The Forbidden Gospels and Epistles Part 63

16 Permit me to imitate the pa.s.sion of my G.o.d. If any one has G.o.d within himself, let him consider what I desire; and let him have compa.s.sion on me, as knowing how I am straightened.

CHAPTER III.

Further expresses his desire to suffer.

THE prince of this world would fain carry me away, and corrupt my resolution towards my G.o.d.

Let none of you therefore help him; rather do ye join with me, that is, with G.o.d.

2 Do not speak with Jesus Christ, and yet covet the world.

Let not any envy dwell with you; no, not though I myself, when I shall be come unto you, should exhort you to it, yet do not ye hearken to me; but rather believe what I now write to you.

3 For though I am alive at the writing of this, yet my desire is to die. My love is crucified; and the fire that is within me does not desire any water; but being alive and springing within me, says, Come to the Father.

4 I take no pleasure in the food of corruption, nor in the pleasures of this life.

5 I desire the bread of G.o.d which is the flesh of Jesus Christ, of the seed of David; and the drink that I long for is his blood, which is incorruptible love.

6 I have no desire to live any longer after the manner of men; neither shall I, if you consent.

Be ye therefore willing, that ye yourselves also maybe pleasing to G.o.d. I exhort you in a few words; I pray you believe me.

7 Jesus Christ will shew you that I speak truly. My mouth is without deceit, and the Father hath truly spoken by it. Pray therefore for me, that I may accomplish what I desire.

8 I have not written to you after the flesh, but according to the will of G.o.d. If I shall suffer, ye have loved me: but if I shall be rejected, ye have hated me.

9 Remember in your prayers the church of Syria, which now enjoys G.o.d for its shepherd instead of me. Let Jesus Christ only oversee it, and your charity.

10 But I am even ashamed to be reckoned as one of them; for neither am I worthy, being the least among them, and as one born out of due season. But through mercy I have risen to be somebody, if I shall get unto G.o.d.

11 My spirit salutes you; and the charity of the churches that have received me in the name of Jesus Christ; not as a pa.s.senger, for even they that were not near to me in the way, have gone before me to the next city to meet me.

12 These things I write to you from Smyrna, by the most worthy of the church of Ephesus.

13 There is now with me, together with many others, Crocus, most beloved of me. As for those which are come from Syria, and are gone before me to Rome, to the glory of G.o.d, I suppose you are not ignorant of them.

14 Ye shall therefore signify to them that I draw near, for they, are all worthy both of G.o.d and of you: Whom it is fit that you refresh in all things.

15 This have I written to you, the day before the ninth of the, calends of September. Be strong unto the end, in the patience of Jesus Christ.

IGNATIUS TO THE PHILADELPHIANS.

CHAPTER I.

Commends their bishop, whom they had sent unto him, warns them against division and schism.

IGNATIUS, who is also called Theophorus, to the church of G.o.d the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ, which is at Philadelphia in Asia; which has obtained mercy, being fixed in the concord of G.o.d, and rejoicing evermore in the pa.s.sion of our Lord, and being fulfilled in all mercy through his resurrection: Which also I salute in the blood of Jesus Christ, which is our eternal and undefiled joy; especially if they are at unity with the bishop, and presbyters who are with him, and the deacons appointed according to the mind of Jesus Christ; whom he has settled according to his own will in all firmness by his Holy Spirit:

2 Which bishop I know obtained that great ministry among you, not of himself, neither by men, nor out of vain glory; but by the love of G.o.d the Father, and our Lord Jesus Christ.

3 Whose moderation I admire; who by his silence is able to do more than others with all their vain talk. For he is fitted to the commands, as the harp to its strings.

4 Wherefore my soul esteems his mind towards G.o.d most happy, knowing it to be fruitful in all virtue, and perfect; full of constancy, free from pa.s.sion, and according to all the moderation of the living G.o.d.

5 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.

6 For there are many wolves who seem worthy of belief, that with a false pleasure lead captive those that run in the course of G.o.d; but in the concord they shall find no place.

7 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.

8 For as many as are of G.o.d, 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 G.o.d, that they may live according to Jesus Christ.

9 Be not deceived brethren; if any one follows him that makes a schism in the church, he shall not inherit the kingdom of G.o.d.

If any one walks after any other opinion, he agrees not with the pa.s.sion of Christ.

10 Wherefore let it be your endeavour to partake all of the same holy eucharist.

11 For there is but one flesh of our Lord Jesus Christ; one cup in the unity of his blood; and one altar;

12 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 G.o.d.

CHAPTER II.

Desires their prayers, and to be united, but not to Judaize.

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.

2 But your prayer to G.o.d shall make me perfect, that I may attain to that portion, which by G.o.d'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.

3 Let us also love the prophets, forasmuch as they have led us to the Gospel, and to hope in Christ, and to expect him.

4 In whom also believing they were saved in the unity of Jesus Christ; being holy men, worthy to be loved, and had in wonder;

5 Who have received testimony from Jesus Christ, and are numbered in the Gospel of our common hope.

6 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 circ.u.mcised, than Judaism from one that has not.

7 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.

8 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 altogether into the same place, with an undivided heart.