RECORDS OF THE CHURCH.
No. V.
THE HOLY CHURCH THROUGHOUT ALL THE WORLD DOTH ACKNOWLEDGE THEE.
Epistle of Ignatius, the friend of St. Peter, on his way to Martyrdom, to the Trallians.
Ignatius, which is also Theophorus, to the Holy Church that is in Tralles in Asia, beloved of God, the Father of Jesus Christ, chosen, godlike, having peace through the flesh and blood and passion of Jesus Christ, (who is our hope in the following of His resurrection,) which I salute in the plenitude of my Apostolic character, and pray that it may have all joy.
I. I know the reproachless spirit, and unfailing unanimity, that not by occasion, but habitually belong to you; which also were set forth to me by Polybius your Bishop, who, by God's will and the will of Jesus Christ, was present in Smyrna, and so rejoiced with me in my bonds for Jesus Christ, that in his person you were all before my eyes. So that meeting with this godly kindness in him, I reckon on finding you, (as I have also known you,) the followers of God.
II. For in that you are subject to your Bishop as to Jesus Christ, you seem to me to be living not after the way of men, but according to Jesus Christ; who died for your sakes, that by believing in His death ye may from death escape. It is therefore your bounden duty, as it also is your practice, to do nothing apart from the Bishop. Be subject moreover to the Presbytery, as to the Apostles of Jesus Christ our hope: may we be found to have had our conversation in Him! It is requisite too, that they who are Deacons [ministers] of the mysteries of Jesus Christ, should be obliging to all men in every manner; for they are not ministers
