was so highly prized, that EUSEBIUS has inserted almost the whole of it in his history. It is a very valuable memorial of Christian antiquity, and is remarkable for discouraging, rather than inciting persons to offer themselves voluntarily for persecution. The resigned spirit of the venerable Polycarp is beautifully portrayed. His prudent retirement for a time, his calm submission to his persecutors, his dignified demeanor before the Proconsul, and the piety which he displayed in his prayers, both at the period of his apprehension and at the hour of death, complete a picture of a Christian martyr, worthy of a follower of the Apostles and of the high character which he had maintained during his life.

8

Polycarp is believed to have written several Epistles, but of these none is extant except his Epistle to the Philippians, which was always highly esteemed, and was publicly read in the Churches of Asia. In style and matter it bears a great resemblance to the Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians."

This Epistle forms an appropriate introduction to the Epistles of Ignatius, although, in strictly chronological

Sect. 4.

IRENEUS, Epist. ad Florin. ap. EUSEB. Hist. Eccles. v. 20. HIERON. Epist. ad Levinum. The fragments ascribed to Polycarp, by VICTOR of Capua in the sixth century, (see GRABE's Irenæus, p. 205.) are probably spurious. LARDNER thinks that IRENEUS and EUSEBIUS had seen no writing of Polycarp, but his Epistle to the Philippians. SIRENEUS Adv. Hær. iii. 3.

HIERON. de Script. Eccles. in Polycarp.

PHOTIUS, in the ninth century, states that this Epistle was then read, and observes that it was contained in the same book with the Epistle of Clement to the Corinthians.

See PEARSON, Vindiciæ Ignatianæ, Parti. c. 5. where it is fully shown, that the Epistle, which we now have, is the same to which the earliest Christian writers bear testimony.

order, it would follow them. Ignatius had recently passed through Smyrna, bound with chains, and guarded by a band of soldiers, who treated him with great cruelty, as he was being led to Rome, there to seal his testimony to the faith with his blood. As he came to the different cities, it appears from his letters that the Churches sent men chosen to meet him and attend him : and at Smyrna he conversed with Polycarp, and exhibited to the Church there a splendid example of patience and Christian fortitude. It seems probable, from the commencement of Polycarp's Epistle, that certain of the Philippians had accompanied Ignatius, on his departure from their city toward Rome. Soon after that time, and before any accurate intelligence of his death hath reached the Church of Smyrna, Polycarp addressed this letter to the Church at Philippi, sending, at the same time, the Epistles which Ignatius had written to himself and to the Smyrneans, and several other of his Epistles.

Polycarp begins his Epistle by commending the Philippians for their attention to those who had suffered for the faith, and for their own steadfastness; and exhorts them to continue in faith and piety. He reminds them of the doctrine which St. Paul had taught them, in his Epistle addressed to them, and proceeds to set before them the duties of faith, hope, and charity." He admonishes them to beware of covetousness; rehearses the duties of husbands, wives, and widows; of deacons, young men, presbyters, and virgins: and enforces these duties by the consideration that all must give an account to GoD of their actions."

He then proceeds to matters of faith: refers to the nature and sufferings of CHRIST; to his atonement, and

Compare Sect. 9. 14.

y Sect, 13. * Sect. 1-3. * Sect. 4-6.

to the example afforded by Him, and by the Apostles and martyrs, as motives to mutual charity and good order.b

Having expressed his regret for the misconduct of Valens and his wife, in the true spirit of Christian charity for the offenders, while their offence is rebuked, he declares his confidence that the Philippians are exercised in the holy Scriptures; prays for them; and commands them to pray for others: and, in conclusion, gives directions respecting the letters of Ignatius."

The brief Epistle of Polycarp contains numerous references to the books of the New Testament. There are expressly quoted as the writings of St. Paul, the first Epistle to the Corinthians, his Epistle to the Philippians, and probably that to the Thessalonians.f There is also a passages in which the Epistle to the Ephesians seems to be quoted under the appellation of "the holy Scriptures."

e

66

66

With reference to this passage, LARDNER observes that the words "Be ye angry and sin not," are in the Septuagint version of Ps. iv. 4. But," he adds, as the latter advice Let not the sun go down on your wrath,' is no where found in the Old Testament, and both these precepts are together in the Epistle to the Ephesians, it seems to me that Polycarp does expressly refer the Philippians to St. Paul's Epistle to the Ephesians, and calls it Scripture. If this be so, then we see, that the writings of the New Testament had now the name of Sacred Writings,' or 'Holy Scriptures,' and that they were much read by Christians in general."

In another place Polycarp appears to refer to the Scriptures of the New Testament in general, in the

b Sect. 7-10. © Sect. 11-14. Sect. 11. Compare 2 Thes. i. 4. Credibility, Part ii, c. 6.

d Sect. 11.

• Sect. 3.

Sect. 12. Eph. iv. 26.

¡ Sect. 7.

phrase, "Whosoever perverts the oracles of the LORD to his own lusts, and says there is neither resurrection nor judgment, he is the first-born of Satan :" and there are other references to passages now found in the Gospels, as the words of our LORD.

k

In the translation of this Epistle a reference is made to many passages of the New Testament to which Polycarp alludes. Others are subjoined.'

* Sect. 2. 7.

1 Matt. v. 44. Sect. 12. "Pray for those who persecute and hate you." Rom. xiii. 9, 10. Sect. 3. "For if any one have these things, he

hath fulfilled the law of righteousness."

2 Cor. vi. 7. Sect. 4. "Let us arm ourselves with the armor of righteousness."

Gal. iv. 26. Sect. 3. "Edified in the faith delivered to you, which is the mother of us all."

Phil. ii. 16. Sect. 9. "All these have not run in vain."

Col. i. 28. Sect. 12. "That ye may be perfect in CHRIST."

1 Thes. v. 22. Sect. 2. "Abstain from all unrighteousness."

2 Thes. i. 4. Sect. 11. "For he glories in you, in all the churches, which alone had known GOD."

Thessalonica being the capital city of the Province of Macedonia in which Philippi was, Polycarp might consider the Epistle to the Thessalonians as addressed also to the Philippians. See Sect. 3. note 1. 1 Tim. ii. 1, 2. Sect. 12. "Pray for all the saints. Pray also for kings," &c.

1 Tim. iii. 8. Sect. 5. "The deacons must not be double-tongued." The whole chapter resembles 1 Tim. iii.

2 Tim. ii. 11. Sect. 5. "If we walk worthy of him we shall also reign with him."

2 Tim. iv. 10. Sect. 9. "They loved not this present world."

Heb. iv. 12. Sect. 4. "He sees all blemishes, and nothing is hid from him," &c.

1 Pet. ii. 17. Sect. 10. "Lovers of the brotherhood."

1 Pet. iv. 5. Sect. 2. "Who comes to be the judge of quick and dead."

1 Pet. v. 5. Sect. 10. Jude, ver. 3. Sect. 3.

delivered unto you."

"Be ye subject one to another."

"Ye may be able to be edified in the faith

The words in Sect. 12. "Now the GoD and Father of our Lord

In this very short Epistle we have then references to two of the Gospels, to the Acts of the Apostles, to ten of the first thirteen Epistles of St. Paul, and probably to the Epistles to the Colossians and to the Hebrews: to the First Epistle of St. Peter, and to the First Epistle of St. John.".

0

m

Of a writing, which is so scriptural in its language, it is needless to observe that the doctrines are pure. Faith in CHRIST, who is our hope, and the earnest of our righteousness, who suffered for us, that we might live through him, "our everlasting High Priest, the Son of God;" a faith bringing forth the fruits of holiness, purity, and meekness; salvation by grace, not of works but by the will of God, through JESUS CHRIST ;r watchfulness unto prayer, perseverance in fasting, and supplication to GoD not to lead us into temptation, and for all conditions of men; the imitation of the example of CHRIST, and of his faithful disciples; the study of the Scriptures,-these are the doctrines of this truly Apostolical Epistle. And these doctrines are employed to enforce the fullest discharge of all the relative duties of different stations in life.

The profession of Polycarp was no vain display. Their influence upon his own life is exemplified in the calm serenity with which he met his death; and in the humble confidence which he expressed in his last prayer.'

JESUS CHRIST, and he himself who is our everlasting High-priest, the Son of GOD, JESUS CHRIST, build you up in faith and truth :" seem to be an allusion to Heb. iv. 14. vi. 20. vii. 3.

m

EUSEBIUS, Hist. Eccles. iv. 14. says that Polycarp in his Epistle to the Philippians uses testimonies from the First Epistle of Peter. " See LARDNER, Credibility, Part ii. c. 6. 41.