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THE LIFE

OF

ST. IGNATIUS,

BISHOP OF ANTIOCH.

FINDING nothing recorded concerning the country or parentage of this holy man, I shall not build upon mere fancy and conjecture. He is ordinarily styled both by himself and others Theophorus, which though like Justus it is often no more than a common epithet, yet it is sometimes used as a proper name. It is written according to the different accents, either Theopho'ros, and then it denotes a divine person, a man whose soul is full of God, and all holy and divine qualities, as Ignatius himself is said to explain it ; or Theo'phoros, and so in a passive signification it implies one that is born or carried by God. And in this latter sense he is said to have derived the title from the Lord's taking him up into his arms.

2. In his younger years he was brought up under Apostolical instruction; so a Chrysostom tells us, that he . I d. p. 9 was intimately conversant with the Apostles, educated and nursed up by them, every where at hand, and made partaker, both of their familiar discourses, and more secret and uncommon mysteries. Which though it is probable he means of his particular conversation with St. Peter and Paul, yet some of the beforemen

p. 1. & 5

Act. Ignat. tioned authors, and not they only, but the b Acts of his Edit. Usser. Martyrdom, written as it is supposed by some one present at the time, further assure us, that he was St. John's Disciple. Being fully instructed in the doctrines of christianity, he was for his eminent parts, and the great piety of his life, chosen to be Bishop of Antioch the metropolis of Syria, and the most famous and renowned city of the East; not more remarkable among foreign writers for being the oriental seat of Roman Emperors, and their Vice-Roys and Governors, than it is in Ecclesiastics for its eminent entertainment of the Christian Faith, its giving the venerable title of Christians to the disciples of the Holy Jesus, and St. Peter's first and peculiar residence in this place. I shall not need to prove what is evident enough in itself, and plainly acknowledged by the ancients, that Peter and Paul planted Christianity in this city, and both concurred to the foundation of this church; the one applying himself to the Jews, the other to the Gentiles. And large enough was the vineyard to admit the joint endeavours of these two great planters of the Gospel, it being a vast populous city, containing at that time according to St. Chrysostom's computation, no less than two hundred thousand souls. But the Apostles (who could not stay always in one place) being called off to the ministry of other churches, saw it necessary to substitute others in their room, the one resigning his trust to Euodius; the other to Ignatius. Hence in the Apostolic Constitutions Euodius is said to be ordained Bishop of Antioch by St. Peter; and Ignatius by St. Paul; till Euodius dying, and the Jewish converts being better reconciled to the Gentiles, Ignatius succeeded in the sole care and Presidency over that church, wherein he might possibly be afterwards confirmed by Peter himAd An. self. In which respect probably the author of the d AlTib. xix. Pexandrian Chronicon meant it, when he affirms that Ig

• Lib. 7. c.47. p. 451.

d

526.

natius was constituted Bishop of Antioch by the Apos tles.

3. Somewhat above forty years St. Ignatius continued in his charge at Antioch, (Nicephorus Patriarch of Constantinople assigns him but four years, the figure μ for forty, being probably through the carelessness of transcribers slipped out of the account) in the midst of very stormy and tempestuous times. But he like a wise and prudent pilot sat at the stern, and declined the dangers that threatened them by his prayers and tears, his fastings and the constancy of his preaching, and those indefatigable pains he took among them, fearing lest any of the more weak and unsettled Christians might be overborne with the storms of persecution. Never did a little calm and quiet interval happen, but he rejoiced in the prosperity of the Church: though as to himself he somewhat impatiently expected and longed for martyrdom, without which he accounted he could never perfectly attain to the love of Christ, nor fill up the duty and measures of a true disciple, which accordingly af terwards became his portion.

4. It was about the year of Christ CVII. When Trajan the Emperor, swelled with his late victory over the Scythians and the Daci, about the 9th year of his reign came to Antioch, to make preparation for the war which he was resolved to make upon the Parthians and Armenians. He entered the city with the pomp and solemnity of a triumph, and as his first care usually was about the concernments of religion, he began presently to enquire into that affair.

Act. Ignat.

p. 1, 2.

2.

Indeed he looked upon it Act. ib. p. as an affront to his other victories to be conquered by the Christians; and therefore to make this religion stoop, had already commenced a persecution against them in other parts of the Empire, which he resolved to carry on here. St. Ignatius (whose solicitude for the good of his flock made him continually stand upon his guard) thinking it more prudent to go himself, than

Act. Ign. p. stay to be sent for, of his own & accord presented himself to the Emperor, between whom there is said to have passed a large and particular discourse, the Emperor wondering that he dared to transgress his laws, while the good man asserted his own innocence. The issue was, that he was cast into prison, where (if what the Greek Rituals and some others report, be true) he was for the constancy and resolution of his profession, subjected to the most severe and merciless torments, whipped with Plumbatæ, scourges with leaden bullets at the end of them, forced to hold fire in his hands, while his sides were burnt with paper dipped in oil, his feet stood upon live coals, and his flesh was torn off with burning pincers. Having with an invincible patience overcome the malice and cruelty of his tormenters, the Emperor Act. Mar- pronounced the i final sentence upon him, that being iucurably overrun with superstition, he should be carried bound by soldiers to Rome. The good man heartily rejoiced at the fatal decree, I thank thee, O Lord (said he) that thou hast condescended thus perfectly to honour me with thy love, and hast thought me worthy with thy Apostle Paul to be bound with iron chains. With that he cheerfully embraced his chains, and having fervently prayed for his Church, and with tears recommended it to the divine care and providence, he delivered up himself into the hands of his keepers, that were appointed to transport him to the place of execution.

tyr. p. 4.

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5. It may justly seem strange, and it was that which puzzled the great i Scaliger, why he should be sent so far away from Antioch in Syria to be martyred at Rome. First, It was usual with the Governors of Provinces, Whereof these probable accounts may be rendered. where the malefactors were more than ordinarily eminent, either for the quality of their persons, or the nature of their crimes, to send them to Rome, that their punishment might be made exemplary in the eye of the world. Secondly, his enemies were not willing that

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