted, being inspired by his grace, to convince the Fully to unbelievers and disobedient that there is one God who has manifested himself by Jesus Christ his Son; who is his 'eternal word, not John i. 1. coming forth from silence, who in all things pleased him that sent him.