towards God most happy, knowing it to be fruitful in all virtue, and perfect; full of constancy, free from passion, and according to' all the moderation of the living God.

II. Wherefore, as becomes the children both of the light and of truth, flee divisions and false doctrines but where your shepherd is, there do ye, as sheep, follow after; for there are many wolves' who seem worthy of belief, that with 'a false pleasure lead captive those that run in the course of God; but in your concord they shall find no place.

III. Abstain, therefore, from those evil herbs which Jesus Christ does not dress; because such are not the plantation of the Father. Not that I have found any division among you, but rather all manner of purity. For as many as are of God, and of Jesus Christ, are also with their Bishop. And as many as shall with repentance return into the unity of the Church, even these shall also be the servants of God, that they may live according to Jesus Christ. Be not deceived, Brethren If any one follows him that makes a schism in the Church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of God: If any one walks after any other opinion, he agrees not with the passion of Christ.

IV. Wherefore let it be your endeavour to partake all of the same Holy Eucharist; for there is but one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ, and one cup, in the unity of his blood; one altar; as also there is one Bishop, together with his Presbytery, and the Deacons, my fellow-servants: that so whatsoever ye do, ye may do it according to the will of God.

1 In.
3 Evil.

2 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc.
* Cleanness made by sifting.

V. My Brethren, the love I have towards you makes me the more' large; and having a great joy in you, I endeavour to secure you against danger; or rather not I, but Jesus Christ; in whom being bound, I the more fear, as being yet only on the way to suffering. But your

2

prayer to God shall make me perfect, that I may attain to that portion which by God's mercy is allotted to me; fleeing to the Gospel as to the flesh of Christ, and to the Apostles as to the Presbytery of the Church. Let us also love the Prophets, forasmuch as they also have led us to the Gospel, and to hope in Christ*, and to expect him. In whom also believing, they were saved, in the unity of Jesus Christ; being holy men, worthy to be loved, and had in wonder; who have received testimony from Jesus Christ, and are numbered in the gospel of our common hope.

VI. But if any one shall preach the Jewish law' unto you, hearken not unto him: for it is better to receive the doctrine of Christ from one that has been circumcised, than Judaism from one that has not. But if either the one, or other, do not speak concerning Christ Jesus, they seem to me to be but as monuments and sepulchres of the dead, upon which are written only the names of men. Flee therefore the wicked arts and snares of the prince of this world, lest at any time, being oppressed by his cunning, ye grow cold' in your charity. But come all together into the same place, with an undivided heart. And I bless my God that I have a good conscience towards you, and that no one among you has whereof to boast,

1 Very much poured out.

2 Vid. Voss. in loc. Imperfect.

3 Or, preached of the Gospel; and hoped in him, and expected him.

4 Vid. Voss. in loc.

5 Judaism.

either openly or privately, that I have been burthensome to him in much or little. And I wish, to all amongst whom I have conversed, that it may not turn to a witness against them.

VII. For although some would have deceived me according to the flesh, yet the spirit, being from God, is not deceived: for it knows both whence it comes, and whither it goes, and reproves the secrets of the heart. I cried whilst I was among you, I spake with a loud voice: Attend to the Bishop, and to the Presbytery, and to the Deacons. Now some supposed that I spake this as foreseeing the division' that should come among you. But he is my witness for whose sake I am in bonds, that I knew nothing from any man: but the Spirit spake, saying on this wise, Do nothing without the Bishop; keep your bodies as the temples of God; love unity; flee divisions; be the followers of Christ, as he was of his Father.

VIII. I therefore did as became me, as a man. composed to unity: for where there is division, and wrath, God dwelleth not. But the Lord forgives all that repent, if they return' to the unity of God, and to the council of the Bishop. For I trust in the grace of Jesus Christ' that he will free you from every bond. Nevertheless, I exhort you, that you do nothing out of strife, but according to the instruction of Christ; because I have heard of some who say, Unless I find it written in the originals', I will not believe it to be written in the Gospel. And when I said, It is written, they answered what lay before them in their corrupted copies. But, to me, Jesus Christ is instead of all the uncorrupted monuments in

1 Of some. 9 Repent.

2 Flesh.

4 Who will loose from you.

Archives.-Vid. Voss. Annot, in loc.

S

the world; together with those undefiled' monuments, his cross, and death, and resurrection, and the faith which is by him: by which I desire, through your prayers, to be justified.

IX. The priests, indeed, are good; but much better is the high priest, to whom the Holy of Holies has been committed, and who alone has been entrusted with the secrets of God. He is the · door of the Father, by which Abraham, and Isaac, and Jacob, and all the Prophets enter in, as well as the Apostles and the Church. And all these things tend to the unity which is of God. Howbeit the Gospel has somewhat in it far above all other dispensations; namely, the appearance of our Saviour, the Lord Jesus Christ, his passion and resurrection. For the beloved Prophets referred to him: but the Gospel is the perfection of incorruption. All therefore together are good, if ye believe with charity.

X. Now as concerning the Church of Antioch, which is in Syria: seeing I am told that through your prayers, and the bowels which ye have towards it in Jesus Christ, it is in peace, it will become you, as the church of God, to ordain some deacon to go to them thither as the ambassador of God; that he may rejoice with them when they meet together, and glorify God's name. Blessed be that man, in Jesus Christ, who shall be found worthy of such a ministry; and ye yourselves also shall be glorified. Now, if ye be willing, it is not impossible for you to do this for the sake of God; as also the other neighbouring churches have sent them,-some bishops, some priests and deacons.

XI. As concerning Philo, the deacon of Cilicia,

1 Untouched.

* Messenger or minister.

2

a most worthy' man: he still ministers unto me in the word of God; together with Rheus of Aga-thopolis, a singular good person, who has followed me even from Syria, not regarding his life: these And I myself give also bear witness unto you. thanks to God for you, that ye receive them as the Lord shall receive you. But for those that dishonoured them, may they be forgiven through the grace of Jesus Christ. The charity of the brethren that are at Troas salutes you; from `whence also I now write by Burrhus, who was sent, together with me, by those of Ephesus and Smyrna, for respect sake. May our Lord Jesus Christ honour them; in whom they hope, both in flesh, and soul, and spirit,-in faith, in love, in unity. Farewell in Christ Jesus, our common hope.

1 Vossius, a martyr or confessor.-Vid. Annot. in loc.

2 Vid. Vossii Annot. in Ep. ad Smyrn. p. 261. See below, p. 266.

sect. x.