i. 17.

Dr.

33. Hammond

Annot. in

Rom. xiv. e.

apostles, or those that followed after, that nothing is more common than to meet with such kind of conclusions, See 1 Tim. not only in the end, but in the beginning, and midEphes. iii. dle; P in short, in every part of their epistles. To look 20. Rom. xv. no farther than the epistle with which we have begun this collection, viz. of St. Clement to the Corinthians; how many of these sort of stops may we find in the progress of it? I am sure there are not less than seven or eight of them. But I suppose he would be thought very ridiculous, who should therefore reject all that followed the first of these, as none of St. Clement's, but pieced on to the end of his epistle by some other hand, merely because the Doxology seemed to imply his having concluded there.

9 Euseb.

Hist. Eccles.

23. But to lay aside conjectures, and proceed to that which will put a final end to this difficulty; I observe, 2dly, that this passage which these men deny to be St. Polycarp's, and suppose to have been added to it by some latter hand, is expressly quoted by Eusebius 9 in lib. ii. c. 36. his Ecclesiastical History, as a part of this epistle. If, therefore, it is the addition of some other hand, it is evident it was added to it before Eusebius' time, that is to say, within two hundred years after the time of St. Polycarp's writing it; and whether or no this is probable, we will now more particularly inquire.

lycarp.

24. For the better clearing of which, I must observe, that this epistle of St. Polycarp, like that of St. Clement, foregoing, was for several hundreds of years wont to be * Hieron. de publicly read in the churches of Asia; so St. Jerome Script in Po-informs us; or as his interpreter Sophronius renders him, in the Synod or Convention of Asia: by which a Le Moyne learned mans supposes we are to understand some comvar. Sacr. mon meetings of the Christians in those parts, answerable to the like assemblies of the Gentiles there; and that in these, this epistle was frequently read to them.

Prolegom. ad

'Apud Euseb. Hist.

25. Hence Irenæust speaks of it as an epistle that was Eccles. lib. in every body's hands; and of course to be read by all,

iv. cap. 14.

Which be

for the benefit of their faith and manners.
ing so, it can hardly be supposed but that so inquisitive
a searcher into antiquity as Eusebius, must needs have
been very well acquainted with it; and doubtless have
had a true and genuine copy of it. Seeing then he
produces this passage as a part of that epistle which
was generally received as authentic in his days; and
that the epistle itself being spread into all hands, and
publicly read in the Eastern churches immediately after
the death of its great author, could not have been cor-
rupted or altered but that the cheat must have been dis-
covered; (of which we have not the least intimation in
all antiquity:) I think it cannot be doubted but that
this, as well as the rest of that epistle, was written by St.
Polycarp himself; and not added to his epistle by some
latter person, as is suggested, not only without reason,
but against such plain and unanswerable evidence to
the contrary.

26. Having said thus much in vindication of this epistle, and to clear it from those prejudices that have of late been raised against it, it remains only for me to observe, that though the following translation was truly made from the Greek and Latin copies of it, set out by Bishop Usher first, and since reprinted by Cotelerius in his collection of the Apostolical Fathers; yet is not this the first time that this epistle has appeared in our language. For our most diligent and learned countryman, Dr. Cave, having a just respect to the worth of a piece so highly applauded among the ancients, and well deserving the esteem of all good men, thought it would be no unuseful digression to present to his reader so venerable a monument of the Primitive Church; and therefore subjoined it entirely to his account of the life of St. Polycarp, in a most accurate English translation of it.

u

so

27. It would no doubt have been more to the reader's satisfaction, to have met with that translation of this

Dr. Cave's

Lives of the
Apostolical

fathers, in

St. Polycarp.

epistle here, than to find another, which he may have just reason to suppose can never equal that which was finished by so great a hand. And, indeed, I should have been glad to have rendered the following collection more considerable, by the reputation of a translation made by so eminent an author. But, however, as it now is, I hope it may not be unacceptable to the pious peruser of it, who, whatever other defects he may find in it, may yet, I am pretty confident, depend upon the exactness of the translation; seeing I perceive, by an after collation of it, that it does not differ in any thing that is material, from that of the judicious and worthy Dr. Cave.

THE EPISTLE OF POLYCARP

TO THE

PHILIPPIANS.

[The genuineness of this epistle is controverted, but implicitly be. lieved by Archbishop Wake, whose translation is below. There is also a translation by Dr. Cave, attached to his life of Polycarp.]

CHAP. I.

Commends the Philippians for their respect to those who suffered for the Gospel; and for their own faith.

a

eth.

POLYCARP, and the presbyters that are with him, to the church of God which is at SojournPhilippi; mercy unto you, and peace, from God Almighty, and the Lord Jesus Christ, our Saviour, be multiplied.

2 I rejoiced greatly with you in our Lord Jesus Christ, that ye received the images of a true love, and accompanied, as it behoved you, those who were in bonds becoming saints; which are the crowns of such as are truly chosen by God and our Lord:

you

3 As also that the root of the faith which & Firm root was preached from ancient times, remains firm remains in in you to this day; and brings forth fruit to our Lord Jesus Christ, who suffered himself

to be brought even to the death for our sins.

с

4 Whom God hath raised up, having loos- Acts ii. 24. ed the pains of death. Whom having not a 1 Pet. 1. 8.

seen, ye love; in whom, though now ye see him not, yet believing, ye rejoice with joy unspeakable and full of glory.

e Eph. ii. 8. 5 Into which many desire to enter; 'knowing that by grace ye are saved; not by works, but by the will of God, through Jesus Christ.

/ 1 Pet. i. 23.

11.

h

6 Wherefore, girding up the loins of your < Psalm ii. minds; serve the Lord with fear, and in truth; laying aside all empty and vain speech, A1 Pet. i. 21. and the error of many; believing in him that raised up our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead, and hath given him glory, and a throne at his right hand.

j Breath.

7 To whom all things are made subject, Phil. ii. 10. both that are in heaven, and that are in earth; whom every living creature shall worship; who shall come to be the judge of the quick and dead; whose blood God shall require of them that believe not in him.

* Him.

In.

Injustice

19. Coloss.

k

8 But he that raised up Christ from the dead, shall also raise up us in like manner, if we do his will, and walk according to his commandments; and love those things which he loved :

9 Abstaining from all "unrighteousness; * Eph. iv. "inordinate affection, and love of money; iii. 5. 1 Pet. from evil speaking; false witness; not rendering evil for evil, or railing for railing, or striking for striking, or cursing for cursing.

iii. 9.

Teaching.

10 But remembering what the Lord has Said to us. taught us, saying, Judge not, and ye shall Luke vi. 37. not be judged; forgive, and ye shall be forMatt. vii. 1. given; be ye merciful, and ye shall obtain

P Matt. v. 3.

mercy; for with the same measure that ye mete withal, it shall be measured to you again.

11 And again, that "blessed are the poor, 10. Luke vi and they that are persecuted for righteous