and sacrifice for us', [ye hastened to see me*:] I received, therefore, in the name of God, your whole multitude in Onesimus, who by inexpressible love is ours, but according to the flesh is your bishop; whom I beseech you, by Jesus Christ, to love; and that you would all strive to be like unto him. And, blessed be God, who has granted unto you, who are so worthy of him, to enjoy such an excellent bishop. II. For what concerns my fellow-servant Burrhus, and your most blessed deacon in things pertaining to God, I entreat you that he may tarry longer, both for yours and your bishop's honour. And Crocus also, worthy both our God and you, whom I have received as the pattern of your love, has in all things refreshed me, as the Father of our Lord Jesus Christ shall also refresh him; together with Onesimus, and Burrhus, and Euplus, and Fronto, in' whom I have, as to your charity, seen all of you. And may I always have joy of you, if I shall be worthy of it. It is, therefore, fitting that you should by all means glorify Jesus Christ, who hath glorified you—that by a uniform obedience ye may be perfectly joined together in the same mind, and in the same judgment; and may all speak the same things concerning every thing: and that, being subject to your bishop, and the presbytery, ye may be wholly and thoroughly sanctified. 10 III. These things I prescribe to you", not as if I were somebody extraordinary; for though I am bound for12 his name, I am not yet perfect in Christ 1 Eph. v. 2. 3 Possess. 12 5 By. 10 The. Jesus. But now I begin to learn, and I speak to ought to have been stirred up by you, in faith, in IV. Wherefore it will become you to run together according to the will of your bishop, as also ye do. For your famous' presbytery, (worthy of God!) is fitted as exactly to the bishop, as the. strings are to the harp. Therefore, in your concord, and agreeing charity, Jesus Christ is sung; and every single person among you makes up the chorus: that so being all consonant in love, and taking up the song of God, ye may in a perfect unity, with one voice, sing to the Father by Jesus Christ; to the end that he may both hear you, and perceive by your works, that ye are indeed the members of his Son: wherefore it is profitable for you to live in an unblamable unity, that so ye may always have a fellowship with God. V. For if I in this little time have had such a familiarity with your bishop, (I mean not a carnal, but spiritual acquaintance with him,) how much more must I think you happy who are so joined to him, as the Church is to Jesus Christ, and Jesus Christ to the Father; that so all things may agree in the same unity! Let no man deceive himself; if a man be not within the altar, he is deprived of 1 For. 2 Concerning. 3 Mind, counsel, opinion, &c. 6 Concord. 7 Partake of. the bread of God. For if the prayer of one or two be of such force, as we are told, how much more powerful shall that of the bishop and the whole church be? He therefore that does not come together into the same place with it, is proud, and has already condemned himself. For it is written, God resisteth the proud. Let us take heed, therefore, that we do not set ourselves against the bishop, that we may be subject to God. 5 VI. The more any one sees his bishop silent, the more let him revere him. For whomsoever the master of the house sends to be over his own household, we ought in like manner to receive him as we would do him that sent him. It is, therefore, evident that we ought to look upon the bishop even as we would do upon the LORD himself. And indeed Onesimus himself does greatly commend your good order in God: that you all live according to the truth, and that no heresy dwells among you. For neither do ye hearken to any one more than to Jesus Christ, speaking to you in truth. VII. For some there are who carry about the name of Christ in deceitfulness, but do things unworthy of God; whom ye must flee, as ye would do so many wild beasts: for they are ravening dogs, who bite secretly; against whom ye must guard yourselves, as men hardly to be cured. There is one physician, both fleshly and spiritual; made and not made; God incarnate; true life in death; both of Mary and of God; first passible, then impassible; even Jesus Christ our Lord. VIII. Wherefore let no man deceive you; as 1 Matt. xviii. 19. 9 Judged or separated. 5 And the. 7 In wicked deceit. 4 Is already proud and has, &c. 6 Accustom themselves to carry. you, indeed neither are ye deceived, being wholly the servants of God. For inasmuch as there is no contention nor strife among you, 'to trouble ye must needs live according to God's will. My soul be for yours; and I myself the expiatory offering for your Church of Ephesus, so famous throughout the world. They that are of the flesh cannot do the works of the spirit: neither they that are of the spirit, the works of the flesh. As he that has faith cannot be an infidel; nor he that is an infidel, have faith. But even those things which ye do according to the flesh are spiritual; forasmuch as ye do all things in Jesus Christ. 6 IX. Nevertheless I have heard of some who have passed by you, having perverse doctrine; whom ye did not suffer to sow among you, but stopped your ears, that ye might not receive those things that were sown by them; as being the stones of the temple of the Father, prepared for his 10 building, and drawn up on high by the cross of Christ, as" by an engine; using the Holy Ghost as the rope your faith being your support; and your charity the way that leads unto God. Ye are, therefore, with all your companions in the same journey, full of God; his spiritual temples, "full of Christ, full of holiness; adorned in all things with the commands of Christ, in whom also I rejoice that I have been thought worthy by "this present Epistle to converse, and joy together with Which can. 2 Without doubt ye live. 3 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc. Pearson. Vind. Ignat. par. ii. p. 207, 208. 4 To ages. 5 As neither is faith the things of infidelity, nor infidelity the things of faith. 8 Upon. 6 Known. 10 The building of God the Father. 11 By the engine of the cross, &c,-Pearson. Ib. part ii. cap. 12. 12 Carriers. 13 These things I write. you; that with respect to the other life, ye love nothing but God only. X. Pray also without ceasing for other men: for there is hope of repentance in them, that they may attain unto God. Let them, therefore, at least be instructed by your works, if they will be no other way. Be ye mild at their anger, humble at their boasting; to their blasphemies, return your prayers; to their error, your' firmness in the faith: when they are cruel, be ye gentle; not endeavouring to imitate their ways: (let us be their brethren in all kindness and moderation, but let us be followers of the LORD: for who was ever more unjustly used? more destitute? more despised?) that so no herb of the devil may be found in you; but ye may remain in all holiness and sobriety 'both of body and spirit, in Christ Jesus. XI. The last times are come upon us : let us, therefore, be very reverent, and fear the long-suffering of God, that it be not to us unto condemnation. For let us either fear the wrath that is to come, or let us love the grace that we' at present enjoy; that by the one or other of these we may be found in Christ Jesus, unto true life. Besides him, let nothing be worthy of you; for whom also I bear about these bonds, those spiritual jewels, in which I would to God that I might arise through your prayers; of which I entreat you to make me always partaker, that I may be found in the lot of the Christians of Ephesus, who have always agreed with the Apostles, through" the power of Jesus Christ. 1 Be ye firm. 3 In Jesus Christ both bodily and 4 Remain, or For it remains. 2 Who has been more, &c. spiritually. 1 Cor. vii. 34. 5 Is present. 6 One of the two, only that we may be found, &c. 7 Without him. 8 Become you. 11 In. |