Vol 01 - Cautions against detraction and several other vices.

Cautions against detraction and several other vices
23. Wherefore let us do all the things that pertain to holiness, fleeing all evil speaking, and unholy embraces, drunkenness, youthful lusts, and abominable desires. Let us join ourselves closely to those, to whom GOD has given his grace: and let us put on concord, lowliness, temperance, keeping ourselves far from all whispering and evil-speaking. Let us give praise to GOD, not to ourselves; for self-praises GOD hateth. Let the testimony of our good actions be given by others, as it was given to our holy fathers. Confidence, and arrogance and boldness are with the accursed of GOD; but mildness and lowliness with those that are blessed of him.
24. Enforced by examples.
25. All the holy men of old were glorified and magnified, not for their own sakes, or for the sake of their own works, or for the righteousness which they themselves had wrought, but through his will. And we in like manner, being called through his will in CHRIST JESUS, are not justified by ourselves, neither by our own wisdom, or knowledge or godliness, or by the works which we have wrought in holiness of heart, but by faith; by which the Almighty GOD has justified all men from the beginning; to whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
26. What shall we do then, brethren Shall we let go our love, and grow slothful in doing good GOD forbid but let us make haste with earnestness and diligence, to fulfill every good work. Even the Creator and Lord of all rejoiceth in his works. By his sovereign power has he established the heavens, and adorned them by his incomprehensible wisdom: he divided the earth from the surrounding water, and fixed it as an unshaken' tower, on the foundation of his will. The living creatures thereof he spoke into being: and having created the sea, with all the creatures that are therein, he shut them up there by his power. Above all, with his holy hands he formed man, the most excellent, and, as to his understanding, the greatest of all the creatures; the character of his own image. Having therefore such an example, let us vigorously fulfill his will, and with all our strength work the works of righteousness.
27. The good workman with confidence receives the bread of his labor: but the slothful and remiss cannot bear to meet the eye of his master. Let us therefore be ready and forward in well-doing; for he, of whence are all things, has told us before, "Behold the Lord, and his reward is before his face, to render unto every man according to his work." Therefore he exhorteth us, to set upon every good work, not slothfully or negligently, but with all our heart. And let our glorying and our confidence be in him. Let us submit ourselves to his will. Let us consider the whole multitude of his angels, how ready they stand to minister unto his will. For the scripture says, "Thousands, of thousands minister unto him, and ten thousand times ten thousand stand before him, and cry, holy, holy, holy is the Lord of Sabbaoth; the whole earth is full of his glory." Let us also, being gathered together in love, as with one mouth, fervently cry unto him, that we way be partakers of his great and glorious promises, such as "eye has not seen, nor ear heard."
28. How blessed and wonderful, beloved, are the gifts of God Life and immortality, righteousness and glory! truth and boldness of speech, faith and confidence, temperance and holiness! And all these things fall under our understanding. What then are those which are prepared for them that wait for him The Creator, the Father of ages, the all-holy, The knows the greatness and excellence of them. Let us therefore agonize to be found in the number of them that wait for him, that we may partake thereof. And this shall we do, if our understanding be established by faith in God; if we seek the things which are pleasing and acceptable unto him; if we do whatever is agreeable to his perfect will, and follow the way of truth.
29. This is the way, beloved, wherein we find our Savior, JESUS CHRIST, the high-priest of our offerings, the defender and helper of our weakness. Through him we can fix our eye upon the height of heaven: through him we behold, as in a glass, the glorious face of the Most High. Through him have the eyes of our hearts been opened. Through him our darkened and foolish understanding again rejoices in his marvelous light. It has pleased GOD that through him we should taste the knowledge of immortality; who is " the brightness of his glory, the express image of his person:" unto whom he has said, " Sit you on my right hand, until I make thine enemies thy footstool." But who are his enemies even those who oppose their own will to the will of God.
30. Let us therefore, my brethren, with all earnestness, fight the good fight of faith. Let us observe duties. Those who fight under earthly leaders: with "what order and readiness, and exact obedience, they perform what is commanded them. All are not generals, nor commanders of thousands; but every one in his own rank does that which is commanded him. And thus do all the members conspire together, for the preservation of the whole body. Let therefore our whole body be saved in JESUS CHRIST; and let every man be subject to his neighbor, according to the gift he has received.
Let not the strong despise the weak; and let the weak see that he reverence the strong. Let the rich man dispense to the necessities of the poor; and let the poor man bless GOD, that he has given one unto him, by whom what is wanting to him may be supplied. Let the wise show his wisdom, not in words, but in good works. Let. the humble not bear witness to himself, but leave it to another to bear witness of him. Let not the chaste glory in himself, knowing that it is another who gives him that gift. Let us all consider whereof we are made, and how we came into the world, as it were out of a sepulcher, and out of darkness. He who made us and formed us, brought us into his own world, having prepared his benefits for us, before we were born. Having therefore all these things from him, we ought in all to give thanks unto him. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
31. We ought also, looking into the depths of the Divine knowledge, to do all things in order, whatsoever the Lord has commanded to be done. We ought to make our oblations, and to perform our holy offices at their appointed seasons. For these he has commanded to be done, not irregularly or by chance, but at determinate times and hours; as he has likewise ordained by his supreme will, where, and by what persons they shall be performed: that so all things being done according to his pleasure, may be acceptable in his sight. Blessed therefore are they who make their offerings at the appointed seasons; for following the commands of their Lord, they sin not. The same care ought to be had with regard to the persons who minister in holy things. For to the chief priest are his peculiar offices given; and to the priests is their proper place appointed and to the Levites pertain their own ministries. And the layman is bound by what is commanded to laymen.
32. Let every one of you therefore, brethren, bless GOD in his proper station; preserving a conscience void of offence in. all holiness, not transgressing the appointed rule of his service. The Jewish sacrifices are offered only at the appointed place, and by the appointed ministers. And they who do any thing otherwise than is ordained by his will, are punished with death. And you know, that by how much the more knowledge we have received, by so much the greater is our danger.
33. The apostles preached to us from our Lord JESUS CHRIST: JESUS CHRIST from God. Therefore CHRIST was sent by GOD, and the apostles by CHRIST: all this was accordingly done in order, agreeably to the will of God. They therefore having received a command, and being thoroughly assured by the resurrection of our Lord, and confirmed by the word of GOD, went forth with the full assurance of the Holy Spirit, preaching the kingdom of God. And thus preaching through all cities and countries, they constituted the first-fruits of them, having provided them by the Spirit, bishops and ministers over such as should afterwards believe.
34. The apostles knew by the Lord JESUS CHRIST, that there would be contention about the name of bishoprick. And having received perfect knowledge of this before, they not only constituted those we have named, but farther gave direction that when they should die, other approved men should succeed in their ministry. Those therefore ought not to be cast out of their ministry, who have been constituted by the apostles; or afterwards by other excellent men, with the consent of the whole church; and who have ministered unblamably to the flock of CHRIST, with all lowliness, in peace and sobriety. For it is not a small crime, to throw those out of their bishop rick who have behaved honestly and unblamably therein.
35. Ye are contentious, brethren, and zealous about things which do not pertain to salvation. Look into the Scriptures, the true words of the Holy Ghost. Ye know, nothing false or feigned is written therein. And there ye find not the just rejected by holy men. The righteous were persecuted; but by sinners only. They were imprisoned, but it was by unholy men; they were killed, they were stoned, but it was by transgressors; by men corrupt and abominable, and inflamed with an unrighteous zeal men so full of rage and of all wickedness, as to torment those, who worshipped GOD with a holy and unblamable mind: not knowing that the Most High fighteth for, and defends, all who serve him with a pure conscience. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
36. He that has the love that is in CHRIST, let him keep the commandments of CHRIST. Who can declare the bond of the love of GOD Who is sufficient worthily to express the magnificence of its beauty The height to which love exalts us cannot be spoken. Love unites us to Cod. Love covereth a multitude of sins. Love is long-sufferings, yea, bears all things. There is nothing mean in love, there is nothing haughty. Love has no schism, is not seditious. Love does all things in unity. By love were all the elect of GOD made perfect. without love nothing is acceptable to God. Through love has JESUS CHRIST our Lord received us: through his love to us has he given his blood for us, his flesh for our flesh by the will of GOD, and his soul for our souls.
Ye see, beloved, how great and wonderful a thing love is, and that no words can declare its perfection. Who then is sufficient to be found therein Who but they whom GOD vouchsafes to teach it. Let us therefore beseech him that we may be worthy thereof, that we may live in love, unblamable, without respect of persons. All the generations from Adam unto this day are passed away: but those who were made perfect in love, are in the region of the just, and shall appear in glory at the visitation of the kingdom of CHRIST. Happy then are we, beloved, if we fulfill the commandments of GOD in the unity of love, that so, through love our sins inay be forgiven us. For " blessed are they whose iniquities are forgiven, and whose sins are covered." And this blessing comes on those who are elected by GOD, through JESUS CHRIST our Lord. To whom be glory for ever and ever. Amen.
37. Let us therefore, as many as have transgressed, pray for pardon: especially those who were the authors of the sedition and schism among you. It is better for a man to confess his sins, than to harden his heart. Pharaoh and his host, and all the princes of Egypt, together with all their chariots and horsemen, were swallowed up, and perished in the red sea, for no other cause than this, because they hardened their hearts, after so great signs wrought in the land of Egypt, by Moses the servant of God. Beloved, GOD wants nothing: neither does he desire any thing of any man, but that he should confess his sins unto him.
38. Ye know, beloved, ye fully know, the Holy Scriptures. Ye have thoroughly searched the oracles of God. Consider then the love which Moses bare to his brethren. When the Lord had said unto him, " I have seen this people, and behold it is a stiff-necked people. Now therefore let me alone, that I may destroy them, and blot out their names from under heaven:" he said, " Not so, Lord, forgive now this people their sin. Or if you wilt not, blot me also out of the book of the living." O excellent love! O unsupportable perfection! the servant speaks freely to his Lord, and beseecheth him to forgive the people, or to blot out him with them!
39. Who then is generous, who is compassionate, who is full of love among you Let him say,’ If sedition arise through me, if contentions or schisms, I go wheresoever ye please, I do whatsoever ye command me. Only let the flock of CHRIST be again in peace, with the elders who have been set over it." These things they whose conversation is right towards GOD, have done, and will ever do. Nay, even of the heathens, many have given up themselves unto death, that they might save their country from destruction. And we know how many among ourselves have given up themselves unto bonds, that they might redeem their neighbor from them: and how many have sold themselves unto slavery, that with the price of themselves they might feed their brethren.
40. Let us pray for such as are in sin, that they may receive the meekness and humility to submit, not unto us, but unto the will of God. For so there shall be unto them a fruitful and merciful remembrance before God Viz. and forsake them, turning to GOD in faith, love, and new obedience and his holy ones. And let us receive correction, at which no one ought to be displeased; for the reproof and the correction which we exercise toward one another is good and highly profitable, seeing it unites us to the will of God.
41. Ye therefore who laid the foundation of this schism, submit to your elders, and learn repentance. Bend ye the knees of your heart, and learn to be in subjection, laying aside your proud and arrogant boasting. For it is better for you that ye be small in the flock of CHRIST, than that ye be highly exalted, and be cast out of his fold.
42. The all-seeing GOD, the Father of spirits, and Lord of all flesh, who has chosen our Lord JESUS CHRIST, and us by him to be a peculiar people, grant to every soul that calls on his glorious and holy name, faith, fear, peace, patience, long-suffering, temperance, holiness and wisdom, unto all well-pleasing in his sight, through our high-priest and protector JESUS CHRIST; by whom be glory and majesty, power and honor unto him, both now and for evermore. Amen.
43. The messengers whom we have sent unto you, Claudius, Ephebus, Valerius Bito and Fortunatus, send back speedily unto us in peace and joy, that they may the sooner inform us of your peace and unity, which we pray and long for; and that we also may the sooner rejoice in your prosperity. The grace of our Lord JESUS CHRIST be with you, and with all every where who are called of GOD through him. To whom be honor and glory, and might and majesty, and eternal dominion, from everlasting to everlasting! Amen.
THE character of St. Polycarp, the angel or bishop of the church in Smyrna, sufficiently appears from the words of our Lord, in the Revelation 2:9, &c. " I know thy works and tribulation, and poverty; but you art rich-fear none of these things which you shall sufferbe you faithful unto death, and I will give thee a crown of life." He wrote this letter to the Philippians, as appears from several passages of the letter itself, about or a little after the time, of the martyrdom of St. Ignatius; that is, at the end of the year 116, or in the beginning of 117; when he had not as yet heard the particular circumstances of the sufferings of that glorious martyr. It is here placed before the epistles of St. Ignatius, although it was written after them; both because it is a fit introduction to them, and because it was probably so placed by Polycarp himself. For thus he speaks to the Philippians, "The epistles of Ignatius we have sent unto you,-which are subjoined to this epistle."