Chapter 4

1To have a care for the Gospel. 9 The virginity of Mary, the incarnation, and the death of Christ, were hid front the Devil. 11 How the birth of Christ was revealed. 16 Exhorts to unity . BE not deceived, my brethren: those that corrupt families inherit adultery, shall not inherit the kingdom of God.
2If therefore they who do this according to the flesh, have suffered death; how much more shall he die, who by his wicked doctrine corrupts the faith of God, for which Christ was crucified?
3He that is thus defiled, shall depart into unquenchable fire, and so also shall he that hearkens to him.
4For this cause did the Lord suffer the ointment to be poured on his head; that he might breathe the breath of immortality unto his church.
5Be not ye therefore anointed with the evil savour of the doctrine of the prince of this world: let him not take you captive from the life that is set before you.
6And why are we not all wise, seeing we have receive the knowledge of God, which is Jesus Christ? Why do we suffer ourselves foolishly to perish; not considering the gift which the Lord has truly sent to us?
7Let my life be sacrificed for the doctrine of the cross; which is indeed a scandal to the unbelievers, but to us is salvation and life eternal.
8Where is the wise man? Where is the disputer? Where is the boasting of those who are called wise?
9For our God Jesus Christ was according to the dispensation of God conceived in the womb of Mary, of the seed of David, by the Holy Ghost; he was born and baptized, that through his passion he might purify water, to the washing away of sin.
10Now the Virginity of Mary, and he who was born of her, was kept in secret from the prince of this world; as was also the death of our Lord: three of the mysteries the most spoken of throughout the world, yet done in secret by God.
11How then was our Saviour manifested to the world? A star shone in heaven beyond all the other stars, and its light was inexpressible, and its novelty struck terror into men's minds. All the rest of the stars, together with the sun and moon, were the chorus to this star; but that sent out its light exceedingly above them all.
12And men began to be troubled to think whence this new star came so unlike to all the others.
13Hence all the power of magic became dissolved; and every bond of wickedness was destroyed: men's ignorance was taken away; and the old kingdom abolished; God himself appearing in the form of a man, for the renewal of eternal life.
14From thence began what God had prepared: from thenceforth things were disturbed; forasmuch as he designed to abolish death.
15But if Jesus Christ shall give me grace through your prayers, and it be his will, I purpose in a second epistle which I will suddenly write unto you to manifest to you more fully the dispensation of which I have now begun to speak, unto the new man, which is Jesus Christ; both in his faith, and charity; in his suffering, and in his resurrection.
16Especially if the Lord shall make known unto me, that ye all by name come together in common in one faith, and in one Jesus Christ; who was of the race of David according to the flesh; the Son of man, and Son of God; obeying your bishop and the presbytery with an entire affection; breaking one and the same bread, which is the medicine of immortality; our antidote that we should not die, but live forever in Christ Jesus.
17My soul be for yours, and theirs whom ye have sent to the glory of God, even unto Smyrna; from whence also I write to you; giving thanks unto the Lord and loving Polycarp even as I do you. Remember me, as Jesus Christ does remember you.
18Pray for the church which is in Syria, from whence I am carried bound to Rome; being the least of all the faithful which are there, as I have been thought worthy to be found to the glory of God.
19Fare ye well in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ, our common Hope. Amen. To the Ephesians . Footnotes 166:1 In. 166:2 See Eph. iii. 19. 166:3 In. 166:4 Health, Joy. 166:5 Received. Vid. Epist. Interpol. 166:6 Vid. Coteler. in loc. Comp. Gal. iv. 8. 166:7 Pearson Vind. Ignat. Par. 2, cap. 14. 166:8 Imitators. 166:9 Viz. of Christ. 166:10 Martyrdom. 166:11 Eph. v. 2. 166:12 See the old Lat. Ed. of Bishop Usher. 166:13 Possess. 166:14 Blessed in all things. 167:1 By. 167:2 See Philem. 20. Wisd. xxx. 2. 167:3 In all manner of ways. 167:4 In one. 167:5 1 Cor. i. 10. 167:6 The. 167:7 Command you. 167:8 In. 167:9 For. 167:10 Concerning. 167:11 Mind, counsel, opinion, &c. 167:12 Whence. 167:13 Worthy to be named. 167:14 Concord. 167:15 Partake of. 168:1 Matt. xviii. 19. 168:2 Is already proud and has, &c. 168:3 Judged, or separated. 168:4 James, iv. 6. 168:5 And the. 168:6 Accustom themselves to carry. 168:7 In wicked deceit. 168:8 Avoid. 168:9 Which can. 168:10 Without doubt ye live. 168:11 Vid. Voss. Annot. in loc. Pearson, Vind. Ign. par. 2, pp. 207, 208. 168:12 To ages. 168:13 As neither is faith the things of infidelity, nor infidelity the things of faith. 168:14 Known. 168:15 Passed thither. 168:16 Upon. 168:17 Comp. Eph. ii. 20, 21, 22. 1 Pet. ii. 5. 168:18 The building of God the Father. 168:19 By the engine of the cross, etc. 169:1 Pearson, ib. part 2, cap. 12. 169:2 Carriers. 169:3 These things I write. 169:4 Be ye firm. 169:5 Who has been more, etc. 169:6 In Jesus Christ both bodily and spiritually. 1 Cor. vii. 34. 169:7 Remain: or, for it remains. 169:8 Is present. 169:9 One of the two, only that we may be found, etc. 169:10 Without him. 169:11 Become you. 169:12 In. 169:13 Assented to. 169:14 In. 169:15 Witnessed of. 169:16 Vid. Coteler. in loc. Pears. Vind. Ign. Par 2, cap. 10. 170:1 Destruction. 170:2 Concord. 170:3 Of things in heaven and of things on earth. 170:4 Being in unity. 170:5 Matt. xii. 38. 170:6 Shall be seen or made manifest. 170:7 Speaking, not to be. 170:8 If he who says, does. 170:9 That he may. 170:10 Him. 170:11 Out of. 170:12 The corrupters of houses. 1 Cor. vi. 9, 10. 170:13 1 Cor. x. 8. 170:14 Such a one being become defiled. 170:15 Hears him. 170:16 Receives ointment. Psalm xliv. 8, cxxxii. 2. 171:1 Are we foolishly destroyed? 171:2 Not knowing. 171:3 See Dr. Smith's note in loc. 1 Cor. i. 18, 23, 24. 171:4 1 Cor. i. 20. 171:5 Carried. 171:6 But by. 171:7 Who was. 171:8 Mysteries of noise. 171:9 Silence or quietness. See Rom. xvi. 25. 171:10 There was a disorder. 171:11 Novelty. 171:12 Them. 171:13 Disappeared. 171:14 Being made manifest. 171:15 Reveal. 171:16 That ye may obey. 171:17 Mind. Next: The Epistle of Ignatius to the Magnesians