Church, because I am the last of them. But by the will of GOD I was deemed worthy, not as myself knowing any worth in me, but through the grace of God; which I pray may be given unto me perfectly, that through your prayers I may attain unto God. That therefore your work may be perfected, both on earth and in heaven, it is right for the honour of God, that your venerable Church in GOD should elect some one to go into Syria and congratulate them that they are in peace, and that their numbers have been regained, and their body re-established. It seemed to me befitting, that you should send some one of your members with an Epistle, that he may with them magnify the godly quietness which has happened unto them, and their having already reached the harbour through your prayers. As ye are perfect, so let your sentiments be perfect. For to you who wish to do well, GoD is ready to vouchsafe it.

XII. The love of the brethren at Troas salutes you; from which place I send this Epistle by the hands of Burrhus, whom you sent with me, along with your Ephesian brethren, and who has in every way been a comfort to me. And would that all imitated him, as a pattern of God's Ministry! Grace will reward him altogether. I salute your godly Bishop, your most sacred Presbytery, and my fellow servants the Deacons, and all individually and together in the Name of JESUS CHRIST, and in His Flesh and blood, Passion and Resurrection, both of Flesh and Spirit, in the unity of GOD and of you. Grace be with you, mercy, peace, and patience evermore!

XIII. I salute the households of my brethren, their wives and children, the virgins called widows. Farewell in the SPIRIT. Philo, who is with me, salutes you. I salute the household of Tabia, and pray that she may be stablished in Faith and Love, a name dear to me. I salute Alce in flesh and spirit, and the most excellent Daphnus, and Eutecnus, and all of you by name. Farewell in the grace of God!

[THIRD EDITION.]

These Tracts are continued in Numbers, and sold at the price of 2d. for each sheet, or 7s. for 50 copies.

LONDON: PRINTED FOR J. G. F. & J. RIVINGTON,

ST. PAUL'S CHURCH YARD, AND WATERLOO PLACE.

1840.

GILBERT & RIVINGTON, Printers, St. John's Square, London.

RECORDS OF THE CHURCH.

No. VIII.

THE HOLY CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD DOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THEE.

Epistle of Ignatius, the friend of St. Peter and St. John, and Bishop of Antioch, on his way to martyrdom, to the Romans.

IGNATIUS, which is also Theophorus, to the Church which hath found mercy in the greatness of the FATHER Most High, and of JESUS CHRIST His Only Son, beloved and enlightened in the will of Him, who willeth all things, which are according to the love of JESUS CHRIST Our GOD; and which has foremost station in the place of the Romans, all-godly, all-gracious, all-blessed, all-praised, all-prospering, all-hallowed, having first place in Love, with the Name of CHRIST and with the Name of the FATHER; whom I greet in the Name of JESUS CHRIST, the Son of the FATHER; to those who are united in flesh and spirit, in every commandment of His, filled with the grace of GoD without distinction, and cleansed from all foreign hue, a plenteous and undefiled joy, through the LORD JESUS CHRIST Our GOD.

I. Since, through prayer to God, it hath been granted unto me to behold your godly countenances, (an event I have very greatly desired,) bound as I am in JESUS CHRIST, I have a hope of saluting you, if by God's will I be deemed worthy to attain unto my end. For my progress has been successfully ordered if I but find grace to possess myself of my lot without hindrance. For I have fears from your love, lest even it should bring injury upon me; for to you it is easy to work your purpose; but it is difficult for me to go unto God, if you spare me.

II. I desire that ye be not men-pleasers, but pleasers of GOD, which ye also are. For never shall I find such an opportunity of attaining unto God; nor can you have any deed reported of you more glorious, than your silence now. For if you abstain from speaking for me, I shall become God's own; but if you become lovers of my flesh, I shall have to run my course anew. You can

give me no better gift, than my immolation to GOD, while yet the altar is ready; that becoming a choir in love, ye may sing to the FATHER in CHRIST JESUS, for that it hath pleased God that the Bishop of Syria should be found in the West, having sent for him from the East. It is well for me to set from the world unto God that in GOD I may rise.

III. Ye have spoken evil of no man. Ye have taught others. It is my desire, that the lessons ye have given may be firm. Only, ask for me power from within and from without, that I may not only speak, but also will; not only bear the name of Christian, but approve myself one; for if I approve myself one I shall be entitled to the name, and shall be reckoned to have been faithful, when to the world I appear not. For nothing that appears is eternal; visible things are temporal; things invisible are eternal. rather, our GOD, which is JESUS CHRIST, now really appears, when He is in the FATHER. This is no time for silence; on the contrary, Christianity is a thing of moment.

Or

charge all, that I die

I exhort you, not to Suffer me to be food permitted to attain to Let me be ground by

IV. I write to the Churches, and I willingly for GOD, unless you prevent me. become an unseasonable kindness to me. for wild beasts, for by their means I am GOD. I am as wheat for GoD's service. the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread of CHRIST. Rather, humour ye them, that they may be my grave, and may leave no part of my body; so that, when I am fallen asleep, I may burden no man. Then shall I be truly a disciple of CHRIST, when the world seeth my mortal body not at all; pray ye to CHRIST for me, that by these instruments I may be found a sacrifice. I make not my commands unto you, as though I were Peter or Paul; they were Apostles; I am under sentence; they were free; I, hitherto, am a slave: but if I suffer, I shall become the freedman of JESUS, and in Him shall rise free. Now am I learning, while in my bonds, not to lust after any thing worldly and fallacious.

V. From Syria unto Rome I fight with beasts, by land and sea, night and day; enchained of ten leopards, which are the band of soldiers; who by kindness are made harsher. But I take

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a lesson from their misdeeds; yet not herein am I made perfect. I long for the wild beasts that are prepared for me. And I pray that they may be found ready; yea, I will encourage them quickly to devour me, and not as they have spared others as being scared at them. If they do it not of their own will, I will put a force upon them. Bear with me. I know my true interest; I am just becoming a disciple. Let nothing, seen or unseen, envy me my attaining unto CHRIST. Fire and Cross, the assault of beasts, dissection, tearing to pieces, the scattering of my bones, the chopping of my limbs, the pounding of my whole frame, dire tortures of the devil, let them come upon me, so that I but attain unto CHRIST.

VI. The delights of the world profit me not; I had rather die in CHRIST JESUS, than reign over the ends of the earth. For what shall it profit a man if he gain the whole world, and lose his own soul; I am seeking Him, who died for us; I am longing for Him, who rose for our sake. This is the gain which I have before me. Have pity on me, my Brethren. Do not prevent me from living. Do not wish for me to die, when I desire to belong to God. Enter not into the sympathies of this world. Suffer me to gain the pure light. For when I arrive thither, I shall be a man of God. Allow me to imitate the passion of my GOD. If any man hath Him in himself, let him perceive what are my wishes, and sympathize with me, knowing what it is that constraineth me.

VII. The Prince of this world desires to tear me away, and to corrupt the purpose that I have to God-ward. Let none of y you, who are at my side, give him your help; adhere rather to my cause, that is, the cause of GOD. Talk ye not of Jesus Christ, while you desire the world. Let no envy dwell within you; not even if when I am with you, I ask it of you, do you comply with me. Comply rather with what I now write to you. I write to you living, yet longing to die. My Love is crucified. I have in me neither flame, nor its fuel; but there is the living water, that speaketh in me, and saith from within, "Come hither unto the FATHER." I have no taste for corruptible food, or for the pleasures of this world. I long for God's bread, heavenly bread, bread of life, which is flesh of JESUS CHRIST the Son of God, who

give me no better gift, than my immolation to God, while yet the altar is ready; that becoming a choir in love, ye may sing to the FATHER in CHRIST JESUS, for that it hath pleased God that the Bishop of Syria should be found in the West, having sent for him from the East. It is well for me to set from the world unto God that in GOD I may rise.

III. Ye have spoken evil of no man. Ye have taught others. It is my desire, that the lessons ye have given may be firm. Only, ask for me power from within and from without, that I may not only speak, but also will; not only bear the name of Christian, but approve myself one; for if I approve myself one I shall be entitled to the name, and shall be reckoned to have been faithful, when to the world I appear not. For nothing that appears is eternal; visible things are temporal; things invisible are eternal. Or rather, our GOD, which is JESUS CHRIST, now really appears, when He is in the FATHER. This is no time for silence; on the contrary, Christianity is a thing of moment.

charge all, that I die

I exhort you, not to Suffer me to be food permitted to attain to

IV. I write to the Churches, and I willingly for GOD, unless you prevent me. become an unseasonable kindness to me. for wild beasts, for by their means I am GOD. I am as wheat for God's service. Let me be ground by the teeth of the wild beasts, that I may be found pure bread of CHRIST. Rather, humour ye them, that they may be my grave, and may leave no part of my body; so that, when I am fallen asleep, I may burden no man. Then shall I be truly a disciple of CHRIST, when the world seeth my mortal body not at all; pray ye to CHRIST for me, that by these instruments I may be found a sacrifice. I make not my commands unto you, as though I were Peter or Paul; they were Apostles; I am under sentence; they were free; I, hitherto, am a slave: but if I suffer, I shall become the freedman of JESUS, and in Him shall rise free. Now am I learning, while in my bonds, not to lust after any thing worldly and fallacious.

་

V. From Syria unto Rome I fight with beasts, by land and sea, night and day; enchained of ten leopards, which are the band of soldiers; who by kindness are made harsher. But I take